Oh! Me name is McNamara
I’m the leader of the band,
Although we’re few in number
We're the finest in the land

McNamara’s Band can still be heard chanted by the myrtle green-clad players out of the changing rooms opposite Coogee Beach.

It’s the Galloping Greens’ Club song, a song that resonates with one of Randwick’s honourable sons, the Wallabies’ new Head Coach Michael Cheika.

A stalwart of the eastern beaches Club, Cheika played 300 games for the Wicks, 212 of which were for first grade. He won seven Shute Shields between 1985 and 1999, captaining the side between 1997 and 1999.

He only ever represented Australia in the Under 21s but it’s his success as an enigmatic leader which has proven his worth, especially amongst those he’s united and steered to victory.

In 2011 and 2012 the NSW Waratahs players were booed from the field in several games. The Tahs hadn’t made it to the Super Rugby finals since 2008. Sydney supporters, spoilt for choice in the entertainment-rich market of one of Australia’s biggest events capitals, had lost faith in their State’s rugby union representatives.

Crowd numbers at NSW Rugby’s home at Allianz Stadium had dwindled so much so that players met with fans in a public forum to get feedback and establish a better relationship and understanding of what they could do to win back their following.

On paper, the Tahs were picture perfect with international stars a-plenty. On average, approximately nine NSW men were named in Wallabies squads since 2010.

Yet season after season, rugby headlines read “Woeful Waratahs hunt for answers…”, “Waratahs left hurt and wounded”, “trying times for discarded Waratahs”, “tough times for the Tahs”, and you get the picture.

It was vexing times for the men in blue.

Meanwhile a son of Lebanese migrants brought up in a working-class home in Coogee, NSW had been in Ireland guiding Leinster to their first Heineken Cup final.

A credit to old Ireland
Is McNamara’s band

Having never coached a side before, Cheika’s first coaching stint for Padova in Italy could be seen as fate. It was Wallaby legend and fellow Wick, David Campese who is said to have flagged the opportunity for Cheika.

He returned to Sydney in 2001 where he secured the coaching gig at old club, Randwick, leading the Galloping Greens to a Shute Shield title in 2004.

From there he returned to Europe in 2005, replacing Declan Kidney as Head Coach for Leinster. Cheika led the Irish side to the semis in his initial 2005/06 season, the quarter finals in the 2006/07 season before the 2008/09 win which saw Leinster become club Champions of Europe.

Cheika was announced as the Waratahs Coach in September 2012. He spent his initial season with NSW building the team, forging a strong accord amongst his depleted troupes.

Flash forward to 2014 and the NSW players couldn’t have dreamed of a better season, topped off with a Super Rugby Championship victory as a bulging crowd of adoring Tahs for life fans swamped ANZ Stadium to witness the resurrection of their heroes against Richie McCaw and his staunch Super Rugby Crusaders.

It’s been noted everywhere that Cheik instilled much-needed extra grunt and forthright, turning the Waratah boys into state emblems. At the same time he developed supportive bonds and trust amongst the group, transforming the Tahs into a family you felt bad not supporting.

Golf stick, poker face, fuelled passion; Cheik may not have the traditional method of coaching, but whatever it was it worked and hopefully it will transpire in a similar way for the Men in Gold.

Cheika will be joined by the ARU’s General Manager of Pathways & Performance, Ben Whitaker for the upcoming Spring Tour.

Another member of McNamara’s band, being from Coogee and the brother of Randwick, Waratah and Wallabies player, Chris Whitaker.

Whits has been a crucial and positive leader in Australian Rugby for the last ten years with a wide range of experience running national teams and programs at the high performance and community levels of the game.

It’s a new step for Australian rugby with Cheika as McNamara, the leader of the band, who will lead our finest rugby players in the land.

Oh! Me name is McNamara
I’m the leader of the band,
Although we’re few in number
We're the finest in the land
When Hennesey, Tennessey
Tootles the flute
The music is something grand
A credit to old Ireland
Is McNamara’s band
Dah da dah da, dah da dah da
Up the Wicks!