Jack Gibson

Jack Gibson was a rugby league player, coach and commentator. He played for Eastern Suburbs, Newtown Jets and Western Suburbs, before turning his hand to coaching.

Jack joined the Parramatta Eels for the 1981 season after coaching stints at other clubs including Eastern Suburbs and Newtown. He took on a team of stalwarts such as Steve Edge, Bob O’Reilly, Michael Cronin and Ray Price, and developed new kids on the block - Peter Sterling, Eric Grothe, Brett Kenny and Steve Ella.

Along with his assistant coach Ron Massey, Jack spent his time researching new ways of player preparation and was the first in Australia to introduce regulated weight training, video analysis and more scientific fitness assessment. A 30-minute motivational film called The Second Effort in 1971 featuring American football coach Vince Lombardi using motivational messages such as “mental toughness is an essential key to success” and “fatigue makes cowards of us all” and “confidence is contagious, and so is the lack of it” had a profound effect on Jack. He demanded respect and he got it.

Jack coached the 1981 Parramatta Eels to their first Premiership win and went onto lead the club to two more consecutive premierships in 1982 and 1983 before departing the club as part of his belief that no coach should stay at one club for more than three years at a time.

He cited the Eels’ first premiership of 1981 as his favourite moment and best achievement of his coaching career. His iconic fur coat became part of rugby league folklore.

Jack Gibson was appointed Coach of the ARL Team of the Century named in 2008, just hours prior to his passing.