INCOMING York Wasps head coach Leo Epifania has outlined his fan-friendly style of rugby and a desire to get the very best out of his new players.

In an exclusive interview with the Evening Press, the 36-year-old Australian said he was determined to get the players, the staff, the directors and the supporters all pulling in the same direction to make the Wasps a major force.

And in a special message to the fans, said he wanted his team not only to be successful but also to entertain.

"The most important aim of mine is to please the supporters," said the former top grade full-back.

"They come out to watch you and you should be entertainers on the field and go out there to please them.

"I'm coming over to give more than 100 per cent. I'll give everything I've got to build a successful club and if everyone takes that line of thought and makes an effort then success can happen."

Speaking from his home in Australia, he continued: "I'll be working on building a good team spirit at the club.

"I think if we build a spirit and if everyone gets on with each other and helps each other we'll be able to form a solid club. The players will be unsure about me and I don't know them but if everyone pulls in the same direction and we have faith in each other then it will be fine."

As for the team, he said: "In my time in rugby I've seen a lot of players never reach their capabilities. My plan is to get every player to get everything he is capable of out of himself. That way the whole team performs better.

"I want the players to believe they can get more out of themselves than they think. If the team reckon they're capable of making the play-offs I'd want to go one step further and win the play-offs. If we're capable of just missing out on the play-offs I'd want us to qualify for the play-offs.

"On the pitch I'll be looking for discipline and for the players to get the best out of themselves and not go into a shell.

"For example, if you have the chance to throw a pass in dire straits, then throw it. I don't want to hold anyone back.

"I'll also be looking for loyalty to the club and to the game."

Epifania, whose latest job was as assistant to former ARL coach Steve Goshn at Metropolitan Cup outfit Guildford, admitted he knew little of York and although his start-date is not yet fixed - it depends on the dates of the new season - he is keen to get cracking as soon as possible.

"The longer I have with the players the better it will be," he said.

"I don't really know the level York play at. I know about Super League but I'm not too sure of the standard in the Northern Ford Premiership."

"I've played at the top level in Australia and have been assistant coach at Metro Cup standard, which is just below first grade rugby so it's a fairly substantial level. I've always been involved with rugby league at professional level.

"Although I wasn't head coach at Guildford, we would both throw in our input and come to an agreement as to how the team should be run. I would make a lot of decisions."

He added: "I don't know much about York but this is a great opportunity for me. After talking to Paul Faires (of World Rugby League, who put him in touch with the club and also helped broker the Wasps' new sponsorship deals) it seems like a big challenge and a good challenge.

"I would not want to take on somebody else's problems; rather I'd like to build a club from the foundations and with this being a new start for York it is the perfect opportunity for me."

Updated: 11:31 Thursday, September 20, 2001