My Concerns: Hagan and the Joey saga

[Parraren]

This article in the SMH by Pritchard is pretty much spot on...

Spoiled star was a law unto himself

http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/spoiled-star-was-a-law-unto-himself/2006/08/14/1155407740233.html

HOW did it come to this, the world's greatest player being charged with doing something so stupid it could ruin both his and Newcastle's season? The answer is simple.

Part of the reason is Johns's volatile personality on the field; the rest of it is the failure of the people in charge of the club to pull him into line when they should have. Had they done that, maybe what happened at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night would not have. At the very least, it would have reduced the possibility.

Let's go back to when the Knights should have acted: the night of Saturday, July 8, at Parramatta Stadium. A presentation of the match ball to Johns was planned - with his knowledge - in anticipation of the halfback picking up the handful of points he needed to become the highest pointscorer in premiership history.

The Eels were happy for the presentation to go ahead, win, lose or draw - and at that stage of the season, they were looking like competition also-rans. Few expected Parramatta to win, but win they did, and at the end of the game, Johns, who had broken the record, stormed off, leaving Eels media manager Damian Kelly and coach Jason Taylor standing there looking awkward.

It was an awful display of petulance from Johns and one that should have resulted in immediate action by the Knights. Club chairman Michael Tyler, chief executive Ken Conway or anyone in authority should have taken Johns aside and encouraged him to return to the field for the presentation. They should have demanded it of him if they had to. But no one did, of course, because no one at Newcastle tells Joey what to do. And that is part of the problem.

In any walk of life, when you do something wrong and you're not held accountable, you can end up becoming a law unto yourself. And then you run the risk of going too far.

Please, spare us the passion card when it comes to the defence of Johns. Paul Harragon, who captained Johns at the Knights and is now one of the club's board members, played it on The Sunday Footy Show. Harragon said we should have empathy for Johns because of the competitor he is. Come on, Chief. We know Joey is a ferocious competitor, that he busts his backside for his team, that he absolutely despises losing. But that is no excuse for abusing match officials, whether they have made a mistake or not.

There are plenty of other players just as passionate who haven't fallen into the same trap. I didn't have a problem with Johns swearing in reaction to a critical decision that went against the Knights in a game against Melbourne recently, because he didn't direct his comments at anyone. The fact that what he said could be heard on Sports Ears and television is the NRL's problem. If they want to use the technology, that's what they are going to get sometimes. But this case is different.

The match review committee certainly didn't miss Johns. Three or four games might be considered harsh. But if he hadn't gone off, he wouldn't be in trouble. It wasn't passionate. It was just plain dumb.

What concerns me most, as an Eels supporter, is the apparent lack of leadership and backbone displayed by coach Michael Hagan in relation to Johns.

The fact that he came out and supported Johns' actions at the Knights-Manly post-game press conference was very surprising and showed a distinct lack of control and professionalism equal to that shown by his captain in the closing stages of the match.

I'm not saying Hagan should have come out and had a go at his captain but he should have shown enough restraint to atleast dance around the question or make no comment about it at all. After all, in the context of the entire match the ref made some bad calls against both sides.

I'm just a bit concerned that Hagan, like Nathan Brown, is just "one of the boys". Discipline appears to be a problem for both clubs in different ways.

When Tim Smith & Mark Riddell turned up to a Monday session on the drink Taylor sent them straight home, they watched from the sidelines as we slumped to our 4th straight loss (7th in 8 games) and they played premier league the following week to send a message to the team that lack of discipline will not be tolerated.

If Johns & Buderus had done the same thing do you think Hagan would have had the backbone to apply the same punishment?

I have my doubts.

 

[Utey]

Johns is the boss, coach etc. I wouldnt seem fit to put him in line, his is the king of that club.

 

[mickdo]

We don't have an Andrew Johns, so I don't think it would be an issue.

 

[Stagger eel]

Johns is the boss, coach etc. I wouldnt seem fit to put him in line, his is the king of that club.

that's a myth ute, he has a tremendous influence no one is doubting that but he certainly doesn't run the club.

As for Hagan, I agree with Ren he probably should of chose his words correctly and said that he understood that Johns blew up in the heat of the battle but it still wasn't right.

I believe Hagan backed Quinn as well when they played melbourne...it's not like he's giving Joey special treatment on this occasion.

 

[CrazyEel]

Only time will tell but I do believe you raise some valid points for concern.

 

[Suitman]

We don't have an Andrew Johns, so I don't think it would be an issue.

And that is the crux of the matter.
End of story IMHO.

Suity

 

[Jake the snake]

I would have the Coach backing the player anyday. Atleast the player will feel that he has the support of the coach. And that's a Big thing. That's one thing hagan will bring to our club some man mangement and support.... not some technical bullsh*t management that we have had from Brian Smith.

 

[T-BONE MCGRAW]

IMO Hagan backed his players. You can not ask any more of a coach.

If he had his time again I believe he would have phrased what he said differently but would not have changed his message of support for the players. I think he has said the same thing himself.The press conference was immediately after the match so there is no doubt Hagan was feeling hard done by as well.

There appears to be be an anti-Hagan feeling from some of our supporters and he has not even arrived at the club yet. Just give him a chance. I am not sure if he will be a succes or not but I will be giving him a chance as we all gave Brian Smith a chance.

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

As for Hagan, I agree with Ren he probably should of chose his words correctly

....probably should have chosen his words correctly.....

(and I'm not to keen on the 'correctly' bit either, most likely should have been 'better' or something similar)

 

[Stagger eel]

....probably should have chosen his words correctly.....

(and I'm not to keen on the 'correctly' bit either, most likely should have been 'better' or something similar)

thanks for that, I'll sleep well tonight.

 

[strider]

....probably should have chosen his words correctly.....

(and I'm not to keen on the 'correctly' bit either, most likely should have been 'better' or something similar)

today's grammar lesson brought to you by the letters, H and J

:lol: :lol:

 

[Stagger eel]

today's grammar lesson brought to you by the letters, H and J

:lol: :lol:

really?? i thought it was F and C..;-)

 

[Parraren]

I'm all for standing by your players in difficult times but sometimes players need to be pulled into line.

I also didn't intend this to be an anti-Hagan tirade either. I think he will bring some very good things to our club and I respect him as a coach.

There are just some things I've observed with the Knights club that i'm not that impressed with. How much this actually has to do with Hagan I guess is what we don't know and probably won't find out until he gets out of that environment and starts fresh with us.

 

[Suitman]

IMO Hagan backed his players. You can not ask any more of a coach.

If he had his time again I believe he would have phrased what he said differently but would not have changed his message of support for the players. I think he has said the same thing himself.The press conference was immediately after the match so there is no doubt Hagan was feeling hard done by as well.

There appears to be be an anti-Hagan feeling from some of our supporters and he has not even arrived at the club yet. Just give him a chance. I am not sure if he will be a succes or not but I will be giving him a chance as we all gave Brian Smith a chance.

Well said.

Suity

 

[The Colonel]

....probably should have chosen his words correctly.....

(and I'm not to keen on the 'correctly' bit either, most likely should have been 'better' or something similar)

Haven't you got some papers to mark or lessons to prepare?

 

[Belly in Brisvegas]

Joey is a f....... c...

No one can control that bloke.

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

"Standing by your players" is all well and good....but what about when they are wrong?

You shouldn't try to hide one of your players from punishment just because they are part of your team. Now, I don't mean hang em out to dry, but if someone does wrong they need to be punished and not coddled. How else will they learn?

Sometimes the best thing you can do for a person is make them face up to something. In the long run, it can teach them a lesson that can make them a better person. Also, it could be best for the team because they could learn from their mistakes and not repeat them at a very crucial time (like, you know, now....)

If Newcastle had have decided to give Johns a kick up the arse earlier in the year (for his own sake) maybe he wouldn't have made this mistake and maybe they wouldn't be losing him at the most crucial point of the year......

 

[Suitman]

"Standing by your players" is all well and good....but what about when they are wrong?

You shouldn't try to hide one of your players from punishment just because they are part of your team. Now, I don't mean hang em out to dry, but if someone does wrong they need to be punished and not coddled. How else will they learn?

Sometimes the best thing you can do for a person is make them face up to something. In the long run, it can teach them a lesson that can make them a better person. Also, it could be best for the team because they could learn from their mistakes and not repeat them at a very crucial time (like, you know, now....)

If Newcastle had have decided to give Johns a kick up the arse earlier in the year (for his own sake) maybe he wouldn't have made this mistake and maybe they wouldn't be losing him at the most crucial point of the year......

Precisely.

Suity

 

[Parra2006]

JOHNS is a clown honestly. i cant wait till he retires.
For 2 reasons
1. he gets away with murder; anything he wants he gets.

2. Without Johns brian Smith cant win the premiership

 

[Suitman]

JOHNS is a clown honestly. i cant wait till he retires.
For 2 reasons
1. he gets away with murder; anything he wants he gets.

2. Without Johns brian Smith cant win the premiership

Even with him I have my doubts.

Suity