Inside Shane's Brain!!

[thebigredv]

Shane has been much appreciated thus far for bringing change, but he needs to respond here as head coach. These are his players and he is accountable for them turning off with a quarter of the match to go.

Lost it because of fitness but that same Ben Huntness was there when it counted and we can't blame him now

Earn your keep now coach.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Geez he was hammering the side in the presser.

Bad decisions, loss of focus, loss of effort at key times, energy missing, soft tries.

It’s a tough one when you score more tries.

Kicking issues and the penalty try hurt big time.

He wants more effort from everyone.

It was a blunt but honest assessment. I thought you had a stronger side, had the game won. They scrambled and jagged it.

I thought some of your attacking shapes looked pretty good at times.

He took note of Jai Grey and Humpreys from South’s.

Once you had the game by the scruff, the way home was technique. Get your kicks in, defend, frustrate them. But it got out of control.


I think the ingredients are there for a response. Canberra tonight didn’t have any megastars but they were up for it.

They way you’ve lost last 2 weeks, frustrating. He made no excuses.

 

[Budpower]

now he can rectify things by dropping the dead wood!
Latu, Loko, Jet Lui, Egan in for Lawrie, Guler, Sua, Luc! fat lazy bastards no soul , pea hearts, Id even bring Reed in for Illias, cant do any worse, blood the kids let em run riot the old overpaid plodders need booted out!!

 

[Mitty266]

now he can rectify things by dropping the dead wood!
Latu, Loko, Jet Lui, Egan in for Lawrie, Guler, Sua, Luc! fat lazy bastards no soul , pea hearts, Id even bring Reed in for Illias, cant do any worse, blood the kids let em run riot the old overpaid plodders need booted out!!

Don’t disagree, but let’s be real here It’s just not gonna happen anytime soon.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Well blooding Galvin a year early has probably only helped his game.

But flanno indicated that the next 12 days or so is going to be hell for the players

So I think he’s wanting self improvement.

It wasn’t a catastrophic game by any stretch, but the lapses were atrocious by the individuals concerned.

Flanno has pretty high standards.

I think once you win a few, they’ll be a realisation by the side they can make something of the season.

 

[twinkletoes]

FLanaghan is starting to sound more and more like Griffin… and that is disturbing. He stated at season start that this was a different, better side than last season….. but we are seeing the same old Dragons from the Price, Mary, Griffin eras…..extremely disappointing

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

FLanaghan is starting to sound more and more like Griffin… and that is disturbing. He stated at season start that this was a different, better side than last season….. but we are seeing the same old Dragons from the Price, Mary, Griffin eras…..extremely disappointing

With respect I don’t think players train to give away penalty tries. The kid he has to own it. The heat of the battle, the cut and thrust of desperation overcome logic.

He will learn from it.

The defence near the line and that scoot-through was another piece of mayhem.
Complete lack of focus

I think I mentioned before, it costs about $4m - $5m to hold a game factoring in a lot of inputs.

And when you lose, puff, your share is wasted just like that.

The kid will feel the weight, but he’s not alone.

The last ten minutes, you really needed some settling down and composure.

I think most people were surprised they got back into it and stole it. I was anyway.

You had some good shapes in attack, some numbers perfectly deployed and not requiring marquee or X factor. That was uncommon and was good to see unfold. A lot of coaches would have seen that and will copy.

 

[matPORTS]

...and now we are under investigation for apparently flouting the HIA rules in our opening round game.

Yeah, this is a worry. Flanagan coached teams have form in the flouting the rules department already.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Flano was more like Des and or Ricky last night post game

looked like his head was going to blow off

not healthy

time to look within !!!!

 

[Sloan Ranger]

We have two hookers and two fullbacks when what we really needed was two props.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Not commenting here to defend Flano, however, a lot has been said about him as HC, to which, most have merit, but some are just pure emotive outbursts.

If anyone has ever coached a team would realize that you make a game plan based on the 17 players selected. That game plan is entrusted to the players to follow and buy in to it. But, %$#@ happens right that can throw that game plan out the door, eg:

Game 1 v Dogs - Ryan C plays 7 mins (replacing Guler) before injury forces him off, replaced by young Stewart on debut. At this stage we are leading 6 - 4. 2 mins later JDB goes off with HIA replaced by Guler (approx 9 min break). We are still leading 6 - 4.
No dispersion on RC, Hamish or Guler, but this wasn't in the game plan, especially losing a forward early in the game and completing around 20% of his assignment. Again not casting anything here just facts of what happened.

Game 2 v Bunnies - Who carries a centre on the bench? In saying that, Suli's injury had little impact on the result. We found a way to loose this game, Souths didn’t 'win' it.

I can understand Flano's frustration in the presser. We we superior in just about ALL facets of the game. A lot said about defense, yet, we completed at 94% tackle efficiency, with a respectable 18 missed tackles (Souths 31), even ineffective tackles were only 4 (Souths 21). Errors 8 (Souths 10). Almost 160 more run metres, 50 more pcm, 7 line breaks to 3, 31 tackle breaks to 18, and almost 11 metres extra per set.
Yet, we lost. It appears when we make an error, especially close to our goal line, it's compounded, last week with Tupouniua, this week with Kepie and to a lesser extent Walker.

Flano is never going to back down from a fight, but I do wish he'd back down from his 'media' involvements.
Once the stats from the game are analyzed by the coaching staff, cooler heads will prevail (which appears to have happened already).

Game plans, a coach's greatest assett and worst enemy.

 

[since77]

Not commenting here to defend Flano, however, a lot has been said about him as HC, to which, most have merit, but some are just pure emotive outbursts.

If anyone has ever coached a team would realize that you make a game plan based on the 17 players selected. That game plan is entrusted to the players to follow and buy in to it. But, %$#@ happens right that can throw that game plan out the door, eg:

Game 1 v Dogs - Ryan C plays 7 mins (replacing Guler) before injury forces him off, replaced by young Stewart on debut. At this stage we are leading 6 - 4. 2 mins later JDB goes off with HIA replaced by Guler (approx 9 min break). We are still leading 6 - 4.
No dispersion on RC, Hamish or Guler, but this wasn't in the game plan, especially losing a forward early in the game and completing around 20% of his assignment. Again not casting anything here just facts of what happened.

Game 2 v Bunnies - Who carries a centre on the bench? In saying that, Suli's injury had little impact on the result. We found a way to loose this game, Souths didn’t 'win' it.

I can understand Flano's frustration in the presser. We we superior in just about ALL facets of the game. A lot said about defense, yet, we completed at 94% tackle efficiency, with a respectable 18 missed tackles (Souths 31), even ineffective tackles were only 4 (Souths 21). Errors 8 (Souths 10). Almost 160 more run metres, 50 more pcm, 7 line breaks to 3, 31 tackle breaks to 18, and almost 11 metres extra per set.
Yet, we lost. It appears when we make an error, especially close to our goal line, it's compounded, last week with Tupouniua, this week with Kepie and to a lesser extent Walker.

Flano is never going to back down from a fight, but I do wish he'd back down from his 'media' involvements.
Once the stats from the game are analyzed by the coaching staff, cooler heads will prevail (which appears to have happened already).

Game plans, a coach's greatest assett and worst enemy.

A lot of good points in your comments.

I've had a few days to calm down after the loss on the weekend and the thing that still bothers me the most is that overall we were the better team. Except for the last 20 minutes of the game. One more successful goal kick we win.

And this is where I think Flanno as a coach on game day needs to improve a bit. Before I go on, I think Flanno is absolutely the right coach for us and he'll get us where we want to go. His strengths are slowly assembling a squad and then toughening it up to its potential and then ensuring they are consistent. His weaknesses are tactical. He got Cronulla to a point though where tactics didn't matter and they were just resilient enough to grind out a win or his X factor players - like Fifita and Barba could jag something in a tight game - like that 2016 GF.

At 24 -12 I just knew that we need 1 more score between us and the opposition. I actually texted my son and said watch this we'll lose 25-24. If I knew this, then Flanno should too. Because as it stands, the key playmakers can't be trusted to close out the game. Our defense can't be relied upon to defend a 12 point lead. FFS it happened just a few weeks ago in the Charity Shield. We just had more of a buffer that day. So Flanno needs to take it in to his own hands. Get messages out to the players - next time we get down the other end of the field, take a shot at field goal. If you can't get a decent opportunity FFS pin them down in the corners and make them go 80 metres if they want to score. I don't know if I've ever seen Flanno in the coaches box barking orders down to the trainers. He needs to get more involved when the game is on the line. Smarter use of Cook & Liddle. If he needs a better assistant to help out with tactics, get one.

Flanno is also a believer in experience. That's the only explanation as to how Lawrie was picked last week. Flanno, it's time to take some calculated gambles with the position we're weakest at - the front row. Try blooding one of the best forward prospects we've got. They cannot literally be worse.

And lastly something just has to give with defence. Whatever they have been training to do isn't working. No team should lose after they've scored 5 tries.

 

[hook hook]

Not commenting here to defend Flano, however, a lot has been said about him as HC, to which, most have merit, but some are just pure emotive outbursts.

If anyone has ever coached a team would realize that you make a game plan based on the 17 players selected. That game plan is entrusted to the players to follow and buy in to it. But, %$#@ happens right that can throw that game plan out the door, eg:

Game 1 v Dogs - Ryan C plays 7 mins (replacing Guler) before injury forces him off, replaced by young Stewart on debut. At this stage we are leading 6 - 4. 2 mins later JDB goes off with HIA replaced by Guler (approx 9 min break). We are still leading 6 - 4.
No dispersion on RC, Hamish or Guler, but this wasn't in the game plan, especially losing a forward early in the game and completing around 20% of his assignment. Again not casting anything here just facts of what happened.

Game 2 v Bunnies - Who carries a centre on the bench? In saying that, Suli's injury had little impact on the result. We found a way to loose this game, Souths didn’t 'win' it.

I can understand Flano's frustration in the presser. We we superior in just about ALL facets of the game. A lot said about defense, yet, we completed at 94% tackle efficiency, with a respectable 18 missed tackles (Souths 31), even ineffective tackles were only 4 (Souths 21). Errors 8 (Souths 10). Almost 160 more run metres, 50 more pcm, 7 line breaks to 3, 31 tackle breaks to 18, and almost 11 metres extra per set.
Yet, we lost. It appears when we make an error, especially close to our goal line, it's compounded, last week with Tupouniua, this week with Kepie and to a lesser extent Walker.

Flano is never going to back down from a fight, but I do wish he'd back down from his 'media' involvements.
Once the stats from the game are analyzed by the coaching staff, cooler heads will prevail (which appears to have happened already).

Game plans, a coach's greatest assett and worst enemy.

Agreed! The stats and the game show that we were the better side. And we actually were for most of the game. Val missed 3 goals, Souths didn’t miss one. We outplayed and in terms of tries outscored them. If Val makes one more goal, no one is ripping into flanno

 

[possm]

Is he big enough to play prop?

Flanno has had to perform the duties of recruitment manager with some 'assistance' from other staff who do not know what they are doing.

The Board needs to urgently arrange for the replacement of Dean Young, Millard, Millward and Haran;; all of whom are political 'old boy' appointments.

If the Board does not act:
a. Season 2025 will be a write-off.
b. We may end up losing Flannagan to another club.
c. Our player roster for 2026 may well be as bad as 2025.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

There’s some compelling work being entered onto the record above, but I think it’s a bridge too far to put Flanno to the sword in circumstances of player stupidity.

He was justifiably frustrated with the side on many levels.

I’d be concerned if he was satisfied with the energy at the rear end of the game.

Gutho can kick I think. The eels could have done with him yesterday that’s for sure.

 

[possm]

now he can rectify things by dropping the dead wood!
Latu, Loko, Jet Lui, Egan in for Lawrie, Guler, Sua, Luc! fat lazy bastards no soul , pea hearts, Id even bring Reed in for Illias, cant do any worse, blood the kids let em run riot the old overpaid plodders need booted out!!

Prop rotation:
Guler
Klemmer
Leilua
Couchman

Backrow
Suli
Su'A
De Belin
Stuart

Backs
Gutherson
Sloan
CT
Holmes
Best Center from reserve gtade

Halves - their last Chance
Flannagan to share kicks in play
Illias - to kick to corners with Sloan and CT to sprint to challenge for the ball and defend where necessary.
Hooers
Cook - forget the kicks, sprint from dummy half when the opportunity presents itself. More passes to the centers.
Liddle - More game time. Sprint from dummy half more often.

 

[Veteran Dragon]

I know the team switched off but we scored 5 tries to their 4. It was our goal kicking let us down. Val’s goal kicking for the last 3 seasons has been over 80%. Unlike the Hook days we can at least Score tries.

 

[Old Timer]

Agreed! The stats and the game show that we were the better side. And we actually were for most of the game. Val missed 3 goals, Souths didn’t miss one. We outplayed and in terms of tries outscored them. If Val makes one more goal, no one is ripping into flanno

How anyone rationalises that if Val kicks 1 more goal no one is ripping into Flanno staggers me.

We should have won irrespective of Val’s missed goals 2 of which were sideline attempts.

What about if Gutho, Sua, JDB had of made 1 more crucial tackle would that have not saved 18 points?

What about when we were 12 points up would not 1 field goal have forced Souths to score 3 times and probably broken their resolve?

We should have won in a canter and that is firmly on the head of the coaching staff and senior players and a 1 point win would deserve as much criticism as the 1 point loss.

 

[Sloan Ranger]

Fifita, Ennis, Prior, Graham, Lewis and Gallen. Townsend and Maloney. You can't coach what you aint got.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

How anyone rationalises that if Val kicks 1 more goal no one is ripping into Flanno staggers me.

We should have won irrespective of Val’s missed goals 2 of which were sideline attempts.

What about if Gutho, Sua, JDB had of made 1 more crucial tackle would that have not saved 18 points?

What about when we were 12,points up would not 1 field goal have forced Souths to score 3 times.

We should have won in a canter and that is firmly on the head of the coaching staff and senior players and a 1 point win would deserve as much criticism as the 1 point loss.

Harsh but you are reaching for best practice, I understand.

There’s so many variables that pop up during a game.