Our Finals Chances.

[Westernised Panther]

I'll give Griffin some credit when one of two things happens

1. We start showing some genuine structure in attack, and actually run some set plays.

2. We play some genuine games of 80 min football. I'd say we've played one all season (smashing of the dogs) with beating the warriors in NZ the next closest.

I'll also add that he deserves credit for bringing through players such as CHN, Katoa, Edwards, etc.

If Matt Elliot was still coaching, he would have tried Adrian Purcell or Mark O'Halloran or Lee Hookey at fullback or five eight....

 

[franklin2323]

First team to win the comp from outside the top 4 and not beat a top 8 team all year is something I can live with.

these stats are always a stupid guide for that very reason. Manly were top 4 when we beat them. Parra beat Melb without SOO players and NQ without JT/Granville it means little at the end of the year

 

[franklin2323]

Mansour said on Tues night. The players got big heads with the comp favourites tag. That 2-7 start was probably a blessing in disguse

 

[franklin2323]

I'll also add that he deserves credit for bringing through players such as CHN, Katoa, Edwards, etc.

If Matt Elliot was still coaching, he would have tried Adrian Purcell or Mark O'Halloran or Lee Hookey at fullback or five eight....

We have also a better record at this same stage than last year. Not too many coaches in our history have done that

 

[umina panther]

Mansour said on Tues night. The players got big heads with the comp favourites tag. That 2-7 start was probably a blessing in disguse

Thats on the coach and Gus

 

[martielang]

You're right Umina, the players are incapable of thinking for themselves, controlling their own ego, adjusting their own attitude....

Give me a break mate.

 

[franklin2323]

Thats on the coach and Gus

What are they meant to do lock the players in a room so they can't watch TV or read the papers?
Players need some personal responsiblity too as I said in the slump the players weren't putting in either.

 

[franklin2323]

You're right Umina, the players are incapable of thinking for themselves, controlling their own ego, adjusting their own attitude....

Give me a break mate.

It is easy for Mansour to say after round 20 it was an issue. For me it is when did the players realise themselves more so they may of been too embarassed to tell each over even at the time. Main thing is they fixed it far better then ignoring it and still being at the bottom

 

[OldPanther]

Thats on the coach and Gus

I think this is partially right. The players need to take some responsibility. I would move Griffin on anyways though. If we are crediting him for bringing players up that's fine but we need the next step now.

 

[betcats]

You're right Umina, the players are incapable of thinking for themselves, controlling their own ego, adjusting their own attitude....

Give me a break mate.

Why do NRL coaches make such good money? What are they actually supposed to be doing in your opinion? Results are well below expectations - Players fault. Team starts the year looking unfilt and unprepared - players fault. Players not kicking on or living up to their potential - players fault. Players underperforming - players fault. As team we miss lots of tackles and make lots of errors - players fault. Slow starts - Players fault. Players being picked in unfamiliar positions and not performing - players fault.

What is Griffin responsible for only picking the team sheets? Of course if there is a culture problem in the side due to big heads its on the coach to fix. While it would be lovely if the players could all just recognise and then fix all of their own faults as people and players if that fantasy were the case we wouldn't need coaches.

 

[franklin2323]

Why do NRL coaches make such good money? What are they actually supposed to be doing in your opinion? Results are well below expectations - Players fault. Team starts the year looking unfilt and unprepared - players fault. Players not kicking on or living up to their potential - players fault. Players underperforming - players fault. As team we miss lots of tackles and make lots of errors - players fault. Slow starts - Players fault. Players being picked in unfamiliar positions and not performing - players fault.

What is Griffin responsible for only picking the team sheets? Of course if there is a culture problem in the side due to big heads its on the coach to fix. While it would be lovely if the players could all just recognise and then fix all of their own faults as people and players if that fantasy were the case we wouldn't need coaches.

How much do you tell your boss about your feelings and stuff? What makes you think players are any different.

I liken a boss to say a branch manager at a bank. They are in charge of the day to day running of the team and preparing the players to play on the weekend. Have the staff to get that team running as best they can but still need to people higher up to fix staffing/roster flaws.

How do you know he hasn't fixed the ego problem now?

 

[martielang]

Why do NRL coaches make such good money? What are they actually supposed to be doing in your opinion? Results are well below expectations - Players fault. Team starts the year looking unfilt and unprepared - players fault. Players not kicking on or living up to their potential - players fault. Players underperforming - players fault. As team we miss lots of tackles and make lots of errors - players fault. Slow starts - Players fault. Players being picked in unfamiliar positions and not performing - players fault.

What is Griffin responsible for only picking the team sheets? Of course if there is a culture problem in the side due to big heads its on the coach to fix. While it would be lovely if the players could all just recognise and then fix all of their own faults as people and players if that fantasy were the case we wouldn't need coaches.

It's not really worth replying to this because you pick & chose words from sentences (or just make up sentences altogether) then base your whole argument on it.

Results below expectations - Coach & Players.
Players not playing to potential - Coach & Player. See below.
Players under performing - Coach & player. Is the player under performing because he's on the piss too much (no point naming names) or is the coach just not playing him in the right position, structure etc.
Look unfit & under-prepared? Coach. But i dare say we're one of the fittest teams in the comp considering we're scoring the most points in the second half & all our forwards play big minutes.
Missing tackles & making errors? I assume you mean unforced? Players. If its structural, Coach.
Slow starts? Coach & Players - but that seems to be somewhat rectified.
Unfamiliar positions & under performing? Coach. But who you talking about? Please dont say the guy who was playing fullback, who had played fullback the last 10 years & played for Australia as a fullback... Talk about being unfamiliar, gees poor kid. The only other one i can think of is Peach?
Bad attacking & defensive structure? Coach. Our attack is still very average, i think our defence has been good for the most part.
Player selections? Coach.
Players attitude & Ego? 80% players, 20% Coach.

Feel free to throw some more my way.

Yours Sincerely,
Martie.

 

[betcats]

How much do you tell your boss about your feelings and stuff? What makes you think players are any different.

I liken a boss to say a branch manager at a bank. They are in charge of the day to day running of the team and preparing the players to play on the weekend. Have the staff to get that team running as best they can but still need to people higher up to fix staffing/roster flaws.

How do you know he hasn't fixed the ego problem now?

If he cant spot complacency in a squad that he is training every day he isn't cut out for coaching, he doesn't need the players opening up to him like he is a therapist to work out if we are preparing as we should or if we are taking the competition lightly.

It doesn't matter if he has fixed it or not, I'd say getting flogged repeatedly brought everyone back to ground real fast, but you cant just fix a soft, complacent offseason in a couple of weeks.

 

[betcats]

It's not really worth replying to this because you pick & chose words from sentences (or just make up sentences altogether) then base your whole argument on it.

That's not true at all. You implied players attitude and team culture is not on the coach at all which is complete garbage same as when you have said or implied missed tackles and poor defence isn't on the coach neither is mistakes players make. Its all the coaches responsibility, that's why they get paid so much and so few people are good at it.

Umina was spot on when he said it was on Gus and the coach and you replied with some sarcastic comment putting it all on the players.

 

[flash]

So no Latu, JFH going forward on top of losing Merrin. I think we will miss their size.

Most likely Leota, and Kikau to come in?

Kaide Ellis was on the fringes a few weeks back. I'd like to see Akauola but having been hooked after 1 hitup v Manly suggests he is unlikely.

 

[franklin2323]

If he cant spot complacency in a squad that he is training every day he isn't cut out for coaching, he doesn't need the players opening up to him like he is a therapist to work out if we are preparing as we should or if we are taking the competition lightly.

It doesn't matter if he has fixed it or not, I'd say getting flogged repeatedly brought everyone back to ground real fast, but you cant just fix a soft, complacent offseason in a couple of weeks.

How would he know Bryce was complacent or just struggling with injury? Merrin no pre-season, Whare, Hiku etc coming back from injury. Not to mention whatever the hell went on with TMM. We were 2-2 after 4 rounds so there was plenty to say it was other things.

Maybe it wasn't until this that it all came out? that point is where Mansour and others realised it was going on
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...n/news-story/ad7723a7ae34fb6c93661e8a4210ab3a

You can't on one hand say the players are the reason he has a 57% win record. Yet on the other only blame him when we go shit. Everyone at the club needs to own up for the 1st half of the season from players to board members

 

[franklin2323]

So no Latu, JFH going forward on top of losing Merrin. I think we will miss their size.

Most likely Leota, and Kikau to come in?

Kaide Ellis was on the fringes a few weeks back. I'd like to see Akauola but having been hooked after 1 hitup v Manly suggests he is unlikely.

Kikau's back is still playing up. So i think Akuoala will get the bench spot

 

[Kilkenny]

I think the majority of our fans have been disappointed for the most part in this season, particularly for our lack of structure in attack. We haven't really looked like beating the better sides, or even scoring in some instances, so this has been disappointing. We may make the top 8, we may not time will tell but I personally have been left a little flat by the way we have played this season. Who is to blame, well I think the overall responsibility can be shared by all, not just the coach, Griffin will remain head coach for 2018 and I think any decision of whether he remains in the role beyond next season should not be made until at least mid way thru next season and certainly not before. I would expect there would have be significant improvement in this current side next season for him to be deserving of his contract being extended.

 

[OldPanther]

The coach is responsible for everything. As was said, that's why he gets the $$$. One thing I want to point out is they have learned to win ugly. Last year we went on a run and it was very expansive and flashy that won us games and the reason we were favourites. Now in this 8 from 10 stretch they're grinding games more and I think it will be better for them long term, particularly making and staying in the finals.

 

[mxlegend99]

What are they meant to do lock the players in a room so they can't watch TV or read the papers?
Players need some personal responsiblity too as I said in the slump the players weren't putting in either.

How about tell them flat out that competitions arent won based on what the media say?

Instead our idiot management ran with it and had a merketing campaign about how this is our time.

Youre kidding yourself if you think our management didnt influence the way the players expected this season to go.