PETER Stevens has two coaching jobs.
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The former hooker from Warialda, nicknamed Rolls, is the coach of the Greater Northern Academy Cubs and will be back at that task at Scully Park tomorrow while he will also coach the Inverell Hawks in next season’s 2014 Group 19 first grade competition.
Training for the Hawks starts Friday, January 24.
He enjoys his GNA coaching, especially the decision to go with the younger boys this year.
The two GNA squads are made up of the 15-16 boys while the Tigers are the older squad of 16-17 year-olds.
Stevens is in charge of the younger Cubs.
“They have been going pretty good,” he said.
“All in all, they are starting to take to it well.
“Hopefully we can finish on a high on Saturday and come back after Christmas and prepare them for the games against the Knights.”
He said the final session would concentrate on individual roles in their selected positions.
As far as his appointment as coach of the Inverell Hawks goes, he “doesn’t know too much yet”.
“Basically I know I’m doing the job,” he said.
“I know they are coming off a disappointing season so we have the job ahead of us.
“It’s going to be all about getting the local blokes back on board, make sure they are happy and work hard early.
“We are talking to a few players at the moment but that’s a bit up in the air too because no one knows what’s going on with the comp.
“Guyra could be back in, Goondiwindi could be coming in and Moree Boars have applied as well.”
Stevens did a marvellous job to coach the combined Bingara-Warialda side (Gwydir) into a grand final against the rampaging Moree Boomerangs.
Warialda and Bingara have since split, with Warialda remaining in Group 19 and Bingara to play in the Group 4 Second Division in 2014.
For Stevens, the Hawks’ job is a little like “coming home”.
“I played two years of Under 18s here, played in two grand finals, won one and got beaten after the bell in the other,” he recalled.
“I also played in two grand final-winning sides here, 1998 and 2000.
“So it’s not as if I’m coming in cold. I do have some links here.”
While he played in the successful 1998 first grade side that beat Armidale at Armidale, he also coached the 2000 side that beat Glen Innes.
The 1998 side contained some talented players such as Troy Goldman, Damien Smith and coach Craig Salmon.
“We didn’t have that much depth that year either,” he recalled.
“But everyone was fit and ready to go.
“In 2000 we had a young side but we won all three grades too.”