Karl Brown is embarking on the biggest challenge of his coaching career.
Brown has enjoyed success as a coach at under-age level at two rugby union clubs but will step up to senior grade this season as head coach of the Wyndham City Rhinos.
Last year’s coach, Ash Hales, will remain with the club as under-18s coach, leaving Brown, his assistant from the last campaign, to seamlessly fill the void.
Brown is thrilled to be working with a number of players he coached to premierships in the junior grades.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.
“I just love coaching. Some of the kids … I’ve been coaching since they were under-12s.”
Brown has a remarkable record in the under- age ranks.
He has coached premiership teams at the Rhinos in under-14s, 16s and 18s. A move to Melbourne University for two seasons saw him claim an under-20s title.
He wants more of the same at the Rhinos this season and feels as though the side is primed to better last year’s semi-final finish.
“There’s a good feeling about these boys at training,” he said.
“Even some of the players from last year have commented that there’s a good feel around the team.”
Brown has a strong list of players to choose from – already 30 players have been part of the pre-season – and his phone is running hot with new players wanting to be part of the club.
The coach could be faced with some selection headaches when the Victorian Rugby Union season comes around.
“We’ve only got one team and we had 30 blokes at training last night,” he said.
“I even had blokes ringing up today inquiring about playing … they’re turning up from all over the place.
“It’s a big growth area – there’s a lot of blokes living on this side but playing rugby on the other side of town.
“They’re starting to hear more about the club so they’re coming back to play on this side.”
While the Rhinos are in a healthy state on-field and have premiership ambitions, Brown is under no illusions about the challenge confronting him outside the white lines in his bid to find key personnel to fill off-field positions.
The first-grade side is still without a team manager, key medical staff and sponsors. It was an issue for the Rhinos long before Brown and Hales returned to the club.
“We came back to Wyndham City to try and get the senior team up and running again because they didn’t have one two years ago,” said Brown, who has put out the call to rugby-minded volunteers, specialist medical staff and sponsors to get on board with the Rhinos.
“If anyone wants to come and lend a hand, they’re more than welcome,” he said.
