Page 61 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

INTERNATIONAL

I spoke with Gary Hetherington for the Leeds

job and thought I may have had a good

chance at getting it.”

“I loved that club and loved the players who I keep
in contact with to this day.
“But after having a break from footy, I got the
coaching bug again and headed to Murwillumbah
where I was given the head coaching job there.
“I moved around a bit to Cudgen on the Gold Coast
and then headed to the beaches of Byron Bay where I
enjoyed coaching.”
But as fate would have it, Economidis would have
the suitcase packed again and this time was on a
plane to Fiji to coach the Fijian national side who
overcame a powerful Samoan team winning all three
games in the series.
“I suppose you can say I have a love affair with the
underdog.
“When I took the Fiji job in 1999, I knew they would
be athletic and strong, they just needed some coaching.
“We won all three games and that really gave me a
hunger to try my luck internationally.”
The coaching gods would look down favourably on
the 67-year Economidis again and in 2001, he was
appointed head coach of French Elite 1 side Toulouse
Spacers in France.
“I have to give it to the French; they are
passionate people.
“I was well looked after in the South of France and I
have fond memories, it’s a great place.
“The French competition I thought was a pretty good
standard regardless of what some people may think.
“I wanted to change a few things when I arrived
at Toulouse after I took over from my predecessor,
Patrick Pedrazzani. candidate for the South Sydney head coaching job.
“I was introducing more professionalism to the Again it wasn’t to be with the Rabbitohs preferring
club with new weights training programmes, video former Australian lock Paul Langmack.
sessions and recovery sessions, the players really “You know I don’t have many regrets in life but
got a taste of what it is like to play and train like an losing out on that Bunnies job is my biggest.
Australian and they benefited from it.” “I love the Bunnies and that one will probably
After his commitments at Toulouse wound up, haunt me until I go to the grave.”
Economidis would be jumping on planes again being With other stints as coach of Warwick Cowboys
interviewed for the possible coaching jobs at both in Toowoomba and being appointed coach of
Leeds Rhinos and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Souths Logan Magpies in the Qld Cup, it’s safe to
“I spoke with Gary Hetherington for the Leeds job say that the Queenslander is well travelled, yet well
and thought I may have had a good chance at getting it. respected.
“I have always wanted to coach in England For the time being though, Economidis is focused on
and Leeds being a proud club, I would have been leading the Red Star club to bigger and better things.
honoured to take the position.” “People don’t realise how good these Serbian
As it turned out, the Rhinos would sign fellow players are.
countryman Dean Lance and Economidis was left to “For athleticism, strength and power, they are just
look elsewhere for employment. as good as some Australians I’ve coached.
“That’s the thing with me, I never give up and took “They are wanting to learn from me, and I can see
that Leeds job on the chin. most of their skill levels have elevated.
“It just wasn’t meant to be, so I got back on the “People shouldn’t underestimate the talent pool
horse so to speak.” throughout Europe.
Having missed out on the Rhinos position, “I see great things on the horizon for Red Star and
Economidis was then scouted out as a potential I’m excited to be involved.” RLW

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