In before sack Bennett

[Misanthrope]

Still pissed off that we lost a game we shouldn't have, but we're good like that. As ridiculous as it sounds, we'll probably push Melbourne all the way next week. Not expecting us to win, but I don't think we'll be belted either.

There are two ways that can happen:

1). We have a massive reversal of fortunes and play a game unlike any we have played all year
2). Melbourne don't turn up

 

[Knightmare]

They'll either

a) Get belted by the Storm but score a consolation try that we're meant to be "proud" of, or

b) Score the first two tries and look like being a chance at staging a great upset, only to fall in a heap come the second half and get beaten by 30. But we should be "proud" of how well they played for that opening 20 minutes...

 

[Apey]

b) Score the first two tries and look like being a chance at staging a great upset, only to fall in a heap come the second half and get beaten by 30. But we should be "proud" of how well they played for that opening 20 minutes...

I've seen far too many games like this over the years, I hate them so much :crazy:This year it usually starts off with a well-timed penalty goal though. Seriously, we've been out to a few leads this season only to take a penalty goal and then lose the game. :lol:

 

[Nuffy]

I am surprised that Bennett has seemingly gotten things so wrong. He does seem to have got a numbr of things wrong and the side is just not performing for him.

It's hard to see how his tenure here is adding to his reputation, on balance his record is diminishing.

If Tinkler didn't have 100 more pressing problems, I could easily see a massive blow up between them based on performance.

 

[K-Man]

I know he doesn't control injuries but Scott has a chronic issue, Bennett signed him knowing that, Bedsy is 35, what do you expect and Gids has always been made of glass.
He doesn't drop the ball but he dictates the style we play, it's abundantly obviously his style isn't the right one for the team, I'd even go to say that his style is outdated, yet he hasn't changed this he's just gone out and signed players he's use to and it's still not happening.
Look at Hasler, he's had a lot of success at Manly, gone to the dogs a team with vastly different players and has adapted his style to work around the players he's got

I also think Hasler (among other examples) has shown that the re-building argument is a bit of a myth. I think more often than not it's just an excuse when a team is performing below expectations. The reality is that when a good coach gets it right with any group of players - it can be successful. Even with factors like it being a new club, young squad, different style to last year, young set of halves, not very good halves, etc, the top coaches and the best clubs each season don't let these things dictate their ambitions on the field.

Players change clubs enough to make rebuilding a non-issue. Hasler went to the Dogs and made them instantly successful under a new coach, with some important new purchases, playing a totally different and effective style of football that suited them.

The Roosters are doing it this year with a new coach and excellent recruitment. It's no fluke. You can say what you like - "Yeah but it's just because they bought so many awesome players" - it doesn't change the fact they are a completely new side who have totally clicked and got their brand new five-eighth into an Origin team in half a season.

If the Roosters were going badly people would say they were rebuilding. But they're not, they're killing it.

Honestly, I just don't buy that stuff. It doesn't take 2 years to change the culture of a football team that isn't even very similar to what the same club had two years ago. We've had loads of personnel changes, it's a different group and it's full of experience. How do you call an ageing, experienced team full of former (perhaps this is the key point) rep players a 'team in transition'? Why are we a team in transition? I think we're just not a very good team, playing extremely unattractive and outdated football under a coach unwilling to move with the times or think outside the box. That's not transition at all.

 

[K-Man]

This a list of what could be described as 'former representative players' at our club:

1. Uate - definitely gone backwards, but more likely a dip than anything permanent
2. McManus - doesn't count, is in career-best form
3. Leilua - perhaps getting his mojo back, but still not the player that was NSW 18th man.
4. Mullen
5. Scott - will obviously never play Origin again. I don't consider him a rep-standard forward.
6. Mason
7. Buderus - great player, but age and being injury prone were bound to play a role
8. Snowden
9. Fa'aologo - nothing wrong with him on small money, but he's still old
10. Costigan - a million miles from Origin these days
11. Houston - included based on being nowhere near the Country jumper he once held and the fact he was NSW 18th man, therefore virtually an Origin player.
12. Quinn
13. Tahu

So we have a starting 13 of former rep players. It's interesting, regardless of whether you make much of it or not. I'm not suggesting they are bad players, but find me another club with that many players who you could argue are on the downside of their career peak?

Gidley should really be on that list, but he still gets picked. Still, he's not a marquee player in any way other than pay/profile at the club. He's not what he was.

Boyd > not as good as he used to be. Perhaps heart not in it either.
Smith > good player, but again old and not a major factor in attack.

 

[Whats Doing]

I said it last year, terms such as transition, rebuilding year, instilling a new culture etc are excuses by coaches to buy time from below par performances.

Football is performance based from year 1

 

[The Showstopper]

I will be disappointed if Bennett and Tinkler don't put an offer in for Cam Smith. He is testing his value. I would offer the captaincy plus the coaching job post career. You can just tell he will be a great coach as without him The Storm are just another team. A genius.

 

[slotmachine]

If JT got $1m a year to stay at the Cows Smith would need $1.25m to leave the Storm.

No way we have that free.

 

[Yosh]

If JT got $1m a year to stay at the Cows Smith would need $1.25m to leave the Storm.

No way we have that free.

Cam Smith has never been injured before in his life I reckon. The guy's a machine. Probably get injured in his first game if he moved there though...

I'd throw in my own kitchen sink if we could sign Cam Smith.

 

[Burwood]

Cam Smith has never been injured before in his life I reckon. The guy's a machine. Probably get injured in his first game if he moved there though...

I'd throw in my own kitchen sink if we could sign Cam Smith.

If you want to know a big part of Storm's success you only have to look at the three below images:

Amazing to think that they can have such a run without picking up a major injury between the three of them.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

If you want to know a big part of Storm's success you only have to look at the three below images:

Amazing to think that they can have such a run without picking up a major injury between the three of them.

I suspected that the stats would have shown something similar. What surprises me is how Slater can stay on the field as often as he does. The way he plays, I would expect him to miss plenty of games through injury. He's either incredibly lucky, or insanely tough.

 

[Yosh]

If we are gonna sign anyone from the Storm it should be their physio and their wrestling coach.

 

[Misanthrope]

I suspected that the stats would have shown something similar. What surprises me is how Slater can stay on the field as often as he does. The way he plays, I would expect him to miss plenty of games through injury. He's either incredibly lucky, or insanely tough.

What's that saying about God loving a fool?

 

[IanG]

Or would you guys rather we reinstated Stoney? Who is currently the NSW Cup coach.

 

[Knightmare]

I've been wondering since Saturday night, is Bennett the right sort of coach for the Knights? He does well at "glamour" teams like the Broncos and the Dragons because those sides (traditionally) have a lot of star players, big support and widespread coverage throughout the NRL. Wayne is the perfect coach to reign in such players, prevent any of the higher profile members of the squad getting too much of an ego or taking their skills for granted, and converting them into winning teams with the mental fortitude, discipline and work ethic that matters when the finals come around.

The Knights, even in the golden period of 1997-2002, have always been seen by the NRL community outside the Hunter Valley, as the loveable underdogs, that Blue Collar team up the F3 who were built on a culture of toughness and no bullshit. I don't think it's a coincidence the team won a Grand Final under Malcolm Reilly, or were prepared for their second Premiership by Warren Ryan. Brian Smith, albeit briefly, achieved great success with the same "no flare, no bullshit, 80 minute grind" attitude. Even if the Knights lost, you rarely got the impression they hadn't gone out there and been resourceful.

It's a pity Gus has all but given up on the idea of ever returning to coaching, because I think he could have similarly instilled the emotion and "call a spade a spade" discipline that has worked successfully for the club in the past...

 

[Nuffy]

Bennett coached at the Broncos with a roster and talent production line which was unequalled. It was hard to see how anyone could fail in that structure.

Then he went to the Saints who had been underperforming forever but with a hugely talented roster, their time was due.

Now we can see whether he is truly a super coach or whether he has been incredibly fortunate his entire career.

How is he going thus far, 1.5 years into his tenure?

 

[The Showstopper]

Or would you guys rather we reinstated Stoney? Who is currently the NSW Cup coach.

No. Not me personally anyway. He is a decent coach Stoney but you won't win a comp if you can't attract decent players. Who wants to play for Stoney? Noone outside the inner circle. Sad but true. Robbo or Maguire are better options.

 

[voltron]

I think we should wait and be a bit more patient.
I'm not sure what the tipping point might be though.

IT would be great to have
1. absolute game breaker - when the game is on the line we can bring out that play.
2. a ball playing back-rower - right now those guys are always cut out in our attacking plays.
3. a Leader who will help us regroup, cuz when we let in tries the flood us.
4. i would like a foward capable of making a bust in the middle through sheer power
oh and please no more players over 30 for the time being.

 

[Burwood]

I think we should wait and be a bit more patient.
I'm not sure what the tipping point might be though.

IT would be great to have
1. absolute game breaker - when the game is on the line we can bring out that play.
2. a ball playing back-rower - right now those guys are always cut out in our attacking plays.
3. a Leader who will help us regroup, cuz when we let in tries the flood us.
4. i would like a foward capable of making a bust in the middle through sheer power
oh and please no more players over 30 for the time being.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151710251331369&set=vb.586151368&type=2&theater

There you go!