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Bennett

Messages
3,329
The ESL halfback i mentioned that we were chasing is not going ahead. My source got a stern talking to from Wayne for suggesting it. He did however confirm Pearce is being seriously discussed. Jennings as well. Nothing in concrete yet but we are aiming for a world class spine at 1, 6,7 and 9.
 

Fire

First Grade
Messages
9,669
The ESL halfback i mentioned that we were chasing is not going ahead. My source got a stern talking to from Wayne for suggesting it. He did however confirm Pearce is being seriously discussed. Jennings as well. Nothing in concrete yet but we are aiming for a world class spine at 1, 6,7 and 9.

You'll get it too with Bennett at the club. Players will want to come and play under him and win a Premiership.
 

League_God

Juniors
Messages
1,504
We should throw everything we have at pearce. He should be our number 1 priority. Exactly what this team needs.
 

Rolla

Juniors
Messages
2,196
I mentioned this in another thread but it belongs hear.
There are a couple of ways to coach (speaking in extremes).

1) develop a structure or style of play that best suits the roster you have - This is how we have done it until Bennett. The shortfall of this method is that you need the best roster or best players to reach the top. We did it with Johns, storm do it with the big three. Now most teams also do things this way and it works to a point, but as i said only the one with the best players will win. Also remember what happened when we lost Johns.... if Storm lost just one of their three top dogs they would become a fringe 8 team imo.

2) Develop a roster to suit a style of play or structure - This is what we are doing at the moment. It always takes longer because each player has to adjust their game (some just can't and we don't have many 'footballers' in our squad with the brains to do that) or be replaced. It doesn't mean that you can suddenly win the comp with a crap team, but it does mean that you will slowly develop into a consistent contender (assuming the structure is right) and you are less reliant on individuals. You can be the best side without necessarily having the best roster (though you will need a good one and the right one for the structure).

So that probably makes no sense to anyone but me lol, but it is how I see it. I am also not saying that one way is better than the other, I think both work well in the right circumstances. The first certainly works a lot quicker, but it is less likely to succeed in getting a premiership without the best roster. I know that by using the first method, like stone and smith etc etc we were going to remain a fringe 8 team indefinitely unless we developed the next big three or Andrew Johns.
 

League_God

Juniors
Messages
1,504
1.Darius Boyd
2.James McManus
3.Timana Tahu
4.Michael Jennings
5.Aku Uate
6.Jarrod Mullen
7.Mitchell Pearce
8.Kade Snowden
9.Kurt Gidley
10.Richie Faaso
11.Beau Scott
12.Greg Bird
13.Chris Houston

14.Willie Mason
15.Zane Tetevano
16.Justin Poore
17.Danny Buderus

is a genuine top 4 team.
 

Rolla

Juniors
Messages
2,196
Jennings and Pearce would be great. As it stands we have two rep players, both wingers (at rep level).
 

Spot On

Coach
Messages
13,902
The ESL halfback i mentioned that we were chasing is not going ahead. My source got a stern talking to from Wayne for suggesting it. He did however confirm Pearce is being seriously discussed. Jennings as well. Nothing in concrete yet but we are aiming for a world class spine at 1, 6,7 and 9.

Can you clarify this? Chastised for what?
 

K-Man

Bench
Messages
3,171
Tactically he just does not seem up to date with the modern day coaches. Look at the structure set by hasler, bellamy etc.. Lots of bodies in motion, guys running on angles, halves that have a plethora of options, it looks beautiful to watch. Our attack has none of that at all. I love watching teams like the dogs, broncos, storm, cowboys because they all have similar attacking structures. You dont need to have a brilliant team to pull it off either, you just need guys that know their place.

To me this is the biggest disappointment. Everything else is somewhat concerning (i.e. lack of forward punch, lack of pace etc), but the fact we look like a team without a coach or any structure whatsoever is very very hard to take.

I never even said this this during our 15-game losing streak, but I just get bored watching our games. It's sad to say that, but I am honestly losing interest after about 25 minutes when I realise it's the same old garbage another week.

There are boring yet effective teams, and entertaining yet inconsistent teams... but we are boring and bad.

You can hear the commentators almost at pains to admit Bennett is doing poorly. They keep dancing around the issue of how awful we look in every single facet of the game, and how individually almost every player has gone backwards, but they don't quite finish off the rants with a comment related to the coach.

Honestly, bring back Stone. I enjoyed watching a team had skill and personality, even if it was a bit hit and miss it was exciting to be a knights supporter.
 

bluesbreaker

Bench
Messages
4,195
Coaching the Knights is the true test of Bennett's abilities. If he f**ks it then it will be exactly as I suspected - it ain't hard to coach sides to premierships when you have the majority of the australian team at your disposal.
 

Johns Magic

Referee
Messages
21,654
Coaching the Knights is the true test of Bennett's abilities. If he f**ks it then it will be exactly as I suspected - it ain't hard to coach sides to premierships when you have the majority of the australian team at your disposal.

He didn't have superstars when he started at the Dragons.
 

drago brelli

Bench
Messages
3,345
ooooh, watch your back, blues, spot on is going to be angry with you. Bennett and Hickman's game plan at the Dragons in '09 and '10 was very simple and it worked. He had the players to pull this off. Come 2011 other clubs negated this plan and I don't think there really was a plan b.
 

Johns Magic

Referee
Messages
21,654
I don't see Maguire and Hasler who have both implemented new playing structures into their teams which both finished outside the 8 last year requiring any transition period in improving their teams.

To expect that our team would at least be in the 8 should be a given considering where we were last year, and the players Bennett brought to the club.

Transition periods, needing time to implement new structures are all cop outs in professional sport for people who are seeking breathing space for not performing

I think our defence has come a long way this year. It is much better than Souths'.

I genuinely don't think we have the players in attack to work with at the moment. Not with the style of attack Bennett wants to use. Our backrow is a big problem. We don't have Creagh and Beau Scott on the fringes presenting a threat. We don't have Dave Taylor and Sam Burgess. We have Chris Houston and Joel Edwards/Zeb Taia.

Maguire took over a side that has been underperforming given their roster for a while now. Bennett took over a team that probably overachieved on the ladder last year. I think that comes into it.

Not all clubs need to go backwards before they go forward. I think we did though.
 
Messages
3,329
Rob Burrow. Doesn't matter anymore cos it was discussed for about 5 minutes. It was a suggestion rather than a planned thing. I have to say he would add some real spark. An absolute terrier. Never mind.
 

Hooch

Juniors
Messages
1,096
Bennet doesn't believe in your roster and the players can sense it. When he gets the chance he will not renew contracts.

Whether this results in Tinkler spitting the dummy and sacking him in the meantime remains to be seen.

This was always going to happen. If you thought Bennet was going to keep the current roster and build them up you were kidding yourselves.
 
Messages
3,329
Bennet doesn't believe in your roster and the players can sense it. When he gets the chance he will not renew contracts.

Whether this results in Tinkler spitting the dummy and sacking him in the meantime remains to be seen.

This was always going to happen. If you thought Bennet was going to keep the current roster and build them up you were kidding yourselves.

We are fully aware that this roster is going to be overhauled. Was never going to be anything else. Noone is kidding themselves here.
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
12,002
In a months time Yosh you will realise that making eighth spot is a dream.

A juicy bet in the making?

It is well known Pearce is dirty on Carney's sacking and the recent poor treatment of Anasta by Brian Smith. Essentially his two closest mates. He is a very real target if we are serious. I honestly think he will leave the Roosters. Origin form aside he is a superb club halfback.

I thought this was the mystery half you were talking about! Lol. I'd love some Pearce at the club. Not because he is Joey Johns but because he is the mold of player we need to compliment our players. Him or Wallace.


The season ain't over yet. We still have more than half the season to go. The beauty about our game is that even if you are 8th position, you still have a chance to go on and win it.

I can see why everyone is disappointed but Wayne has been through it all. You don't win 8000 premierships just because you have the best players [unless your Mal Meninga].

It's always darkest before dawn:cool:
 

Spot On

Coach
Messages
13,902
He didn't have superstars when he started at the Dragons.

Ooooooh, watch your back JM, Ivan Drago believes The Dragons had a roster choc full of NSW, QLD and Australian reps when Bennett signed and he need only write out a team sheet for them to win their long overdue comp.
 

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