Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson wants to build a legacy in NSW after signing a one-year extension with the club.
This time last year, Gibson was a coach under pressure after an underwhelming 2017 but a semi-final berth in 2018 changed all that, with the NSW coach inking an extension for this season last July.
Gibson wasted little time signing for one more year this time around, though, with the Kiwi committing through to 2020, which will be his fifth season as head coach.
GIBSON "CLOSE" TO SECURING NEW DEAL
GIBSON KEEN TO STAY ON IN 2019
It's a tenure that draws him level with Ewen McKenzie (2004-2008) and takes his time in Sydney to eight years after three as an assistant to Michael Cheika.
Gibson said the decision to commit so soon simply made sense.
“It’s good timing in my own personal life, it fits well with where my family are at, I love my job, I really enjoy the people I work with and I've got a really clear vision on what I want to achieve here at NSW, in making sure that the systems and structures we've talked a lot about over the years are put in place and I want those to remain beyond 2020,” he said.
Gibson said the deal would all but certainly be his last with the Waratahs after that stint but he has no shortage of potential successors in his own ranks should NSW continue on the trajectory of 2018.
All three of the Waratahs assistants have head coaching experience with Steve Tandy a long-time coach of Welsh side Ospreys, Simon Cron a former Shute Shield coach and Chris Whitaker having coached in France in recent years.
“That (deal) would put me up close to eight years in one spot which is fantastic as a rugby coach in one spot for so long,” he said/.
“That stability has been a real bonus for myself and the club. By then I would've done my job here and then it'll be for someone else.
“I'm clear on what I want to achieve at NSW, really leave a legacy, when we get to that point, make a decision then.”
The Waratahs take on the Hurricanes at Brookvale Oval on Saturday February 16, kicking off at 7:45pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.
