Jack Gibson (rugby league footballer)
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Jack Arthur Gibson OAM is a legendary former coach in Australian rugby league.
He was regarded as a "guru" coach in Australian sports circles, not only for producing successful sides wherever he coached but also for his thirst for innovation. He introduced lots of new coaching and training methods into the sport in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, when rugby league at the top grade was still played and coached on a semi-professional (part-time) basis.
Gibson often studied coaching methods in other sports. He liked to pick up and experiment with coaching and training methods which could be incorporated into his rugby league coaching. In particular, he would often travel to the United States of America to watch NFL teams play and train. Gibson was a massive fan of legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi; Gibson was clearly influenced by Lombardi's coaching and management style.
Gibson was also known for his great quotes. Players, coaches and journalists in Australia would hang onto every word he said; some of Gibson's quotes showed his great wisdom on the sport and he loved to use funny one-liners. He was a godsend for the Australian press looking for a great line to quote from him in their sports pages. Some of his quotes are still referred to within rugby league circles.
Gibson also played 152 first grade games: he played prop at Sydney club Eastern Suburbs (now known as Sydney Roosters) from 1953-1961, with Newtown in 1962, and with Wests 1963-64.
He began his first-grade NSWRL coaching career at Eastern Suburbs in 1967. He left Easts in 1969 to join St George. He took St George the Sydney Premiership Grand Final in 1971.
He then left St George for a spell at Newtown before re-joining Easts. Gibson led the Roosters to back-to-back premiership titles (1974, 1975).
He then left Easts for a second time to join South Sydney. He endured his leanest spell at Souths, he failed to get the Rabbitohs to post-season play-offs. Gibson had previously never missed out on play-off football as a first-grade coach for any of his other clubs.
Gibson then joined Parramatta. He led the Eels to their most successful era in their history. Gibson guided the club to their first ever premiership title in 1981. The Eels went on to win the competition for another two years (1982, 1983). The 1983 title took Gibson's personal Grand Final wins tally to five, making him the then joint-most successful coach in Australian premiership history (Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett - a great admirer of Gibson - beat Gibson's record after the Queensland club's 15-8 win over Melbourne Storm in the 2006 NRL Grand Final).
Gibson went on to coach Cronulla and, finally, the New South Wales State of Origin team. Gibson retired from coaching in 1990.
Gibson's influence on Australian rugby league is still strong; past rugby league players, coaches and journalists still telephoned him for some advice or a quote, even though he hasn't been actively involved in professional rugby league for a long time.
Gibson is now confined to a Sydney nursing home and requires around-the-clock care as he battles Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
[edit] Some of Jack Gibson's famous quotes and wise words
Gibson quotes the title of the song from The Wizard of Oz at the start of his post-game speech to fans after his Parramatta Eels side win the club their first-ever Australian Rugby League premiership title in 1981 after thirty four years in the competition. Gibson then promptly ended the speech and went back to his celebrating players.
- "Kick it to the seagulls."
Gibson told a young Peter Sterling to kick the ball into open spaces rather than into the opposition's hands at the end of his teams set of six tackles in possession; seagulls often congregate on empty spaces on sports fields in Australia.
- "That guy is so quick, he can switch off the light and get into bed before the room is dark."
Gibson making an assessment on a fast winger during his summary of a Rugby League match on television.
- "The use of video evidence is not always conclusive, but it sure beats the memory bank of most witnesses."
Gibson is a massive supporter of modern technology being used in top-grade Rugby League to clear up any decisions that the match referee may not be able to adjudicate on definitively.
- "Talent is secondary to whether players are confident."
Gibson often put trust above pure playing ability when selecting teams.
- "In (Rugby League) football, if you are standing still, you're going backwards fast."
Gibson shows his passion for constant innovation in his coaching.
