Elliot

[JJ]

lol, Elliot was a last resort, he was the 'plan G' when they couldn't get Bellamy.

Elliots history screamed at us that yesterday was inevitable,,, and it was.

It was... but the dumb decisions made above are where some attention should be focused too...

TBH glad we're rid of Elliott, ridiculous apt- nice fellow, clearly not a good coach. McFadden, who knows, but the club needs experience, and NRL experience - I still come back to Brian Smith, and getting Steve Price involved... if a less experienced coach is there, then someone like Hart, perhaps Sheens or Smith in the Phil Gould type role...

Scurrah still thinks he can contribute :sarcasm:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11233938

 

[Rich102]

The main thing for me is that Scurrah should keep right out of the selection process.
Knows FA and it showed.

 

[vvvrulz]

What's done is done.

What I want now is for McFadden to be given a *legitimate chance* at coaching which neither Bluey nor ME got. No more BS about getting in the likes of Bennett/Bellamy/Iro etc. Just give McFadden a run including an off-season and a full season next year and see if he can turn things around.

I've got a feeling that there will be some princess weeding to start off and hopefully that will be the beginning of an overall attitude change. But you gotta start giving these coaches a proper try and some faith.

 

[reykaine]

Veitch said that...

-Matulino asked for a release
-Mateo was a whopping 14kgs overweight
-The club had already spoken to Kidwell (and probably have been in talks with him for a while)

Can't find the link. A mate sent me a screenshot.

I am not surprised Mateo came back 14kg overweight after seeing him and Ben Matulino munching on McDonalds in Sylvia Park Shopping Mall during last year's footy season, when they were in the middle of their losing slump.

At the time I was quite interested to see that a "professional" "elite" sportsperson would be eating rubbish food like McDonalds as part of their diet plan and put it down to a rare treat that they occasionally allowed themselves to have.

Now I'm not so sure it was a rare treat after all.

I am not a Mateo hater as he has done some great things on the football field in the past for the Warriors, but its now getting to be too long between each good performance for a person on his salary. I would be getting rid of him at the first opportunity and looking for someone to pick up the tackle slack that is clearly being exposed now that Elijah Taylor and Lucky are no longer there. We cant expect Friend to do all the tackling....

 

[Rich102]

Good post reykaine.
Welcome along.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

lol, Elliot was a last resort, he was the 'plan G' when they couldn't get Bellamy.

Elliots history screamed at us that yesterday was inevitable,,, and it was.

That's not true mate

Elliott was the number 1 man and exactly who they wanted

Wayne said so :lol::lol::lol:

 

[Auckland4ever]

I get the criticism of Scurrah and I find the disingenuous nature of the PR spin around all the sh*t-storm incidents that cloud the club as nauseating as anyone. But a part of what Scurrah gets paid to do is respond in this way to decisions made by the people above him. He's the kind of patsy you see all over the big-business world that becomes the face of an issue that he hasn't necessarily created or a decision that he hasn't necessarily made. Part of the luxury of being an owner is that you can often silently escape having to own any mess that you create.

 

[shiznit]

I am not surprised Mateo came back 14kg overweight after seeing him and Ben Matulino munching on McDonalds in Sylvia Park Shopping Mall during last year's footy season, when they were in the middle of their losing slump.

At the time I was quite interested to see that a "professional" "elite" sportsperson would be eating rubbish food like McDonalds as part of their diet plan and put it down to a rare treat that they occasionally allowed themselves to have.

Now I'm not so sure it was a rare treat after all.

I am not a Mateo hater as he has done some great things on the football field in the past for the Warriors, but its now getting to be too long between each good performance for a person on his salary. I would be getting rid of him at the first opportunity and looking for someone to pick up the tackle slack that is clearly being exposed now that Elijah Taylor and Lucky are no longer there. We cant expect Friend to do all the tackling....

I don't disagree with you entirely...

But I think it's unfair to insinuate that them having McDonalds at Sylvia Park has any affect on there performance on the field.

I've seen plenty of successful pro athletes out eating junk food or drinking alcohol.

What you saw was only a tiny window in to what makes them pro athletes.

 

[Blair]

...I've seen plenty of successful pro athletes out eating junk food or drinking alcohol.

What you saw was only a tiny window in to what makes them pro athletes.

But a really professional athlete doesn't rock up to the new season 14 kg overweight (Mateo, if it's true).

That's unprofessional, he should have been made to sweat it out in reserve grade like Hurrell.

 

[Diesel]

To me it feels like we are in a better position than in 2012. Last time they put all their eggs in one basket and royally f*cked it up and then realised they had no one as plan B and tried to save face when Elliott charmed them.

This time they appear to have learnt from their past mistakes (or I hope they have) and we have several options this time. Bennett would be first choice but I can't see him coming here as a coach, but as an advisor I could see it if McFadden stays on. We have Sheens, Henry, Wane & Brown along with McFadden which is a much better position than last time. What we need now is for the person/s that makes the decision figure out which coach fits out team the best.

I'm fine with whoever gets the gig to drop or release any player that isn't 110% committed and if that means losing Mutts or Mannering, then so be it

 

[Rich102]

The Warriors made a decisive call to get rid of Matt Elliott as coach but they should have acted more decisively when handling his "resignation".

The club steadfastly maintained Elliott resigned, and it might be factually correct, but they are being economical with the truth to suggest he went by his own volition.

Fans probably would have accepted the situation if the club spelled it out for what it is. It clearly wasn't working and the wild fluctuations in form and inept displays in their three defeats illustrated that.

Instead, many supporters feel the club is insulting their intelligence and it has caused even more anger than necessary.

In many respects, it was the right move. Yes, it is only five games into the 2014 premiership but it also means there is time to salvage the season. They aren't too far outside the top eight with 19 games still to play.


So why not be transparent about it?

Elliott was revealing on his Instagram account when he said, "Understand the language used gave the impression I chose not to stay. Be assured I don't give up."

Senior player Thomas Leuluai dispensed with the party line when he used the "s" word.

"It is pretty embarrassing standing here today knowing that your coach is getting sacked because of our performance," he said.

And interim coach Andrew McFadden said, "Matt has obviously paid the ultimate price."

Sometimes clubs and organisations need to make difficult calls.

The NZRL did it when they sacked Gary Kemble after the disastrous Kiwis tour of 2007 and subsequent player revolt and installed Stephen Kearney, who led the Kiwis to the 2008 World Cup. New Zealand Cricket took similar action in 2009 when it was clear the players wanted Andy Moles replaced.

Player power is a controversial topic and the Warriors players must carry a large share of the blame for their results since the end of 2011. But those same players, many of whom had misgivings about Elliott's methods, weren't suddenly going to start playing for him.

Top coaches demand respect from and have the right chemistry with their players and the affable Elliott didn't have that. It could be argued the club would have been negligent if they didn't get rid of him.

What the Warriors need now is a period of stability. They had it under Ivan Cleary before some in the Warriors management failed to fight hard enough to keep him. But it has unravelled awfully since then.

They went chasing a supercoach last time, with Craig Bellamy at the head of the list, but failed in that pursuit.

The list of top alternatives this time around is hardly overwhelming so they could do worse than follow the lead of the Roosters and Rabbitohs and go with a promising coach and stick with him.

Maybe Andrew McFadden is that man - he certainly comes with a good reputation and Kearney was impressed enough to bring him on as Kiwis assistant. That's if he can last long enough.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11233937

 

[Rich102]

Two of the front-runners for the Warriors coaching job have ruled themselves out of contention.

Wigan's Shaun Wane has long been touted as a contender to coach the Auckland-based NRL club, however he says while he'd eventually love to coach in the NRL the timing is not right.

Wane is out of contract with Wigan this year, but has verbally agreed a new deal and expects to sit down with club chairman Ian Lenegan in the coming weeks.

St Helens mentor Nathan Brown, also says the timing is not ideal for him to leave England.

Meanwhile, Kiwis rugby league coach Stephen Kearney is on the look out for a new assistant.

Kearney has confirmed new Warriors coach Andrew McFadden has stepped down as his assistant, less than two weeks after being appointed to the role.

Kearney is hoping Panthers coach Ivan Cleary can be convinced to fill the role for the ANZAC Test in Sydney next month, before seeking a permanent replacement in time for the Four Nations tournament at the end of the season.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/warriors-league-team/news/article.cfm?c_id=360&objectid=11234934

 

[Rich102]

Former Warriors' coach Matthew Elliott has slammed suggestions that the club's Polynesian players don't respond well to Australian coaches.

In his first interview since leaving the Warriors, Elliott also told the Daily Telegraph that he wouldn't rule out coaching again and `still has a lot to offer.'

Elliott encountered his second termination in three years on Monday, following an abysmal Warriors performance against the Sharks and a sub-standard start to his second year in charge.

Elliott focused on the multitude of `myths' that surround the Warriors, including the suggestion that the club is best left to a born-and-bred Kiwi coach who understands the cultural nuances of their large contingent of Polynesian players.

"That is overstated really, I never felt having an Australian coach is an inhibiting factor. They are a great group of guys,'' Elliott told the Daily Telegraph.


"There's so many myths around the Warriors. One is the one (about Australian coaches), the other one is the talk around the massive Warriors pack.

"It's not a massive pack, it's nowhere near the biggest in the comp. It's a stereotype.

"I don't know where it comes from but South Pacific Islanders and Polynesian players are all through the comp.

"The Warriors have a good representation (of Polynesians) but I think that is simply false. It is based on the thoughts of people who don't understand what really goes on at the club.

"There is always some adaptations you make from club to club, but if someone blindfolded you at the Warriors or another NRL club, you wouldn't know any different.

"That cultural stuff is not an issue.''

Elliott coached the Warriors for 29 games, winning 13 with 16 defeats. The side finished two points outside the playoffs in 11th place last season and have had a mixed start to 2014 with two wins from their opening five games, however the three defeats have all been big loses to unfancied opponents.

The former Canberra coach will now return to Australia as soon as possible and believes he still has a future in the NRL.

"I wouldn't rule out coaching again,'' he said.

"I got involved in some strategic stuff here at the Warriors and I feel I've got a fair bit to offer there. I'm not limited in what I can do.

"I really feel I have a bit to offer this competition. In what guise that is, I have some time to think about that.

"I'm handling it OK. In the grown-up world, you have to take this stuff on the chin.

"The decision has been made. It doesn't matter what I think. I'm getting on with the game.''

The official line from the Warriors is that Elliott resigned, but the 49-year old couldn't be drawn on the semantics of the situation. He has been replaced by assistant coach Andrew McFadden until the end of the 2014 season.

"It's not about wording around decisions and it's not about whether you agree or disagree. It's like on the field, the referee makes a call. You can moan about it all you like, but it won't change what happens.

"I really believe from when I started to now, we made significant improvement across the club. I hope Cappy (caretaker Andrew McFadden) gets an opportunity to build on that. He is ready to be a first-grade coach.

"Every coach has a different approach. I will stick my hand up and say I could have done some things better. I won't be selfish or petulant. I have to pick myself up and get ready for the next chapter.''

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11234909

 

[Rebel]

With wane out of the race it's either McFadden if he impresses, or Kidwell.

 

[JJ]

:lol: at the suggestion an Australian cannot coach the Polynesian players...

First, fair number of them doing bloody well at other NRL clubs.

Second, Grand Finals made under Anderson and Cleary...

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

That interview from Elliott highlights why he's....A) hell of a nice guy, and B) not an NRL coach.

 

[Meth]

"There's so many myths around the Warriors. One is the one (about Australian coaches), the other one is the talk around the massive Warriors pack.

"It's not a massive pack, it's nowhere near the biggest in the comp. It's a stereotype.

Sign him back up

 

[shiznit]

But a really professional athlete doesn't rock up to the new season 14 kg overweight (Mateo, if it's true).

That's unprofessional, he should have been made to sweat it out in reserve grade like Hurrell.

That was very poor from Mateo...

But he was talking about during the season last season.

That should have no bearing on his weight this season.

I just think it's a bit unfair to insinuate that he's overweight because he's been eating junk food. Based on seeing him once at the mall...

Correct me if I'm wrong... He's coming off off-season surgery isn't he??

A disrupted pre-season can have a massive effect on his weight.

He also got married over the summer I think.... Maybe he got a little too relaxed over the summer I'm not sure...

There could be a whole number of reasons why he has come back heavy... I'm just saying It might be unfair on the bloke to be blaming it on McDonald's at Sylvia Park.

 

[Auckland4ever]

T
Correct me if I'm wrong... He's coming off off-season surgery isn't he??

A disrupted pre-season can have a massive effect on his weight.

That was my understanding of it, too. Perhaps he should have been eased back into playing by starting the season for the Vulcans. He looks a mile off of his old self. People are assuming it's all attitude, but there could be some legit physical reasons for it as well.

 

[JJ]

I find all the attitude comments strange really - I have no knowledge of Mateo or Matulino... But if Mateo is the 'cancer' so many suggest, why was he re-signed, and again that decision comes back to management, surely?