LEE Radford believes a winning mentality has driven three of rugby league’s greats to the heights of coaching after crossing codes.
This summer will see former Great Britain captain Andy Farrell lead the British & Irish Lions on their tour of Australia after guiding Ireland to back-to-back Six Nations titles in 2023 and 2024, while fellow Wigan great Shaun Edwards continues to be regarded as the greatest defensive mind in the 15-a-side code in his work with the French national team.
Leeds Rhinos icon Kevin Sinfield is also making his mark as England’s skills and kicking coach, and Radford – now on his own cross-code adventure as Northampton Saints defence coach – is not surprised to see the trio succeeding in union.
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“If I was to speak of them in particular rather than myself, if you look at their trophy cabinet, Shaun Edwards won the most trophies in rugby league history in the UK,” former Hull FC and Castleford Tigers head coach Radford told BBC Radio Humberside.
“You look at what Kev did at Leeds and international level, and you look at Faz as well, whatever sport they have been involved in they’d have been winners.
“I don’t think it’s any coincidence they’ve moved across and have continued to win things, with the traits they’ve got.
“I know all of them personally and having played against them and with them, if they went over to table tennis they’d probably do well at that.”
Radford has enjoyed some success of his own since joining Northampton’s staff ahead of the 2023/24 season, being part of last year’s Gallagher Premiership title triumph and having a European Champions Cup final against French side Bordeaux-Begles on May 24 to look forward to.
The 46-year-old, who won two Super League grand finals as a player with Bradford Bulls and two Challenge Cups as Hull FC head coach, has recently signed a contract extension with the Saints and does not see himself returning league any time soon.
However, he is maintaining a connection to the 13-man code through players at the club who are fans of the NRL.
“I do and I don’t [miss rugby league],” Radford said. “I’m very busy at the moment watching so much rugby and the fixtures for us at the moment are coming thick and fast, so you don’t get much time to watch rugby league, particularly Super League.
“Notoriously, if I do watch it I watch the NRL. A couple of our boys at Northampton are big NRL fans and we’ve got a fantasy league and a tipping comp going there.
“It’s been a great transition for myself and I’m really enjoying what I’m doing at the moment.”
