Henry to help Warriors deal with adversity

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden is looking for tips on dealing with tough times from his new mentor Sir Graham Henry.

Henry is spending the next month with the struggling NRL club and it’s his experience when down, rather than when guiding the All Blacks to 2011 World Cup glory, that McFadden is keen to tap into.

Henry was coach of the All Blacks when New Zealand made their earliest exit in a World Cup, losing to France in the quarter-finals in 2007.

He was considered very lucky to be given the chance to atone on home soil four years later.

“Obviously, Graham is a very astute and admired person, but it also hasn’t been all smooth sailing for him as well,” McFadden said on Wednesday.

“That’s what I want to draw on.

“We’re going through a bit of a tough time but if you stick to what what you believe in, you can come out the other side.”

Henry began his stint with the Warriors on Monday, two weeks after their 42-0 hammering at the hands of Melbourne.

That defeat was followed by the club dropping six players from first grade for breaking team protocol after a late night out.

McFadden said he had discussions last year with managing director Jim Doyle about bringing in someone who could add value to the club, “so it’s not a reactive thing” to events of the past fortnight.

He said Henry’s input would be of benefit not just to himself, but the whole organisation.

Skipper Ryan Hoffman agreed, saying: “To have someone like that, New Zealand royalty really, be involved in our club is certainly going to be an asset.”

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