Rumours and Stuff

[84 Baby]

Or since Brian Smith left which coach have we signed that is a good to great coach? Maybe that has been the problem all along? Sure our boards have been crap over the decades, but maybe the real reason that we have been failing since the 80's is our choice in coaches.

I hardly think that it is a coincidence that since our last premiership victory, that our best period coincided with the only good/great coach that we have signed in all the period since. Brian Smith. I also attribute him for getting our club to the 2009 GF. He largely assembled that squad, kinda like Gus/Ricky with the Roosters in 2002.

Name me one coach that we have signed and left here that has gone on to be a good to great coach elsewhere? There are none that I can think of. We have had some very ordinary coaches to say the least.

Maybe if we can finally sort that out we might stop focusing on the board so much and actually like what we see coming through consistently in the juniors and on the field.

As for our supposed quality juniors coming through at the moment, I tend to think that it was Fields doing and BA just nodded and agreed.

Yeah but this isn’t refuting Gary’s point. Who hires the coach? Who holds the coach responsible?

And it’s not like a chicken/egg scenario because the coach doesn’t pick the board

 

[Glenneel]

I’d say round 10, but will need to have won, at least 6 games min.

I reckon 7 wins but what if we win 6 by 6 or less and cop 4 hidings? Would he be safe, I doubt it.

 

[TheRam]

Yeah but this isn’t refuting Gary’s point. Who hires the coach? Who holds the coach responsible?

And it’s not like a chicken/egg scenario because the coach doesn’t pick the board

Yes I get that, but you must remember that our shit board also hired Terry Fearnaly, Jack Gibson and Brian Smith, so it is possible that shit boards can hire great coaches. We just haven't done it in quite a while.

Lets hope, our next choice is inspired.

Amended to include Fearnaly's name in there too.

 

[Glenneel]

Niukore was f**king ordinary. Imagine how bad he would’ve been 18 months earlier when you wanted him to be picked.

Niukore is as ordinary as Alvaro, many people's favourite here. However in saying that Alvaro has been developing an offload which hopefully increases this year, one can only hope Niukore does the same. Don't think he had any offloads last season.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Or since Brian Smith left which coach have we signed that is a good to great coach? Maybe that has been the problem all along? Sure our boards have been crap over the decades, but maybe the real reason that we have been failing since the 80's is our choice in coaches.

I hardly think that it is a coincidence that since our last premiership victory, that our best period coincided with the only good/great coach that we have signed in all the period since. Brian Smith. I also attribute him for getting our club to the 2009 GF. He largely assembled that squad, kinda like Gus/Ricky with the Roosters in 2002.

Name me one coach that we have signed and left here that has gone on to be a good to great coach elsewhere? There are none that I can think of. We have had some very ordinary coaches to say the least.

Maybe if we can finally sort that out we might stop focusing on the board so much and actually like what we see coming through consistently in the juniors and on the field.

As for our supposed quality juniors coming through at the moment, I tend to think that it was Fields doing and BA just nodded and agreed.

Fair point Ram.

The quality of coaches that we have signed over the years hasn’t been great. It’s one of the reasons why I have been saying that if we replace BA it needs to be with an absolute gun. We don’t want another plodder.

I’m not confident our board are smart enough to make the right decision though.

After all, a strong coach makes their job harder.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Lets hope, our next choice is inspired.

I don’t hold any great hopes.

 

[Glenneel]

Surely were not debating the fact that BA will be coach in 2019...again?
We were along with the coach, atrocious this year. On this we can all agree
2019 will prove many things and it will take an enormous turnaround to save his hide, otherwise the new focus on development and a potential new coach to lead us into 2020 when we will have squillions to spend will be very exciting!
I think we should see 2019 as a transition season imo

Imo 2019 will be a transition year (yes I know every year since 1986 has been a transition year!) where we finally clear the decks and get rid of the under-performing and over-paid players, For 2020 we could have up to 10 players in our team that are juniors. Juniors willing to play for the club and not just for the money, willing to bust a gut to play and win. All we need is a good coach to harness to talent available and buy good players to fill the positions we're weak in.

The current group of juniors has been the best since the late 70s and early 80s and around 2009 when Hayne, Mateo and Inu came into the team. If you look at the juniors promoted thru the years its been a very poor return on the money spent.

 

[chiefy1]

Niukore is as ordinary as Alvaro, many people's favourite here.

However in saying that Alvaro has been developing an offload which hopefully increases this year, one can only hope Niukore does the same. Don't think he had any offloads last season.

Nikuore is still coming to terms with the speed of the NRL, it's still early days for him - but for mine it's Alvaro who really needs to step up big time and cement a starting position along side Jnr P.

Alvaro certainly has the stamina and workrate, but really needs to step up his aggression in the ball running department. He needs to try to dominate the ruck and poke his nose through the line with a quick play the ball.
If he can do that, there'll be no need to look at recruiting high $$ prop. We already have Utoikamanu and Kahfusi coming through so the ball is in Alvaro's court in 2019.

It's his time. He needs to make the opposition fear his presence.

 

[84 Baby]

Yes I get that, but you must remember that our shit board also hired Jack Gibson and Brian Smith, so it is possible that shit boards can hire great coaches. We just haven't done it in quite a while.

Lets hope, our next choice is inspired.

I don’t think we had a shit board back when we hired Gibson. It probably slackened a bit during the successful years and then devolved completely during the Smith years.
Shit boards are unlikely to higher the creme de la creme simply because they are shit and the best coaches don’t want to be involved with a shit storm.
Our best hope will be a long stream of highly ambitious coaches that provide results but aren’t able to influence the board

 

[hineyrulz]

Nikuore is still coming to terms with the speed of the NRL, it's still early days for him - but for mine it's Alvaro who really needs to step up big time and cement a starting position along side Jnr P.

Alvaro certainly has the stamina and workrate, but really needs to step up his aggression in the ball running department. He needs to try to dominate the ruck and poke his nose through the line with a quick play the ball.
If he can do that, there'll be no need to look at recruiting high $$ prop. We already have Utoikamanu and Kahfusi coming through so the ball is in Alvaro's court in 2019.

It's his time. He needs to make the opposition fear his presence.

Alvaro needs to step up??? He was our best middle forward last season. More like the rest of the pack have to step up to help him.

 

[hindy111]

No single coach can save us on his own. We are a poorly run basket case. There are fundamental issues at our club that are much more important than whether we did or drop Jennings.

Which coach do you think can magically pull us out of the shit if we continue to be managed by f**ktards?

Not a basket case and sick of people calling us one. We have certainly cleaned our act up since 2017.
We have a good juniors base and set up once again and our cap is in good order.No long term contracts with old bums. We will have one the best (whooops) stadiums in the NRL.A great supporter base and sponsors. And heck Parramatta is after Sydney the biggest city in NSW. Imagine how Parramatta city will be in 10yrs time. A light rail is about to start.
Not only does the NRL need a healthy Eels but so do many businesses. Imagine 20k+ fans 13 times a year which a percentage will be going for drinks and dinner after a game.
As far as TPAs go we are one club that if successfull outsiders can benefit buy chipping in.
And it is about a roll on effect.

The club should be talking to local restaurants about perhaps a free drink or some sort of discount if visit there restruant after or within 48hrs of a game. Work together in this

 

[hindy111]

You could also argue that the Broncos’ decision on Bennett (advising he wouldn’t be re-signed) was holding him accountable. The Panthers’ decision on Griffin was certainly holding him accountable. Leaving it up in the air, as is the case with BA, is not.

Changes also buys time.
The duke makes changes and it buys him time.
I wonder the same with SK and Johnson. Was he really the problem? SK now has a scapegoat and a free ride for 2019. A rebuild is now underway so to speak. Had Johnson stayed and NZ flopped SK is given the bullet along with his coaching career. 2019 is now about 2020 for them.

 

[hindy111]

I still hold some hope that Evans will come good.

I agree but gee competition is harder then last season. Vave and Matagi gone but replaced with Jnr who is a lock down and 2 young promising props on the rise. Throw in Terepo and Alvaro form and both at peak age. And with Manu,Lane and Niakuore in considerstion for back row it puts Tepai as another possible candidate for prop.

 

[hindy111]

Gary, nobody is saying under BA we should of jagged 3 comps already. What we’re saying is considering his time he’s had here, it’s been a failure. There’s a lot of factors of why this has occurred, but the general consensus with you is that you automatically point the finger at the board.

Was the board responsible for some of the embarrassing performances of 2018? Was it the board or BA that has assembled the team? Has the board decided to pay ageing and broken stars to multi year, multi million $$$ contracts? Is the board responsible for our lack of attack over BA’s entire tenure here?

WE ARE GOING INTO 2019 WITHOUT A GENUINE/PROVEN FULLBACK AND HOOKER FFS!!!!

We are shit on the field. The laughing stock. How are we going to attract sponsors, players and new fans if we continue floundering in the shit?

With Schneider and Mahoney coming through the club is finally looking long term. Im glad we didn't go after a hooker.
Gutherson and Beva are good enough options imo

 

[hindy111]

Niukore is as ordinary as Alvaro, many people's favourite here. However in saying that Alvaro has been developing an offload which hopefully increases this year, one can only hope Niukore does the same. Don't think he had any offloads last season.

I never rated Alvaro until this season. 105mtrs and 40 tackles a game. He learnt to offload also. Apparently put on 6 or 7kgs so he may even be more effective in his charges. I see a late blooming style guy. If he improves further on 2018 he may become one of the better props in game

 

[hindy111]

Niukore is as ordinary as Alvaro, many people's favourite here. However in saying that Alvaro has been developing an offload which hopefully increases this year, one can only hope Niukore does the same. Don't think he had any offloads last season.

On Niakuore. What did you expect? His biggest goal would of been no errors and run hard and miss little tackles along with getting up to speed of NRL.
His first 2 or 3 games he was very slow getting up after a tackle and left holes. By end of season that was fixed. Now he can work on other areas of his game. How much he improves in questionable at this stage.

 

[IFR33K]

With Schneider and Mahoney coming through the club is finally looking long term. Im glad we didn't go after a hooker.
Gutherson and Beva are good enough options imo

Gutho and Bevan are options. That’s the problem, we don’t have one player locked into two of the most important positions on the field.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Not a basket case and sick of people calling us one. We have certainly cleaned our act up since 2017.
We have a good juniors base and set up once again and our cap is in good order.No long term contracts with old bums. We will have one the best (whooops) stadiums in the NRL.A great supporter base and sponsors. And heck Parramatta is after Sydney the biggest city in NSW. Imagine how Parramatta city will be in 10yrs time. A light rail is about to start.
Not only does the NRL need a healthy Eels but so do many businesses. Imagine 20k+ fans 13 times a year which a percentage will be going for drinks and dinner after a game.
As far as TPAs go we are one club that if successfull outsiders can benefit buy chipping in.
And it is about a roll on effect.

The club should be talking to local restaurants about perhaps a free drink or some sort of discount if visit there restruant after or within 48hrs of a game. Work together in this

Some positive signs but we still have a long way to go to gain the respect of our fans let alone the fans of other clubs.

To seal the deal we need some better people in the front of house than Bernie et al.

 

[hindy111]

I think people are to inpatient with juniors.
Bevan will be 23. His 2017 and 2018 season never got going with injuries making it stop start. He deserves this season behind a better pack.
Marata is 22. Some guys only start NRL career at this stage.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Gary: You can’t lay the entire blame at the feet of the coach. The players and admin have been shit.

Whingers: Who hired the players? The coach must go!

Gary: Who hired the coach?