how many games would you say sheens has cost us directly?
My gripe with Sheens has never been about individual games. In many cases, I believe he has a capable game plan, but as many agree our players have not executed this. In the semi finals in the last two years, poor plays by Marshall and Farah cost us. This year, Marshall has been absolutely dreadful and has also been a factor as to why we are no longer a dangerous attacking side.
However, surely Sheens is ultimately responsible for this? The buck stops with the head coach, it's as simple as that. Questions need to be asked about why he is trying to turn the best runner of the ball in the game into a catch and pass merchant. Benji has always and will always be an instinctive player, why is he trying to change that? Poor recruitment and the inability to find a halfback to partner Benji post-Lui falls on Sheens, nobody else. Now I realize the loss of Lui is not Sheens' fault, but failing to find a halfback isn't exactly something new. This is the same person who persisted with Morris at half for almost three years when it was painfully obvious to anyone that he wasn't a halfbacks arsehole.
In regards to this year, I believe Sheens is ultimately responsible for the following:
- Going into the season two props short. This contributed to our early season woes and our poor start. This also threw a young player to the wolves (Groat) so much so that his confidence is still affected even months later.
- Poor bench use. Nothing more needs to be said. This happens almost every week and is absolutely killing us. Look at the first half: played at a frantic pace, we picked up two injuries and yet he only made two interchanges. It's f**king ridiculous.
- Playing players out of position. Moltzen is not a fullback. Lawrence is not a five eighth. Ayshford is not a five eighth. Fulton is not a hooker. And so on. How hard is it to replace a prop with a prop, or a hooker with a hooker. And please don't f**king tell me there was nobody to replace these players with. It's rubbish. We have a talented 20s side and the BRET side to use.
- Refusal to drop underperforming players. In the past six or so years I can only recall two players being dropped for poor form (Fitzhenry and Ayshford). Both were back in one week. These players know they can underperform without consequence, they know they will never be dropped. This breeds mediocrity.
- Failing to give a halfback a proper run. Lui was clearly the only player Sheens trusted. He's tried other players there, but only for a few games and even if they have performed well they've been punted. Why hasn't Miller been given a go? Why did Humble get dropped, despite playing reasonably well? Why was Sironen clearly instructed to get out of the way and let Benji run the show?
- Persisting with a lack of speed out wide. We have zero pace at the back. Why does Reddy keep getting picked? Despite an injury to Tuqiri we still see no fresh injection of pace. Why will it likely take a crippling injury toll to see some fresh players blooded?
I've probably missed a few other points.
