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West Tigers coach Mick Potter neary quit for the pits
Josh Massoud
The Daily Telegraph
February 08, 2013 12:00AM
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AS Wests Tigers begin their 2013 campaign tonight, new coach Mick Potter could just as easily be emerging from a hard week down a coal mine.
Ahead of his team's first-up trial against Penrith in Bathurst, Potter yesterday revealed that he was willing to work underground when he returned to Australia last September without any coaching prospects.
Having finished a turbulent tenure with Bradford on five months without pay after the UK Super League club was placed into administration, the 49-year-old also considered opening a childcare business or working in sales.
"There was nothing for me," he said. "I was thinking about getting back into small business like childcare, sales or going down the pit. Coal mining is not a bad lifestyle and the money is good. You also leave your work behind when you go home. It's not a 24-7 job like this one."
But having undertaken a 16-year coaching apprenticeship, Potter wouldn't have things any other way as he prepares to run his eye over a 22-strong squad of NSW and Holden Cup hopefuls.
Given the threadbare resources at his disposal in Bradford, Potter arrived at Concord pinching himself over the wealth of staff and technology that's synonymous with NRL clubs.
Almost half a year without pay saw his family sacrifice weekend trips away or meals out to keep the Bulls going until the end of last season.
"We went backwards a little bit and had to taper things down," Potter said. "I first thought it would only be for two weeks, but it went on and on.
"It was like groundhog day, but it seemed like the right thing to do - to not walk away when things got really tough. There were opportunities to have weekends away in London or go out to dinner, but we couldn't do those things."
So it's not surprising some have told Potter - known among Tigers players as Harry - his overdue graduation to NRL level is the result of karma.
"This job coming up was fortunate and I don't want to be treading all over Tim Sheens' grave," Potter said.
"Someone has mentioned it was a bit of payback, but at the time you're not thinking about that.
"There was maybe a bit of karma involved, but I prefer to think of it as hard work and being in the right place at the right time. I'm certainly not the type of bloke who will be doing cartwheels on the sideline, but I am excited."
Josh Massoud
The Daily Telegraph
February 08, 2013 12:00AM
\
\
AS Wests Tigers begin their 2013 campaign tonight, new coach Mick Potter could just as easily be emerging from a hard week down a coal mine.
Ahead of his team's first-up trial against Penrith in Bathurst, Potter yesterday revealed that he was willing to work underground when he returned to Australia last September without any coaching prospects.
Having finished a turbulent tenure with Bradford on five months without pay after the UK Super League club was placed into administration, the 49-year-old also considered opening a childcare business or working in sales.
"There was nothing for me," he said. "I was thinking about getting back into small business like childcare, sales or going down the pit. Coal mining is not a bad lifestyle and the money is good. You also leave your work behind when you go home. It's not a 24-7 job like this one."
But having undertaken a 16-year coaching apprenticeship, Potter wouldn't have things any other way as he prepares to run his eye over a 22-strong squad of NSW and Holden Cup hopefuls.
Given the threadbare resources at his disposal in Bradford, Potter arrived at Concord pinching himself over the wealth of staff and technology that's synonymous with NRL clubs.
Almost half a year without pay saw his family sacrifice weekend trips away or meals out to keep the Bulls going until the end of last season.
"We went backwards a little bit and had to taper things down," Potter said. "I first thought it would only be for two weeks, but it went on and on.
"It was like groundhog day, but it seemed like the right thing to do - to not walk away when things got really tough. There were opportunities to have weekends away in London or go out to dinner, but we couldn't do those things."
So it's not surprising some have told Potter - known among Tigers players as Harry - his overdue graduation to NRL level is the result of karma.
"This job coming up was fortunate and I don't want to be treading all over Tim Sheens' grave," Potter said.
"Someone has mentioned it was a bit of payback, but at the time you're not thinking about that.
"There was maybe a bit of karma involved, but I prefer to think of it as hard work and being in the right place at the right time. I'm certainly not the type of bloke who will be doing cartwheels on the sideline, but I am excited."
