Wayne Creek to step aside as Giants men’s coach at season’s end

Outgoing Goldfields Giants head coach Wayne Creek is “very confident” the squad is in grand shape beyond this year after formally telling his players on Wednesday night that he will stand down at the end of the season.

Creek, 50, currently has the Giants in fourth spot in the men’s NBL1 standings with 13 wins and on the brink of its first finals appearance in three years.

He said he looked forward to taking the group as deep as he could into the 2022 play-offs before taking a break.

“It’s six years since I came back to Kalgoorlie to be involved with the Giants — two years as an assistant and the past four as head coach,” he said.

“I still enjoy it and love being around the team and the players, but it is tiring and a lot of time and effort goes into it.

“Essentially, I feel I’ve met the goals I wrote up when I came on board as head coach.

“I had a three-year plan and have ticked those boxes.

“The last points of that plan were to have us as a top-four team contending for the championship.

“When I came in, we finished last on the ladder.

“Four years on, we’ve gone from last to being a contending team and I feel I’ve done as much as I can do.”

Creek said he would keep the door open for future coaching roles.

“This time last season, I was already recruiting for 2022 and didn’t stop,” he said.

“Just being able to coach the team until the end of the season means I can then go home, not have to write up another training program, recruit anyone or talk to players’ agents.

“I can just sit back, relax for a while and then see what’s on the horizon after that.”

Creek initially coached the Giants in 2010-11 and is among the club’s most decorated figures. He was a member of the inaugural 2007 championship squad.

Creek played more than 300 games for the Giants, is a life member, former captain and joint winner of the club’s 1998 most valuable player trophy and led the league for blocked shots in three straight years (1997-1999).