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'A motivator of men': Why Jones would make a 'good' NRL coach
By Finn Morton
Dual international Mat Rogers has explained why former England coach Eddie Jones would be successful if he made a stunning code switch to rugby league.
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Coaching guru Jones was sensationally axed by the Rugby Football Union last month, following a disastrous campaign with the men’s national team.
Three years after a World Cup final appearance, England’s fall from grace reached new lows as they recorded their worst season in almost 15 years.
After placing third in last year’s Six Nations, England went on to win a disappointing 41 per cent of their test matches in 2022.
Even still, the RFU still made the headline grabbing decision to axe Jones about nine months out from this year’s World Cup in France.
Jones, who is one of the greatest World Cup coaches of all-time, is now a free agent. There are rumours and speculation surrounding his future, which includes a potential return to Australian shores.
But one rumour which is especially interesting, although would be a significant loss for the 15-player game, is that Jones could pursue an NRL coaching career.
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However, Jones added fuel to the fire by telling Rugby League News that he would “jump” at the opportunity to coach a rugby league team.
“If there was an opportunity (in the NRL) I would jump at it,” Jones said. “But the reality is it’s probably not going to be there.”
One of Jones’ star pupils from his days as the Wallabies head coach has responded these rumours, as he explained why the super coach would do a “good” job in the NRL.
Former Wallaby and Kangaroos playmaker Mat Rogers recently spoke on SEN about the “motivator of men.”
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“I’ve been asked this before and I think he’d be good,” Rogers told Sportsday NSW.
“I think the game is not as hard a game technically as rugby union, and you do have assistant coaches for the technical roles.
“But as a motivator of men, as a man who can bring players together, as a man that gets the best out of someone, I don’t think I’ve played under a better coach.
“That’s the best coaches… that’s what Wayne Bennett does, that’s what Craig Bellamy does… Trent Robinson (they all motivate their players).”
