JAMIE Dowse will spend his time alternating between being an assistant coach of the USA and being president of Port Macquarie Sharks over the next two weeks.
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Once the 2017 Rugby League World Cup is complete, he will be able to turn his full attention to the 2017 Group 3 rugby league runners-up.
Port Macquarie’s link to the World Cup doesn’t stop at Dowse’s role with the US and extends to the playing group and Matt Shipway.
Shipway is one of the more experienced American players in a squad which placed an emphasis on heritage.
Four years ago, the USA surprised the rugby league world when they made the quarter-finals.
While a repeat performance this time appears unlikely, Dowse said the main focus was on developing the game and its players in the Big Apple.
We’re just going out to have a really good crack and more importantly develop these American players so they can take that back to America and build the game over there.
- Jamie Dowse
“We haven’t set any goals,” Dowse said.
“We’re just going out to have a really good crack and more importantly develop these American players so they can take that back to America and build the game over there.
“That’s what we’re all about – emerging nations – and trying to get them up and going again.”
Shipway, the former Port Shark, will be entrusted with playing a leading role for the rest of the squad.
“Shippy along with Mark Offerdahl, Eddy Pettybourne and Tui Samoa are three or four guys that were at the last World Cup,” Dowse said.
“As everyone knows, they made the qualifiers so their experience is invaluable to the American guys in particular.”
While the World Cup will be Dowse’s main focus over the next fortnight, he admitted he would also spend time preparing for his new role back home in Port Macquarie.
“I know (the Sharks are) looking to bring a few players in, but we don’t want to bring too many in,” Dowse said.
We want to create better men – we don’t want to create the Todd Carney’s of the game.
- Jamie Dowse
“We want to be a development club, so that going forward will put us in good stead.”
Accountability and ownership are two aspects he will push at the Sharks ahead of the 2018 season and beyond.
“We want to create better men – we don’t want to create the Todd Carney’s of the game,” he said.
“As well as a good culture – and I’m pretty sure I’ve said it to a few people – accountability and ownership from everyone in the club is my big thing.
“That’s what I’ll be trying to get across to the playing group and the club.”
Dowse spent 15 years away from the Hastings pursuing a full-time career in rugby league.
Stints at Queensland Cup sides Norths Devils and Wynnum Manly make up an already impressive CV.
And then there’s time at the Brisbane Broncos.
We’re a community club in Port Macquarie, so we’re competing with Wauchope and the Breakers for community support.
- Jamie Dowse
“15 years ago I packed the gear up and I’m probably lucky I’ve got a very supportive wife and kids so we moved up there and it all paid off,” he said.
When the role at the Sharks came up, he had no hesitation in returning to home surrounds.
“I wanted to be closer to the kids and grand kids so the transition for me is not going to be too hard as an administrator,” Dowse said.
“A few guys (from the Sharks) wanted to know if I’d be interested in the gig and I stuck my hand up and am happy to do it.
“Where I’ve come from, the governance of a club is really big.
“I want to instill that and I want to create a good culture.
“We’re a community club in Port Macquarie, so we’re competing with Wauchope and the Breakers for community support – we’ve just got to be really good in that area so we attract interest.”
