Eels Appoint Brad Arthur as Head Coach (Part Deux)

[Twizzle]

And how do we rate Des ?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Serious question. Where does BA rate amongst the other coaches? Is he behind bellyache or further down?

The way I look at it is that whatever his coaching ability is, we can only see it based on his results, and so far 98 games with one club isn't as reliable a sample as the evidence compiled by guys like Bellamy (even though it's only with one club), Hasler, Bennett or Stuart.

But I think given Arthur's opportunity has all been with a notoriously unstable club, he has done brilliantly to win half his games, and he is probably a great coach. He might never dip below 50% wins ever again.

 

[ash411]

And how do we rate Des ?

I think he's being hard done by, I don't think he's necessarily to blame.

Although I have a feeling he won't care if they give him the flick this year. They have to pay him out for next year, and he won't have a hard time finding another gig.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

He f**ken better not!!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Here's the stats (which don't prove anything, I hasten to add) of the active NRL coaches (just their NRL results):

Games | Name | Win%
780 Bennett 62.1%
387 Bellamy 67.4%
356 Hasler 58.1%
339 Stuart 48.7%
266 Cleary 47%
245 Henry 44.1%
194 Brown 43.3%
152 Flanagan 54.6%
148 Maguire 55.4%
146 Griffin 54.1%
140 Taylor 43.6%
124 Robinson 62.1%
100 Green 63%
98 Arthur 50%
82 McGregor 47.6%
61 Kearney 27.9%
43 Barrett 44.2%

(Premiership winners are in italics, though I don't think this is a good judge of a coach unless he's coached a few hundred games.)

I included Taylor because he is probably still looking for work, so is therefore 'active'. As you can see, there are four coaches with win rates above 60% and they've all spent all or most of their careers at famously advantaged clubs. Everyone else hovers between 40% and 60% except Kearney, who has spent the entirety of his career at famously useless clubs (and may even be useless himself). Though even Cleary won half his games while coaching the Warriors.

Personally I think Hasler is the best coach in the game (has made the finals every year from 2005 to 2016), and I reckon the Dogs will be very strong again in the near future. I suspect Arthur is very close to being just as good. We'll find out in the next couple of years.

 

[Noise]

Kearney's numbers are f**kn hilarious.

 

[Chipmunk]

Don't think he is up there with Belly yet and won't be until he wins a Comp and keeps us as contenders for a few years.

However he definitely is one of the better xoaches in the NRL in my opinion. Each year he has had us pushing for the top 8 and we have improved each year.

Also look at the titans squad, probably have a squad that can be compared to ours but they are going terrible yet we are in the top 6!!

What would BA achieve with the titans squad ?

In fairness to the TItans they've had far more players out injured throughout the season. I dare say BA wouldn't have done much better than they've been going.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Kearney's numbers are f**kn hilarious.

It's not looking good for him. I thought he achieved fair results at Parra, given the quality of our roster. But even though this Warriors squad isn't great (they have stars but too many reserve graders as well) they should be winning about half their games. They haven't though. They are winning just over a third.

 

[Chipmunk]

Here's the stats (which don't prove anything, I hasten to add) of the active NRL coaches (just their NRL results):

Games | Name | Win%
780 Bennett 62.1%
387 Bellamy 67.4%
356 Hasler 58.1%
339 Stuart 48.7%
266 Cleary 47%
245 Henry 44.1%
194 Brown 43.3%
152 Flanagan 54.6%
148 Maguire 55.4%
146 Griffin 54.1%
140 Taylor 43.6%
124 Robinson 62.1%
100 Green 63%
98 Arthur 50%
82 McGregor 47.6%
61 Kearney 27.9%
43 Barrett 44.2%

(Premiership winners are in italics, though I don't think this is a good judge of a coach unless he's coached a few hundred games.)

I included Taylor because he is probably still looking for work, so is therefore 'active'. As you can see, there are four coaches with win rates above 60% and they've all spent all or most of their careers at famously advantaged clubs. Everyone else hovers between 40% and 60% except Kearney, who has spent the entirety of his career at famously useless clubs (and may even be useless himself). Though even Cleary won half his games while coaching the Warriors.

Personally I think Hasler is the best coach in the game (has made the finals every year from 2005 to 2016), and I reckon the Dogs will be very strong again in the near future. I suspect Arthur is very close to being just as good. We'll find out in the next couple of years.

What was Brown's percentage before he went to the Knights?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

What was Brown's percentage before he went to the Knights?

Fifty three percent! Dunno how he ever got the arse. I suppose he did have a great roster at St George.

 

[El Diablo]

And how do we rate Des ?

he has hair and has coached premierships

coincidence?

i think not

 

[El Diablo]

Not much he can't do.

except grow hair

 

[IFR33K]

The thing is, IMO if we had Moses the start of the season, I dare say we'd be competition leaders. Not many gave us a chance this season, and we are firming as the dark horse.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The thing is, IMO if we had Moses the start of the season, I dare say we'd be competition leaders. Not many gave us a chance this season.

I thought having Moses would make us top eight certainties, though that's over a whole season. I didn't think he would transform us so quickly.

 

[Eelpout]

Do I think Bellamy is a better coach than Arthur (at this stage)? Yes. Do I think Bellamy is the best coach in NRL history? Yes. What I swap Arthur for Bellamy? No.

 

[Eelpout]

I just noticed too, with games against the latter half of the ladder it's arguably harder to get up for them. Next week against the Knights it will be Tim Mannah's 200th match for the club, and the week after it will be Brad's 100th as coach. Not only this, it will be Hayne's first game back at an Eels home game since he left. Following this, we have the Broncos at Suncorp, and the crowd always assists in lifting teams up there and the week after we could be playing the Bunnies for a top four spot. Good times.

Edit:
Kirisome Auva'a's 50th NRL match against the Knights.
Nathan Brown's 50th NRL match against the Titans.

 

[IFR33K]

I thought having Moses would make us top eight certainties, though that's over a whole season. I didn't think he would transform us so quickly.

Many here didn't think he'll make a huge difference. IIRC both of us were adamant he would. He's a genuine game manager, something we've lacked in years.

 

[Noise]

I thought having Moses would make us top eight certainties, though that's over a whole season. I didn't think he would transform us so quickly.

Kudos to you Pou, you actually said with another good half we'd be top 4 certainties early in the season. I laughed at you. You could well be right. My bad.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I don't think we're top four certainties, but we're a chance.

 

[IFR33K]

I don't think we're top four certainties, but we're a chance.

IMO there was only one top 4 certainty. Storm with the Sharks being another strong contender.