Don't just blame Jarrod Mullen, says Rick Stone

[Serc]

Don't just blame Jarrod Mullen, says Rick Stone

• Barry Toohey
• July 19, 2011 12:00AM

Under fire: Jarrod Mullen. Source: Getty Images

NEWCASTLE coach Rick Stone admits his side's patience and composure with the football have been poor in consecutive losses to North Queensland and Manly but says all the blame can't be pointed solely at under-fire halfback Jarrod Mullen.
The Knights playmaker has copped his fair share of criticism since returning from injury against the Cowboys just over a week ago but Stone is adamant the issue is with the entire team and not individuals as the side battles to keep its play-off hopes alive.
"Mullo's always hard on himself and is the first bloke to put up his hand and accept responsibility when things aren't going well," Stone said.
"As the player pointing the team around the park, some of it is his responsibility but it's not all on his shoulders. The rest of the boys have got to respond to him and respond to his calls."

Stone didn't shy away from suggestions his side looked "clueless" in attack at various stages against the Eagles.
"There is no question our patience and composure with the football was poor, and in our past two games there has been this willingness to push the envelope too much," said Stone. "We lost our shape quite a bit yesterday in particular and some of that you can put down to panic but you also have to give credit to Manly and how they defended. They were very physical. We just have to keep working on it."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-says-rick-stone/story-e6frexnr-1226097139583

 

[The_Joey_Show]

Mullo isn't the whole problem, but if Stoney truly believes that he isn't a big part of it then he is deluded.

 

[macavity]

I reckon it is safe to say Stoney hardly ever says what he thinks in the media - as it should be.

 

[hugzy]

can jarrod "BIG GAME PLAYER" mullen chill the fk out and stop blaming everything on himself?!

oh god big wayne cant come quickly enough to fix these mentally weak coonts mentally

 

[perverse]

I reckon it is safe to say Stoney hardly ever says what he thinks in the media - as it should be.

agreed... but on the subject of the article aside from this fact... Mullen needs a therapist or something. all his problems are up in his f**king head... and it does suck because he is a key man and it does cost us wins.

 

[jonno_knights]

Well I did notice after his U/7's attempt of a tackle on Buhrer, he sat head in hands in the in goal, while it was left to Stig to talk to, and rally the troops for the final 10min to try and save face. Not exactly what you want out of your captain, one of the more experienced players in the side, and your chief play maker.

 

[Peppers]

Well I did notice after his U/7's attempt of a tackle on Buhrer, he sat head in hands in the in goal, while it was left to Stig to talk to, and rally the troops for the final 10min to try and save face. Not exactly what you want out of your captain, one of the more experienced players in the side, and your chief play maker.

And while we are kicking him, I am a little disappointed in his body language sometimes. When he was backpedalling away from Glenn Stewart in his try, he made a gesture towards Junior Sau who was lying upfield injured. True story Jarrad that the hole was left by Junior but please don't blame the injured man in such a petulant manner waving your arms about in disgust when you had a fair shot at nailing the ball runner yourself.

 

[perverse]

he bought that dummy from Stewart like it was on stocktake clearance sale. i'd be pissed if i were him too, at myself. Glenn couldn't believe his luck.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Mullo isn't the whole problem, but if Stoney truly believes that he isn't a big part of it then he is deluded.

+1 and agree with Macavity's below comment too.

 

[Rolla]

And while we are kicking him, I am a little disappointed in his body language sometimes. When he was backpedalling away from Glenn Stewart in his try, he made a gesture towards Junior Sau who was lying upfield injured. True story Jarrad that the hole was left by Junior but please don't blame the injured man in such a petulant manner waving your arms about in disgust when you had a fair shot at nailing the ball runner yourself.

I saw it as him telling the ref he should have stopped play. The commentators saw it that way to and said as much.

 

[Jobdog]

I saw it as him telling the ref he should have stopped play. The commentators saw it that way to and said as much.

This.

 

[RABK]

More than any other player, we need Bennett to improve Jarrod. For all the ability he has he really is a mental midget out there at times.

 

[Yosh]

Keep your head up Mullen. I'm one of his harshest critics but the blame is definitely not all your fault. Everyone needs to put their hand up and work harder.

For me the key point of the article was the cluelessness in attack. Wonder what Rick will do in response?

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Bennett will work hard to fix Jarrod's mindset but I think the kid has twelve months to save his career at this club.

 

[jonno_knights]

Bennett will work hard to fix Jarrod's mindset but I think the kid has twelve months to save his career at this club.

He is signed till 2014, so I think if even Bennett can't unlock his potential on a consistent basis, other clubs will be scared to take on his salary. However desperate clubs have done desperate things, so nothing is out of the question I suppose.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

He's got the tools. Just like Soward.

Just like Soward did three years ago, he has some glaring weaknesses in his game. Look at Soward now. He's never going to be the most physical player, but he's sure as hellevery inch a rep player and a premiership winner. Bennett will get the best out of Mullen by telling him to keep it simple. Mullen takes wrong options and tends to just play whats in front of him - all the time. I think Joey has something to answer for here.

In the commentary yesterday, Rabbits said he was Classy to watch. I disagree. he's pretty at times. And he does have class. But he's well overrated just because Joey raves about him. We all know Mullen can do the tricky stuff, but he wins f**k all games of footy. Stig is already a better first grade halfback due soley to his temprament.

Don't worry. Bennett will fix him up and he'll become a fantatsic player. He needs poise and a boot up the arse. Bennett will give him both

 

[hugzy]

well said. now can we borrow big wayne for 5 weeks? youse can have him back for the finals

 

[Joker's Wild]

Interesting to see that Henry has been named at 6 for the Tits this week.

I think both him and Mullo have to fix their mental game before anything else if either wants to step up their career.

 

[perverse]

i think Henry has almost the opposite problem to Mullo, seems to think his shit doesn't stink... and possibly feels that he has already earned a spot in first grade. maybe even that it's his right to play first grade. i'll be interested to see how he does this week, it's going to be hard for him with the way the Titans are playing at the moment, though.

it's all in their heads, though. i'm sure that can be said for a great many failed first graders.

 

[Noname36]

We all know Mullen can do the tricky stuff, but he wins f**k all games of footy. Stig is already a better first grade halfback due soley to his temprament.

Good post, except I can't agree with this part. Stig has played a few firstgrade games, and he looked very good while the team (especially the forward pack) was performing around him. However a few wins in firstgrade dont make a firstgrade player. Mullo had a similar temprament when he first came into grade too. Just look at Mortimer for example. I know that unlike Mortimer Stig actually has talent, but still, you can't judge a kid's firstgrade ability based on a few games. He hasn't had to deal with any of the crap that Mullo's been put through.

We were very lucky to have Mullo come through when he did. He made the transition of Joey leaving a lot easier than we could have never hoped. However since then the mental aspect of his game has just continued to decline. He takes every loss on himself (when he doesn't have the cattle around him), and then the "he's no Joey" calls come up again and it just gets worse.

Skill wise alone he's easily one of the most talented halves in the comp. There's a reason after all that some of the great halves like Sterlo, Sticky, Daley, etc rave about his game. However his head is just not in the right place, and it hasn't been for years now. That's the difference between him and Soward. Soward may not have had the talent Mullen has, but his headspace was in a much better place. He just needed someone like Bennett to simplify his game to bring out his potential. Mullo will be a much harder task. His issue hasn't got anything to do with his game, it's the incredible lack of confidence that he tries to play with...and a halfback without confidence is pretty much useless (just as Mullo is now).