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Unfortunately for him, I don't think he ever really looked at what he had. He had his blinkers on and only focused on his game plan and wasn't interested in absolutely anything else whatsoever.
He, numerous times, told everyone that "We're an ugly team. We play ugly". He wanted the team to get down and dirty, grit their teeth, and grind out boring games. But we have Ponga, Young, Gagai, Best, Sharpe, Lucas, ect ... these are good players. Flashy players. He has been trying to get the team to play the opposite of their biggest weapons. The 10 weeks they were let off the leash: 10 week winning streak, Dally M, highest pointscoring team, ect.
For a number of years, Dad would frequently tell me that he didn't like AOB. Dad passed unexpectedly 2yrs ago, but he'd be a happy man today with this news if he was still here.
Personally, I've been frustrated at the way the team has played and, seemingly, coached. I haven't liked AOB's attitude at times, but I've genuinely wanted him to be the one who finally brings success to the Knights (outside of the womens team). For all the years of crap and frustration, to have gotten a premiership would have made all those infuriating weekends worth it. Now he's departing and we are not really any better for all those years of frustration and bitter disappointment.
He'll probably go on to being a successful assistant coach yet again. Maybe being involved in a 5th Grand Final. I wish him well, but I wish him the Knights level of success if he goes to another NRL club (ie: bringing that club down to spoon contenders!).
I just hope whomever steps into his role at Newcastle isn't going to be AOB 2.0 and we get a rinse and repeat for the next 4, 5, 6+ years.
He, numerous times, told everyone that "We're an ugly team. We play ugly". He wanted the team to get down and dirty, grit their teeth, and grind out boring games. But we have Ponga, Young, Gagai, Best, Sharpe, Lucas, ect ... these are good players. Flashy players. He has been trying to get the team to play the opposite of their biggest weapons. The 10 weeks they were let off the leash: 10 week winning streak, Dally M, highest pointscoring team, ect.
For a number of years, Dad would frequently tell me that he didn't like AOB. Dad passed unexpectedly 2yrs ago, but he'd be a happy man today with this news if he was still here.
Personally, I've been frustrated at the way the team has played and, seemingly, coached. I haven't liked AOB's attitude at times, but I've genuinely wanted him to be the one who finally brings success to the Knights (outside of the womens team). For all the years of crap and frustration, to have gotten a premiership would have made all those infuriating weekends worth it. Now he's departing and we are not really any better for all those years of frustration and bitter disappointment.
He'll probably go on to being a successful assistant coach yet again. Maybe being involved in a 5th Grand Final. I wish him well, but I wish him the Knights level of success if he goes to another NRL club (ie: bringing that club down to spoon contenders!).
I just hope whomever steps into his role at Newcastle isn't going to be AOB 2.0 and we get a rinse and repeat for the next 4, 5, 6+ years.
