It wasn’t long ago that Tim Sampson was wondering where his future in Australian rugby lay.
The Western Force’s decision to headhunt Simon Cron meant Sampson, who joined the club when they were booted out of Super Rugby, was out of a job.
It was a brutally tough call on a loyal and popular figure.
But, with some rays of sunshine on the horizon, the softly-spoken Sampson knew he didn’t want to spit the dummy and head overseas.
“When I wasn’t going to be re-signed at the Force, I spoke to a few people and a couple of staff members of Rugby Australia and I made it very clear to them that I was in no rush to leave Australian rugby,” Sampson told The Roar.
“People talk about the golden decade coming up, but even just with what’s going on with Australian rugby and obviously the Lions and the World Cup coming in, but just how all the Super Rugby clubs are progressing and there’s just a nice feel about it for me … I wanted to stay in Australian rugby and it’s what I love. It’s who I’ve supported since I was four years of age and I want to be here for what lies ahead.”
It wasn’t long before a chance presented itself.
But it wasn’t as head coach. Instead, with the Rebels in need of a new attack coach, Sampson spoke with Kevin Foote, who had a bumpy first full year as head coach, and they met soon after. Not over phone or zoom, but face-to-face.
Tim Sampson at Melbourne Rebels training. Photo: Sam Richards, Rebels Media
Sampson is old school. For the first six months he was in Melbourne he would ride his bike to training listening to Fleetwood Mac and U2, go to the South Melbourne markets to select his fruit and veg, and cook buffalo lamb on Sundays for his friend’s family, who is he staying with.
He also gets on with his business without the ego of thinking he knows everything.
It’s why when he was asked whether he thought he could work under another head coach he wasn’t concerned.
“I’m very much for sitting down in front of people,” he said.
“I actually did make the point to [CEO] Baden [Stephenson] and [general manager Nick Stiles] Stilesy and Kevin around a head coach coming to the Rebels as an assistant coach, because that was something they asked me as well and I said, ‘Well, I believe it just strengthens a coaching group.’
“You don’t see it too much in rugby, especially Australian rugby, but I made the point of you see it in AFL a fair bit, the NRL and probably even New Zealand rugby you see it a fair bit.
“The fact that I was five years head coach at the Force and then coming as an assistant coach, was something that didn’t worry me at all, and that’s sort of how it panned out and how it progressed to me moving over here.”
That’s not to say Sampson doesn’t want to be a head coach again. He does, but he also sees the value of getting back on the field and coaching more – an aspect that is increasingly lost in the high-performance age.
The Rebels don’t just have two head coaches in their system either, with Stiles previously coaching the Queensland Reds.
Tim Sampson says he is enjoying more on-the-ground coaching at the Rebels under Kevin Foote. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images
It’s a unique set-up that breaks the mould in Australian rugby, but one that Sampson is enjoying.
“You hear it often that there’s a lot more stuff you’ve got to do off the field as a head coach and behind the scenes, and it’s something that I did enjoy,” he said.
“One day, whenever that might be, I certainly would enjoy that head coach role whenever that might be. But I’m really enjoying doing more coaching on the grass.
“It’s something that as a head coach, I probably just didn’t do as much in my last 12 months at the Force. I took on different roles there. But I’m really enjoying it, and I hope that shows you my coaching and the contributions I’m making to the club.”
Sampson also made the tough call to move away from his wife and teenage daughters, who have remained in Perth, and whom he sees every two months.
“I’d be sitting here lying if I said anything different. It is tough,” he said.
“Justin Langer once told me if you’re going to move away and sacrifice something you’ve got to give it your absolute most and make the most of it.”
While the Rebels couldn’t stick with the Chiefs midway through the first half in Hamilton on Saturday, there were a number of positives coming out of the Melbourne-based franchise.
Brad Wilkin continues to impress, Trevor Hosea is finding his form after a year on the sidelines and the Rebels’ front-rowers, including off the bench, impressed, too.
But it was Carter Gordon’s performance that was the biggest shining light.
Against a good pack, the 22-year-old ran to the line and played flat.
Carter Gordon continues to impress at the Rebels after being given the keys to the car. Photo: Michael Bradley/Getty Images
His ball-playing came off too, as he demanded the ball from his halfbacks at speed and put teammates in holes.
It doesn’t surprise Sampson. When he first arrived in Melbourne he was blown away by Gordon’s talent.
That feeling hasn’t changed, and while he is cautious not to talk Gordon up too quickly, noting the entire backline has a “fair way to go”, he is encouraged by the blonde-haired playmaker’s willingness to learn.
“What I like about Carter is he watches and studies a lot of rugby,” Sampson said.
“I don’t think young players do that enough these days. And he’s well aware of what’s going on nationally. He watches Super Rugby a lot, New Zealand teams, particular plays, but also overseas.
“I love having conversations with Carter around technical and technical stuff. He’s pretty switched on.
On Saturday, Gordon played pivotal roles in two tries and had a hand in three.
His role in the opening two tries was special, twice running to the line, drawing defenders and putting players in holes.
A week earlier, following two brilliant tries from heads-up rugby, his spiral torpedo turned the game against the Waratahs when he secured a vital lineout from a 50-22 when the Waratahs had taken the lead and were on a roll. It is what pleased Sampson the most because it swung the course of the game.
“Throughout the second half, the Waratahs nudged ahead on the scoreboard and just at that moment, to fight our way back into the game and get momentum again was really important. And that’s challenging. When you lose momentum in a game, it’s challenging. How to get ascendancy and control the game back,” he said.
“But also, in particular, someone like Carter grabbed it by the horns and executing a brilliant 50-22, a low punching torpedo, which I love, that got us going again. That was a key moment. And so just the fight that we showed to regain momentum there was I was really happy with.”
Tim Sampson during pre-season in 2022 at the Melbourne Rebels. Photo: Sam Richards, Rebels Media
The Rebels will have to show the same game-smarts against the Reds on Saturday evening when they host their domestic rivals.
For the hosts, Gordon will go head-to-head against James O’Connor and the franchise that signed the burgeoning playmaker as a 16-year-old.
It will be a case of master versus apprentice – and the stakes are high for their seasons and, indeed, personal aspirations in a World Cup year.
For Sampson too, the assistant coach will square off against the state that nurtured his development as a player and a coach.
A win will make the pain of living away from home worth it.
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