When Michael Cheika was suspended for ‘disrespecting’ a match-day doctor in his first game in charge of Leicester, the likelihood of him remaining in English club rugby beyond this season appeared vanishingly small.
He said he felt disappointed, hurt and unwanted in the league. And he was alone in a Leicester hotel, his wife and four 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren having headed back to Australia.
The autumn internationals came around and with them more concern for Tigers, in the form of rumours suggesting both Australia and England had an eye on the highly-rated coach.
Short-term contract
Cheika is on only a one-season deal at Welford Road – useful if (a) England’s wretched run of results continues or (b) Joe Schmidt does not recommit to the Wallabies when his contract expires post 2025 Lions tour.
Yet as autumn gives way to winter, and another under-strength South African side heads to Leicester in the Investec Champions Cup – for Sharks this weekend read Stormers last December – the mood music is altogether different in the East Midlands.
Tigers lie third in the Gallagher Premiership, Cheika is ‘heavily involved’ in recruitment for next season, both in terms of new signings and contract renegotiations – and the players are loving working with him.
Double World Cup winner Handre Pollard said: “I’m really enjoying the boss. This season has been great. Very positive, very different. Cheik has got his own way of doing things, his own philosophies.
“Everyone is learning a lot. It’s a good environment to be in. There’s a clear direction in which we’re heading.”
Pollard, who starts at 10 against Sharks on Saturday evening, added: “Cheik is an experienced guy. He’s been around, he’s coached big teams, he’s been in big competitions.
“That experience is something you can’t buy. It’s something that comes with time. It’s knowing when to say what: when to get the boys up, when to bring calmness.
“He understands people, he knows how to handle them, whatever they may need in different scenarios. His people s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s are amazing. And he is really good with the emotional part of the game.”
Pollard admits he has been pleasantly surprised with what Cheika has built, saying he had no clear idea in his head what this season would look like, just not this.
And then the comment which will spark double hope among Tigers’ fans.
“I must say I’m really enjoying it,” said the fly-half. “Hopefully it will continue for the rest of the season and into the future.
“Tigers’ future is bright with him here. I really hope he can stay on and be here for a long while.”
Pollard’s contract is also up in the summer. He, too, is in high demand. He, too, is loving life at Leicester, the city in which his son Hunter was recently 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧.
Tigers remain optimistic that both will stay, but are smart enough not to shout it too loud.
Cheika still doubles up as rugby league coach of Lebanon, the country of his parent’s 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡. He is known to want to coach league in Australia’s NRL, although he has set out no timeframe for that.
“Cheik is arguably in the top three or four coaches in the world,” says Ben Youngs, Leicester legend and England’s most-capped player. “There is a genuine excitement that we have him here at Leicester.
“You can sense it in the community, you can feel it in the crowd. Just go to your local supermarket. People are excited about Michael Cheika.”
Sharks match-up
It is just such a shame the Sharks, reigning Investec Challenge Cup holders, will arrive under-strength for what should have been one of the headline match-ups of the competition.
Missing from the Durban-based franchise’s 23 are national captain Siya Kolisi and fellow Springbok superstar Eben Etzebeth.
Also absent are Bongi Mbonambi, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi and Vincent Koch, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Grant Williams and Ox Nche.
“We’ve had some key injuries, which is not ideal,” said head coach John Plumtree. Some understatement that. A year ago Stormers flew north from Cape Town similarly short of stardust.
That was blamed on poor scheduling. This time injuries and high player workloads. Either way, it does nothing for the diminishing reputation of the tournament.
