Alan Johnson
Juniors
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Jeez the teams below us must be on drugs when they're *playing*.
Manu has been given indefinite leave from the warriors. Sauce: thousand island.
So now I am hearing they were taking prescription painkillers and Red Bull not sleeping pills.
Does anyone know a source for this?
The best articulated argument I have read on the boards in years....and not because I agree.Sorry, I don't agree with this.
We had a proven coach in Cleary, he led us to the GF. We then had a proven coach in Bluey who coached 2 teams in bartercard cup victories, won the tri-series with the Kiwis and also had superleague success. Then we had Elliot who won the SL, took another team to the GF and also lead Penrith to second or third as well.
Theres only so many coaches that can fail until you need to look for alternatives.
Right now we have found the cause of the problem. These tweets, this going out and mixing prescription drugs with energy drinks, missing/late to a teem meeting. Was this McFaddens doing? NO
McFadden may not be a proven coach, but he has brought good players in. RTS is class, sadly got injured. We all know what Luke is capable. Ayshford looks to have been a great pick up. Robson was a good signing on merit, fairly cheap I'd imagine. I just hope he doesn't block the path of a Hingano or Lino. Lane has potential, as does Sao.
I'm not saying McFadden is a good coach by any means, nor am I entirely confident he will be the man to lead us to a maiden title, but he needs a damned chance. He needs more of a chance than we gave Bluey, he needs more of a chance we gave Elliot. If we get rid of McFadden and not the players, what kind of message does that send out? What 'proven' Coach will want to move across the ditch, to a club who already has a concerning record of sacking coaches, in an attempt to get the best out of a bunch who seem to acting like petulant teenagers.
Sacking the coach, and hiding this issue under the rug and moving on won't help.
There needs to be change, and while I understand the 'sacking the coach' arguement, but it is not the answer.
We need to draw a line here.
If we were to punt these players, really what have we lost? Lane, Palavi, Sipley, Lousi, Gubb made an alright show of it. Big Ali is killing it from all reports and then theres ones like Bunty Afoa who won't be far off
Outside backs we're doing alright with Fusitua, Allwood, Ayshford, Kata, Lolohea, Wells on board, not to mention Lolohea.
Look at what these guys have actually been achieving on field
Hurrell - Sporadic interchange appearances.
Vatuvei - 30yr old winger, who seems to be getting injured more
Matulino - Potentially in the best 5 props in the game, on his day. On his day. We havn't had one of those days in a while.
Thompson - Earned a starting spot last year, however this year he has also seemed to have dropped off a wee bit
Vete/Lisone - Both have recently started, both appear to have huge futures. These are the two that I'd accept another chance.
FWIW, I wouldn't be opposed to keeping Vete, Lisone, Matulino and Thompson but have them on a final notice. Hurrell and Vatuvei should go, you can't have a player publicly suggest the players aren't behind the coach, and you can't have another player telling fans to not have an opinion and carry on the way he has.
Can easily see it happening and I'm surprised its not more prevalent. Continuously injured, continuously encouraged to play through the pain, continuously given pain killers to make it possible. In terms of his 'legacy' this might be the saving grace for Manu - not an idiot looking for a quick buzz, but an addict who needs help.
I read it as less than 'let's cover this up,' and more like 'we've got a player(s) with a serious issue and he needs help, so let's try to get him his help without him becoming a public spectacle.' Whether that was the right way to go in that situation (if that is indeed what they were thinking), i don't know, and it didn't work anyway.That's exactly right.
I remind in Camp Doyle, however the amount of management speak and 'internal processes, no comment' sort of stuff he's been into in the last week hasn't impressed me. Especially if they were trying to cover up the prescription drugs etc initially.