another notch for a toowoomba lad.
AFTER two phenomenally successful seasons in charge of Celtic Crusaders, John Dixon could be forgiven for easing off ahead of the new campaign.
The Crusaders take their National League One bow on Good Friday after two successive promotions, during which time Wales’ only full-time side have picked up trophies, records and a host of individual awards.
This season sees the Crusaders step up to a whole new level, with the likes of Widnes, Featherstone Rovers and Salford visiting the Brewery Field.
But merely surviving in rugby league’s second tier is not an option for the ebullient Dixon.
“The aim is promotion, no doubt about it,” said the 56-year-old Aussie. “We’ve tasted success in the last two seasons and we want more.
“It’s obviously another step up for us, and we’ve got some serious footy to play this season.
“There won’t be many opportunities to ease off the gas a little, as there have been in the last couple of seasons.
“But we showed in a few games last year we can compete with teams at this level.
“We recruited well in the close season and if we prepare well enough, I’m positive there’s enough quality in our squad to be right up there challenging for honours.”
Before becoming head coach at the Crusaders, Dixon was little known outside his native Australia.
He played A-grade rugby for All Whites in the Toowoomba competition 1973-77, earning selection in the Toowoomba representative team against the touring Great Britain side in 1975, and then playing for Brothers in the Rockhampton league.
But it is as a coach that the former PE teacher has made his mark.
The last 10 years was spent as assistant coach at top Australian NRL club Brisbane Broncos, whom he helped to several major honours including national and world titles.
He was also in charge of the Broncos’ feeder club, Toowoomba Clydesdales, and coached Queensland Students who toured the UK in 2001, beating the Welsh Students at Treorchy.
So after a lifetime Down Under, what was it about Celtic Crusaders that convinced him to move 12,000 miles from home and take his first head coach role at the age of 53?
“For me to get such an opportunity at this stage of my career was a tremendous one,” he said.
“When I had the call from the Broncos to join their coaching staff, it took two seconds to decide.
“And when I got the call from the then chief executive Chris O’Callaghan to join the Crusaders, even though it was the other side of the world, it only took me and my wife two minutes to say ‘yes’.
“To me, Chris captured a dream – I couldn’t see a way that rugby league in Wales couldn’t succeed, especially with a population who are sport crazy.”
He added: “I never saw myself as head coach at the Broncos, but that wasn’t because I didn’t think I was capable of doing the job.
“It was more to do with the fact that I couldn’t see the position becoming available.”
Dixon settled into his post at the Crusaders as quickly as he and his family settled into their new home at Ogmore-by-Sea.
Their only blemish so far this term was the last gasp defeat six days ago to London Skolars in the group stages of the Northern Rail Cup, a match for which Dixon chose to rest key players.
Russian side Locomotiv Moscow present a different kind of test in round three of the Carnegie Challenge Cup on Sunday (12noon), before they complete their Northern Rail Cup group at home to Doncaster on March 15.