Trent Robinson added his name to an exclusive list of coaches on Sunday when he guided his Sydney Roosters side to a premiership in his first season in the NRL.
Robinson, who is one of the lowest-paid coaches in the competition, is in line for a bumper wage increase after matching the feat of Ricky Stuart, who led the club to the 2002 premiership in his rookie year.
Phil Gould (Canterbury 1988), Michael Hagan (Newcastle 2001), Ian Walsh (St George 1969) and Leo Nosworthy (Balmain 1969) also achieved it and Robinson’s players gave full credit to their coach’s methods.
“He’s so calm, and the game plan is really simple,” prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves told AAP.
“That is the secret really, not making things difficult and that really gets the best out of the boys.
“He’s been fantastic this season and deserves all the accolades that are going to come his way.”
Robinson has already won the Dally M coach of the year award and Roosters chairman Nick Pollitis will almost certainly have to pull out his chequebook to keep the 37-year-old.
However, the former Catalans coach, who joined the club at the start of the year having served as an assistant under Brian Smith in 2010, deflected the credit of his success to his assistants and backroom staff.
“There are a lot of people who go into making this team successful – it’s not just me and the players,” Robinson told AAP.
“The personal achievement will hit me in a few weeks’ time, but a coach is only as good as his players and the support staff.
“I am very fortunate to have both of those here and also work for the this wonderful club.
“I just thank them for taking a chance on me and I am so glad to be a part of this success.”