Joey weighs in, makes a mountain of sense

[Frederick]

“They’ve lost the culture” – Johns

Brendan Bradford By Brendan Bradford

Newcastle Knights legend Andrew Johns has slammed his former club, saying the players are lost and don’t know what they stand for.
The Knights sacked coach Rick Stone on Monday after a 52-6 thrashing at the hands of South Sydney last Saturday.
After winning their first four games of the year, the Knights have won just two of their next 14 and sit in 14th spot on the ladder.
Club legend Danny Buderus has been installed as interim coach.
Speaking on Triple M, Johns was asked what was wrong at the club he played 249 games for.
“They’ve lost their whole identity,” he said bluntly.
“They’ve lost the way they play, they’ve lost the culture within the place. I don’t think they know what they stand for. I think they’re lost at the moment.


“They need to clean the place out.
“They need someone with a massive big whip and to crack it.”
The two-time Premiership winner said Buderus doesn’t want the fulltime coaching job and that the club needed someone like Brian Smith to take over.


Smith coached the Knights from 2007-09 and ruffled plenty of feathers in releasing popular players and making the hard decisions.
“I’ve always liked Brian Smith,” the eighth Immortal continued.
“He came in and did the job. He did the dirty work, he was hammered privately and publicly but he did what he had to do.”

http://www.sportal.com.au/league/nr...-newcastle-knights/1t600k0u57ioa17l7ozrijbjo0

 

[Joker's Wild]

Agree with it all barring Smith specifically. He would not be the answer

 

[Jono078]

Interesting that he likes what Smith did when it seemed like every player at the time would have hated him.

If we signed Smith I'd just be worried about our ability to recruit and retain good players. But I do think he'd get a job done.

 

[Frederick]

Joey was just using smith as an example...didn't say the club should hire him

 

[Jono078]

I know, but I'm just giving my 2c on Brian Smith. Don't even know what he's up to these days.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Smith would be great as Coaching Director, away from the spotlight, in a more "broad strokes" role.

 

[Swarzey]

He's over coaching in the ESL. Even in a director role I wouldn't trust him and I've said it a few times, the whole timing of him doing a mid season review of the Tigers that led to Potter being sacked (when they weren't travelling that bad) is still fishy as f**k to me.

Joey is spot on for the most part and I feel cutting loose the usual suspects while putting some others under the microscope will lead to some pride in the jumper and the club's identity being found. However, I don't think we need another Smith-esque clean out; our side is going to be full of young, inexperienced players who need that time and patience or blokes who aren't the problem at the moment. Maybe then we'll see one or maybe two stick out and hopefully we'll have a coach capable of putting pressure on them to perform. I don't really consider releasing four people as a clean out.

Watching Mamo give the referee a small spray very late in the game for not blowing a clear penalty gives me hope that there's players here who have that pride in the jumper and I don't expect anything different from the Sims brothers, Mullo, Rochow etc. Really, really hoping that just changing the coach and removing underperforming players will make a difference.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

From what I've read the players are on notice and will be playing for their future in the club over the next 6 games.
Accountability appears to be happening.

 

[aqua_duck]

Smith didn't always make the right call but what I admired washis resolve and his conviction, wasn't afraid to put any player in his place and wasn't afraid to turf anyone regardless of reputation

 

[Haffa]

He said all this on Triple M last night.

The Smith part was raised by Ginnane who mentioned that Smith tried to clean the place out and failed, Joey pretty much said Smith was hired to do a job and he was acting on that directive. He implied those who gave him the directive were certainly making him the scapegoat for all decisions.

 

[aqua_duck]

I wouldn't say smith failed, his job was to rebuild and the team was steadily improving under him. For the resources he had I think he done a respectable job.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

I do agree with what Joey is saying, but some of the culture that his era had is not what we want either.

 

[perverse]

I do agree with what Joey is saying, but some of the culture that his era had is not what we want either.

Definitely don't want the old culture, either. Actually, to be honest, I don't think there's too much different between the Johns era culture and now - it's just that when Johns played, they all knew they could win... and probably weren't game enough to let Joey down, either.

When you're tasked with making room for, or supporting the best player in the world - you pull your f**king socks up and do it - especially when they'll ram a rocket up you if you don't. Joey was best mates with his teammates - but you better believe they knew who the boss was on the field too. Joey was an ultra-competitor and hated losing above all else... we don't have any of those left in the squad apparently.

 

[Still Nutty]

Definitely don't want the old culture, either. Actually, to be honest, I don't think there's too much different between the Johns era culture and now - it's just that when Johns played, they all knew they could win... and probably weren't game enough to let Joey down, either.

When you're tasked with making room for, or supporting the best player in the world - you pull your f**king socks up and do it - especially when they'll ram a rocket up you if you don't. Joey was best mates with his teammates - but you better believe they knew who the boss was on the field too. Joey was an ultra-competitor and hated losing above all else... we don't have any of those left in the squad apparently.

I think Beau Scott had that for a period early in the season which is why we won ugly in those first 4 games but since his release has been granted to Parra, he doesn't bring that same commitment and resolve and just seems to be marking time until the season finishes.

Outside of that though, I'm not sure we have that character in our squad (maybe Korbin?).

It might change with Gidley leaving and putting a captain in place that shows that passion and leadership but I'm not sure who we have that will take that mantle next season?

I don't see Mullen taking on that role, don't know that Hodko is leadership material...who do others see leading us next year - figuratively and literally?

 

[Burwood]

I think Mullen is the only candidate next year. Houston and Roberts are the only other players who I can remember captaining our club, and they are long on odds to even be here next season. To me, Snowden's attitude isn't what you want rubbing off on the rest of your squad. Smith will be needing a zimmerframe shortly and the others are too young/inexperienced.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

I think Beau Scott had that for a period early in the season which is why we won ugly in those first 4 games but since his release has been granted to Parra, he doesn't bring that same commitment and resolve and just seems to be marking time until the season finishes.

Outside of that though, I'm not sure we have that character in our squad (maybe Korbin?).

It might change with Gidley leaving and putting a captain in place that shows that passion and leadership but I'm not sure who we have that will take that mantle next season?

I don't see Mullen taking on that role, don't know that Hodko is leadership material...who do others see leading us next year - figuratively and literally?

Mullen > Rochow > Smith > Gagai > Tims > Kims would be my pecking order. Which shows we lack a bit of experience.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Tariq or Rochow would be my choice...

Even if its throwing them in the deep end, this is one occasion where that could be beneficial; forcing them to become the clubs leader.

 

[perverse]

Mullen is the only option, and we have to hope that the extra responsibility takes his game to the next level. I think history says it will. The bloke needs the responsibility, he was in cruise control early in the year.

 

[Noname36]

Mullen > Rochow > Smith > Gagai > Tims > Kims would be my pecking order. Which shows we lack a bit of experience.

That would be my order too.

 

[The Showstopper]

I would not mind giving Hodkinson the job simply to see if a completely neutral player can come in and bring his previous club's culture with him. Des Hasler just bleeds success. Mullo is the logical choice though.