Seth wrote:
On the podcast Chris said the clamour for smiths head is ridiculous because you need a plan and an alternative, that changes mid season rarely work that we've had so many changes of coach that haven't worked out. I don't find that to be an argument to stick with another the onus is on the club to get the appointment of coaches right which they clearly havent. and to be fair supporters arent in a position to name alternatives but it'd be naive to not expect them to voice what we can all clearly see happening in front of us. And let's not just put it all down to mitigating factor s because we weren't playing great with a more fully fit squad. I do think we're still catching up from the training ground flooding though.
I can see what you mean but isn't it way, way more likely we would get the right coach, rather than just a change of coach, if it is planned for and someone lined up at a season end? Who would come across right now?
Personally if we need a manifestly better coach we just have to go with track record, GH's judgement hasn't been great and/or his hand in signings has been poor for a long time.
You're right we weren't playing great with a fit squad, but we did beat Cats, who we have just lost to with 6 first choice players out. People keep telling me there are no mitigating factors and the evidence to me seems the contrary.
Are people really sure with fully fit Croft, Holroyd, Newman we don't win that game at the weekend? I think Cats were there for the taking again.
I don't think RS is anywhere near as bad a coach as many seem to think of on here. I don't think he's perfect either. I'm sure there are better coaches out there. People should understand that no coach is generically "the best" - it takes the right combination or players, coaches, timing etc. Brian Maclennan was great for a year or two but then fell of the cliff. Murray was brilliant again for a year or two, same with Tony Smith. Brian McDermott had the most extended spell but his star fell too (although he seems to be doing well in NRL).
Whether we can get them or would pay for them - not sure. GH struck gold with Brian Mac who didn't have lots of track record with top teams when we brought him in, but he seems obsessed with a cheaper "undiscovered gold" coach rather than appointing on proven track record - and there is less excuse for coaching because no salary cap. Even if we only had a real top coach for a couple of years, it could make a massive difference to the club.
A younger coach with a younger coach equals a longer learning curve but maybe a real embedded group over time. I suspect what this young team needs is an older head who is a good mentor, and then a really good skills-driven set of assistants. The time for hard core skills development is actually in the academy, we should get best possible coaches into them at that age in particular.