A Word with Maurice Emslie

Friday, June 20, 2008 5:00

Maurice Emslie, coach of premier rugby league leaders Linwood, talks to Nick Tolerton...

# Will the Keas bounce back against Papanui tomorrow after that first loss in their last start?

I hope so. I didn't take too much out of our loss to Aranui because of the conditions. We dropped a lot of ball and they held a lot, and it was only 8-4. Not much in it.

# Was that the worst weather you've seen league played in? It was the coldest! Freezing. We've got Nathan Sherlock from Australia and I've never seen someone shiver so much. I sent him into the showers with about 20min to go. We go in after and, hello, no hot water!

# Why are the Keas going so well?

Those boys have been probably six, seven years together. I played with them before I started coaching, and they don't need too much learning. Just keeping them going, keeping the fitness up. They all know how to play football - that's where I'm pretty lucky. And we've been quite lucky with injuries. Also, we have a very good B side, and six or seven players there could step up easily and take positions off our boys, and that pressure makes them play better.

# Has the end of Bartercard Cup helped clubs?

I think it has. Probably not as much as everyone expected, because a lot of those boys got injured at the start of the season and we really didn't see too much of them. It's probably brought the teams a lot closer together. The Bulls are spread out around everyone - unfortunately we didn't get any!

# What got you into coaching?

I always wanted to coach. I started coaching a couple of schoolboys grades and really enjoyed that, but I knew when I stopped playing I wanted to keep involved in football and around the boys. Like I said, they don't need too much teaching. They make me look a better coach than I am!

# What's your first league memory?

Actually I started playing rugby for Linwood when I was a kid, and I never heard of league til I got to intermediate and a best mate of mine said "let's go to the rugby league." I said "what's that," and he said "better than rugby!" He took me down here to Linwood and I never looked back.

# Which coach has influenced you most?

When I first started playing premiers, David Perkins, who's at Hornby now. He was a good influence. And Gerard Stokes. I took a lot of things off Gerard - game patterns and trainings - and tried to bring them in with Linwood.

# Any rules you'd like to see changed?

They need to get rid of that 40/20, I think. Especially in club football - unless you've got cameras and TV and know exactly where he's kicked it from, you can't police it properly. I understand Bartercard and up when you've got two touch judges and the ref, but with club football sometimes you've got one of our guys doing the line - or one of their guys. If it's one of their guys of course it's going to be a 40/20. And the same with us, you know!

# If you were coach of the Warriors what would you change?

A couple of players, I think! There's a few players that need to start stepping up. Stop blaming the coach. Their halves definitely aren't stepping up. They definitely need Michael Witt back.

# Any players at the Keas who could achieve at a higher level?

Nathan's got a lot to offer. He's a sharp footballer. And Chris Bamford, if he wanted to he could go a long way - he's got some talent, that boy. And Johnny Aranga, our fullback. He's a good footballer, and at the age where he needs to start looking at going overseas. Over there they'll turn him into a better footballer.

# What's your playing career highlight?

When we won our first Bartercard Cup grand final. It was the first senior final I'd been in, and a pretty proud moment, with my brother Graeme also there.

# Favourite holiday destination?

Gold Coast. I played football over there, too, for a while - social grade. And just the passion for football - you can see why (Aussies) are so good&

# Ideal night out?

Haven't been out for a long time! These days the ideal night would be to go out for dinner with my partner Kerry, and time away from the kids for a bit!

# Favourite movie?

The Legend of Bagger Vance.

# Favourite TV programme?

Aaah& Shortland Street! I try to get away from training early enough!

# What do you rush to turn off?

The ads. And Coronation Street. But Kerry watches it and she's starting to get me into it. That's the worst thing!

# Last book you read?

The kids' schoolbooks.

# Worst roomie?

I"ve had good roommates. At the Bulls it was always Scott Nixon.

# Biggest stirrer in your teams?

Dene Heke for Linwood a few years back.