Rumoured Targets 3

[slotmachine]

We haven’t paid big dollars for KPP and Pryce.

Would not be so sure about that

I'll admit I'm looking purely at stats, but KPP seems to have been very underwhelming this year. Somewhat low work-rate (not many runs, metres), low impact (tackle busts, try assists, offloads, line breaks, metres per carry etc). What am I missing?

Both he and Pryce very much still works in progress. Let's hope they're more Dom young than Bailey Hodgson

 

[PhilGould]

Toohey says Best & Saifiti have been given assurances they're not being shopped for what it's worth

 

[Alex28]

Influential Dragons lobby Doust to change his tune on Flanagan

The Dragons board needs to be unanimous in its selection of a coach and for weeks it has been suggested that board powerbroker Peter Doust doesn’t want Shane Flanagan near the club.

www.smh.com.au

The whisper is Michael Maguire has support to take the top job at the Knights if Adam O’Brien’s team doesn’t finish the season strongly. The problem for O’Brien’s detractors is that he is doing just enough to keep his job. Knights insiders fear Maguire could be too tough for the Newcastle playing group.
_______________

If his tough love mentality didn’t work at the Tigers, why would we consider it? He is no Mal Reilly and our squad isn’t the late 90’s Knights.

Would be a disaster.

 

[perverse]

If Madge is too tough for them then the NRL is too tough for them. Goes for the Tigers too. I don't really care either way. Throw a grenade in there and see what happens. Hard to argue that we don't need a shakeup. At least during those periods where the roster is getting torn up there's some mystery about the future. Our current trajectory is a dead end.

Tell the players if they don't like it, they're free to shop themselves around. The Dolphins are already better than us in their first season, I doubt we can do much worse than what we've got now by starting from scratch.

 

[Woody90]

Jesus, if the club think that Madge (or any particular coach) would be too hard for the playing group then shouldn’t that suggest that the playing group are the massive part of the problem?

Not that I believe anything written by Weidler or any of his “insiders” at the club. Every single thing he’s written about the club in the past few months has been categorically wrong. I doubt he has any insiders at the club

 

[Jono078]

Even if Weidler is sprouting bullshit we all are willing to believe it, because it sounds absolutely like us.

I hope we sign the toughest coach out there that won’t bend his standards to the playing group. Our only way up and forward is setting tough standards. Might be some short term pain again but we need to say this is how it is if you play here.

 

[Knight Tales]

Maguire has long been rumoured to be the club’s top target for a while now. Perhaps The club wants an authority for the players which stops with the head coach. The strong clubs all have that alpha coaching personality who holds sway with all decisions. The CEO backs them by actions. Not denials of their safety.
Wayne
Bellyache
Robbo
Cleary
All are put forward as the club’s chief as they demand it to be a success. Their club is more afraid of them walking than they are of denying them.
Maguire is potentially seen as that man. Being too tough on the players should not even enter the equation.

 

[SamSepi0l]

Don't particularly rate Madge or his "Tough" style. Seemed to do nothing to lift the Tigers up from the bottom end of the comp. He stamps and yells and cries but what is his record in games without a generational forward?

 

[Yosh]

Is there any truth behind what's being said about Madge? What does it mean AOB is doing just enough to keep his job? We're a bottom 6 side... I reckon I could do at least that much. Surely 'doing just enough to keep his job' is top 6 to 8 at least?

 

[Woody90]

Don't particularly rate Madge or his "Tough" style. Seemed to do nothing to lift the Tigers up from the bottom end of the comp. He stamps and yells and cries but what is his record in games without a generational forward?

To be fair he was never really given a shot at the Tigers. The drums were beating around the club that he wasn’t safe basically from the moment he started. The Tigers are also notorious for backing the players over the coach and allowing them to have too much of an opinion on the coaches’ future.

I don’t think he is a spectacular coach either, but let’s be honest, we need a change and there are f**k all other quality coaches around. Look at the Dragons. I could see him being a less talented Brian Smith type signing for us. Bring him in to try and clear our the dead wood and bad attitude then hopefully bring someone better in once we’re in a bit of a better position.

If there’s any truth the story and he did come on board the club would have to be prepared to keep sticking by him regardless of how many players get the shits and want to leave.

 

[aqua_duck]

To be fair he was never really given a shot at the Tigers. The drums were beating around the club that he wasn’t safe basically from the moment he started. The Tigers are also notorious for backing the players over the coach and allowing them to have too much of an opinion on the coaches’ future.

I don’t think he is a spectacular coach either, but let’s be honest, we need a change and there are f**k all other quality coaches around. Look at the Dragons. I could see him being a less talented Brian Smith type signing for us. Bring him in to try and clear our the dead wood and bad attitude then hopefully bring someone better in once we’re in a bit of a better position.

If there’s any truth the story and he did come on board the club would have to be prepared to keep sticking by him regardless of how many players get the shits and want to leave.

Agreed. You get these tough, no nonsense coaches who aren’t going to be best mates with the players you have to make it clear to the playing group that the coach has the full backing and autonomy to carry out his mandate. At the tigers it was kind of like the players knew they could just hide their time till Madge got turfed. Imo even if Madge failed to galvanise the playing group he did a great job in building that roster, he brought in guys like Utoikamanu, Papalii, Koroisau, To’a, Bula, and Tupou

 

[Old dog]

Assuming the coach built the roster

 

[Burwood]

Is it possible to have a head coach that’s a “father figure” and good with the players, and an assistant who’s a tough ass and flogs them at training? If so, isn’t McDermott already the perfect foil for a coach in the mould of O’Brien?

I think the biggest problem this year and last year has been our squad, and that responsibility doesn’t fall squarely on the shoulders of the head coach.

 

[Knight Tales]

Is it possible to have a head coach that’s a “father figure” and good with the players, and an assistant who’s a tough ass and flogs them at training? If so, isn’t McDermott already the perfect foil for a coach in the mould of O’Brien?

I think the biggest problem this year and last year has been our squad, and that responsibility doesn’t fall squarely on the shoulders of the head coach.

This club has lacked transparency for years around exactly who is responsible for recruitment. Hard to say how involved O’Brien is. He seems a private person in general and treats his coaching the same way.

 

[Woosh]

Newcastle looking to sign Jordan Mclean.

 

[Jono078]

Newcastle looking to sign Jordan Mclean.

Why?

He's 31. He'd be asking for rep money and is a little injury prone now.

Even if a Saifiti is moving on, can we start focusing on players with some tomorrows!

 

[Burwood]

What was the result of the McKinnon lawsuit against the NRL and McLean? Gagai is the only player left at the club from that game.

 

[Woody90]

Newcastle looking to sign Jordan Mclean.

That’s awkward.

 

[perverse]

Anyone who entertains the concept of the head coach having nothing to do with recruitment, please come and see me for a great deal on a very impressive bridge.

 

[Yosh]

Mclean available for very cheap?? Do we purposely sign injury prone players??