Tasman Makos: News

Makos Assistant Coach settles into new role
08-Apr-2010

NELSON MAIL - Wayne Martin
Leon MacDonald appeals as a perfect fit for Tasman rugby.

He's yet to be tested in his dual roles as the new assistant to Tasman Makos' head coach Kieran Keane, and the Nelson Bays Rugby Academy manager. But in many respects, the Blenheim-born former All Black, Crusaders and Canterbury representative is treading familiar ground.

According to MacDonald, who also played for Marlborough, his 10-year-old son Harry has never worn a Canterbury jersey, only a Makos jersey, so there is no doubt where the family's affiliations now lie. He was also coached by Keane at Marlborough Boys' College and despite officially being in his new job only since last Thursday, already feels well in synch with the province and its people.

A well-documented plague of concussions throughout his otherwise impressive career hastened his retirement as a player. And after limited appearances with Japanese club Kintetsu last season, he opted to follow the coaching route.

"I had a fair stint at it, you know; it's not like my career was cut in half or anything, so it was an easy decision to make and I've got a young family and when it comes to your health, you just can't take risks like that," he said.

"I want to be around a lot longer than that still and enjoy growing up with my family, so that was the main priority.

"Once I decided to retire, I knew eventually I wanted to go into a coaching role and, as a player, I was involved a lot with helping out club teams and stuff like that.

"It was all timing, really. The opportunity arose just as I came back to New Zealand and I put my name in the hat and it all fell into place."

He certainly isn't dwelling on the inherent pressures of coaching professional rugby teams, particularly with every team in this year's ITM Cup competition plotting their respective paths towards making the top seven.

"There's going to be pressure every year and the top seven's definitely a goal, but you don't want to dwell on those sort of things this time of the year.

"We've got a long way to go and at the moment our focus is on getting the right squad together and then working with that squad and creating a game that fits, a style that the guys enjoy playing and that people in Blenheim and Nelson are going to get along and enjoy supporting.

"If we get those things in place, then hopefully we can start pushing [towards the top seven]. There's a lot of self-belief after last season, knocking over teams like Auckland and Waikato, so if we can just grow on that ...

"I think that self-belief's the main thing and if we can really work on that, you know, who knows where we can finish."

MacDonald's always adhered to an open running style of play and has admired the Makos' approach to the game.

"You've got to adopt a style to suit the players you've got. So it'll depend on the players that we've got in the province and when we're looking at naming a squad, we'll have a style in mind.

"Our style, as such, will depend on who we're playing against and the players that we've got available.

"I think one of the biggest strengths about the Makos is their culture and environment and I think that's really grown under Toddy [former coach Todd Blackadder] and last year as well with Kieran and Bevan [Cadwallader]. And that's something that hopefully I can add to as well, being involved with the Crusaders for a long time, and I think it's important to help build a culture where everyone wants to play for each other."

Helping to prepare a provincial rugby team is one thing. Developing the province's player talent is arguably even more important.

"[Tasman has] always been a breeding ground for talent. Both Marlborough Boys' and Nelson colleges are always right up there in the Press Cup [secondary schools competition] and produce a lot of good talent, and being able to try and grow the talent and really build up these guys and have a really good player base to choose from has got to be good for the province.

"I'm really excited about that role. I've always enjoyed working with younger adults, you know, [from] their school days through to their 20s, where they're keen to learn and do well."

MacDonald's also a talented cricketer, having represented Marlborough as an all-rounder, and is looking forward to linking up with some former Blenheim acquaintances at the Wakatu club next summer.