WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Last updated 11:49, Wednesday, 08 October 2008
PETER Walsh is still revered in Workington, as the most successful coach of the modern era.MARK Mulligan was soon a firm fans favourite at Derwent Park, after coming over to England during the reign of Peter Walsh.
LEGENDARY COACH
And he still has strong links with the club that holds a special place in his heart.
Now back in his native Australia, living on the Central Coast, Walsh still looks out for up and coming players and recommends them to Town.
And every weekend, he checks the results from the West Cumbrian outfit to see how they are getting on.
Walsh joined Town in the summer of 1992 and he soon had players flocking to the club, wanting to play under him.
James Pickering, Mark Mulligan, Brad Hepi, Phil McKenzie, Ged Byrne and Des Drummond were just some of the names he brought to Derwent Park, who were to revitalise the club’s fortunes.
He took them to Old Trafford twice for two Divisional Premiership finals, to the Second Division title, then finishing in the top half of the old first division, saw the door to the inaugural Super League open in front of them.
Unfortunately, shortly after, Walsh returned to his native Australia, but his reign will never be forgotten.
Walsh, speaking from his Australian home, recalled what he describes as one of the best experiences of his life.
He said: “It was an absolutely tremendous performance when you think what those players achieved.
“The previous year we made it there and got beat by Featherstone with the likes of Paul Newlove and to back it up the following year, not only just to make it there but to win, it has to be one of the best moments of my life. And the whole Workington experience was a great time.
“The lads deserved it, they gave 110 per cent and worked so hard in the time I was there, probably even more the next year as we finished ninth in the Premiership and to be part pf the first Super League was an outstanding achievement.
“Unfortunately, at that point, some things happened at home and I was offered an opportunity to coach at St George Illawarra.
“It was a shame it happened that way but I still have great memories of Workington and I will always help them out wherever I can.”
Walsh became a first grade coach at St George for about 18 months before returning to England and the Super League with Hull FC where he spent another couple of years.
But since returning home again, he has never forgotten the friends he made at Derwent Park and often recommends players to Workington, including Chris Young and Bryce Poisel this season.
“Mike Cunningham is a good friend and I like to keep in touch with Workington. I know Dave Rotheram from before and we also keep in contact,” said Walsh.
“The first thing I do of a weekend is check on the results to see how they have got on.”
Town have not had the best of seasons and Walsh said: “There is one way for them to go and that’s forward.”
Although he cannot keep in touch with all of his former charges, when Cumbria’s ARL side toured Australia in the summer, Walsh was on hand to meet the side and a couple of former players. “I met up with Martin Oglanby and Jonty Gorley while they were over here which was great,” he added.
Walsh could be set for a return to his former haunt later this year, he has been asked by another Town legend James Pickering to help coach the touring Australian Fijian side, who are to play Town in November.
Walsh is currently considering the option and said he would love to come back to Workington.
If he does not make it with Pickering’s tourists then he was looking to come back in March next year.
FLEET-FOOTED FULL-BACK
He was a great last line of defence but his side step also caused a few problems in attack for the opposition and he scored some great tries at grounds around the country as well as Derwent Park.
Unfortunately the News & Star has not been able to contact Mark but we understand that he is now out of the game.
He played for a while on the Central Coast after leaving Town to return to his native Australia.
But then he drifted out of the game to go back to work on his parents farm.
He is thought to be working rounding up cattle to take to the abbatoir in Queensland.
Mulligan was a key member of the team that reached the final that year, scoring two tries in a nine-try demolition of Rochdale Hornets on the way.
In 38 appearances during the season he rattled up 24 tries, second that term only to flying winger Stuart Cocker.
Mulligan, who is now 38, started the final with the number one jersey on his back and he picked up a try in the first half that saw Town open up a 24-6 interval lead.
Fellow ’94 player Martin Oglanby spoke to Mulligan whilst he was out in Australia as coach of a touring Cumbria ARL side this summer.
Oglanby added: “I spoke to Mark but unfortunately he could not meet up with us as he was working on the farm and couldn’t get away.”
