The Oxford definition of success is “The accomplishment of an aim or purpose.” It also notes that there is a line between success and failure.  A more archaic definition might be “The good or bad outcome of an undertaking.”

In most sports, let’s face it, success revolves around winning. In U.S Sports we always see statistics like an 11-4 season or an 8-8 season or a 4-11 season (with the first number representing the wins).

In the NRL, the season just completed, which teams were successful? Here, we must look at how different teams view success.

Agree or disagree. Teams that didn’t make the 8 were unsuccessful. That means that using this definition 9 teams were unsuccessful. Where they? We could argue that teams like the Broncos or Warriors were because in 2023 they made the top 8 (in fact the Broncos were beaten in the final by Penrith by 2 points). Or Parramatta, who were fighting for the wooden spoon, but didn’t get it, who also played in the top 8 in 2023 – Successful or unsuccessful?

What about injuries? Do critics take this into consideration? Not usually.

Three NRL coaches were sacked. The Broncos who finished 12^th, the Eels 15^th and the Rabbitohs 16^th

Certainly not making the top 8 had an impact here. What about this scenario: The Sharks and Roosters were considered unsuccessful because they didn’t make the final two.  Or even better, even though Melbourne finished as Minor Premiers, they were beaten by Penrith in the Grand Final. Successful or unsuccessful?

Let’s move on to the Wallabies. Three coaches in three years. Why? I can’t really answer that, but it is what it is. Obviously, it has a lot do with winning. This year, a new coach wins over a sub strength Wales ranking 11^th in world, then beats Georgia (12^th), and then 5 losses out of 6. (Two against The Springboks (2^nd), two against the All Blacks (3^rd) and 1 win, 1 loss against Pumas (6^th)). We haven’t beaten a team ranked above us and we head to the Northern Spring Tour where we play Ireland (1^st), England (5^th), Scottland (7^th), and Wales (11^th). I ask what will be a successful tour? Win all 4? Win 3 out of 4? Win 2 out of 4? Or just play well and be competitive. Personally, I believe we must gauge success on beating teams ranked higher than us. This has only happened once 20-19 vs Pumas who the next week put 67 points on us, mainly in the second half.

This month I was fortunate to be invited to attend a tremendous lunch in Brisbane. Guest Speakers were the ‘successful’ captains of 5 World Cups. Successful because you guessed it, they won (I was there as part of one of them in 1999).

• John Eales 1999 (also player in 1991 success)
• Martin Johnson 2003
• John Smit 2007
• Richie McCaw 2011 & 2015

All great speaker, all with similar messages, but not quite the same. When asked what the most important ingredient to success was, they differed slightly.

Eales stressed the importance of being part of a team and teamwork, as did Johnsen who also spoke of confidence and a bit of luck at the same time.

McCaw spoke of luck as well, but also spoke of the lessons learnt in 2007 when they weren’t successful and what they needed to do (hard work and be prepared to basically die for their country) so that it didn’t happen again. He told of the bitter disappointment of coming home after 2007 to face a nation of mourners, where expectations were that they must win and nothing less (no matter how well you played) otherwise you were deemed unsuccessful.

Jon Smit, to me was the most interesting. He spoke, like the other 3, about teamwork but also of expectations. He said that only New Zealand was really like South Africa in what the people, the press, and in fact the whole nation expected of the Springboks. They expected to win every game. Anything less was sub-standard and in fact not good enough. He spoke of times, after losses when he was captain, especially in South Africa, where the whole nation (like McCaw) mourned as though it was the death of the President. This he said was the driving force behind their success, because they knew the expectations of the nation was to win.

Both Smit and Johnson also spoke of the confidence in the lead up to the actual World Cup. Winning all, or the majority of the lead up games, brought confidence, and both believed that confidence in performance bred success.

Is there a secret recipe? Not Really. I bet that every team that wins major sports has had.

• A good team,
• Good coaching,
• Were fit or fitter than their counterparts,
• Had great support staff,
• A few referring decisions go their way, &
• A bit of luck,

…Because remember, there is a very thin line between success and failure.

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Steve Nance