Entry: 15, 18th November 2010
Congratulations must go to Garry Schofield. He has been appointed coach of Barrow and I think this is an interesting move for both parties.
He is also the second former Great Britain international to return to the sport in a week following Denis Betts appointment by Widnes Vikings.
Unlike Betts, Schofield has continued to be involved in Rugby League and recently coached the BARLA Young Lions. He blossomed into a top stand-off during his playing career, which started for Hull in 1983. He then moved to Leeds where his name was made before a short spell as player-coach of Huddersfield Giants and as a player with Doncaster. He also had stints in Australia with Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs.
Often outspoken, I feel it is good to have him back in the professional echelons and I hope he is given a fairer chance at Barrow than the 13 games he was given as a learner coach at the Galpharm all those years ago.
While Schofield enjoyed a long playing career that saw him win 45 Great Britain caps and an OBE for services to the sport he has sadly been missing for too long, despite re-inventing himself as a coach and having a regular column in the main rugby league magazine.
When I first started watching rugby league in the early 90's I used to look up to the skills of players like Schofield and having interviewed him following his involvement with the GB Allstars I do think he has plenty to offer.
While some might think it's a gamble, I think it is worth a punt for Barrow and it will be interesting to see just who the Raiders bring on board now, having fallen short of chairman Des Johnston's expectations last term.
That disappointing finish, allied with losing previous coach Steve McCormack to alternate employment at the end of August meant that the Raiders only briefly threatened to repeat their wonderful Championship heroics of 2009. A 38-0 pummelling of Widnes was a superb performance and promised much but sadly for Barrow, their dream died in the next game when Sheffield Eagles mounted a late fightback to claim a 21-14 win.
With Schofield's appointment at Barrow confirmed, another former stand-off returned to the coaching ranks when Nigel Wright agreed to become his assistant. Wright himself was likened to Schofield during his early career and emerged through the ranks at Wakefield Trinity before a big move that made him the most expensive teenager in rugby league saw him swap Belle Vue for Central Park and Wigan.
Sadly for the talented Wright, injuries intervened and he returned to Wakefield for a season before appearing to break into the Wigan team again. Once more injuries stacked up against the promising player and he was forced to retire at an early age. Wright then turned his hand to coaching, first of all in Australia where he built a reputation before returning to the UK.
His last professional coaching position was on the staff at Warrington.
An interesting quote from the story that appeared on SportingLife.com came from Barrow Chairman Johnston:
"Exciting rugby is what the Raiders will be about," he said.
"The players need to be comfortable with the ball in hand and have licence to express themselves.
"We are in the entertainment business and an exhilarating Barrow team will have supporters flocking through the turnstiles.
"It was not easy to make a final decision from some excellent candidates for the post - all of whom I thank for their interest - but in the end I believe we have a coaching team who will provide what we need.
"They have a wealth of contacts within the sport which can only benefit the club."
Schofield's appointment certainly makes the Championship an interesting place to be next season. There are some pretty big names knocking around at the clubs:
Barrow: Garry Schofield & Nigel Wright
Batley: Karl Harrison
Dewsbury: Warren Jowitt
Featherstone: Daryl Powell
Halifax: Matt Calland
Hunslet: Paul March
Leigh: Ian Millward & Paul Rowley
Sheffield: Mark Aston
Toulouse: Giles Dumas
Widnes: Denis Betts
York: Dave Woods
I look forward to it with relish and hope to catch up with Schofield at some point next season.
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