‘Not going to happen quickly': McKellar says Tahs re-build will be long haul
'When I stepped foot in the door, it wasn't where it needed to be. And the players have certainly bought into that and the change and progress there has been significant.
'Unfortunately, when you're going through what we're going through at the moment, if you want to put in place something that's going to allow for sustainable success, it takes time to change. And you don't always see that progress on the field through results and outcomes.'
Asked when he believed the side would make that change, turn the corner and be consistently successful, McKellar said: 'I can't put a timeline on it but it's not going to happen quickly.'
'We're going back multiple years here and it's got nothing to do with any other previous programs, or previous coaches, but the reality is that it's not something that's new.
'I think how we're going to get real change is by making sure that we identify the best young players in NSW that are desperate to want to play for NSW, and we keep them and we bring them through and develop them into good NSW players. That's how we're going to get the real change, and that's going to take some time.
'I knew we were going to have some good times, and I knew that we were going to have some tough days and that hasn't changed. So there hasn't been any real surprises.
'I knew it was going to be a big job - but that excites me. We all want a strong and successful NSW Waratahs.
'There's been significant changes to the group, but you can already see the progress that's been made there around how we do things. I know people don't see that, and they might regard it as rubbish. But we are in this for the long haul. And that's how you get sustainable change.'
McKellar said he would now begin to focus on finalising the Tahs' roster for next year, and confirmed the front row would be an area of priority, with Angus Bell playing in Ulster, and Tupou is also yet to make a call on his future. Mahe Vailanu, Julian Heaven, Rob Leota and Langi Gleeson are leaving, and Tane Edmed is a possible departure, too.
He will look at recruitment in all positions, but McKellar said the key to success is getting the NSW production line right.
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'There's never going to be an issue with talent in NSW - it's making sure we maintain and hold and develop the good young ones we've got,' McKellar said.
'We've got a number of good ones coming through that 20s program. Guys like Eamon Doyle, Sid Harvey, Austin Durbidge, Marshall Le Maitre, Toby Brial, these boys. They're in our system now, and they're the future. So when they become Super Rugby players, they'll know what's expected of them, day in and day out.'
The Waratahs will have a week off before coming back together to begin preparations for the tour match against the British and Irish Lions on July 5. McKellar said he expects new recruit Matt Phillip will be in the mix for the clash, but Pete Samu is unlikely given Clermont are a strong chance to play in the Top 14 final.
'There's a bit of a sour taste in people's mouths after Auckland, so we've got a great opportunity in front of a full house at Allianz in what's a once in a career opportunity for players and coaches,' McKellar said.
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