Knights Drama

[Jono078]

Here we go, first sign of jobs on the line.

‘The level of inconsistency at our club is far too high. We thought we could change it this year, but we haven’t.’ And with that statement, the struggling Knights are set for big changes.

The Newcastle Knights will undertake a major review that could cost assistant coach Anthony Seibold and other high-profile employees their jobs.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...e/news-story/e7a5f4b496c7f1a50dd387be680d87f3

The Siebold one is highly questionable on many levels. After the year he had in 2020 we decided to back him and now he’s one of the first scapegoats? That’s on the management that decided to sign him IMO.

Not sure this talk helps our season get back on track either, will just lead to even worse performances and scary score lines against us.

 

[perverse]

The train went completely off the rails with that performance against the Tigers. If that performance wasn't a catalyst for change, we'd honestly be in even deeper shit. Just have to sit back and see how it all plays out at this stage, but I'm glad the club is finally asking questions of itself.

 

[Yosh]

Maybe Seibold is stepping on O'Brian's toes a bit too much? Can't see why we want to let go someone of his experience. Maybe because he isn't a local?

 

[Hawkins]

They'd better be careful firing Seibold. He might get his lawyer to send a report to the NRL that people on message boards said some mean things about him, not limited to his inability to coach.

 

[ryana87]

They'd better be careful firing Seibold. He might get his lawyer to send a report to the NRL that people on message boards said some mean things about him, not limited to his inability to coach.

He won't be fired.... He only has a 12 month contract.... If they don't want him, they'll just let it run out and not renew

 

[Hawkins]

I feel like O'Brien hiring Sebs is the best example of his inexperience and poor coaching.

When you look at the Knights on the field, they are rudderless and 13 individuals.

A lot like Brisbane last year. And when things were going really bad for the Broncos all Sebs would say is 65% completion 38% linebreaks. He ran the numbers but couldn't run a team.

That alongside a yelling coach who has accomplished nothing in the NRL himself, senior players with 2 or 3 seasons behind them and a star player who screws around. Its amazing the knights haven't lost more games.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Who made that statement?

 

[aqua_duck]

Who made that statement?

Phil Gardner

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Phil Gardner

I reckon Gardner should be the first to go.
He had been there long enough. We need fresh insight

 

[Burwood]

I thought Gardner was meant to be a temporary measure when Wests first took over the club? I didn’t think all these years later he’d still have a hand in the day-to-day running of the club.

 

[aqua_duck]

I reckon Gardner should be the first to go.
He had been there long enough. We need fresh insight

Doesn't work that way, Gardner is the group CEO of wests group which is one of the largest and most profitable registered club groups in Australia and he's a very highly regarded CEO in the industry, since Wests own the knights for better or worse he's in charge, the only way he gets sacked is if wests group starts failing as a business.

 

[aqua_duck]

I thought Gardner was meant to be a temporary measure when Wests first took over the club? I didn’t think all these years later he’d still have a hand in the day-to-day running of the club.

Does he really have a hand in day to day running? I mean the knights are one of 8 businesses under the wests banner, you'd think Phil would be spread pretty thin to be involved in day to day football operations

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

thought Gardner was meant to be a temporary measure when Wests first took over the club?

That was the deal then.
He knew nothing about footy and relied on learning from others.
The initial intent seems to be lost. He's a constant over the last few years at least.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Does he really have a hand in day to day running?

He has had a big say for someone with little involvement:
https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2019/08/28/ceo-philip-gardners-message-to-members-and-fans/

 

[macavity]

We need an accomplished football GM. Unfortunately there aren’t any who would take this on.

 

[macavity]

I just want to say

I’m sick of footy making me sad.

 

[aqua_duck]

He has had a big say for someone with little involvement:
https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2019/08/28/ceo-philip-gardners-message-to-members-and-fans/

I mean it's a pretty general statement from a CEO to members. I work for a large registered club group and my CEO has very little hands on day to day operational involvement in any individual department yet releases a message to members every month.

 

[Knight Tales]

Well this should be interesting. I guess the difference now is we have a CEO who is linking the business side of the WESTS Group with the team’s success and can see how this can effect the bottom line if we do not start showing consistent success. I am quite happy that Gardner is not waiting till the years end.

 

[Jono078]

AOB has retracted the blame he put on some players and is now putting it on himself. That alone is an interesting development I think..

Today the coach redirected some of the blame.

“I probably put a bit of pressure on some individuals that don’t deserve it, the pressure sits squarely with me I was the one who was brought here to lead the club,” Adam O’Brien said.

The Knights will be without Kalyn Ponga for Thursday’s clash with the Cowboys… the sixth game he’s missed this season.

“It’s just too soon for him, leading into the Manly game there’s a longer turn around after this Cowboys game so he’ll be 100% for that one.”

https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2021/05/17/knights-set-to-undertake-review-into-losing-culture/

 

[aqua_duck]

Well this should be interesting. I guess the difference now is we have a CEO who is linking the business side of the WESTS Group with the team’s success and can see how this can effect the bottom line if we do not start showing consistent success. I am quite happy that Gardner is not waiting till the years end.

I don't necessarily agree with all of Gardner's decisions but we need a hard lined approach, I mean if this was under Matt Gidley and Hagan's watch everyone would've gotten 4 year extensions and pay rises and they'd all be singing cumbia regardless of how many wooden spoons