Maxwells Like Ships That Pass In The Night

By Fleur Castlereagh on February 23, 2012 in Sport

Two legends of Randwick Rugby Club will be like ships that pass in the night this year as John Maxwell takes the reigns as first grade coach while his son, Tim Maxwell, enjoys his first year of retirement after ten successful years at the club.

The decision for Tim Maxwell to retire after ten years playing first grade rugby and 255 club games for Randwick was tough for a number of reasons.

Firstly there was the fact that he had made many great friends at the club over the years. Add to this the knowledge that he would be missing out on playing under the tutelage of his dad and it’s easy to understand why it was hard to hang up the boots.

“I have made the sort of friends that you make in tough times; it’s a pretty special club, “ said Tim.

“It would have been great to have dad coaching me. He has such a rugby brain that most people don’t have.”

But due to starting a job on the Central Coast and becoming a father for the first time it was inevitable that the second-rower had to call it a day for the sake of his career and growing family.

For John it was also disappointing that he would not be able to coach his talented son who was known as a fiercely determined player.

“It is absolutely disappointing, but then again he might not have made the team,” laughed John.

“It will be a shame. Tim plays the style of football that I want us to be playing this year.”

Both John and Tim have an impressive track record at the club.

John played an outstanding 323 first grade games from 1972 to 1992. No other rugby player in NSW, and probably in Australia, has played for 21 seasons at such a consistently high level.

When he retired from playing he immediately went into coaching and led the first grade team to premierships in 1994, 1996 and 2000, before vacating the position in 2002.

For the last few years John has successfully coached Randwick’s third grade side and when the opportunity to coach first grade again was offered to him this year he did not hesitate to accept it.

“I know the potential of the club and the players who turn up week in, week out. To play a roll in seeing both these succeed is what sees me coming back,” said John.

According to John, this year will be about getting back to basics and becoming more involved.

“All the grades last year seemed to be playing within themselves. We need to make every opportunity count and sometimes it’s okay to make mistakes,” John explained.

“The idea of playing within your capabilities in order to not make a mistake is wrong.”

So will we see Tim offering up any advice to his dad throughout the season?

“Anything I could say to my dad in an advisory role would be to just win. I will definitely go down and support him and hang around him and see what he has to say,” Tim said.