First-year Vodafone Warriors hooker Wayde Egan says incoming interim head coach Todd Payten has already made a huge impression on the team.
In the second match of his first-grade coaching career, Payten guided the Vodafone Warriors to an impressive come-from-behind 26-16 win over the Brisbane Broncos at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford last Saturday night.
It was a gritty performance coming off Payten’s tough initiation a week earlier when his first match in charge ended in a heavy loss to Melbourne following long-term coach Stephen Kearney’s departure.
And Egan who joined the Vodafone Warriors from the Ivan Cleary-coached Penrith Panthers, said Payten had made an immediate impact.
"He's a great coach and all the boys are on board with what he's saying,” said Egan ahead of the Vodafone Warriors' ninth-round clash against Gold Coast in Robina on Friday night..
"Toddy has put a few little changes in there that suit our game and I'm really happy with him as coach.
"If it happens that he stays in the job beyond this season I wouldn't have any problems with that.
"I love having him as coach. He's a very smart guy with his game plans and his message is very good. I'd be happy with him sticking around for sure."
After missing the Storm loss through suspension, Egan was on top of his game against Brisbane, feeding off his forwards rolling through the middle.
He scored his first try for the club and provided the assist for Agnatius Paasi’s touchdown while making eight dummy half runs and 42 tackles.
