Rugby Leading Coaches

There is no doubt that the southern hemisphere is the world's most fertile breeding ground for world-class rugby league coaches.

Australian Tony Smith, the current England manager and part-time Warrington Wolves coach, Leeds Rhinos boss Brian McClennan and fellow New Zealander Daniel Anderson are just three of those who have ventured to England and made a huge impact in recent times.

Anderson led St Helens to three consecutive Challenge Cup victories between 2006 and 2008 as well as the Super League title in 2006, McClennan guided the Rhinos to World Club Challenge and Grand Final success last season, while Smith also did the same at the Rhinos in 2004 before accepting the England job.

Tim Sheens, the West Tigers and Australia coach who replaced Ricky Stuart as Kangaroos boss after the 2008 World Cup, is a coaching legend with over 560 matches under his belt, while Manly's Premiership-winning boss Des Hasler and St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett are also regarded the best of the current crop along with Melbourne Storm chief Craig Bellamy.

Looking back through the history books, Jack Gibson, the former Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta Eels coach, stands out as the most imaginative and successful head coach in the history of the game.

During the 1960s and 70s he was the first to study American football for new tackling and offensive techniques, introduced weights and fitness tests for his sides and even made his players wear make-up to reduce floodlight glare during night matches.

Despite being regarded of something of a maverick, his ideas delivered two Premiership titles for the Suburbs in 1974 and 1975, three for the Eels during the 1980s as well as being selected for Australia's Team of the Century, which was announced in 2007. An all-round great.