Dermody new coach as Highlanders seek talent

• Published date: 24 June 2022
• Publication title: New Zealand Herald, The (Auckland, New Zealand)

Dermody and his staff have two major jobs before they return to the field in February for the second season of Super Rugby Pacific

They need to work with some existing contracted players to get them back into form or to help them take the leap from adequate to excellent, and they need to strike gold in the recruitment market.

Firstly, it needs to be determined who is on that staff.

Dermody now has the head coaching role on a three-year deal, with skills coach Riki Flutey.

Outgoing head coach Tony Brown has returned to Japan, and defence coach Shane Christie is coming off contract. That leaves at least two spots open — unless Dermody is keen to have Christie stay on staff.

One needs to be a backs coach. Local contenders could include Highlanders under-20 coach Ryan Bambry, talent development manager Kane Jury and North Otago coach Jason Forrest.

As Dermody will have to relinquish some forwards coaching duties, the other coach will need to be in that area, with a particular focus on the lineouts.

That would seem to be a role made for Tom Donnelly, the former All Blacks and Highlanders lock who will complete his third (and possibly final) season coaching Otago in the NPC this year, and is the New Zealand under-20 coach on the upward path.

All would be revealed soon, Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said this week.

“We’re still to confirm the coaching structure but we think we’ve got a pretty good plan in place,” he said.

Asked if Dermody’s assistants would be external or local appointments, Clark replied: “A bit of both.”

The Highlanders will also be looking for a mentor for Dermody.

Former coach Tony Gilbert held that role...