FORMER international Michael Cronin has taken over the reins at the Gerringong Lions and will coach first grade in the 2009 South Coast Group 7 Rugby League Competition.
It is 20 years since Cronin, who was last year named in the NRL’s top 100 players and the Country Rugby League’s Team of the Century, was last in charge at Gerringong, with 1989 the last of three years he was at the helm before heading to Parramatta for four seasons.
Mind you in those three years (1987-89) he did take the Lions to three consecutive grand final appearances.
“Unfortunately we didn’t win any of them” Cronin said.
They went down to Milton-Ulladulla 13-12, Batemans Bay 19-16 and Milton 8-4.
“We had a couple of close losses, but that’s ancient history now – gee it was 20 years ago,” he said.
But Cronin knows 2009 is not going to be an easy assignment.
The Lions came second last this season, 11 points out of the five.
“We have a lot of work to do,” he admitted.
“But it is only early days.
“We had a horrific run of injuries last year – we lost three players in the first game, but we still managed to beat Milton who ended up premiers.
“Later in the year we had three guys break arms - you get that in football, sometimes you have a tough run with injuries, it just hit us hard last year, hopefully we have some better luck this season.”
But already indications are that the Lions will be without three and possibly four of their better performers in ’09.
Greg Sharpe has moved north to Singleton, Jason White is off to Goulburn and it appears Lloyd Bowen will be going to Goulburn as well.
There is also the chance that Justin O’Hare could be missing.
“That’s four pretty important players to take out of our side,” Cronin admitted.
“Sure it’s going to be tough, but we’ll just wait and see who turns up to training.
“We have a few 18s from last year who will step up into grade, but the better ones will probably be snapped up by the Steelers, so they will be unavailable for the first six or seven weeks.
“But when you coach Gerringong you know the circumstances that go with it.”
One of those is not paying players.
“We decided about 20 years ago that we wouldn’t pay players or coaches for that matter,” Cronin said.
“We had done it in the past and you don’t always attract the sort of people you want and quite often local products miss out.
“But since we made that decision we have won first and reserve grade and 18s.
“Sure it’s hard to attract players by saying come and play with us, but I can’t offer you anything – it’s not much of a selling point.
“We could never pay someone enough money to change their lifestyle, so our committee works to raise money to keep the club going, not to pay players.
“I suppose the one thing you know is that the worst player in the club is on the same as the best – nothing!”
And what will Mick Cronin bring to the Lions in ’09?
“I can’t see myself bringing anything different than anyone else, I’d like to think that in the 40 odd years I’ve had in the game I’ve learnt something from the people I’ve played around and hopefully I might be able to pass some of that on,” he said.
One advantage Cronin may have is the fact that the present crop of juniors coming through he had had a fair bit to do with.
In fact he coached the same side from under 11s to 18s and the majority of them entered grade last season.
“You have to treat men differently to how you treat kids, but I suppose I have worked with them before and did a bit with Allan (Miller last year’s first grade coach) last season,” he said.
And that may include his own sons Pat and Peter.
“Pat played firsts last year and Pete has battled knee injuries since he was 18 and had one reconstruction and injured the same knee in a different area last year, so we are hoping he will be back,” he said.
“Look it will be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to it.”
At this stage it looks as though the rest of the Lions’ coaching staff will be Darren Moon (reserve grade, and Rob Quinn and Allan Miller (under 18s).