Darren Coleman said he was “embarrassed” by the Waratahs failures under his watch during a typically raw press conference to expand on his exit as NSW coach.
Coleman also delivered a slap to negative, fair weather fans who had preferred to slip the boot in as the team’s fortunes nosedived.
The Waratahs announced on Monday that Coleman’s contract would not be extended beyond this season.
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It was a sad but predictable conclusion for a three year tenure that netted just 16 wins from 42 games and a strike rate of 38 per cent.
NSW, Australia’s biggest rugby state, are in wooden spoon position this season with a miserable 2-10 record and two games to play.
“For me, this is more than a job, it becomes all encompassing,” Coleman said in his opening statement on Tuesday.
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“And sometimes, unfortunately, to the detriment of other things in your life… I’m sorry, and I’m embarrassed, I couldn’t progress the good work and the on field results of my year one here to further success with the team. I feel especially bad I couldn’t deliver for all the passionate and loyal Tahs fans and supporters.
“The ones that jump on and off from time to time and prefer to be negative – I’m not so sad to see the back of them.”
Coleman will see out the season against Moana Pasifika and the Reds as the club tries to avoid the ignominy of the wooden spoon.
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The 51-year-old admitted there were plenty of things he would do differently if he had his time again but wouldn’t be drawn on specifics.
Coleman said he completely understood the board’s decision given the poor results and had grown from the adversity of an injury ravaged season.
“I’m frustrated. I feel this year could have turned out a lot different with a bit of luck at crucial times around the front row injuries and that run of four games (with three close losses) early in the season,” he said.
“I feel some success in those, or a result or two, may have seen a different season unfold.
“I’m proud I did my best to stay in the fight under tricky circumstances at times and with mounting pressure, I didn’t quit.
“It doesn’t mean what you guys write sometimes doesn’t hurt. But I’m definitely more resilient, more thick skinned off the back of it.
“But I’m genuinely proud that I stuck it out and went to the end.”
Coleman admitted that dealing with the “outside noise” had been harder than he had anticipated.
“I’m probably not thick skinned enough. I tried to drown that out as much as I could but over time – yeah that does get at you a bit.
“I probably got a false dawn with year one. The wins came pretty easy early on and what’s hit home this year is the fine margins in the higher levels of the game… there’s definitely no bad blood from my end. I’m not slinging and throwing any rocks on the way out.”
Coleman was flanked by Waratahs chief executive Paul Doorn who confirmed the search for a new coach was already underway.
He would not comment directly on candidates, including Michael Cheika, with Nathan Grey, Stephen Hoiles, Jason Gilmore, Simon Raiwalui, Kevin Foote, Andy Friend, John Manenti, Matt Cockbain and Brock James other names in the mix for a daunting rebuild job.
“We would like it done sooner rather than later,” Doorn said.
“Now, I am acutely conscious that the downward pressure is already there. So making a decision around who would be the head coach and the discussion around GM is important but so too is assistant coaches and what their role looks like and all across the staff for the high performance that that will cascade down.
“So the sooner we can get into head coach, the sooner we’ll be able to start making decisions about those other things… but we need to spend time to make sure we get the right person.”