SETTLING in nicely and overwhelmed by the warmth of the fans.

That was the glad-to-be-here message from Saints' new coach Shaun McRae as he wished me "G'day!" at Knowsley Road on Tuesday afternoon.

WHITTLE: As the first-ever Australian coach at Saints' welcome to the club, and will you now outline your hopes and aspirations for the next three years?

McRAE: Establishing Saints as a major force in the Super League is number one priority, although everyone tells me that beating Wigan is paramount, while winning the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1976, or even reaching the final, would be a bonus

Let me say immediately that I have nothing but admiration for the way Wigan have become the British game's leading club, and they are the yardstick for Saints to follow as far as I am concerned.

However, I am mindful that Leeds and Halifax finished above Saints in the table and they also enter into our improvement equation, and both the players and myself are under no illusions that a lot of hard work lies ahead.

I shall be taking a long, hard look at the defensive aspects without sacrificing too much of Saints' in-built attacking flair, but having said that this is dependent on the strength of opposition, because if tackling excellence is the way to victory at the expense of the odd try, so be it.

My predecessor Eric Hughes has laid a solid platform to build on and it is my intention to maintain the close liaison with the Alliance and Academy players, and I had a meeting with them in which it was stressed that they are just as important as the 24-strong senior squad.

Development of youngsters is vital with financial considerations always in mind, and I shall carry this message into the schools whenever time and opportunity permits and I shall also endeavour to involve the first team players in this vital public relations exercise.

The existing back-room staff of physiotherapist Janette Smith, Brian Case, Alan Prescott, Ron Wright and Stan Wall are to remain in place at Knowsley Road, and it is hoped to fill the vacant Academy coaching role in the near future.

I have made it clear to everyone that there will be no witch-hunt, but while those who do not feel comfortable about supporting me are free to go, I am delighted to say that great backing has been forthcoming so far.

In a nutshell, I have been given a mandate to boost Saints' fortunes until the end of the Super League season of 1998, and it is up to me in my first post as head coach to demonstrate a positive and professional attitude in getting on with the job in hand.

WHITTLE: Could you tell readers a little about your personal background?

McRAE: I was born in Sydney 36 years ago but have lived in Canberra for 15 years; I am married to Jaqui, and we have three sons, Christopher, aged 11, Scott (8) and Leigh (7) who will all be a joining me in St. Helens during March.

I attended a selective high school and obtained a degree in physical education; was employed as a teacher in this field, and played Rugby League with St. George in 1979 before moving to Canberra, where I appeared in the local league before a knee injury curtailed my career in the early 1980s. WHITTLE: How does your curriculum vitae read?

McREA: Without going on an ego trip it is as follows: Six years as part-time strengthening and conditioning coach and full-time assistant coach with Canberra Raiders, plus five years in the same capacity with the Australian team.

Tours: Great Britain 1990 and 1994; New Zealand 1991 and 1993; Papua New Guinea 1991; World Cup Final at Wembley 1992; Centenary World Cup with New Zealand in 1995, when I was understudy to Frank Endacott.

I have also worked with top coaches Don Furner, Bobbie Fulton, Wayne Bennett and Tim Sheens, which took in video and statistical analysis, playing strategies and player assessments as an integral part of my role.

The Raiders reached five Grand Finals and won three of them during my time with the club, with their appearances being in 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1994, the last one being a 36-12 win over Canterbury-Bankstown when captain Mal Meninga was among the try-scorers.

WHITTLE: Meeting Castleford at Wheldon Road in a cup-tie is hardly the best baptism, would you not agree?

McRAE: I have spent enough time in England to realise that clashing with 'Cas' is never an easy ride, and to be honest I was glad that the weather intervened to grant me an extra seven days to prepare for the game and get to the know the players better.

And of course it allowed our medical staff more time to attend to the 'walking wounded,' and the signs are good that Saints could be at full strength on Sunday, so it could be said that last weekend's snow and freezing wind was a blessing in disguise.

Nonetheless, I have asked chief executive David Howes to insert a 'sun' clause into my contract because, believe me, it was no joke waking up in ice-cold St. Helens just days after basking in the tropical temperatures of Australia!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.