Official John Lang

[sharks195]

it would have been good to have lang again, but i reckon that raper is gone and that lam will take over

 

[db72]

I give it until Thursday before Rapergets the punt.... another sacrificial lamb by the board! They need to have a good look at themselves!

 

[sharks195]

that is what i think too

 

[Capmar]

No offence but if 10 losses in a row isn't reason to sack the coach, when do you sack a coach?

 

[Matts3939]

Well Chris anderson was sacked for so much less so i cant see Raper there next week, i just hope we get a coach with some balls, a coach that will drop players if they are not performing no matter who they are, if them players cant hack it well thats tuff. We all remember the way Nick Graham and Dean Treister acted when they were dropped by Anderson, they wanted realeases.

 

[KELPIE]

Then we need a board who will let the coach do his job and give him some support!

 

[Megashark]

Exactly right Kelpie and db, if the coach goes then the board also needs a radical shake-up, otherwise there is no point to the whole exercise...and within the next season or two, we will be faced with exactly the same scenario that we are discussing right now.

 

[san29]

FORMER Cronulla coach John Lang has dismissed speculation linking him to a return to the Sharks as coaching director in a rumoured overhaul that would see former Queensland captain Adrian Lam replace Stuart Raper as head coach.

Lang, still without a first- grade job next year, has been thrown into the coaching mix that has been swirling since Ricky Stuart's axing from the Roosters and dark clouds began gathering about Raper's future at Toyota Park.

Lam, who has not commented on the rumours, is at present Raper's assistant coach at the Sharks and is highly regarded by the players as a mentor, while Lang's experience and close ties to the area from his eight years at the helm make him appealing as a steadying influence on the club.

But the former Maroons hooker said rumours linking him to a return to the shire were false.

"All I know is that Stuey has got the job there and that's it as far as I'm concerned," Lang said. "Ricky (Stuart) has been linked with the job, and I suppose I'm not surprised I have too.

"I have been linked to every job going in the past eight or nine months."

The Roosters have created a special sub-committee to find a new head coach.

Former Warriors coach and now St Helens coach Daniel Anderson was an early favourite to replace Stuart, with a host of other candidates such as Jason Taylor, Lam and Lang mentioned as possible replacements.

Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said he could not identify who was on the club's short list but the Tri-colours hoped to have found a new coach by the end of this month.

"We are keeping it all in-house and confidential at this point in time but we

obviously don't want the process to drag on longer than necessary," Canavan said.

Lam is the first Roosters coaching candidate to hold talks with the club -- via his manager, Sam Ayoub.

Ayoub has confirmed he briefly discussed Lam in a meeting with Roosters chairman Nick Politis on Thursday.

Anderson's manager Jim Banaghan yesterday instructed Cronulla and the Roosters to make the first approach through St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus if they wish to sign the Super League Challenge Cup winner for next year.

"Daniel is still contracted to Saints for another year and, to be honest, the talk about Daniel and the Roosters and Sharks has caught us a little bit off-guard," Banaghan said.

"Daniel is a career coach and he has had success wherever he has been, so I can understand the interest from those clubs. But they will have to get permission from Eamonn before anything goes anywhere."

JOHN LANG WAS NOT ASKED TO COME BACK TO THE SHARKS HE IS GOING BACK TO Q.L.D. TO RUN A FITNESS BUSINESS WITH MARTON LANG

 

[Great White]

I don't think he should of been asked. He did well but still couldn't get us there, so what makes you think he would now.

SOMEONE NEW, either Ricky or let Lam take over.

 

[sharks195]

Lam would be good concidering that he has actually helped the players this year and he knows what to do better than raper does!

 

[Yahoo News]

FORMER Penrith boss John Lang has emerged as the surprise favourite to become full-time coach of England and Great Britain.

Source: http://foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21150731-23214,00.html?from=public_rss

Lions hunt down Lang
By Steve Mascord
February 01, 2007

FORMER Penrith boss John Lang has emerged as the surprise favourite to become full-time coach of England and Great Britain.

Britain's Rugby Football League is understood to have already taken steps towards recruiting the premiership-winning Panthers mentor, who was replaced this year by Matthew Elliott, as a successor to Brian Noble in time for this year's New Zealand series.

"I've got no comment to make on that or any other job," Lang said yesterday.

"I'm not a public person any more."

Wigan's Noble announced last month he would stand down after being told by the Rugby Football League the national post would become full time.

Another 2006 NRL coach, Souths' Shaun McRae, was immediately installed as favourite after leaving the club.

But McRae said: "I haven't spoken to anybody. The only people who have contacted me about it are the media."

Sacked Sharks boss Stuart Raper is another with strong British links, having formerly headed Wigan and Castleford, but he said: "I have just started up a business here in Sydney with my wife so going back to England is not something I would look at at this stage."

Lang coached Australia to a Super League series victory in Britain in 1997 and is highly thought of there - but former GB captain Garry Schofield has said it would be "a disgrace" if an Australian was appointed.

With the home nations competing separately in the 2008 World Cup, England will be trying to end a three-decade run of outs against Australia.

Lang, who is in the middle of a move from the Sutherland Shire to the Gold Coast, says he "feels like I'm 18 again".

McRae and Raper hope to make announcements on their futures shortly.

McRae, who was appointed director of football at Souths but dramatically resigned, said: "I have been a head coach for 10 years so this feels a bit like long service leave.

"I have made it clear I want to remain in football in some capacity so hopefully something will come up."

 

[Google News]

Lang stays mum on plans

The former Penrith and Cronulla coach said he particularly enjoyed watching the Cowboys, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Melbourne go around. ...

Source: http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2008/02/16/10685_cowboys.html

Lang stays mum on plans
ANTONY STEWART
16Feb08

CLUBLESS premiership-winning coach John Lang admits he misses the challenge that comes with being an NRL mentor.

But the last thing he wants to do is start linking himself to the soon-to-be-vacated North Queensland and Brisbane jobs.

For the first time in almost two decades, Lang spent a season in his armchair rather than the coaches' box last year and he enjoyed every minute of it.

The former Penrith and Cronulla coach said he particularly enjoyed watching the Cowboys, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Melbourne go around.

However, playing the role of spectator is not where he necessarily plans to stay.

"I'm not retired," he said.

"I would like to (coach again) if the opportunity came (but) it's such a small field.

"I miss a lot of it actually, probably the challenge of it.

"I always enjoyed seeing the club develop – watching the young guys coming through and just having your finger on the pulse."

But Lang, who took the Panthers to a 2003 premiership, said where he may or may not end up was not worth discussing.

"Whether I am going to contact this club or that club I don't really want to make any comment," he said.

 

[Google News]

Lang calls for shoulder charge ban

There was more drama in Sunday's game between Melbourne and Cronulla, with Sharks prop Ben Ross sent off after elbowing Storm halfback Cooper Cronk. ...

Source: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23421350-23214,00.html

Lang calls for shoulder charge ban
By Stuart Honeysett
March 24, 2008

FORMER Penrith premiership-winning coach John Lang has renewed his attack on the shoulder charge, saying the NRL should ban the practice because it provides more trouble than it's worth.

Lang's stance comes after a wild Easter weekend that is likely to result in Brisbane's Karmichael Hunt and North Queensland's Ashley Graham charged by the match review committee for shoulder charges gone wrong.

There was more drama in Sunday's game between Melbourne and Cronulla, with Sharks prop Ben Ross sent off after elbowing Storm halfback Cooper Cronk.

A staunch critic of the shoulder charge during his stints at Cronulla and Penrith, Lang said it was time to follow rugby union and ban shoulder charges from the game.

"I don't think it's the cure-all, but you gain some things and you lose nothing," Lang said.

"It's not going to be the be-all and end-all. It's not going to stop every controversial incident, but it stops a few. We lose the shoulder charge out of the game. So what?

"I don't think it takes any talent to shoulder charge.

"You're getting something that's not good out of the game. They don't have it in rugby union and I don't think it suffers because they don't have a shoulder charge."

The league has been under fire since a defenceless South Sydney halfback Craig Wing dislocated his shoulder following a hit from behind by Sydney Roosters hooker Riley Brown in the season opener.

There was more drama this round after a Hunt shoulder charge left Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta with a broken nose, while Wests Tigers fullback Brett Hodgson was concussed after a hit by Graham.

Following the public outrage over the Wing incident and the fact Brown escaped punishment, the NRL issued a statement last week saying it would monitor the issue.

"We said we weren't going to make knee-jerk reactions, we were going to monitor the situation and it's being monitored," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said.

The round concludes with St George Illawarra hosting the Gold Coast in Wollongong, but the match review committee will meet to begin drawing up charges from the weekend's matches.

Although Brisbane downplayed the incident and Anasta said he slipped into the hit and harboured no grudge towards Hunt, it is expected the Broncos fullback will still have a case to answer.

Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen said the club would await the match review committee's findings but added it would vigorously defend Hunt against any charge.

"We're confident that he hasn't done anything wrong," Cullen said.

"We know it was accidental -- the Roosters are saying that and Braith is saying that.

"We've watched replays, we know Braith fell into it and there was no intent and it was purely accidental."

Anasta has already indicated he would be happy to give evidence on Hunt's behalf and the Roosters gave their blessing.

Graham's tackle was similar to Hunt's in that Hodgson was slipping when the Cowboys centre collected the Tigers custodian with his elbow.

While Hodgson is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, Cowboys coach Graham Murray said he didn't believe there was any malice in the incident.

"I still believe in rugby league there are a few collisions that are going to happen," Murray said. "Particularly when people fall and slip in front of you."

 

[Hammerhead]

The future is now, says Lang

Porch light still on for Sharks - RUGBY LEAGUE
Brent Read
1213 words
29 March 2008
The Australian
1 - All-round Country
55
English
Copyright 2008 News Ltd. All Rights Reserved

STUART RAPER remembers the old lady. Each pre-season during his three-year tenure as Cronulla coach, she would appear, pleading with Raper to end her long wait for a premiership.

``The first time she came I thought `unless we play a grand final in about a week we're in trouble here', because she wasn't too far off,'' Raper said.

``She came and saw me the year after and I thought, `God, she's still here, God love her'. She came back to me three years straight. I thought, geez, she's hanging in there, this girl.''

That old lady, whose name escapes Raper, was like so many long-suffering Sharks fans. They are a hardy group, spending every other weekend at Toyota Park and the rest of their lives praying for a miracle.

As Jack Gibson dryly noted: ``Waiting for Cronulla to win a premiership is like leaving the porch light on for Harold Holt.''

Raper knows only too well. His father Johnny, one of the game's seven Immortals, coached the Sharks for two years, the start of a love affair with the club and the area. Stuart and his brother Aaron played for the Sharks, before Stuart himself spent three years carrying a clipboard. He still lives in the shire.

``Every year it builds up more and more,'' Raper said of the club's premiership drought, which stretches back to the Sharks' inception in 1967.

``It certainly gets hard when you get old ladies coming up to you and saying they want a premiership before they die. I suppose you could call that pressure. That's certainly the feeling of some people in the shire.''

It's not just the former coaches who confront such a dilemma.

``I swim most mornings at the rock pool (at Cronulla),'' former Sharks prop Jason Stevens said.

``I get a lot of older men coming up and saying `do you think this could be the year, do you think this could be the year?'

``I hear it a lot. It's good that they're talking that way. If they've given up on it they don't ask those questions.

``There's a great love for the game in the shire.''

Stevens tasted his share of success at the Sharks. Not a premiership mind you, although he and his team-mates went close in 1997. That year the Sharks qualified for the Super League grand final, only to run into an all-star Brisbane outfit. Cronulla never stood a chance. And the drought went on.

``Sometimes I think maybe the Sharks' fans are too forgiving,'' said John Lang, coach of the 1997 side.

``One great old mate of mine, he was on the board before I got there, a bloke named Billy Purcell. He died last year. Poor old Billy didn't get to see them win it.

``They went so close in the early days. Paul Malouf, the ex-Sharks doctor, is a great friend of mine. He's told me the story of how they got dudded in the 1978 grand final about 100 times.''

Lang divides his time these days between Cronulla and the Gold Coast, where his son Martin lives with his family.

He likes the look of the current outfit, which has begun the season with wins over last year's grand finalists, Manly and Melbourne.

Those results have got the region buzzing again.

``This is the unfortunate thing that happens,'' Raper said. ``They get a couple of wins and people bring these things up. They hang in and get to the semi-finals and it gets brought up again.

``When I was there, I got Steve Rogers and Andrew Ettingshausen to talk about this expectation, to face it front on.

``Let's do this, let's accept this, let's try to be part of this.

``But also we can't play with the burden of 30 years' past history on our shoulders.''

Lang remembers something former chairman Paul Gow told him when he first joined the Sharks.

``He was no expert on rugby league but he made some good observations about things in general,'' Lang said.

``He said `the way I look at it, we have to build a side that's going to be knocking on the door every year. The year things go our way that's when we will win the comp'.''

There's no doubt things didn't go the Sharks' way last year. Cronulla lost nine games by four points or less. Win them and they finish in the top four.

In a bid to make his side more successful in close games, Sharks coach Ricky Stuart used the pre-season to take his players back to school. ``I felt like we were under-7s there for a while,'' halfback Brett Kimmorley said.

``Stand and pass, catch and pass, how important it is for the nine to pass well to the seven and the seven pass well to the six.

``Once you see the concept of why you do it and grasp how important a good pass is, it helps you execute plays properly.''

Cronulla's Test star Greg Bird appreciated the exercise.

``We just sat down and said we have to learn from last year. We're only two games in. We can't get too far ahead of ourselves,'' he said. ``If we lose 10 straight we're exactly where we were last season.''

Given the evidence thus far, that's not about to happen.

The Sharks look a better side than last year, in the main because their forwards have continued to mature. Bird, in particular, has become a pivotal figure. Kimmorley is benefiting as much as anyone from his elevation into elite class. With the pressure removed, Kimmorley is free to do what he does best. Run the show.

``With good go-forward, he can control a game as well as just about anybody I have ever seen,'' Lang said.

``I felt he was only a fingernail behind Andrew Johns when they were both at their top.''

The other ingredient is Stuart. Stevens believes the premiership-winning coach has brought confidence to the club.

As driven and focused as anyone in the game, you get the feeling Stuart would give his players an old-fashioned tongue lashing if they started talking about droughts and premierships.

Playing last year's grand finalists was a challenge, but the real test is yet to come. As the old adage says, premierships aren't won in March.

Obstacles are already being placed in front of his side. Gun forward Reece Williams will miss the remainder of the season thanks to a serious knee injury, while prop Ben Ross is out for seven weeks courtesy of his elbow to Melbourne's Cooper Cronk.

Both will be missing when the Sharks travel to the Gold Coast to face the Titans at Skilled Park tonight.

Even without those two, Sharks fans will continue to dream.

``Hope springs eternal in the shire,'' Lang said.

``I think the future is good for them. The future might be now.''

For the old lady's sake, let's hope so.

 

[KELPIE]

Awesome Article. Really enjoyed it.

Gee I miss Lang. Good to hear he still spends time in the Shire.

 

[gavin07]

great to hear former players and coaches still think and care about what happens at the sharks. its why we are one of the closest rugby league communities

 

[Google News]

Cowboys can shape slump, says Lang

... he saw better results at the Sharks with the club making the playoffs in his final season. He said he was confident the Cowboys could emulate Cronulla's ...

Source: http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2008/04/01/11864_cowboys.html

Cowboys can shape slump, says Lang
JOSH ALSTON
April 1st, 2008

IT is only natural for the Cowboys to drop their heads this season according to former Penrith coach John Lang.

And he should know – he was put in the same position as Graham Murray twice in the space of five years.

Lang was told by Cronulla his services would no longer be required at the beginning of the season in 2001 while Penrith told the coach that his contract would not be renewed before the 2006 season.

He said coaches and players could have all the noble sentiments in the world but the situation was still tough.

"It's not an ideal situation," he said. "It's a very tough situation when you come to that for the club and everybody involved."

While Lang's final season as coach of the Panthers ended in disaster with the club finishing with just 10 wins from 24 starts, he saw better results at the Sharks with the club making the playoffs in his final season.

He said he was confident the Cowboys could emulate Cronulla's feats by turning their season around but the club should expect player confidence to dip.

"We had a great year in my last year at the Sharks but we struggled for a big part of it and came home with a wet sail," he said.

"I do think it makes it harder, I don't know Graham super-well but he's clearly a professional coach and he'll get on and do his job.

"I think generally if your going through some tough times I think sometimes people can start to say `ah well'. Especially some players who are sidelined, they can say `ah well, it may be a bit different next year' or something.

"So there's probably a bit of an out for players if they look for it."

But he said there was no such excuse for coaches in the same predicament and said Murray had to be accountable for the results on the field.

"In the end the coach is the guy who's accountable, that's the bottom line," he said.

"Really, I think that the Cowboys have handled it fine, they've told Graham up front, he's handled it fine now they've just got to start winning some games."

And Lang said fans should not get too caught up in the fact the Cowboys have lost their opening three games.

The Sharks could only manage a win and two draws in eight games at the beginning of their last season under Lang before turning it around to come just one game off a grand final appearance.

"It's your job to have them winning games, they've lost three games but I don't think they've played that badly," he said.

"It's probably five per cent ... they're just down a little bit, they're doing everything not quite as sharp. They could turn around next week ... people get far too concerned with short-term success and get far too depressed with short-term failure."

 

[Google News]

Lang committed to Souths - Fox Sports

Source:http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=...9ITmBA&usg=AFQjCNHRNdaSYzImQ6pKhzstlPL2_LsTZA

Lang committed to Souths
August 01, 2008

FORMER Cronulla and Penrith coach John Lang has cemented his position with the South Sydney NRL club, taking up a permanent post as football manager.
Lang became a football consultant for the Rabbitohs earlier this season following the club's dismal one win from 10 starts.

Despite the Rabbitohs' dip in form following their mid-season resurgence this year, Lang is keen to see the club rise in the ranks.

“I feel I have something to offer and I'm looking forward to playing my part in the continuing rise of the club,” he said.

“I've enjoyed the time I've spent at the club so far.

“I'm really enjoying working with the young people here at Souths and there is a good energy about the place.”

AAP

 

[Google News]

John Lang appointed Rabbitohs new Head Coach

John Lang appointed Rabbitohs new Head CoachSportsAustralia.comLang is one of Rugby League's most successful and respected coaches of all time, having coached 13 consecutive seasons in the NRL from 1994 to 2006 with a ...and more »

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://sportsaustralia.com/articles/news.php?id=6165&usg=AFQjCNGWzozjbahxBgx7hK2xkAbkCl1fOg

John Lang appointed Rabbitohs new Head Coach
South Sydney
September 17, 2009

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have appointed John Lang as Head Coach, replacing Jason Taylor for the next two seasons.

Lang is one of Rugby League’s most successful and respected coaches of all time, having coached 13 consecutive seasons in the NRL from 1994 to 2006 with a winning percentage of 57 per cent.

Lang has been with the South Sydney Football Club for the past 16 months as the Club’s Football Manager, however he is keen to return to coaching.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and working with the players for the next two seasons,” Lang said.

“We have a great young squad of players, a great coaching, medical and training team, and a strong front office to keep the Club moving forward off the field.

“It’s an honour to be given the opportunity to coach a Club such as South Sydney and we’ll be leaving no stone unturned to win our next premiership.”

South Sydney has also appointed Mark Ellison as Football Manager in a shift to the front office for the former NRL Assistant and lower grade coach.

Ellison is a South Sydney junior that spent five years playing with the Club in a playing career that spanned eight seasons from 1984 to 1991. Ellison coached at Jersey Flegg and Premier League level before joining the NRL coaching ranks as an Assistant Coach.

Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson says the appointments of Messrs Lang and Ellison are a positive move for the Club.

“Being able to bring John into the coaching role is very fortunate for the Club as we have someone now who has already been working with the players and the Football Department staff over the past two seasons,” Mr Richardson said.

“John is a highly credentialed Head Coach with a great track record of developing young players and taking teams that are outside the top-eight and turning them into premiership contenders. He did that at Penrith who went from wooden spooners in 2001 to premiers in 2003, and he went to the finals six years out of eight at the Sharks. He is a hardened professional.

“Mark Ellison is an asset to this Club and we’re pleased that he is able to continue to work with the Football Department in the Football Manager role.

“As CEO, I need someone helping me to run the Football Department at our Club that knows what we need to be successful on the field, and who can also run the department efficiently and within budget. Mark has run his own business before so he will understand the business-side of Rugby League, but also knows the playing and coaching side of the business intimately as well.

“We’re very confident that Mark will do a good job taking over where John Lang has left off, and we feel we have a very strong Football Department moving into the new season.”

Some of the highlights of Lang’s coaching career include winning the NRL premiership with the Penrith Panthers in 2003; two premiership victories with the Easts Tigers (Brisbane); a Grand Final appearance in 1997 with the Cronulla Sharks; two minor premierships in 1999 (Sharks) and 2003 (Panthers); eight Finals Series in 13 seasons; three Coach of the Year Awards in 1995, 1999 and 2003; Australian Super League Coach in 1997; and being awarded the Australian Sports Medal for contribution to Australia’s international standing in Rugby League.

John Lang

Position: Head Coach

Coaching record: 323 NRL Games (184 wins, 134 losses, five draws, 57% winning percentage);

Head Coach Penrith Panthers 2002-06;
One NRL Premiership (2003)
One NRL Minor Premiership (2003)
Two NRL Finals Series

Head Coach Cronulla Sharks 1994-2001;
One Grand Final appearance (1997)
One Minor Premiership (1999)
Six ARL/Super League/NRL Finals Series

Head Coach Easts Tigers (Brisbane) 1981-84; 1990-93;
Two premierships

Three Coach of the Year Awards.
Dally M 1995
Dally M 1999
Channel 9 Coach of the Year 2003 (Dally M Awards cancelled)

Playing record: Easts Tigers (Brisbane) 1969-79 – Three premierships;
Eastern Suburbs Roosters 1980;
19 games for Queensland 1972-80;
One game for New Souths Wales 1980;
Eight Tests for Australia 1973-80.

Achievements: Awarded the Australian Sports Medal for contribution to Australia’s international standing in Rugby League;
Took Penrith Panthers from wooden spooners to premiers in two seasons;
Five total premierships with Brisbane Easts (three as a player and two as a Coach) are the only premierships the Club has won in the past 50 years.

Mark Ellison

Position: Football Manager

Playing record: 107 first grade games in eight seasons with South Sydney Rabbitohs 1984, 1987-90; Cronulla Sharks 1985-86; St George Dragons 1991;
84 first grade games for the Rabbitohs;

Coaching record: South Sydney Jersey Flegg, Premier League and NRL Assistant Coach 2004-09

 

[Google News]

John Lang says he is motivated to pick up the pieces at South Sydney

John Lang says he is motivated to pick up the pieces at South SydneyFox SportsThe former Cronulla and Penrith mentor, who took the Panthers to a premiership in 2003, will take the reins at Souths for the next two seasons after coming ...and more »

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26087752-23214,00.html&usg=AFQjCNGKYBdYziym-5LUV95rGjdsfJ3TuA

John Lang says he is motivated to pick up the pieces at South Sydney
By David Beniuk
September 17, 2009

New South Sydney coach John Lang insists he is not the Rabbitohs' messiah after Jason Taylor's contract was terminated by the club on Thursday.
As Taylor and the Rabbitohs appeared headed for the courts after Taylor claim he was unfairly treated in his dismissal, it was veteran Lang who was left to pick up the pieces.

"I lost the messiah complex about 20 odd years ago, but I do know the business,'' Lang said.

The former Cronulla and Penrith mentor, who took the Panthers to a premiership in 2003, will take the reins at Souths for the next two seasons after coming on board last year, first as a consultant then as football manager.

Lang last coached in 2006 after 13 straight years in the business.

The 58-year-old is also a long-time ally of Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson, the pair having worked together previously at both the Sharks and Panthers.

Lang said he decided he was interested in returning to the high-pressure role of coaching when he was offered the job.

"I never decided I didn't want to be a coach again,'' he said.

"It's a very small industry ... there's not a lot of opportunities for anybody but I didn't have any great passion or was desperate to get back into coaching.

'' ... I enjoyed the role of being closely associated without actually being the one who is under pressure.

"I don't plan too far ahead.''

Lang said he felt for Taylor, who was sacked with a year to run on his contract after an altercation with second-rower David Fa'alogo at at an inner Sydney hotel 11 days ago.

"I certainly feel sorry for Jason and his family,'' Lang said.

"I don't feel good taking over in these circumstances but it's not too often you take over in happy circumstances.''

The Rabbitohs missed the finals in the last two of Taylor's three years at the helm and Lang admitted he was in for a challenge.

"I'm under no illusions how difficult the job is and probably being close and watching other people do it, I probably didn't realise how much pressure they are (under),'' he said.

'' ... It's a tough job but I've done it for a long time and I've still got the enthusiasm, particularly for the game itself.''

In a related development, assistant coach Mark Ellison, who was recently cut from the club in a move rumored to have upset players, has returned as football manager.