Braid offers right stuff says Mooney
Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:45
New Reds flank, New Zealander Daniel Braid, says he has all the experience he needs to help lead the young and exciting Australian Super 14 franchise.
Braids new coach, Phil Mooney, has already spoken highly of his new stars ability to lead by example and says now that it was also the strong character of the 27-year-old which was key in motivating him to take him to Suncorp Stadium.
"Football skill is important but the quality of the person and what they can offer to our program is vital as well.
“David [Nucifora] spoke very highly of Daniel in terms of his leadership qualities and with a young group it was important that we sign a player with those qualities."
Nucifora, now Australian Rugby’s High Performance General manager, worked with Braid during his time as head coach of the Auckland Blues and, according to Mooney, has had nothing but the best to say about his former
protégé.
"The benefit that we derive from it [bringin David in] is the fact that we've got a guy who's played internationally for another country (and) played very successfully in provincial programs.
“So what Daniel offers us with approaches to the game, his different experiences on and off the field, I think will be beneficial not just to the Reds but to the younger guys in the Academy who play in that position," Mooney explained.
Braid himself has also spoken of his desire to make an impact at his new team and says that he believes his recent experiences will definitely stand him in good stead to do just that.
"I've just finished a season with a very young Auckland side and I've got experience of how to motivate and relate to young guys and how to impart the knowledge that I've got onto them."
Speaking at a Ballymore news conference on Thursday the four-time capped All Black also spoke of his admiration for Reds legend David Croft.
With Croft himself having now retired Braid has been seen as a direct replacement for the tenacious flank, but, rather than being intimidated by the prospect, Braid is keen to honour the Australian No. 7 with some determined performances of his own.
"When you're playing against the Reds, he's (Croft) always the guy that you target first, you've got to take out. He put his body on the line every single game.
"I saw him after the game when the Blues played the Reds and he threw everything into that. His arm was in a sling, there was all ice there, his face was bashed up, had stitches. That's just the sort of guy he is."
