"Now is the Hour … Cometh the Good Coaching Skills … Cometh the Trophies.

In every man’s life (depending on his own spiritual beliefs), he must ultimately answer to a higher god.  In Buck’s case he is god, which brings its own unique conundrum.  The 2001 season is the final year in the chapter of the great bedtime story, “Buck and the Harbour”.  

I take ye back to 1985, a cold August day when Buck and the boys first ran on to Onewa, decked out in cheap uniforms bearing the name New Zealand Couriers.  Few people could have predicted the immense passion, leadership and skill Wayne Shelford would give to his union.  

Buck played on for the next 5-6 years before finally retiring in the wake of the despicable Shakespearean -esque tragedy that was “Buck and the flashy Brooke prick and the All Blacks”. This crime against both Buck and Harbour is so unspeakable it should never be revisited by any person still drawing breath without the assistance of a medical ventilator.  So wounded is my mortal soul in regards to this issue that, to this day, I still find it hard to forgive and forget.  

Back to my story, Buck was an outstanding servant to the Union and to his respective teammates.  He is held in high regard all over the globe and after purchasing a small backwater pub in Silverdale he turned his attention to coaching the side that propelled him to super-stardom.  It is at this point the writer wishing to poignantly stress that I have absolutely no trouble with Buck the player; however Buck the coach, I believe, is far from satisfactory.

Over the last 3-4 years Buck has held the reigns along with his faithful sidekick Alan “no name” Pollock. In that time we have gone from a team with a "rich-natural- talented-squad-posied-to-finally-flick-the-monkey-off-our -backs" to a team with a "rich-natural-talented-squad- posied-to- finally-flick-the-monkey-off-our-backs". i.e.  No change!  

The only thing to have changed is Buck’s obvious and outspoken views on New Zealand coaching, the Blues and the supposed lack of opportunities for Buck Shelford the coach.  Excuse me, but aren’t you supposed to show success and proven track records before putting your hand up for higher honours? 

If Buck were a manger in the “shark pool” that is British football, he would be fortunate to be even first-team coach for Stenhousemuir (probably, ultimately, being rejected by the local publican Fergus, who spends 16 hours of the day horizontal from the effects of another nasty altercation with the porter).  

To me, Buck has been both a disappointment and non-event.  Lack of accountability and the administrators own awestruck respect for him has hindered, not helped, our quest for the Ranfurly Shield, the NPC and more All Black representatives.  

The media continue to have a field day with Harbour and their “also-ran”seasons, their "nearly-but-so-far" seasons, their "great-backs-but-pity-about-the-front-row" seasons. 

It's so glaringly obvious to all who have watched Harbour intensely over the last 16 years that Harbour’s problems today are largely the problems they had 10 years ago.  Successive coaches have tried and failed (with the exception of Brad's first term) to harness the natural talent, which has always been prevalent, and fill the gaps with experienced players in key positions.  

Last year was a great case in point: we started the season with no recognised kicker, a first-five with no track record and a fullback so inept he would have struggled to sit the right way on a toilet seat. (Now bubbling just beneath the surface at inside centre for the Harbour 'B's.)  

Is this the product of a coach so good he should be coaching at a higher level?  Absolutely not.  The time has come for Buck to produce the goods or stand aside. My only worry is that he’ll stand aside after achieving little and everyone will think it’s a job well done.  

Not this scribe.  

To Buck I say, to survive and give constructive comment on coaching in the local media, which drag you out like a grieving widow, do something!  Do something now!  And show the same passion and skill in coaching Harbour that you did when you were playing.  

Don’t expect my heartfelt thanks when you go and the cupboard is empty because the benchmark of any Harbour coach should be his trophies and you have precious few.  It is a cut-throat world in the coaching and managerial aspects of sport, rugby is no exception and lack of real progress - refuted by yourself and by Pollock - is disappointing.  

I wish Buck all the best for his future endeavours and if he does pull off a miracle this year I will burn this letter with gay adandon. Sport is a fickle game and fickle is the what the report-card reads alongside the subjects 'style' and 'methods'."