Meet Your Coach
Daniell Haenga - Professional Cuesports Coach
Daniell Haenga is recognised as one of the greatest snooker players to emerge from New Zealand, alongside his father, Harry Haenga. From his earliest days playing on the lounge floor at age 9 to competing on the professional circuit, Daniell has dedicated his life to mastering cuesports.
Today, he shares that expertise through personalised coaching, helping players of all levels develop their natural game.
Career Highlights
Championships & Records
– 4 consecutive New Zealand Snooker Championship titles (NZ record).
– 8-time Queensland State Snooker Championship winner (record).
– 2-time Queensland Open Snooker Championship winner.
Professional Experience
– Competed on the Professional Snooker circuit (1993-1994).
– Played against World Champions including Stephen Hendry and Neil Robertson.
– Faced top professionals like Marco Fu, Stephen Maguire, Mark Allen, and Shaun Murphy.
Remarkable Achievements
– Over 2,000 recorded century breaks.
– Six maximum breaks of 147.
– Achieved his first century break at just 13 years, 10 months (104 break).
– Recorded five consecutive century breaks four times (once including a 147).
– Made 12 century breaks in a single day.
Coaching Approach
Daniell’s coaching philosophy centres on three core principles:
Strong Fundamentals
Building proper technique that works with your natural style and creates consistency in your game.
Smart Strategy
Developing tactical awareness and position play that improves break building and match performance.
Mental Resilience
Enhancing focus, confidence, and composure under pressure to perform at your best when it matters.
While specialising in all aspects of Snooker, Daniell also applies these principles to Nineball and English Eight Ball coaching, helping players develop their fundamentals and mental approach across disciplines.
Teaching Style
Daniell’s teaching style is:
– Clear and patient, breaking complex techniques into manageable components.
– Detail-focused, identifying the small adjustments that make significant differences.
– Structured, using video analysis and progressive drills to build skills systematically.
– Personalised, adapting to each player’s natural style rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.
Why Coaching?
After a distinguished playing career, Daniell transitioned to coaching out of a passion for developing players and growing the sport. He finds fulfilment in sharing his experience and guiding others through the same challenges he’s overcome, watching them improve and achieve their goals.