Richard Agar “regrets” not leaving Leeds Rhinos earlier to take up NRL role

Richard Agar has been brought in at New Zealand Warriors as assistant coach by former Hull KR assistant Andrew Wesbter.

For Agar, speaking to Stuff NZ down under, it is an exciting opportunity, one he has waited a long time for after declining chances to move to the NRL during his time at Leeds.

He revealed that he somewhat regrets not being able to go.

“I worked for St George four or five years ago, but some family circumstances had to take us home,” Agar said.

“But we loved our time in Australia and with the size of the game in the NRL, it’s probably the pinnacle of our sport today.

“I nearly ended up back here a couple of times over the last couple of years and then last year I had an opportunity to join a Sydney club, but because of lock downs and quarantines, that made it difficult for it to happen logistically.

“It was a difficult decision to say I couldn’t come, but it was something I regretted,” he added.

“I had a long career in England and I was lucky enough to experience all the big games the sport can offer over there. So it had always been a long held ambition to come and work down here.

“A couple of opportunities came around, I’d left my job at Leeds and was due to start another job, but didn’t want to go back. I’d been head coach longer than anticipated, I was a temporary head coach that ended up doing three seasons.

“Then when I got the opportunity this time, I was keen to take it.”

“I’ve had around 10 seasons as a head coach and I love working in the game.

“I hope I can support Andrew via those experiences. As a first time head coach you can be a great technical coach, but walking in the shoes of a head coach is very different.

“I’d like to think I’ve accumulated plenty of experience and I can support him not only in the day to day assistant role, but in whatever other areas myself Justin and Stacey can support him.

“Ultimately as a head coach, you live and die by your decisions and they’re his decisions to make, but we’ll support him in any way we can.”