I didn’t think Madge showed enough in improving players as individuals. Some clicked, most stayed the same and some got worse under his tenure.
That said, as an individual with integrity he’s second to none.
Des is good with younger players. He helped turn Turbo into an art form before his injuries.
He likes big forwards playing an aggressive meaty style.
His recruitment is generally sound.
Its hard to recall a time where the base vanilla Manly 17 could be totally written off.
He hasn’t always read the room or the club stuff right, but until we hear his side, we just go on impressions.
I don’t think 3 years of Des could be criticised too widely.
He’s almost certain to be picked up by another club otherwise.
He may not solve every problem but he’s a good start.
He’s an extremely competitive person. He won’t rest in any effort. He’s very nice away from the game. That’s what you need.
It's the effort that a coach and the players combined need to put in to improve the Dragons.
More effective effort will go a long way.
The coach needs control. He determines how the team as a whole needs to play as a team in all facets of the game. He needs to understand in depth the rules and regulations and know how to bend or tweak a few. He has got to be able to do good analysis of the opposition, set winning game plans after establishing strengths and weaknesses of opposition teams. He needs to be a strong motivator and mentor and be understanding and prepared to listen to the players and other assistants.
Rookie coaches have to start from scratch when they go from assistants to the head coach. They all did at one stage of their careers - the likes of Bellamy being an assistant under Bennett is an example of so many. Those former assistant coaches that show ability like Fitzy, Webster, Ciraldo etc got their chances and are doing pretty good so far. Some are so so and some not able to get a head coaching gig, but they are the breaks in sport.
I sense that the Dragons have been working on a replacement for some time and hopefully they are almost to the point that they have made a decision. That decision would be a really hard one to make and they would need to have fall back options on the basis that the first choice might change his mind. Who they select and eventually sign up on whatever deal that best suits the club and the future coach is so important as I'm sure that any further failings will see the Joint Venture more than a laughing stock and there will be no chance of any resurrection.
Ryles I think is still umming and arring. I don't know if Hasler has even been approached. Flanno has said he hasn't been approached, Hornby is doing well as Demetriou's assistant and to me they will make the grand final so it's hard to see him leaving Souths just to be an assistant. Maybe he could be the one that the Board has in mind to go for. Dean Young, I'd leave out. I've seen a Ryles/Hornby/Young combination possibility which could work, but there are too many agendas in getting all three at once.
I just hope that the Board knows what they are doing and who they are after and will get. Don't create another mess for heavens sake.
