Shaun McRae and Peter Gentle have paid tribute to Australia coach Tim Sheens at Gentle's official unveiling as Hull coach.
Hull director of rugby knows new coach has served apprenticeship
Both Shaun McRae and Peter Gentle have paid tribute to Australia coach Tim Sheens at Gentle's official unveiling as Hull coach.
Gentle has succeeded Richard Agar at the KC Stadium after spending time under Sheens' wing at Wests Tigers and the national squad.
And McRae, newly installed as director of rugby at Hull, admitted the link with Sheens played a big part in the recruitment of Gentle.
"I worked with Tim for nine years some time ago and one of the reasons I called Peter was because I knew how he would have been groomed for a role as a head coach, because I couldn't think of any better mentor or any better coach to have worked under," McRae said.
"I knew the roles he would have been given, because I know what Tim allows you to do. That played a very significant part of the decision making."
Gentle admitted it was Sheens who urged him to take the Hull job.
Ready
"Tim has had a significant impact on me," he said. "I have spent the last six years working with him and although we have different ideas, we are very similar - Royce Simmons too.
"It was a very good apprenticeship for me working with both of them. Tim said to me: 'You're ready, you need to get a job'. He's played a very significant role in my career."
And with the club boasting a Grade A license, over 10,000 season ticket holders and a 25,000 capacity stadium, Gentle believes he has taken over a side that is primed for success.
"We did inherit a large part of the squad that was here but there are no negatives there," he added. "They are all quality players. There are no mugs. There is a lot of potential to work with.
Opportunity
"We need to lose the sleeping giant tag that everyone keeps telling me about. The major priority is to get rid of that, make the most of our potential and push for trophies.
"It's a wonderful opportunity and I'm very proud to be able to coach at such an esteemed club," he said.
"It hasn't been a rushed apprenticeship. I waited for a decent job to come along and I believe this is more than a decent job. It's something I want to make a fist of and I really feel I'm ready to do it justice.
"I had an opportunity to coach at the Tigers for the next three years but I said to Tim 'there are nibbles from overseas so I might just settle my curiosity and have a chat'.
"Then out of the blue Shaun called and it snowballed from there."
