Raper explains his Anger! Ggrrrr!!!

[blacktip-reefy]

Raper justifies angry lock-out
By Stuart Honeysett and Brent Read
June 14, 2005

CRONULLA coach Stuart Raper admitted frustration over the Sharks' recent form slump sparked his criticism of his players behind closed doors on Friday night.

The Sharks coach ordered all his support staff out of the dressing rooms at Campbelltown Stadium after the 34-18 loss to Wests Tigers to let rip at his team.

The outburst, which was telecast by the Nine Network, was directed only at the 17 players who had taken the field that night, with injured centre Paul Mellor among the spectators waiting outside.

"I just wanted to explain a few things to them and as far as I was concerned I wanted it to stay in that room," Raper said yesterday.

"Unfortunately the cameras caught me which is a bit annoying. But I just said a few things to them and they know now they shouldn't be taking it personally. I'm just trying to get us out of our form slump.

"I think maybe I'm a bit frustrated as are the players and it's showing the way we're playing. We've just got to get in there and work hard and try to get a victory this week."

Back-up hooker Michael Sullivan, one of the players on the receiving end, said the attack might only be a "band-aid" solution for a club that has lost its past three games and is struggling to recapture its early-season form.

"Sometimes it can work, maybe for a week or two, (but) it's a band-aid solution to get up the guys," Sullivan said.

"Everyone doesn't go out there to lose the game intentionally. I'm not sure. It's more confidence that we're lacking."


Things will not get any easier for the Sharks on Friday night as they host the Sydney Roosters at Toyota Park.


Prop Jason Stevens could miss that match after being charged with a dangerous throw yesterday.

Stevens will miss one match unless he beats the charge stemming from a 54th-minute incident in the loss to Wests Tigers. The former Test forward was playing his first match after serving a one-match ban for knee-lifting.

 

[Nuffs]

i spoke to a couple of players and they are filthy with Rapes

 

[Dread]

Aww the poor widdle players got yelled at? What a sob story.

 

[Mr Angry]

So who has the heart to heart with Stuey?

 

[SadShark]

They deserved everything he gave them and more. Lack of attitude and heart at the moment. Most certainly all confidence is gone at present. Sometimes there are form slumps during the season from good sides but most certainly not tripple thrashings.

There seems to be a massive demise of commitment in one on one defence and because two regular players are missing don't mean we should lie down for an arse kicking each week - just ask the Broncos last Saturday night.

Ricky Stuart will unfortunately have the last laugh on Kimmorley this Friday night because his confidence, skill and level headed plays are down. I would have thought he might have fired right up but instead he has just gone south.

Yet another smack in the chops for patient Sharks fans.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

How many times was B.K the first defender going in to make a tackle around the ruck with no one else seeming interested to pile in.

 

[wittyfan]

Hopefully the band-aid will last more than a couple of weeks.

I'm concerned after reading that article.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Aww the poor widdle players got yelled at? What a sob story.

Totally agree!

 

[newman]

They got FLOGGED at training I heard.

I cant believe they would be upset about being yelled at.

 

[Eskimo Sharkie]

On the positive side, it does mean that Raper is not prepared to accept mediocrity. I'd be more concerned if he hadn't have given them a rev up after that performance.

 

[Nuffs]

but the players problem is raper saying that it is only their fault and that him being coach has nothing to do with it

what fuggen bullsh*t

if we somehow win the comp this year, will stuey have nothing to do with it?

hypocritical bitch!

the tactics haven't worked the last few weeks which is due to poor coaching. AND lack of execution

 

[mr_sharks]

Nuffs of the course Rapes has a right to be filthy with his players.
Number one they should have won the match, after being 12-all at halftime, there was no real effort in the second half. The coach can't do anything about that! Secondly the coach can't do the running, tackling and passing for the players. He prepares them throughout the week for the clash, even having night sessions to prepare for the game against the Tigers.
I would be more angry if he didn't fire up..these guys need to perform consistently..they showed at the start of the season they can play, and really shouldn't be carved up by the freakin Tigers.

 

[Mr Angry]

Well it's not like they would fear being dropped now would they.
Nobody likes being yelled at, but when the end result is nothing but hot air what does it matter?
If I have a bad game it's cool I'll still get picked.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

there was no real effort in the second half. ,

I thought there were solid effort.
Stevo jumping up to marker quickly for such a big man as a prime example. The agression, the desire. It was clearly there. I don't know why you could see it.

Secondly the coach can't do the running, tackling and passing for the players.

No he cant. But he is the one that prepares 17 players as a team. A team of players that to me seemed quite directionless in defense, becaue the defense is flawed. Missed tackles are a result of players having to make too many decisions instead of being set for the play one on one.

He prepares them throughout the week for the clash,

Actually he has been preparing them for near 2 years, but has he prepared them correctly?
I'm not prepared to say he hasnt yet, but im definitely prepared to discuss what appears on face value to be critical errors of judgement on his behalf.

 

[mr_sharks]

Actually he has been preparing them for near 2 years, but has he prepared them correctly?

I don't think a few losses back to back shows a failure.
I'd certainly take 18 points after 14 rounds.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

The results are not as important as you make out.
We were winning games earlier in the season & most people who truely understand the game could see the weaknesses.
How many points have we had put on us in 3 weeks?
How many missed tackles?
How many suspensions?
Whats the vibe in the club like?
Does Raper have a new contract?

 

[black_dot]

IT isn't the first time recently that Raper has exploded with a few close to the bone criticisms of the team after losses. The only reason this one is highlighted is because of the channel 9 cameras.

 

[mr_sharks]

I wouldn't think the vibe in the club would be that bad. We are right near the top of the table FFS

 

[Isurus]

3 poor losses with 120+ points scored against them and rumours of preferential treatment in regard to player selection.... I think the vibe would be very downcast.

In Peacheys interview after the game on Channel 9, he mentioned that there would be no finger pointing at individuals, but he looked as though he had a few individuals on his mind.

 

[Eskimo Sharkie]

Nuffs of the course Rapes has a right to be filthy with his players.
Number one they should have won the match, after being 12-all at halftime, there was no real effort in the second half. The coach can't do anything about that! Secondly the coach can't do the running, tackling and passing for the players. He prepares them throughout the week for the clash, even having night sessions to prepare for the game against the Tigers.
I would be more angry if he didn't fire up..these guys need to perform consistently..they showed at the start of the season they can play, and really shouldn't be carved up by the freakin Tigers.

In fairness, they did get a pretty raw deal from Simpleton in the second half. And that's excluding the Dykes try ruling from the first half. In the second half, Wests-Tigers were still slowing our play the ball and getting away with it (even after a warning late in the first half). We didn't get one second half penalty - I think they went 5-0 to Wests-Tigers in the second half.

Some were certainly justified, Stevo's botched tackle and Vagana's high shot come to mind, but there were some that were pretty ordinary. McGoldrick's tackle was called for a penalty very late (after the following tackle and when Wests-Tigers had spilled the ball. Stevo's offside ruling was very ordinary and, if that wasn't enough, we copped a few poor calls as well which really put us on the back foot in terms of possession. Effectively, in the second half, we saw very little of the pill and it's hard to do anything without the ball. With the way things went, I don't think anyone would have beaten Wests-Tigers in the second half.

Some of our problems were caused by a very ordinary kicking game from Noddy. Normally it's his strength, but Friday night was a shocker (apart from the drop out that found touch). He needs to stand back from the ruck to give himself some space. Dykes didn't seem to kick as much as he normally does and I wondered if he wasn't 100% fit. Hilder can also kick and will be a good third option when he is back on deck. I expect this to be better at home this weekend against the Roosters and better still when Hilder is back.

Unlike a lot of people, I did see quite a few positives in Friday's match. Our defence was better than it has been for quite a few weeks, with only 28 missed tackles. Our completion rate was very good, some of the creative stuff, and effort put in by some of the forwards was better than it has been for a while. Our discipline was pretty good considering some of the really poor decisions. Last year, we probably would have turned our toes up.

I'm going to tip the boys to topple the Roosters this week. Despite all the negatives floating around, we're at home for only our second match in about eight weeks, have no-one backing up from origin, and the rev up from Raper after last week's match should see them all fired up to perform. If Mellor is back, this only leaves Hilder out injured, and the Roosters haven't exactly been setting the world on fire either this season. A win here and the confidence is back up.

I'd much rather that we have our form slump mid-season than get it going into the semis. We've got a good run home, at least after the Broncos game, and I think we've got 5 of our last 8 matches at home. We're in 5th spot and still looking good for a top 4 finish. From there, if we can hit our straps, we do have the side to threaten for the Premiership.