Eastwood coach Chris Hickey is expected to be confirmed as the new NSW Waratahs Super 14 coach tonight, and outgoing mentor Ewen McKenzie is more than happy to provide advice to his replacement.
McKenzie knew of his fate months ago, and was not offered a new contract by the NSWRU despite guiding the 'Tahs to the Super 14 final, where his side went down 20-12 despite outscoring tournament favourites the Crusaders two tries to one.
But he is more than willing to share any background knowledge with Hickey.
"I think we all know who it is going to be, and I get on well with the guy," McKenzie told Fairfax.
"I don't have a problem. If he wants to know my thoughts, and if he can benefit from my experience, that's fine. But he may want to do it his own way.
"Still, I can certainly steer him in the right direction on a couple of things."
McKenzie has been praised for his professionalism this season after being told it would be his last at the Waratahs, barely raising any criticism of his employers during the team’s brilliant late run.
"I don't see a lot of mileage in pork-chopping yourself. That doesn't really help you," he said.
"You get more out of being dignified, stoic and all that sort of stuff.
"I know this business revolves around making hard decisions. And in a perverse sort of way, I did enjoy this season's challenges.
"I also never treated coaching as a popularity contest. You have to make the hard decisions to get the group going better. You don't always win friends in that process. But you can win respect. It is easy to be liked, hard to be respected."
