Growing up it was Rugby League in the winter and Cricket in the summer. For a talented halfback, wicket keeper/batsman Shane Duff was creating the opportunities many aspire to.
In the early part of the cricket season in 1990 and at the age of 18 he made his first-grade debut for Sutherland Cricket Club team when their regular keeper Evan Atkins suffered a broken arm. His first dismissal was one to remember as it was an edge from another wicket/batsman, a young Adam Gilchrist playing for Gordon Cricket Club.
Just before Christmas, an opportunity presented itself and Shane had a decision to make. After only a handful of first-grade cricket games, Shane decided to put his keeping gloves back in his kit bag as he’d been signed by the famous St George Rugby League Club. Pre-season training beckoned.
Brian Smith had just signed with St George as coach and Shane simply thought, “I’ve got to give this a go.”
Back in the day, each NRL club had three teams. The First grade, Reserve grade and Under 21’s. As an 18-year-old Shane started the season as the halfback for St George under 21’s and unfortunately 6 games into his footy with the Dragons he suffered a shoulder injury so significant, despite a reconstruction, it was career-ending.
The shoulder also halted Shane’s comeback to cricket as he missed the next two summers.
Sport was Shane’s passion and despite the setbacks, he completed a University Degree in Human Movement and became a PDHPE teacher.
On returning to Sutherland, he found himself starting in 2nd Grade as Linton Ball had taken over the keeping reins in first grade and for the next couple of seasons Shane and his teammates shared the success of two 2nd grade premiership wins.
The season after the 2nd premiership Sutherland played a semi-final against Bankstown and Shane describes it as a pretty spiteful game.
“There was a lot of rivalry between the two teams, some bad blood, and a lot of talk.”
So much so, it was a great surprise a couple of months after the semi-final for Shane to receive a phone call from Bankstown and NSW left-arm chinaman David “Freddy” Freedman.
Freddy had called with a new opportunity, an invitation for Shane to become Bankstown’s First Grade Keeper.
A Bankstown team that included Freddy, Wayne Holdsworth, Kevin Roberts, Corey Richards, Nathan Bracken, and Ken Hall.
Now, most 2nd grade keepers would have said yes before Freddy finished asking the question, but Shane had some thinking to do. He’d played all his cricket (junior and senior) for Sutherland, won 2 2nd grade premierships, his father was the Chairman of selectors at Sutherland and his brother was on the Committee and don’t forget the bad blood from the semi-final months prior.
With Sutherland First Grade keeping spot seemingly not available for the foreseeable future, the opportunity was too good to refuse and Shane joined Bankstown.
“It was a tremendous 3 years, and I’m so grateful Freddy made the call as many of the guys are great mates. I made lifelong friendships and we won a Premiership when we beat St George in the 1999/2000 Grand Final.”
After 3 seasons at the Bulldogs, another call was made. This time it was Sutherland as they wanted Shane to return home and be their first-grade captain.
He accepted and led the team to a one-day competition win.
At the end of the 2002 season former Australian, NSW and Sutherland player John Dyson was the Head Coach of Sri Lanka and had asked the Board for some assistance.
“Dyso wanted an assistant coach and the Sri Lankan board knocked him back. He then asked for a strength and conditioning coach and they said yes. As I had a degree in human movement and a cricketing background I got the gig”.
As a Sutherland combination Dyson also had someone he could trust.
Single, 31, it was the right time and Shane retired from cricket and headed off on an incredible journey and opportunity.
Sri Lanka at the time was powering ahead in World Cricket. What an opportunity to be working alongside Sangakkara, Murali, Jayawardene, Atapattu, Vaas, Jayasuriya at the peak of their powers.
“I had the pinch myself, I had a lot more responsibility than what I thought I would. I was able to do plenty of coaching, it was a wonderful experience.”
“I did a lot work with Sangakkara and Kaluwitharana and they had a lot of natural ability but they hadn't done a lot of skills practice before my arrival. I had a clean slate.
The devastation of the Tsunami on Boxing Day 2004 brought an end to Shane’s journey with Sri Lanka. His contract was up and the uncertainty got him thinking about his personal and professional life moving forward.
Shane did hook up with Sangakarra again when Sangakarra was selected in the Johnnie Walker One Day World Squad to play three one day international against the Australian team in October 2005.
“Sanga was a perfectionist and with his ability and work ethic, I felt he became the best wicket keeper in the world. “
Shane’s work with Sangakarra didn’t go unnoticed as the World’s coach, John Wright then invited him to help him prepare the squad for the upcoming Test match against Australia where Mark Boucher was the keeper.
The World Cup test team included Graeme Smith, Boucher, Dravid, Shoaib Akhtar, Flintoff, Harmison, Inzamam, Kallis, Lara, Murali, Shaun Pollack, Sehwag and Daniel Vettori.
“Not a bad group of players to be assisting, chatting with and having a few beers afterwards, “Shane says with a smile.
Shane had returned to teaching but he had the coaching bug. He then went back to Bankstown as the Clubs Head Coach and with his good mate Scott Thompson as captain they won a premiership and a one-day competition win.
Shane coached in the ICL Rebel T20 League under South African Daryl Cullinan as head coach and New Zealand’s Craig McMillan as captain.
Returning to club land, Shane became the Head Coach at Sutherland and guided them to a one day competition win and a Grand Final which they unfortunately lost to St George.
He was then invited to coach in the Sri Lanka Premier League where his team, Naganahira Nagas, Captained by Angelo Matthews were runners up.
Shane was the inaugural Head Coach of the Sydney Thunder and he openly admits “it was a tough 2 years but an amazing experience at the same time. “
Still Educating, Shane is the Pastoral Care Coordinator at All Saints Catholic College in Liverpool, Sydney. In his role, he’s in the front line and challenged daily.
“It’s a daily challenge when kids are facing issues with bullying, self-harm, family separation, relationship break down, anxiety and stress, “
A spark ignites when we return to another of Shane’s great loves, horse racing. His dad, brother and remember the keeper who broke his arm to give Shane his first-grade debut, Evan Atkins, they bought a horse together and he caught the bug.
Montalcini was the horse and it had 6 starts with 1 win but it was the fun and enjoyment he experienced that he wanted to share with others. H and old mate Steve Murphy bought a few more and run a little syndicate for family and friends.
“MAD about Racing it’s called. Murphy and Duff, we love it. All our horses that have raced have won, with a few that have placed in the city. It’s early days, but our biggest win is just about to happen."
“Look out for Arrogant Lass and Larmour in the next month”
Whilst he experienced so much in cricket, nothing compares to watching his two girls nail a gymnastics routine or complete a skill they have been working hard on.
“It’s such a thrill to see them do something they enjoy and achieve things through hard work. “
So what’s next coach?
You never know, whilst I am content with what I am doing at the moment, If something came up down the track in coaching and it was the right time, I would definitely give it consideration"
You can’t help but think the next opportunity isn’t too far away and the kids at All Saints Catholic College are in pretty safe hands.
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