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.