By Sam Ackerman
Former Bradford, Panthers and Canberra coach Matthew Elliot has been confirmed as the eighth head coach of the Warriors.
He’s been preferred over many of the players' favourite – current assistant coach Tony Iro – but it's not Elliott's coaching record that won over Warriors co-owner Owen Glenn.
It was how he handled himself during a pair of two-hour interviews.
“He had all the right character, his answers were good and not evasive, because I don't tolerate that,” says Warriors co-owner Glenn.
“I dug into him a bit, but he came through with flying colours. I think he'll prove himself,” he says.
Elliot’s wasn't always the leading name during the weeks of speculation. But a season with an interim coach wasn't palatable to the club's powerbrokers, who were not prepared to wait until hot pick Craig Bellamy's Storm contract expired in 2014.
Glenn says the Warriors couldn’t afford to wait.
“[Bellamy’s] a good candidate, he's a good guy, but if he's honouring that contract the real question is could we afford not to have the right coach for a year? In my mind, no.”
Elliott's 16 years of experience also proved the key to edging Iro, the playing squad's pick.
The players only found out minutes before the official announcement.
“They show a lot of loyalty to Tony and I think that should be respected. But most of them would never have met or worked with Matthew, so it's pretty hard to make an accurate judgement,” says Warriors CEO Wayne Scurrah.
Elliott's era will also be greeted by unprecedented football resources.
“What is going to be behind Matthew to support him is the biggest investment in Vodafone Warriors' club history, and he will get everything it takes to give him his best opportunity to succeed,” says Scurrah.
And with plenty of money left in the salary cap – expect the Warriors to make a dent in the player market.
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