The Southern Orcas have revealed that former All Blacks coach Scott Robertson rejected the club's offer to coach in the NRL due to intense pressure from rugby union.
First reported by the NZ Herald and then The Daily Telegraph, Robertson, who won seven Super Rugby titles as head coach of the Canterbury Crusaders, knocked back a four-year head coaching position, should the Christchurch-based Orcas become the NRL's 20th franchise.
The Orcas were surprised by the decision, given Robertson's enthusiasm about the opportunity. A spokesman for Robertson addressed his decision to decline the Orcas' deal.
“Scott has let the Orcas know that he has declined their offer," the spokesman stated.
Sir Graham Lowe, the Orcas chairman, feels that Robertson was definitely feeling a lot of pressure to make the cross-code switch.
“'Razor' would have had a hell of a lot of pressure on him,” Lowe said.
“In many ways, he was rugby union's ‘anointed one' down there (on New Zealand's South Island).
“He's just loved by the public through his success in rugby union, his manner, and connection with the public. You'd struggle to find a more popular man in rugby union.
“Even though I could tell he was excited about the Orcas, he would have had a heap of pressure on.
“It would have been like going to the dark side. I respect his decision – it (moving to league) was a big thing.
“I totally understand how big this call would have been for ‘Razor' to make.
“The reason we were so forward with ‘Razor' is that Peter V'landys told us to put our best foot forward and that's what we did.
“There's no doubt about it – we wanted to make the NRL a bigger game than rugby union.”
The pressure to have the Southern Orcas as the NRL's 20th team is heating up, as the league want the next to be joining the competition in 2029 after the Bears next season and the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
Christchurch City Council has spent close to two years engaging with the NRL on practical steps needed to secure the competition's 20th licence, in documents.
Engagement has intensified in recent months, and the council's behind-the-scenes work is unfolding alongside a separate, high-profile push from the Southern Orcas.
Several New Zealand consortiums have tried and failed to get an NRL Christchurch franchise off the ground in recent years.
Despite that track record, a privately backed Christchurch group is still actively pursuing the 20th licence.
The Orcas' last bid for an NRL license was shut down in 2024, with a reported value of $360 million two years ago.
Lowe believes Robertson would have been an elite NRL coach, and with Scott ruling himself out, the chairman revealed they have spoken to other coaches.
“I just think he would have been an outstanding rugby league coach,” Lowe said.
“Like players, every-now-and-then you see someone come through and you know they're going to be something pretty special and I honestly believe that's what ‘Razor' would have been.
“There are more (rugby union) coaches keen on making the change (to rugby league) than I thought. I've spoken to a few of them, but we won't rush into any decision just yet.”
When he was asked whether someone like Shane Flanagan could be in the picture of those conversations, Lowe had a calculated response.
“I won't say their names but there are some people we have spoken to,” Lowe said.
“I'm not being disrespectful but there's a sameness about coaching in the NRL and that's why we're cautious.
“There are bound to be coaches out there who are waiting for their chance. It's onwards and upwards. That's what professional sport is all about.”
