Betham Bows Out

[Scott]

I think the coach is Tony Smith (not Brian's brother). Former Castleford player.

 

[mahanga]

He's been a tackling machine since the days of Daniel anderson.If he could've only controlled his emotions......Perhaps under a new coach,a different envirement and more doh ray me[if its anymore than the Warriors were paying him] we might see a different Monty.Perhaps.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Like most players released i think they will be back at some time or another. Especially if the current head office piss off

 

[Iafeta]

I used to think that too R&S, but I think that romantic chilvarous type scenario we all dream about where Ali, Motu, Henry, Logan and friends all head back to Auckland under happy go lucky banners and have ultra success is just - a romantic chilvarous dream. I think that probably ends with Ivan and Kevin, and the rumours we had a while ago when off contract that Carlaw and Swann wanted back in.

I think we may not realise how much water has gone under the bridge, so to speak. There's been so many players departing, it makes me wonder what exactly is so inertly wrong with the club culture. Is the problem really Mick Watson, or does it go even wider and deeper than that?

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

Heres to hoping it is....err was Watson and it stops!!

 

[Batman]

To say the 'problem' was Mick Watson is ridiculously over-simplistic. Let's look at some of the players who departed:

Logan Swann: dropped for part of 2003 by Daniel Anderson. Many rumours that the 2 did not get on. I thought he was one of our best, couldn't see what Ando was on about. His axing = nowt to do with Mick Watson.

Motu Tony: Shunted around all over the park by Ando. Many time benched. Motu thought he was better than that, and was probably right. When he departed, made comments about Ando having no "war stories", and said that he could relate better to Kemp. His axing = nowt to do with Mick Watson.

Mark Tookey: Ando had a target weight which he had to achieve, and the big bloke with the penchant for pies couldn't attain it. Wonderfull in 2002 / unfit in 2003. Coach unhappy = he got the DCM.

PJ Marsh: B(r)ought in by Ando via the Parramatta connection. When Ando walked, his days were numbered. Oh yeah, and he got a serious neck injury which made him a risky proposition in any case. Plus, he got under the skin of many in the same way that David Myles did - very vocal in critisism of some. His departure = a combination of factors.

Stacey Jones: Poor form in 2004, was dropped , benched and even used at stand-off by Ando. Plagued by rumours re his marriage, and upset by the media. At pains to state that his departure was not down to Mick Watson.

Francis Meli: Warned by Kemp that his poor form could not stand, and had an unhappy past 2 years at the Warriors. Not sure that his 'axing' can be in any way attributed to Mick Watson.

Monty Betham: A friend of Mick Watson. Injury and suspension plagued two years. Captaincy did not work out, upset with media and booing fans.

 

[SunkenEyes]

There was no-one else rookie of the year could go to! Simon was the only new player used! Still deserved it though.

Yeah had to laugh at that. Kinda makes the rookie award seem worthless this year. Good on Mannering tho, hopefully he can become a vital cog in the warriors backline next year

 

[ozbash]

To say the 'problem' was Mick Watson is ridiculously over-simplistic.

well, we are simple folk batman, i really cant put my finger on anyone else who should front up and shoulder the responsibility of the warriors tragic demise over the last 2 years.

your list of people who left the club is very interesting but they all have one thing in common, they didnt want to go.

 

[Batman]

OK, they didn't want to go. I forgot one on my list: Henry - Anderson kept dropping him until in the end he had to go.
So I think what you are saying is that Mick Watson should have fired Daniel Anderson at the end of 2003? Because Anderson was clearly behind many of the departures. The CEO either backs his coach or he doesn't, and Mick Watson chose to back his personal friend (back then) Daniel Anderson.
As to Francis Meli, he's been relentlessly bagged on every forum going around for the whole of this year and last for his poor form. To turn around and suggest that Mick Watson chopped "poor old Francis" is ridiculous. Francis had been given every chance and he didn't perform.
Why re-write history and say Mick Watson was the cause of every departure. Best to be honest.

 

[ozbash]

it is honesty, none of the players named wanted to go, but they were basically told find somewhere else or play b/card.
classic example is vinnie anderson. watson got thesh*ts with him because he played for the kiwis. the directive not to play for the kiwis came from the ceo, not the coaches.

just one of many examples,, in all honesty.

 

[Batman]

Thats one example, would be interested to see who else you could name.
I think between us we've named vitually everyone who left, except for Ali, and I'm sure that the head coach could have saved him if he'd wanted him. Ando gets a lot of sympathy from NZ fans, who think he was shafted by the players: I think it was the other way around. He shafted guys who had done the bizzo for him, he was just as much a part of the little clique running the place as Mick Watson, & he let his own ego get the better of him.
Mick & him were buddies, and the only reason they fell out was because their joint strategy for running the club (i.e. getting rid of highly paid experienced players annd replacing them with young local talent) ultimately didn't work.
I still remember him in 2003 with his big Grizzly Adams beard, and Mick with his beret & goatee.