Tuesday, April 7, 2009

A TRIBUTE TO JACK GIBSON



As a player he was feared, as a coach he was feted, as a man he was admired. (reference)

Jack Gibson was the most influential of coaches rugby league has had. His approach, methods and principles are still evident in the game today, for decades after he gave up coaching. In a time before jack ex players would step up to coach but now coaches are bred for the job. He also introduced the Monday night video replay into the coaches tool box.
the use of video evidence is not always conclusive, but it sure beats the
memory bank of most witnesses (reference)
Jack has always showed the ability to produce quality one liners or quotes that without fail perfectly summed up a situation. No one will forget his famous quote, "ding dong the witch is dead" after parramatta won a grand final after 34 years. Some how he alway knew the right quote for the right situations.

A former Easts, Newtown and Western Suburbs front-rower who played 162 first grade games, Gibson began coaching at the Roosters in 1967, taking the Bondi side that hadn't won a game the previous year to the semi-finals. His premiership-winning Roosters and Eels teams are regarded as some of the most brilliant club sides ever assembled. He also coached the NSW state origin team in 1989-1990. In 16 seasons of coaching over 21 years, his teams made the finals 11 times, won five premierships, three pre-season titles, one Amco Cup and five club championships. And every club was better for his involvement.

The gap between Gibson and the rest accelerated from that trip, the first by a rugby league coach to the US. He was the first to introduce tackle counts, regulated weight training, more scientific fitness assessment, video analysis and more.

He was The Innovator. The Master Coach. The Caring Coach. (reference)
Played strong, done fine (Jack Arthur gibson, 1929-2008)

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