How Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson built his reputation through French expedition TO understand the success story that is Trent Robinson, and where he has taken the Roosters at warp speed, you need to spool back to his years in France. His period of graft. His time of learning. Honest playing ability had delivered him to Toulouse Olympique, circa 2005, a 28-year-old foreigner with bung knees facing his coup de grace in the footballing wasteland that is France's first division. It was no place for a player with NRL spurs. For an aspiring NRL coach, it was akin to being stuck on Planet Mars. But life in France gave Robinson perspective and depth. Its rich culture challenged, and stimulated, his intellect. And when he replaced Justin Morgan as Toulouse coach midway through 2005, his willingness to learn the local language hit his French charges like a tsunami. Aussie Robbo knew precisely how to connect. This is the bedrock of Robinson's coaching philosophy that has seen him sweep the Roosters to a Grand Final on Sunday night against Manly in his rookie season in the NRL. Trent Robinson arrives for Roosters training. The Roosters players have responded because they get him and, in the perfect blend of reciprocation, he gets them. Robinson can be tactical yet simple. Disciplined yet approachable. Single-minded yet open-minded. The special coaches find that balance. Any mentor can be a one-season wonder, but the NRL's newly-crowned coach of the year has worked too hard, learnt too much, to arrive and depart like a 1980s fad. "I'd hate to say he's the next Wayne Bennett, but it wouldn't surprise me if Trent is still around coaching NRL in 15 years," says Morgan, whose departure for Hull KR launched Robinson's coaching career at Toulouse. I actually coached Trent at Toulouse and he was the one player from whom I would happily accept information. In France, we nicknamed him Jean-Pierre because he thought he was more French than Australian. He really immersed himself in the culture. Some Aussies who play in France don't bother learning the language and that can be offensive to the local players. They see it as disrespectful, but Trent knows French 50 times better than I do. The French responded to him because learning the language was his way of connecting with them. He tries to understand everybody in a team and he has the personality to mix with anyone. That is Trent's great skill. It is no surprise where the Roosters are because his personality rubs off on the team. Watch Robinson meandering around the Roosters dressing sheds in his navy suit and it is hard to believe he is only 36 years old. Roosters skipper Anthony Minichiello is just three years younger, but the pair seem a generation apart. Maybe it is Robinson's suit. Or his sagacity and owlish appearance, bringing calm with the measured, incisive comments of a senior political statesman 10 years older. Robinson's intellect has been his driving force. As a player, he was not gifted, playing four NRL games for Wests Tigers and Parramatta between 2000-02, but his mind helped maximise his talent. "On the footy field, he really understood why things happened," says Morgan, the former Eels, Warriors and Canberra forward who played 133 NRL games. Trent wasn't the greatest player but he was very much a student of the game. He read the game very well. He knew when to go down short sides or how to find a weakness. The best way to describe Trent would be highly thorough, highly intelligent and very grounded. Morgan says Robinson's particular quality is being able to converse with the Prime Minister one minute, a brickie's labourer the next. It is a skill derived from his thirst for learning. "In France, most of us Aussies would book a package holiday to Portugal, but Trent would get on his motorbike, ride through countries and stop at all the villages along the way chatting to the locals," Morgan recalls. He could talk to a red-wine connoisseur and then have a couple of pints of lager with some wharfies at the pub. He is super smart, he's great to talk to and very informed on a lot of things, but he also has that common touch that puts players at ease. Robinson, though, is no soft touch. When he arrived at Bondi last November, his strength-and-conditioning background told him many Roosters players were preparing and training like part-time professionals. As a player, Robinson's remedy for limited talent was hard work. After one pre-season meeting, the message was clear. "Robbo gave us some home truths, there was a reason we weren't performing consistently," centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall said. We agreed with him. He has made us better players as a group, he makes you realise your life in football is not that long and you have to make the most of your time. Robinson isn't completely shocked with the Roosters' surge to the Grand Final. He knew the talent was there. The players just had to believe in themselves and his principles. "People have asked us about our goals along the way, but there has only ever been one (to win the premiership)... so we're staying focused on one," he said. We knew we had a team of talented players but talent doesn't help you in 'D' (defence). It's not how good your team is, it's how hard they work for each other and that is pleasing. Clearly, Robinson has made his connection. "He has a great work ethic ... as a player no-one else would train harder and he'd be the same as a coach," Morgan said. Trent is well and truly on his way now. Call me in 15 years and I bet we are still talking about Trent as a career coach.