'Still a job not done': finals lessons driving return for one last shot at ultimate

A mid-season comeback has given Temora playmaker Josh McCrone a grand final opportunity six years in the making. Picture by Bernard Humphreys

His five-year coaching stint took Temora out of the finals wilderness and turned them back into a Group Nine force.

or signup to continue reading

All articles from our website & app

The digital version of Today's Paper

Now after a mid-season comeback, Josh McCrone has the chance to secure an elusive premiership for the Dragons.

Stepping down last season and looking to move on from playing days, an offer to his replacement Jordon Burley now has McCrone part of Temora's starting line-up in the grand final at Equex Centre on Sunday, September 20.

He's looking to make the most of it.

"There's still a job not done," McCrone said.

Arriving back in his home town after 161 NRL games with Canberra and St George Illawarra, 46 more in the English Super League plus a year with Young after Temora did not take part in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, McCrone led the Dragons to their first finals series in 15 years.

It took three years to win a final, with four straight finals losses between 2022 and 2023, including the latter when minor premiers.

Despite breaking through to win a final for the first time in 17 years another preliminary final loss followed in 2024 before his tenure came to an end in the second week of finals last year.

McCrone thought his return could help negate some of the problems that led to finals exits in the past.

"The thinking around me playing was the five years I coached we got to finals and just had a few injuries that were hard to paste up," he said.

"I just said to Jordy if I can qualify enough for finals and you want to use me, use me and if you don't want to use me it is what it is.

"I'm not too stressed about that even though I love to play and I love to be picked it's more about having an option for him as a coach."

The 39-year-old returned in round eight this season, the start of a nine-game winning streak for the Dragons that came to a halt in the major semi-final.

Burley has been impressed with the impact McCrone's experience has had on the side.

"He's coached the group for five years, probably knows them inside and out I guess and just comes back in and gives us that level head and experience," Burley said.

"I thought that shown through on the weekend and when it was crucial stages he stood up and helped steer the ship even from 13."

Josh McCrone tries to break out of a tackle during the preliminary final. Picture by Bernard Humphreys

McCrone stepped away looking to focus more on his family, but soon found himself with even more coaching responsibilities with three of his four children.

Coaching Theo in the under 8s, Archie in the under 11s and Ava in the under 14s girls tackle, who went on to win the Group Nine Championships, it cut into his return with Saturdays still centred on junior rugby league.

"It got tricky at the back end of the year as I was coaching three junior teams so Saturday footy didn't really work for me," he said.

"When their finals started I missed five weeks of footy, which probably showed that first week of finals and the tongue was hanging out a bit much, but the extra week's footy helped me if no one else."

However the 39-year-old has no regrets about stepping away.

Even if it didn't last very long.

"I was more than happy when I left," McCrone said.

"The big thing for me when I started coaching was leaving the place in a better spot than I found it.

"I was fairly happy with where I left it, although you'd love to win something obviously, but the groundwork is done and we're in a position now that we can do it.

"I'm really happy for the whole club, Jordy and the group that they've been able to get to this point."

McCrone said things now feel "totally different" as he only worries about his preparation and any teammates who want it rather than the whole team.

However with not only the first grade side in a grand final for the first time in 20 years, but their reserve grade also through for the first time since 2006 and their leaguetag outfit through to a fifth straight grand final and hunting four wins for the period, Sunday shapes as a massive day for the club.

"The town is obviously buzzing and it's a good time to be around," McCrone said.

"I think it goes to the back of the good last five or six years that we've had that we've built a decent enough culture and this is the success that comes off the back of it.

"Obviously there's still a long way to go with the 18s and stuff like that but it's the club we wanted to build for the future.

"Hopefully this is the beginning of a lot more success.

"Not saying that we've succeeded this year, there's an asterisk there but making the grand final is a success."

Be the first to know when news breaks.