RICHARD Agar and Tony Smith say their partnership is flourishing as they head into their first Super League campaign together.

Former Wakefield Trinity Wildcats top dog Agar comes in as Smith’s right-hand man in place of Willie Poching and Richard Marshall in one of a number of backroom changes to ‘freshen up’ the Warrington Wolves camp.

It will be the first time since Agar’s early years at Hull FC (2006-07) that he is working under a boss in the coaching department, but that is stressed as no issue as two former stand offs with a long-standing relationship merge their methodology in a bid to bring Wolves their first championship success since 1955.

“The opportunity to work with Tony is very appealing,” said Agar, who first got to know Smith in 2003 when he was head coach at York City Knights and the Australian took over at Huddersfield Giants.

“He’s been the most successful coach in the modern era in the English game and, aside from the long-standing relationship with him, I wanted the challenge of working for him. It’s something I think will drive me to becoming a better coach.”

And Agar has quickly settled into working with a booming club, rather than a struggling one.

“I’ve had two jobs that have been challenging. Hull is a very challenging job, as probably the past five, six or seven coaches have found out. And it was a totally different and enjoyable challenge at Wakefield but very challenging from the perspective of where the club has been sat.

“I think for me it has been beneficial to get rid of some of those additional challenges and concentrate solely on rugby and have the challenge of working with Tony.

“At the moment we’re enjoying bouncing ideas off each other and just finding little ways where we can get marginal gains and adding on to what is already a strong system.

“It is important to stress that there’s not too much that needs changing.

“The club has been very close over the past couple of years in both competitions and not quite got over the line.

“If I can add, suggest or challenge in certain ways that we can stimulate each other then hopefully some good energy and good ideas will come from that. And I think that’s been the case.

“I’ve found it a very easy transition. It helps that we get along, have similar views on rugby league and principally we see a lot of things the same way. e have hit it off in terms of the synergy we’re finding around the team but it’s not just about me and Tony, it’s the whole staff.”

He explained how they have been working together so far.

“Most clubs are running with three coaches – a head coach and two assistants. We’re genuinely running with two,” he said.

“Lee Briers (Under 19s head coach) has dipped in and gives us a hand but generally we are running with two coaches.

“We’re not dead-set that one’s running the attack and the other’s running defence, we’ve all been doing bits of skills, bits of teamwork, bits of unit work.

“We’ve mixed it together really well and I like to think that perhaps I can give Tony the opportunity to oversee and do some of the duties of a head coach that do take your time up and hopefully leave him confident that when that time arises I can get stuff done.”

Agar said his view of the club has only strengthened since his arrival in November after his duties ended as head coach of France in the European Cup.

He said: “I had a long-held respect for Warrington in terms of what the board and the owner have achieved, and probably the perception of the club and how it has evolved over the years as a go-ahead, forward thinking club that does the right thing and in particularly in terms of the brand of football that Tony adopts and philosophises in.

“So it’s been everything I expected and more, and it’s been a very easy transition to make.

“I had some time over the first couple of weeks of pre-season on my own while Tony was in America and I remarked to a couple of the players that I found it really easy coaching these guys.

“That is very much a testament to what is set up and already in place here throughout the club.

“With the resources and the staff and the way the club is set up, it does make our job a lot easier.”

So, having joined the operation with fresh eyes, does he believe everything is in place for Warrington Wolves to become a champion team sometime soon.

He said: “The club has not won a final over the past couple of years. That’s a big aim for everyone and I think with the squad they’ve got I like to think anything’s achievable this year.

“I’ve got nothing to compare it with in terms of Warrington’s past. I can’t say in comparison to last year this squad is better or is training harder.

“What I do know is that I’m seeing a squad that is working extremely hard.

“The club is set up for it, in terms of the playing squad we’ve got, the resources at disposal in terms of training facilities and everything that the club provides.

“It’s now down to us. It’s difficult because there’s three, four, possibly five other clubs in a very similar situation to us but that’s the challenge in front of us.”

TONY SMITH

WOLVES’ head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith says he is pleased with Richard Agar’s contribution so far.

Agar stepped down as head coach of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats last summer and started with Wolves in November.

“He’s been great. For a quality coach like Rich to join our staff is a great coup for the club,” said Smith.

“He’s very experienced at head coaching and to be able to come here and support me and the team in the way that he has and settle in is fantastic.

“We’ve been mates for a number of years and respect one another.

“We’ve always had a good relationship that working together wouldn’t be an issue. It’s been far from that, it’s been fantastic.

“He adds things, some of the skills drills we do and different ideas he brings to the outfit and to the coaching staff.

“Some of that is Rich challenging, questioning and having input for me, but some of that filters through to the players as well and his ideas on how we should play.

“We’ve got a similar sort of philosophy in many respects but each coach is different and each coach adds a little to the mix. Rich has added not just a little but a whole lot.”

Smith added: “He’s really freshened me up.

“He’s brought freshness to the training park as well.

“He’s a different voice and sometimes players can get stale or comfortable with the same voice over and over, so it’s important I keep them fresh by introducing different staff members.

“They’ve certainly responded really positively.”

RICHARD AGAR BIOGARPHY

WOLVES’ new first-team coach Richard Agar has been in professional rugby league since 1993.

PLAYING DAYS:

Agar turned pro with Dewsbury Rams on August 26, 1993, signing as a 21-year-old stand off from Pontefract amateurs Travellers Saints.

Early into his third season, he joined Rochdale Hornets but returned to the Yorkshire outfit for the start of his most successful spell as a player.

Under Neil Kelly, a Northern Ford Premiership Grand Final appearance was made against Hunslet at Headingley in 1999.

Twelve months later he was at number six again and kicked the last-minute drop goal that earned Dewsbury a thrilling 13-12 NFP Grand Final win against Leigh Centurions at Gigg Lane, Bury.

After he followed Kelly to Widnes Vikings, Agar partnered ex-Wolves player Martin Crompton in the halves in the 2001 final as Vikings booked a place in Super League.

Agar stayed in the Championship though and spent one season with each of Rochdale and Featherstone Rovers before hanging up his boots at the end of 2003.

COACHING CAREER:

Agar replaced Paul Broadbent to take on the role as head coach of York City Knights from 2003-04.

He then spent seven years at Hull FC, firstly as assistant to John Kear and then Peter Sharp, before being appointed as their head coach in 2008 when he guided the Black and Whites to a Challenge Cup Final appearance.

After the 2011 season Agar took up the reins at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, before stepping down last June.

He was appointed coach of France in 2013, steering the national team to the quarter finals of the Rugby League World Cup.