Anthony Griffin Extended Contract

[denis preston]

I'm on the fence. I don't think Griffin will get us anywhere near a premiership. The only upside I've seen since he came is that the cap is getting managed slightly better. Is there another coaching option available?

At this point of time we really need a very good tactical assistant coach. Let Hook be the figurehead and handle overall coaching , game day, selections & recruitment. Similar to the old Don Furner/ Wayne Bennett combination in the 80's. Is there a assistant coach coach out there that could do this ? Perhaps we wait 2 seasons for Kyle Stanley ?

 

[Crush]

At this point of time we really need a very good tactical assistant coach. Let Hook be the figurehead and handle overall coaching , game day, selections & recruitment. Similar to the old Don Furner/ Wayne Bennett combination in the 80's. Is there a assistant coach coach out there that could do this ? Perhaps we wait 2 seasons for Kyle Stanley ?

See how Sowie goes with the girls this year, he could work

 

[Maddragon99]

Has anyone else noticed a lot of articles stating that we made advances in 2021? I must be living in a alternate universe because for mine 2021 was a clown show.

I’m ok with the club taking up Griffin’s 3rd year option because the stability will allow the kids to develop & make recruitment easier.

But all it’s done is kick the speculation down the road for a year. If we underperform again this year & miss the playoffs the pressure on the club to make a decision for ‘24 & beyond will be immense.

I think for Griffin it’s the top 8 or bust this year.

 

[Lovemedragons]

Do members of this forum remember a guy called Corey Norman who played for the club for 3 years on about 900K a season and despite years of inept and lame performances was the first player picked by his coach each week no matter what - even though unsigned by the club for the future. He got paid back for his judgement of Norman on many occasions but none better than his final play for the club when he dropped the ball in a last play of the season which could have ended many months of a losing streak. this is all I need to know when assessing this man's judgement and whether this is a good decision by this once great club...good luck with this one.

 

[Maddragon99]

Do members of this forum remember a guy called Corey Norman who played for the club for 3 years on about 900K a season and despite years of inept and lame performances was the first player picked by his coach each week no matter what - even though unsigned by the club for the future. He got paid back for his judgement of Norman on many occasions but none better than his final play for the club when he dropped the ball in a last play of the season which could have ended many months of a losing streak. this is all I need to know when assessing this man's judgement and whether this is a good decision by this once great club...good luck with this one.

Can’t argue with any of that. But he’s our coach for the next 2 seasons so there’s no alternative other than to get behind the man & hope for the best. In defence of Griffin, he didn’t sign either Norman or Hunt so I suppose he was trying to get some value back for the money spent.

Both players don’t fit with his Moneyball type approach to recruitment so I doubt he would have signed either of them if given the choice.

 

[blacksafake]

Can’t argue with any of that. But he’s our coach for the next 2 seasons so there’s no alternative other than to get behind the man & hope for the best. In defence of Griffin, he didn’t sign either Norman or Hunt so I suppose he was trying to get some value back for the money spent.

Both players don’t fit with his Moneyball type approach to recruitment so I doubt he would have signed either of them if given the choice.

He’s always spoken highly of Hunt & Hunt likewise of him so I’m not sure about not signing him. The only difference maybe would be the price as I’m sure Hook would’ve been tougher in negotiations.
Just my opinion.

 

[Mojo]

He’s always spoken highly of Hunt & Hunt likewise of him so I’m not sure about not signing him. The only difference maybe would be the price as I’m sure Hook would’ve been tougher in negotiations.
Just my opinion.

No comparison between Hunt and Norman. It will remain a mystery forever as to why Normy was played week after week. Favoritism or a favour being repaid? Hopefully not just bad judgment.

 

[SEAT 1A]

He’s always spoken highly of Hunt & Hunt likewise of him so I’m not sure about not signing him. The only difference maybe would be the price as I’m sure Hook would’ve been tougher in negotiations.
Just my opinion.

Last year, was Hunt's best season.

Their relationship beared fruit on the field and it showed when Hunt wasn't on the field sadly.

We know have one of the best halves to guide the boys through and a coach that has done it before.

 

[Maddragon99]

Last year, was Hunt's best season.

Their relationship beared fruit on the field and it showed when Hunt wasn't on the field sadly.

We know have one of the best halves to guide the boys through and a coach that has done it before.

Sure Hunt’s 2021 was excellent but one season doesn’t make up for previous 4 average ones at $1M a season.

 

[jak]

Sure Hunt’s 2021 was excellent but one season doesn’t make up for previous 4 average ones at $1M a season.

he had no coach for those four years

 

[denis preston]

Do members of this forum remember a guy called Corey Norman who played for the club for 3 years on about 900K a season and despite years of inept and lame performances was the first player picked by his coach each week no matter what - even though unsigned by the club for the future. He got paid back for his judgement of Norman on many occasions but none better than his final play for the club when he dropped the ball in a last play of the season which could have ended many months of a losing streak. this is all I need to know when assessing this man's judgement and whether this is a good decision by this once great club...good luck with this one.

Whilst i agree that the Norman scenario was puzzling, summing up our coach on this one situation is a tad unfair.

 

[Walpole]

Do members of this forum remember a guy called Corey Norman who played for the club for 3 years on about 900K a season and despite years of inept and lame performances was the first player picked by his coach each week no matter what - even though unsigned by the club for the future. He got paid back for his judgement of Norman on many occasions but none better than his final play for the club when he dropped the ball in a last play of the season which could have ended many months of a losing streak. this is all I need to know when assessing this man's judgement and whether this is a good decision by this once great club...good luck with this one.

Corey Norman? Never heard of him.

 

[OneEyedDragon]

Corey Norman? Never heard of him.

I think maybe he was that golfer Greg Norman's much younger brother??

 

[the garage]

Will be watching how he (hook) manages the hooker (dummy half) position. Modern game all about metres gained. If your structure promotes 'go foward' from moment the ball touches the 1st pair of hands in any set play mediocre attacks can accumulate points. Need attacking intelligence, good running game & ball skills in that 1st pair of hands (dummy half).

All good modern teams know this, are we one of those? 10 metres in the middle equal to & sets up 30m out wide, turns the defence around and weakens its sliding structure.

 

[Crush]

Will be watching how he (hook) manages the hooker (dummy half) position. Modern game all about metres gained. If your structure promotes 'go foward' from moment the ball touches the 1st pair of hands in any set play mediocre attacks can accumulate points. Need attacking intelligence, good running game & ball skills in that 1st pair of hands (dummy half).

All good modern teams know this, are we one of those? 10 metres in the middle equal to & sets up 30m out wide, turns the defence around and weakens its sliding structure.

Hooker is our number one weakness in this years team, McCulloch would be one of the most pedestrian, slow hookers in the game.
Without a zippy, dangerous hooker we will never challenge the top teams.

 

[Mojo]

Hooker is our number one weakness in this years team, McCulloch would be one of the most pedestrian, slow hookers in the game.
Without a zippy, dangerous hooker we will never challenge the top teams.

I agree … but .. IMO, Mulheisen is a real talent who should be promoted into 1st grade ASAP. I think this squad, under Hook, will be very, very competitive.

 

[ColdWetPanther]

I stumbled across this thread and have to admit, I am super impressed by the level of debate here; as a Panther fan I wish some of our threads had this level of thought displayed with everyone’s view both challenged and respected. Keep it up!!

My two cents; it feels like Hook is the right type of coach for where the Saints find themselves. I just can’t understand why he didn’t play the young guys more in 2022? Maybe didn’t want to throw them into a team spiralling downwards. His ability to get them playing and moving in the right direction (something he did well at the Broncs and Panthers) should be key to defining whether 2022 is a success.

 

[blacksafake]

I stumbled across this thread and have to admit, I am super impressed by the level of debate here; as a Panther fan I wish some of our threads had this level of thought displayed with everyone’s view both challenged and respected. Keep it up!!

My two cents; it feels like Hook is the right type of coach for where the Saints find themselves. I just can’t understand why he didn’t play the young guys more in 2022? Maybe didn’t want to throw them into a team spiralling downwards. His ability to get them playing and moving in the right direction (something he did well at the Broncs and Panthers) should be key to defining whether 2022 is a success.

You “stumbled” in at the right time CWP
There’s certainly no shortage of people in here giving their own thoughts.

I’m sure hook didn’t want to throw the youngsters in too much last year when the team were getting beaten therefore affecting their confidence, this plus covid.

 

[Old Timer]

You “stumbled” in at the right time CWP
There’s certainly no shortage of people in here giving their own thoughts.

I’m sure hook didn’t want to throw the youngsters in too much last year when the team were getting beaten therefore affecting their confidence, this plus covid.

As we were on the slide, players were going to be cut / moved on, spirit was low with some bad eggs in the shed the last thing Hook needed was to get some of the juniors banged up and busted especially leading into a new season with the dickheads gone and some good recruits coming in.

Sullivan being slow to come back may very well be an indication of what can / does happen so at least he has almost all the squad fit and ready to go.

I think he has played it pretty smart and will reap the rewards as the season progresses.

 

[thebigredv]

No I am not going off early in this one. But, once again, no need to extend a coach being schooled by a coach in his debut season. That is one major aspect of what is happening here tonight.