I'll say something here that I said on ahother forum.
Cleary has done a good job, but he's still learning as a coach.. And I think that a little time under Gould's guidance will just provide him with the extra finish he needs to win championships.
To Cleary's credit, McClennan will will have the best raw material that any incoming Warriors coach has ever had - a first grade team that can man-up and do the hard yards, with more than one flashy playmaker as well (a far cry from the one man Stacey Jones show we used to have).. A devastating junior team.. And depth enough for a reserve side that's at the top end of the NSW cup.
We've have long been a sleeping giant in the competition - ever since the Warriors were admitted people were picking we'd be a strong club like the Broncos and Raiders of the 1990s - drawing on the depth of the whole country, dominating other teams and winning titles- but I have a real feeling that that's going to finally happen now.
Fantastic post and I absolutely agree.
The current management and coaching staff are finally exploiting the huge talent pool that Auckland and New Zealand have to offer.
Any time a junior goes down injured there seem to be two more awesome prospects to take his place.
I particularly like that we are targeting yawnion converts at a young age (Omar, Hurrell etc) rather than going for borderline retirees as previous administration may have done.
The Vulcans team regularly features 9 or more experienced NRL players who would be walk in starters at some other clubs.
Nearly noone rates Cleary as a potential premiership winning coach - personally I do. This was his first chance in the big time and he's turned the Warriors from a disjointed rabble who relied on 1 or 2 players and either annihilated their opposition or crumbled in a heap, to a very consistent defense oriented team who are now beginning to show their natural flair again.
He identified our biggest weaknesses and addressed them specifically with "boring" but reliable players who wouldn't go down in the mouth if things went against them. From the current roster, guys like Luck, Mannering, Packer, Rapira, Lillyman, Brown, Heremaia, Maloney are all players who I rate as mentally strong and very consistent; all products of Cleary's purchasing and development. He then identified an issue with lack of a ball playing forward, and picked up ther best there is in Mateo - AND has made him into a consistent performer.
Many people criticise Ivan for coaching no set plays and having no tactical nouse. I think this is also rubbish - some of our current attack is simply brilliant; a sign that he is learning and maturing as a coach.
Just a pity that Cleary is leaving as everything seems to be coming full circle... though McClennan walked into a high quality roster in ESL and produced two premierships - hopefully he can duplicate that success with us.
I think the Panthers are a perfect project for Ivan and he will rebuild them to a very strong side and hopefully one day get a premiership with them.
