For the most part, TL;DR.
Our 2017 performance doesnt have much to do with our 2016 performance, but if we are judging Mary overall as a coach then we have to account for his full tenure, including big winning streaks (now and 2015) and big losing streaks (2015 and 2016). We also have to look past the numbers and look at where he actually struggles, whether that has been fixed and if so, how? For the moment, he has egg of many a face with the way the team is playing but there are still holes, despite coming first, and many of us are wary of those holes being exploited, like they were in 2015.
I know you werent around these parts back then, but the general vibe on our winning streak was 'if we were blowing teams off the park, I would be worried, but we are winning ugly and that is what's needed to win a premiership'. In truth, as longa s we are winning people will look to say that the way we are winning will take us all the way. In 2015, it didnt, and while I'm loving being at the top (the A1 ladder I tape to the wall of my office at work every week will tell you) there's concerns about this year too.
I dont give a f**k what raiders or bulldogs fans thought in 2015 or 2016. I care about my team!
Oh, and many people didnt dispute the signing of Vaughan and McInnes. There were some of us who were cheering. In addition, I really liked the idea of signing Lafai last year (just ask OT!) and while I was against him starting this year, it seems my jubilation was simply a year early!
A quick breakdown Benny:
* If we got the wooden spoon last year under mary, then this year win the grand final, whats marys status as a coach?
Is he shit because he got the wooden spoon last year?
Or is he a great coach cause he won a grand final?
Genuine question, would love to hear your perspective on that.
* The holes being exposed, what holes?
We got exposed against parra, holes to seem to have been plugged dont they?
I mean, along the way we have beaten some teams with "great coaches" and havnt been exposed yet.
Green and Flannigan didnt expose those holes, did they?
I say worry about those holes when and if they get exposed.
* You dont give a shit about other fans, fair enough, neither do I, bit when we want to compare our team to theres, then its legitimate to compare scenarios that are worth comparing.
Raiders 2015-2016 is being used by me to compare us from 2016-2017.
F#ck the fans, compare the teams/coaches run in the respective years.
* Many people didnt dispute Vaughan and McInnes???
Lol come on Benny, not everyone disputed, but the current suicidal parrots ALL threw a stink, especially at the Vaughan signing!!!
How many complained that we splashed cash on a reserve grader that couldnt crack the raiders first grade team?
Lets not get stupid and start denying complaints.
70% minimum of posters on here hung the club for signing Vaughan.
Finally, the Lafai debate. I was against him being chosen ahead of Milne and even Mann.
Heck, i was disappointed the club didnt try harder to off load him.
He is now the best centre option at the club.
Mary left me with egg on my face.
I can admit that.
Mary was right... i was wrong.
We got exposed against parra Big time.
I bagged mary, saying he cant coach.
Mary fixed that problem, that cant be denied as it hasnt been repeated.
Again, mary got it right, i was wrong.
To say a hole will be exposed again is such a stupid comment.
Its like saying "we will lose a game".
Off course we will. Teams getting exposed and losing games is part of rugby league.
Melbourne got held scoreless 2 weeks ago.
Shit happens.
Without trying to predict the teams demise, as it sits at the moment, mary is doing a pretty good job.
The team is doing a excellent job.
All im saying, as a few others are also, is give mary and the boys some credit for this year so far (not you directly, all the so called "realists")
We still have f#cknuts complaining now about management.
Ask them what they are doing about these issues that are bothering them.
Nothing, nothing but complaining on an internet forum and death riding the team and coach.
Would any suicidal parrot from here give up a head coaching job if offered it?
Would they quit because some wanker fan on an internet forum wants them to quit?
But they want mary to walk away hahahaha wake up fools.
He is the coach of the best performing team in the NRL.
Credit to Mary and the boys.