DUBBO CYMS and St John's Junior Rugby League players and coaches received some top level advice on the weekend when former NRL coach Matthew Elliott visited Dubbo on the weekend.
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Elliott, who has won an English Super League premiership and coached three NRL clubs during his career, hosted a clinic with local coaches on Saturday afternoon before speaking at a forum and information evening at Caltex Park.
Dubbo CYMS chairman Kevin Walkom was one of the many who attended the forum and said it was hugely beneficial for all who attended.
"He (Elliott) shared some of his knowledge and skills with our coaches and shared some of his methods," he said.
"That was good and the boys appreciated it and it confirmed if they were doing the right or wrong thing."
One of the more interesting parts of the night, according to Walkom, was listening to Elliott discuss how he's dealt with mixed success.
After the high of winning a Super League title with Bradford in 1996 and being awarded coach of the year that year and the following, Elliott returned to Australia.
He achieved success with the Raiders, leading them to the finals, but departed the club after four years at the helm and since then spent time coaching Penrith and more recently the New Zealand Warriors.
"He's had three NRL clubs and has been sacked twice and he spoke about that and said it was all history and it doesn't worry him," Walkom said.
"He learnt from it so that experience made him a better person and he shared that and gave the coaches some advice on how to handle players and deal with the expectations of a coach from players. "Because you can put together the best team in the world but that doesn't mean you're going to win the competition."
The CYMS club has enjoyed plenty of success in recent years, winning the past two Group 11 first grade premierships.
Coach Tim Ryan has signed on to lead the team again in 2016 as he aims to record an unprecedented three straight titles.
"You never want to sit and rest on your laurels, you need to keep on improving," Walkom said.
"And someone the calibre of Matt coming along helps and being able to discuss with him his playing and coaching career.
"He's coached with some of the best coaches in the league and it really helped our coaches to see if they've been doing things right."
