Coaching preference for 2024

[Mojo]

Is it true Gus Gould writes his articles?

Is it true that Gus Gould and James Hooper are the same person? Has anyone ever seen the two in the same room?

Gus and Hoops are shape-shifters.

 

[dannyt]

Gus and Hoops are shape-shifters.

You mean one is a shape shifter and the other doesn't exist.

We just haven't worked out who is who.

 

[Mojo]

You mean one is a shape shifter and the other doesn't exist.

We just haven't worked out who is who.

Gus is definitely the reptile. Hoops thinks he's King Charles.

 

[jak]

Seems to be some kind of fact checker…

if your right then someone should be checking the checker.

 

[possm]

Well if the side is playing better, you’d think he will be retained.

Under a Flanagan led coaching regime, it will be interesting to see who else returns to the club fold. Not just assistants but others.

What is to become of Carr?

If he can secure a handful of games, I guess you’d want to make use of his experience.

Or does Flanno sweep it all away?

And of course, maybe he’s on the phone to Ryles asking him what conditions he didn’t like and importantly why.

And he’d be crazy not to reach out to Hook and see what he thinks and tap his knowledge if it’s available.

He’d be looking at the roster for sure and he needs to know what’s going on in-house with training, attitude, strengths and weaknesses etc.

A big job, you want to minimise risk and blind spots.

He’d by asking Seibs for some days off as well. Just here and there. Unpaid.

If Flanno rates Carr, I'm sure he will keep him on, mainly because the players like and respect him, he seems to have improved their game. But that will be up to Flanno, it is his rep that will be on the line.

One thing I am sure of is that we will have new fitness staff. In my opinion, lack of fitness is one of our main problems this season and has been ever since Griffin took over.

If we could land Brown as recruitment/retention manager, I think this wouel be a good move in the right direction.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

If Flanno rates Carr, I'm sure he will keep him on, mainly because the players like and respect him, he seems to have improved their game. But that will be up to Flanno, it is his rep that will be on the line.

One thing I am sure of is that we will have new fitness staff. In my opinion, lack of fitness is one of our main problems this season and has been ever since Griffin took over.

If we could land Brown as recruitment/retention manager, I think this wouel be a good move in the right direction.

Yes, if the relationship is good, it would be a good idea for these reasons;

1. He would have a good idea of Flannos job and can provide insights.

2. Appears to be popular with players and staff. He has the current understandings of club people and where they are (thinking) that Flanno doesn’t.

3. He can instantly back up if Flanno is sick or waylaid.

4. Being close to club honchos, he can allay any concerns about Flanno if they arise.

5. Just his general enthusiasm and love of what he is doing. I think we all agree there’s a glow of in his heart about this challenge. I love the fact he’s not dancing on Hooks grave.

6. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of the current players and can pass this intel on.

As we know, when a new coach arrives, they spend a bit of time familiarising themselves with many things. Carr can serve to shorten this period, so Flanno can focus on other urgent things.

It is a 24/7 job. Very well paid too.

I can’t add much on fitness or recruitment. I still like the broncos recruiter and would try to steal him.

 

[TruSaint]

Posted this in another thread re coach.

Well worth a listen.

Key point from this interview I liked.

Summary not word for word.

1.) Are you worried about only having a 3 year deal ?
No, I intend to revamp this place and be here for 8 - 10 years and get the Dragons where they should be.

2.) Is your Manly job conflicting and can you start recruiting for Saints now ?
Manly I will work for until my contract is up and help them get to the semis. Yes, I am talking and dealing with rosters etc re Saints outside those hours.

Cliche' answers? maybe... but I found it very encouraging. The fact that he see's himself as the long term coach and ( on the face of it anyway ), is willing to take 3 years to prove his worth has me feeling optimistic.

EXCLUSIVE | Shane Flanagan 'won't be letting Ben Hunt go anywhere' - The Continuous​

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Posted this in another thread re coach.

Well worth a listen.

Key point from this interview I liked.

Summary not word for word.

1.) Are you worried about only having a 3 year deal ?
No, I intend to revamp this place and be here for 8 - 10 years and get the Dragons where they should be.

2.) Is your Manly job conflicting and can you start recruiting for Saints now ?
Manly I will work for until my contract is up and help them get to the semis. Yes, I am talking and dealing with rosters etc re Saints outside those hours.

Cliche' answers? maybe... but I found it very encouraging. The fact that he see's himself as the long term coach and ( on the face of it anyway ), is willing to take 3 years to prove his worth has me feeling optimistic.

EXCLUSIVE | Shane Flanagan 'won't be letting Ben Hunt go anywhere' - The Continuous​

And people saying bring in Young or Hornby as AC to take over in 2-3 years time, as if, he wants to coach for as long as he can.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

It’s always good to have a “spare” unless you are Prince William.

I guess the nrl coaching is like a big jigsaw and you are cramming in pieces that don’t quite fit and telling folk they do.

 

[Slippery Morris]

With Saints record of extending coaches, if Flanno improves the joint he could easily be there for 8-10 years. Unless a club goes and offers him big dollars to move over like the Dogs did to Hasler. Hasler was a shoe in to remain at the Sea Eagles but left as he got offered big dollars to move. Money talks in the end.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

With Saints record of extending coaches, if Flanno improves the joint he could easily be there for 8-10 years. Unless a club goes and offers him big dollars to move over like the Dogs did to Hasler. Hasler was a shoe in to remain at the Sea Eagles but left as he got offered big dollars to move. Money talks in the end.

That’s the optimal outcome and hopefully he finds success.

I think it’s fair to keep expectations composed for the first year or even 2 as she’s a big ship to turn around.

He’s got a billion things to decide. He’s going to make mistakes as well, the nature of the beast.

I hope he’s not another Mary with his encyclopaedic mastery of excuses and footy fantasy. You can cop one every now and again, but it was out of hand at the end.

It’s going to be fascinating to see what he does to the players games, which players he will keep and who he will let go.

Special fixture for me regarding turning players around. I think fitness was mentioned, that’s always a good start.

Just don’t expect the earth straight away.

 

[Slippery Morris]

With all the damage Hook has done since he was extended, I hope Saints learn from this and not extend players early in the season unless they have have a good season before or at least looking like possibly snagging a top 4 spot not just top 8. Mid way through the season is bare minimum of offering an extension if Saints are to do so and only if the team in on 22+ points by round 14 or so.

They did the same with Mary so I hope 2nd time lucky.

What a wasted season.

 

[Captain Apollo]

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

View attachment 75710

Rupert should give Sheens a ring. He’s an expert at white anting.

SGIs process, they got their second choice, but I rate Flanno over an untested Ryles.

I’m still sore about Des but that’s spilt milk.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

With all the damage Hook has done since he was extended, I hope Saints learn from this and not extend players early in the season unless they have have a good season before or at least looking like possibly snagging a top 4 spot not just top 8. Mid way through the season is bare minimum of offering an extension if Saints are to do so and only if the team in on 22+ points by round 14 or so.

They did the same with Mary so I hope 2nd time lucky.

What a wasted season.

Hook shouldn’t have been extended, but at least you are only down 1 season with some kind of hope.

That’s better than 6 successive seasons of matey over merit inspired coaching like we have. Car parks and musky corridors.

I suppose you could argue Ryles had a matey quality about him. But Flanno maybe less so according to msm.

Close to sgi but not everyone, so finally merit has shone its bright light on the club. Even momentarily. If Dean had got the job, well…

Merit and ability, even with a few residual concerns, whatever, bask in its warmth.

If you guys succeed, it will help us wests tigers in our own dire life or death struggle.

We can use you as an example.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Desmondo off to the Titans as we all speculated.

That was the rat in the ranks.

He will need to rebuild there as well.

Massive signing for them.

 

[Dragon David]

Desmondo off to the Titans as we all speculated.

That was the rat in the ranks.

He will need to rebuild there as well.

Massive signing for them.

Poor possm had his heart set on Des coming to the Dragons to replace Griffin and many others as well. It just amazes me how these negotiations can be kept from even being leaked with Holbrook being blindsided and not even having any notion that this would happen so suddenly.

Well possm, Des is with the Titans and he will have David Fifita who you have wanted for ages at the Dragons. Same with Tino. He wont be going anywhere.

The Titans will have a strong squad next year and I'm sure Des will get a few more that will help him and the club to be top 4 material, including maybe the likes of Hunt, who Des might convince to play in the No.9 as they already have a dearth of good halves there.

Holbrook has the shits and why shouldn't he.

This is what gets me. The Titans were able to get Des (possibly on big coin) without anybody knowing - not even the nosey media guys like Weidler and Hooper and we have the full circus of clowns and acrobat of a possible new coach backflipping and causing many laughs as a circus would provide.

In the end it has sorted itself out as far as a coach at the Dragons is concerned. Just need to get things done with Hunt and sort out the support staff and new guys being signed up.

 

[Lennyb]

Did Des sign off on schuster a forward, being signed off on halves coin?
If so, cant blame hunt if he goes. Have to be asking 2mil, surely.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

The Titans got their man and then made the announcement, so a very clean break.

We were only talking a few weeks ago about Holbrook really struggling to adjust to NRL coaching with a forlorn win % rate.

But what a brutal no nonsense delivery?

At any rate his esl win % still remains brilliant and I think he would have plenty of options there.

 

[BLM01]

With Saints record of extending coaches, if Flanno improves the joint he could easily be there for 8-10 years. Unless a club goes and offers him big dollars to move over like the Dogs did to Hasler. Hasler was a shoe in to remain at the Sea Eagles but left as he got offered big dollars to move. Money talks in the end.

The only little things that worries me with the Flanno appointment is a bit of dejavu
Both him and Hook worked for 2GB before coming and were strongly endorsed and supported by the radio station..hope I am wrong