General Discussion Thread

[The Realist]

I believe Cronk is onto something.

I’ve mentioned this to my wife and my friends a few times so far this season but not here yet.

Ivan is an incredibly inflexible coach. He has a Plan A. When Plan A isn’t working his Plan B is to Plan A harder and if that doesn’t work then Plan A even harder still! It has worked because it kept things simple and we had the quality of players who could not only execute (even if a little rusty or out of form), but would eventually grind down the opposition due to superior fitness, effort and talent.

We don’t have that sort of Roster anymore, but because the Panthers ‘System’ has been hyped so much over the last 5 years a bit of arrogance about how good it is has crept in and combined with stubbornness only extreme circumstances will change things.

 

[Goonji]

Fitzsimmons is the most odious sports journo going around and it's an unbelievably strong field.

Fitzsimmons is actually quoting Cronk.

 

[Chins]

I believe Cronk is onto something.

I’ve mentioned this to my wife and my friends a few times so far this season but not here yet.

Ivan is an incredibly inflexible coach. He has a Plan A. When Plan A isn’t working his Plan B is to Plan A harder and if that doesn’t work then Plan A even harder still! It has worked because it kept things simple and we had the quality of players who could not only execute (even if a little rusty or out of form), but would eventually grind down the opposition due to superior fitness, effort and talent.

We don’t have that sort of Roster anymore, but because the Panthers ‘System’ has been hyped so much over the last 5 years a bit of arrogance about how good it is has crept in and combined with stubbornness only extreme circumstances will change things.

Well despite what some delusional cucks think Ivan was only asked to come back to stop Nathan leaving. Any other opinion is bullshit.

Ivan is a slightly above average NRL coach who caught lightning in a bottle. Would I swap him for anyone else in the sport? Only Wayne Bennett, Craig is a disgusting cheat

 

[Luke Bowden]

Ivan will will have to go down as the most underrated coach in NRL history.

He is clearly one of the best ever, yet people still seem to think he’s average.

Its ridiculous.

Take a look at the experience level of our current team. That’s what he’s working with.

This team needs some time together.

 

[Old and Disgruntled]

Well despite what some delusional cucks think Ivan was only asked to come back to stop Nathan leaving. Any other opinion is bullshit.

Ivan is a slightly above average NRL coach who caught lightning in a bottle. Would I swap him for anyone else in the sport? Only Wayne Bennett, Craig is a disgusting cheat

Wayne Bennett has lost his past 2 GF.
Ivan has won his past 4. Wayne relies on older experienced players, Ivan nurtures young talent.

MEMO: To the club (s) that have raped and pillaged our roster. If you don't get to, and win the GF in 2025 you may never win it.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Youre getting pounded, but weve all still got Mt Druitt to shops to visit.



West be best.

Whatever our personal club differences, home.

 

[Chins]

Ivan does have great moments. Things like our wingers not contesting bombs in last year's GF are tactical brilliance.

But theirs lots of truth in the thoughts that he's far too loyal and struggles when Plan A isnt working.

 

[Chins]

And shit like trying to make Edwards a ballplaying focal point of our attack......come on mate it's ridiculous

 

[age.s]

Harnessing lighting in a bottle is a skill in and of itself. Many coaches in a multitude of sports have had the star studded roster and done nothing with it. That's to say nothing of the fact that the majority of our "stars" were nobodies before Ivan got to them.

Inflexibility is the other side of stability. It's easy to look at the negatives of sticking to a formula when it's losing. Stability is what made us so consistent in big games, which is the cornerstone of the greatest dynasty in the modern game. As is often the case, some are far too reactionary without considering the implications of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Ivan isn't perfect, but neither are Bennett or Bellamy. The idea that he's an average coach is a laughably shit take. Let's see how he goes about reinvigorating this squad over the next couple of years before we go off with the wild hyperbole yeah?

 

[WestyLife]

Harnessing lighting in a bottle is a skill in and of itself. Many coaches in a multitude of sports have had the star studded roster and done nothing with it. That's to say nothing of the fact that the majority of our "stars" were nobodies before Ivan got to them.

Inflexibility is the other side of stability. It's easy to look at the negatives of sticking to a formula when it's losing. Stability is what made us so consistent in big games, which is the cornerstone of the greatest dynasty in the modern game. As is often the case, some are far too reactionary without considering the implications of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Ivan isn't perfect, but neither are Bennett or Bellamy. The idea that he's an average coach is a laughably shit take. Let's see how he goes about reinvigorating this squad over the next couple of years before we go off with the wild hyperbole yeah?

The broncos illustrates the point pretty well. That's a top 4 gf contender that's been wasted

 

[age.s]

The broncos illustrates the point pretty well. That's a top 4 gf contender that's been wasted

100%. You could go further back and point out that Bennett couldn't achieve this level of consistency despite having the deck stacked unbelievably in his favour at Brisbane on the 90s.

 

[Luke Bowden]

And shit like trying to make Edwards a ballplaying focal point of our attack......come on mate it's ridiculous

A ball playing focal point? That’s a new one.

Edwards has a lot of potential to unlock, but he needs the team to be humming first, that includes an effective No.6.

At the moment It looks like Edwards is being relied on to fill the the 2nd play maker role.
That will change once Blaize’s involvement increases.

 

[soc123_au]

The debate about great coaches is interesting.

Cleary is a weird one when you look at the other contenders. He clearly knows what he is doing even if he has what appear to be some obvious flaws. He is very good at the rebuild, and 4 premierships says he can get it done at the other end as well. 2014 is my favorite non premiership year by a mile, the injury toll that year was horrendous yet still make a prelim.

You can also look at how coaches go when rules are changed to nullify the effectiveness of their tactics.

Robbo, the six again for ruck infringements and offsides. Once that rule came in the Roosters were still good enough to beat up shit teams, but had nothing against the top sides. Fail.

Bellamy, wrestle and cheating the cap. The cap thing is overblown in my opinion, it was cheating, but they were trying to keep what they had developed, they have never really gone after big names from other clubs. The wrestle forced multiple rule changes and they have remained a force. Pass

Ivan, Salary cap, never cheated it, so never a direct change or enforcement, but very affected by it none the less, 4 in a row. Short drop out rules, this one was bought in the nullify us, still managed another comp the year it came in. Pass

Bennett, Cant think of any rule changes that have been deemed necessary to stop any of his teams dominating. Great man manager, but while still a good coach doesn't have the success of Bellamy, Ivan or Robbo in the last 20 years. Apart from stacked Broncos sides only won a comp the year the Storm were rubbed out over cap cheating.

The rest? Meh.

 

[Chins]

A ball playing focal point? That’s a new one.

Edwards has a lot of potential to unlock, but he needs the team to be humming first, that includes an effective No.6.

At the moment It looks like Edwards is being relied on to fill the the 2nd play maker role.
That will change once Blaize’s involvement increases.

Its Dylan's weakest attribute. Having him murdering backline moves isn't helping us

 

[Luke Bowden]

It’s Dylan's weakest attribute. Having him murdering backline moves isn't helping us

He being over used as is Yeo.

At the moment we are trying to fill the huge hole left by Romey, until he’s replaced properly, it will be the case.

I’m personally fairly comfortable with Blaize moving forward, he just needs to be chucked in the deep end a bit. We need to accept that he’ll make mistakes but that’s all part of learning.

If I had any criticism of Ivan, it’s that he’s staunchly against taking risks, but its hard to argue with his result, he produces elite players and wins premierships.

The next month will really test him I think, should make for interesting viewing.

 

[age.s]

Bennett, Cant think of any rule changes that have been deemed necessary to stop any of his teams dominating.

The salary cap comes to mind.

 

[Pomoz]

Fitzsimmons is the most odious sports journo going around and it's an unbelievably strong field.

He is far up himself he can inspect his own colon. I have met a lot of his type during my business career. Snobs from a privileged background, supercilious and looking down there nose at league and the working classes. He writes beautifully, but his attacks on league just raise my hackles.

He attacks Penrith about getting a new stadium as a waste of taxpayers money. He doesn't want the westies getting a leg up. He is Ok with the massive funds private schools receive from the taxpayers, he doesn't mention that. Meanwhile many kids out in the western suburbs are sitting being educated in classrooms without air conditioning.

He is a stuck up, condescending snob.

 

[soc123_au]

The salary cap comes to mind.

It came in just before he started making waves, so not directly a response. Never really affected his Broncos sides anyway. He really should have won more with those sides. I only included the cap in the comparisons as Melbourne were punished for cheating it and we were affected by abiding by it.

 

[Rodent]

He is Ok with the massive funds private schools receive from the taxpayers, he doesn't mention that. Meanwhile many kids out in the western suburbs are sitting being educated in classrooms without air conditioning.

Massive funds? I wish.
I send my kid to an expensive private school. The burden my boy is on the taxpayer is quite small compared to kids sent to my local public high school (Ashfield Boys).
My son gets subsidised to the tune of $5245 per year ($4077 Commonwealth and $1168 State government funding). If I sent him to Ashfield Boys instead, I would be saving myself a fortune but would be costing my fellow taxpayer $16459 ($3551 Commonwealth and $12908 State).
Personally I'd be much better off financially by putting my kid through public school and putting the burden on the taxpayer instead. The fees are too high as it is. Take away the $5245 in government funding and I'm putting him straight in to Ashfield Boys with his mates from Primary school and the taxpayer will be a lot worse off.

https://myschool.edu.au/school/41189/finances

 

[Fangs]

I've read some books he has written. They aren't bad.

But probably plenty of fiction. I have no idea what qualifications raghead has to talk about Australian history. Might be Charles Bean level.