Alex Melville, the coach currently running pre-season training at Penrith. Pictured at Centrebet Oval, Penrith. Source: Simon Chillingworth / News Limited
RECOGNISE this man? No? Well, you're not alone.
He may be virtually anonymous but this former English and history teacher has actually been in charge of a powerful Sydney NRL club for the past month.
Meet Alex Melville, the man who has quietly enjoyed being head coach of the Penrith Panthers.
Melville has been in charge with Ivan Cleary (Penrith head coach) absent with the New Zealand World Cup side and David Fairleigh (Penrith assistant coach) guiding the Cook Islands.
Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary is currently on World Cup duties in the UK. Source: News Limited
He has trained the Panthers, held team meetings, spoke to players individually and kept the pre-season on track. Yet he could probably walk through Penrith Plaza and not be recognised.
Melville has been coaching rugby league at different levels for more than 20 years - but has remained well and truly away from the limelight.
''That's the anonymous life of an assistant coach. You toil away in the background,'' he said.
''We are all working for that magical day in October.
''There is a lot of stuff to do. The role 'head coach' is pretty appropriate in that it is all-encompassing.
''You have to know where every player is at all times. There is a lot of stuff going on at this time of the year.
''There is a lot of demands as you get pulled in a lot of directions. We certainly appreciate what Ivan does.''
Melville, 38, said the pre-season coaching and training was vital.
''I have really enjoyed the extra responsibility,'' Melville told The Daily Telegraph. ''I have stepped up and it's a lot of responsibility to try and carry forward what is going to be a very promising season.
''You only get one pre-season opportunity and this is an important time to get a lot of tactical information into the players ''This is also the time when we get them bigger and stronger. You just don't get that opportunity during the season. There is a lot of stuff to balance out.''
The Panthers have bought well for 2014, securing Jamie Soward, Peter Wallace, Brent Kite, Elijah Taylor, Kevin Naiqama and Tyrone Peachey.
New recruit Jamie Soward. Source: News Limited
''We pride ourselves on the fact we train hard, we play hard and we'll finish where we deserve,'' he said.
''We are a team that is hard to beat. That is something we pride ourselves on. We don't beat ourselves.
''There is a lot of competition for spots and when you have competition, you get the most out of your squad at training and in games.''
Fairleigh is due back to training this week, Cleary will return next week after the World Cup final.
Key player Wallace will return to training on December 9.
Asked did he one day want to obtain a head coaching position, Melville said: ''If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't.
''My biggest aspiration is to share in a premiership here at Penrith. That would be the pinnacle.''
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