Major Announcement at 12pm Today

[Karmawave]

I do believe they were "interviewed" in some form...formal face-to-face interview, phone call, that doesn't matter...was the decision made weeks before the interviews were done? He's been a raging hot favourite for the role the whole time. I don't really think they took the other applicants seriously is all.

No disrespect to Stone - I think we all hope he makes a great fist of the job. The decision is made, lets hope he brings us a premiership.

Alex, how is the process any different at all to Kevin Moore always being groomed to take over from Steve Folkes for a number of years?


Oh, its not.

 

[Alex28]

That's their club, not ours. I don't much care how the Bulldogs make their decisions, I care about the future of our club.

That and he got the majority of a season before to recruit for his first year. Stone doesn't have the benefit of that.

 

[macavity]

That and he got the majority of a season before to recruit for his first year. Stone doesn't have the benefit of that.

The first fair point you have made on this subject mate.

FTR, there were articles last week stating that the Knights had got a short list together and were interviewing.

Stone is a career coach, a local bloke, and is spoken of very highly by all who have dealt with him.

I don't know 100% that he is the *best* man for the job, and none of us ever will. Such is the nature of the beast.

But I for one am backing him to the hilt - and I will give him till the end of 2011 as he needs a season with his own recruits.

 

[Karmawave]

That's their club, not ours. I don't much care how the Bulldogs make their decisions, I care about the future of our club.

That and he got the majority of a season before to recruit for his first year. Stone doesn't have the benefit of that.

No, Stone doesn't have the benefit of a year recruitment, but neither would any other coach that would potentially take over. The point is moot.

I'm the first person around here to admit that the TALENT level of our team is below average in comparison to the rest of the NRL based on depth of the top 25 squad. That's all well and good, and I think Stone may struggle simply because of the cattle he has been given.

But the point you make about Stone being given the job on a whim isn't really something amazing Alex. He was being groomed to take over the role for a couple of years, and whether Smith left this season, or next , or in 3 years, I think you'll find Rick Stone was always going to be the next coach regardless.

I don't see a problem with Stones appointment.

Now the players in our team... yep I see a massive problem with that.

 

[macavity]

Now the players in our team... yep I see a massive problem with that.

the only major problems we have are

halves - Mullo is fast becoming the most overrated player in the game and we lack a game winning 7

front row - injuries have cruelled us but if Tim/Tovo/Edwards develop we should have the depth

and we are probably missing one strike outside back - but at the start of the year our backs were good.

so really our only insurmountable problem is in the halves. We have 3, but none of them are up to the standard we need. Maybe Johno Ford for 7... ;-)

 

[Alex28]

I think I have been pretty fair about discussing the recruitment process. If Stone was always going to get the job why bother seeking applicants? Why waste other peoples time with a process that was always going to see Rick Stone given the job. What were they looking for?

I know of Rick's coaching record and there is no doubt he has been a success at what he has done prior to the Knights. I hope he does a great job.

I'm merely questioning why they bothered even seeking applications. I'm also questioning Paul Harragon's role in all of this and whether he is the best man for us to have on the board of the club, however I'll leave that for the Cancer post...

 

[Serc]

This all happened very very quickly for a ordered, considered, thorough selection process. This morning, Smith was still in the frame to front the media about the Storm game.

Tew interviewed Stone yesterday, the board met yesterday and selected him, thats a unusually fast executive deliberation process? BAsed on Serc's comments about the timing of Stones interview, it was done in the afternoon, then the board met and made a decision then Smith was punted. Seems awful quick.

I had written something very similar to this before I lost the post I had written last night too Nuffy, felt a little 'conveniently rushed' to me as well

 

[Pika]

Stone has had three interviews in the last two weeks.

The meeting yesterday was not an interview, it was agreeing to terms with Stone once they had moved Smith on.

 

[cram]

Simple as this for me. Stone's got the job. If this was the way it was to go its a shame it did not happen three weeks ago. I still believe the whole thing was poorly handled by the Board.

However, its time to move on and support the team and the bloke that make up Our Team!!