By Jon Geddes

IT was an emotional homecoming for former Wallaby coach Alan Jones on Saturday, back at Manly Oval where his rugby career really took off four decades ago.

He was a guest at the Manly v Randwick clash, which doubled as the 40-year reunion for the Marlins’ 1983 premiership-winning side whom Jones’ guided to a memorable 12-10 victory over a star-studded Galloping Greens’ outfit in the grand final.

As he looked across the “village green” on the weekend a grateful Jones told Rugby News: “Yes, it all started here.

“I won a premiership and everything followed from that. I don’t forget that, I understand what it means to me.”

Claiming that Shute Shield crown was an amazing achievement for Jones in his first season as a senior coach. And the next year he was in charge of the Wallabies as they pulled off their historic 1984 Grand Slam triumph.

Almost every member of that winning Manly side was at Saturday’s game and the strong bonds formed on and off the pitch all those years ago are stronger than ever.

“It’s hard to believe and it’s lovely to see everybody,” Jones said. “And you just realise how significant it is what we did – and playing tremendous rugby at the same time.

“And I think the longer it goes, the closer you get to one another – the longer it goes, the more it means to us.

“It has just been a wonderful day.”

Jones added with a laugh: “What’s next? 50 years is it?”

ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE

JONES offered a fascinating insight into how he became national coach the following year replacing Bob Dwyer, a move which caused incredible drama and controversy that reverberated right across the game.

“I was reappointed to Manly in ‘84, then the boys told me I should apply for the Australian job and then some people on the board said I should apply.

“And all hell broke loose. It was the most controversial selection process.

“In the end NSW rugby chose me and Queensland supported me, and the rest we know.”

THE MAKING OF A GOOD COACH        

HE said there had been tremendous opposition to him taking the Wallabies’ job because he had coached just one Shute Shield side.

“But all my sides had won premierships – my schoolboy sides had won premierships, my sub-districts sides had won premierships – and so the record was very good,” he said.

Jones said he was most probably the only international coach who has had success at schoolboy, grade,  provincial and Test levels.

“And I’m a great believer people shouldn’t be given these jobs unless they have actually had that experience,” he said.

“If you are coach of a high school side, you’ve only got three or four good players and you’ve  got to put a team together with 11 others, and that is hard work.

“When you then go to grade you might have three or four that would qualify for a state side – so to put that side together you’ve got to be able to coach.

“And, of course, many of these people coaching internationally haven’t ever had that experience.”

A TALENTED BUNCH 

AMONG that 1983 Manly players at the anniversary were Wallabies Steve Williams, Bill Calcraft, James Black and Ross Reynolds.

Another attendee was the side’s tough NSW backrower Tim Sheridan, who went on to forge a very successful career as a TV sports journalist.   

Utility back Black said it was fantastic for the group to reunite with their former mentor Jones.           

“He has been so synonymous with the success we had in ‘83 and others were fortunate to go on and play with the Wallabies,” he said.

“He just knew how the get the best out of every individual person – he knew what made each person tick.”

Black went on the Grand Slam tour and made his Test debut the following season.

PARTY POOPERS 

RANDWICK spoilt the party for Manly on Saturday, trailing 14-0 before they scored a converted try after fulltime to snatch a 14-all draw.

“Very disappointing, it shouldn’t happen,” Jones said.

“Randwick scored 14 points in five minutes. They did play well right at the death.

“It’s very tight on the table, so it’s most probably a fair scoreline for where they are.”

And it reminded Jones of the downside of coaching.

“Its heart attack stuff, isn’t it really,” he quipped.