Can never work out why some think a ex good player becomes a good coach, if it was the case we would be overrun with the likes of Powell, but he did he dis his training, not becoming a coach overnight.
Not convinced by Cunningham, St Helens my home town went mad, statue of him, a new housing estate on the site of Knowsley Road named after him, and what did he do, some of his after match press conferences were a joke, he was clueless! and his recruitment was dismal, even to a top club like Saints.
Was rumoured he was heading for Widnes, thought that was a major error! and not convinced about him with Leigh.
An assessment role? not sure he has those skills at all!
Can never work out why some think a ex good player becomes a good coach, if it was the case we would be overrun with the likes of Powell, but he did he dis his training, not becoming a coach overnight.
Not convinced by Cunningham, St Helens my home town went mad, statue of him, a new housing estate on the site of Knowsley Road named after him, and what did he do, some of his after match press conferences were a joke, he was clueless! and his recruitment was dismal, even to a top club like Saints.
Was rumoured he was heading for Widnes, thought that was a major error! and not convinced about him with Leigh.
An assessment role? not sure he has those skills at all!
Time will tell whether it's been a good appointment or not, nothing else.
Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words, it is war minus the shooting. George Orwell
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
The decision to employ a new DoR is bonkers. Derek is only away for a few weeks and he's hardly going to Outer Mongolia (though some would say that's preferable to Hull) - so is he saying that he doesn't trust his coaching staff to make the right decisions? Was he really that involved in the day-to-day goings on inthe coaching side of things that he think is his current staff can't cope without him? I thought he always said that he wasn't involved in all that stuff, so has KC come in just as an admin guy? It all sounds bonkers and panicky to me.
Disclaimer: Yes I have got a grudge (if it makes you feel better to believe that then good) blah blah blah Yes I still have an opinion blah blah blah No it might not be the same as yours blah blah blah Deal with it and move on.
The decision to employ a new DoR is bonkers. Derek is only away for a few weeks and he's hardly going to Outer Mongolia (though some would say that's preferable to Hull) - so is he saying that he doesn't trust his coaching staff to make the right decisions? Was he really that involved in the day-to-day goings on inthe coaching side of things that he think is his current staff can't cope without him? I thought he always said that he wasn't involved in all that stuff, so has KC come in just as an admin guy? It all sounds bonkers and panicky to me.
Disclaimer: Yes I have got a grudge (if it makes you feel better to believe that then good) blah blah blah Yes I still have an opinion blah blah blah No it might not be the same as yours blah blah blah Deal with it and move on.
Hi Mish.
A few clubs have a 'senior' former player/coach sitting in the role above head coach. John Kear immediately comes to mind in his role with Chris Chester at Wakefield - and very successful they have been too. Also Brian Noble is employed in that position at Toronto - but the success of that partnership won't really be proven for at least 2/3 years. It seems to be an attempt to provide a young coach with an experienced 'father' figure'. However, I can't really see Keiron Cunningham as a 'father figure!' Whilst he was incredibly successful as a player, he hardly set the world on fire as a coach and probably has less coaching experience than any of our 'fleet' of coaches. (wrong collective noun but seems appropriate!)
Hopefully some of his 'never say die' attitude, and experience as a player at a high level, will add something we have been lacking.
Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words, it is war minus the shooting. George Orwell
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
A few clubs have a 'senior' former player/coach sitting in the role above head coach. John Kear immediately comes to mind in his role with Chris Chester at Wakefield - and very successful they have been too. Also Brian Noble is employed in that position at Toronto - but the success of that partnership won't really be proven for at least 2/3 years. It seems to be an attempt to provide a young coach with an experienced 'father' figure'. However, I can't really see Keiron Cunningham as a 'father figure!' Whilst he was incredibly successful as a player, he hardly set the world on fire as a coach and probably has less coaching experience than any of our 'fleet' of coaches. (wrong collective noun but seems appropriate!)
Hopefully some of his 'never say die' attitude, and experience as a player at a high level, will add something we have been lacking.
But that's always been Derek's role and we all know that he's never coached, so how does that work out? Look, you're either good enough to be head coach and to make all the decisions about your team or you're not - in which case, pack your bags and go home because you're not good enough. There's no middle ground with this - just ask Alex Murphy what he would think about another coach being brought in if he was head coach.
If you need assistants, or admin staff then fine, but you can't bring a guy in who knows nothing about the team and give him the top job - how humiliating must that be for Jukesy, despite Derek giving him the dreaded vote of confidence. As I said, bonkers.
A lot of clubs have a director of rugby. If Derek can't give the time the role deserves and he feels that Cunningham can do the role justice then so be it. The proof will be in the pudding. Let's see what happens.
Looking back at the season DB brought in the wrong players and had the wrong coaches to keep us in the SL now in desperation he decides to take action in a last ditch attempt to stay in the SL I for one hope his recent appointment achieves that aim.
Increasingly common in professional sport to have this type of role in place. Personally it seems a odd thing to do but it is pretty common so hardly earth shattering, I suspect Derick is looking at taking a step back as he maybe believes the role deserves more time than he can commit.
Is there only myself and HRJ that think this could be the start of a new coaching regime -- with an eye on next year? Maybe even an insurance policy "if" some depart for whatever reason.
Love him or hate him, Keiron is an SL great and must be well connected and respected in the game. Obviously, his first stint as coach didn't exactly go to plan, but being a Saints legend it was always going to be a tough ask to replicate his playing stature. Who's to say Long wasn't integral to their lacklustre attack? Either way, Kieron seems eager to quickly learn from past experiences and you have to respect that. Plus, he seems like a good honest lad and happy to "tell it like it is". Let's wish him all the best at this great club in whatever role.
5 games in this year we were so close to skyrocketing and then the inevitable injuries took hold and decimated the squad. I guess that's the challenge that makes future success all the sweeter, riding the storm!
Mish, better cover your ears... DB is definitely not scared to make a decision and his strength appears to be his ability to connect with others, with great enthusiasm and vision. And this new acquisition may be a really positive step for Leigh Centurions. They may work very well together and achieve great success! There is no way Derek has disappeared indefinitely -- I can't accept that.