Knowledge is power

Sculthorpe: searching for British talent

The role for the national job in England is different to the role elsewhere. It is more than just about running the team. You have to have a brief to develop the game across all levels.

Brian Carney
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Paul Sculthorpe and Brian Carney told skysports.com that developing coaches is the key for rugby league success.

Speaking at the live draw for the Magic Weekend draw, both Carney and Sculthorpe said that the recent Four nations final defeat to Australia was disappointing but believes that investing at the grassroots level will pay dividends.

"The answer to our national team is to develop British talent through all level - especially lower down," Sculthorpe told skysports.com

"The big thing is to keep on developing and promoting the game and investing in British players. That is the only way the game in this country will approve."

Carney agrees with Sculthorpe and said that a strong foundation is vital.

"Scully has got it 100% right. It is not at the top that the game that stuff needs to be done, it is at the bottom.

"We need to get it right at the grassroots level. We need to look at the outstanding youngsters at say a club like Barrow and developing them into super League players. Unless that starts happening then we cannot stop the problem at the top. Don't build your house on sand."

With Tony Smith stepping down as England coach, the man to replace him is being hotly debated. Whoever does get chosen, Carney and Sculthorpe say it is a full time job with coaching the national side only a small aspect of the job.

"The right man for the job is someone who will not only develop the young players but will also look to develop the young coaches too," said Sculthorpe.

"It is a fulltime job and working closer with the clubs is vital too. The national team is always going to struggle to get time with the players. The coaching role is only a small part of the job. Your best players know how to play the game- it is the development that counts."

"Whoever takes over from Tony Smith has to look at developing the young coaches," added Carney.

We need quality coaches even more than we need players at the moment, the more quality coaches the more quality players you are going to develop.

"The role for the national job in England is different to the role elsewhere. It is more than just about running the team. You have to have a brief to develop the game across all levels. We need to develop coaches just as much as we need to develop our players. The person that both myself and Scully had experience of was David Waite.

"His knowledge was up their with the best and it is that sort coaching education that we need to pass on to our coaches and players."