Knights coach backing Dutchy

NEWCASTLE HERALD

By Brett Keeble

KNIGHTS coach Brian Smith is not surprised at the success Jets counterpart Gary van Egmond has enjoyed.

Like the rest of Newcastle, Smith will be cheering for the Jets in tomorrow's decider, and he was confident van Egmond would have the players in the right physical and psychological condition for the game of their lives.

Smith was at Parramatta when van Egmond began his coaching career in charge of the Northern Spirit youth team in the late 1990s.

Though it was a different football code, and van Egmond was working a long way from Sydney's golden west, Smith quickly became aware of the rising star in his profession.

"I knew of Gary's reputation before I came up here," Smith said.

"People in the west of Sydney told me then that he was a great young coach waiting for an opportunity, and he's done that here in Newcastle and he's done it well.

"I think everybody at the Jets should be proud of themselves, and let's hope they finish it off on Sunday."

In the 18 months he has been in Newcastle, Smith and van Egmond have crossed paths several times and had swapped notes on the various issues all coaches deal with.

"He's put everything to one side, and I take my hat off to him," Smith said.

"Gary seems like a pretty smart bloke, and I think he'll help them to get the right balance and they'll be ready to rumble on Sunday."

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