Russ Aitken

[possm]

Stuff Ressies put Flanagan as Hooks right hand man , god knows he needs better support than what he is getting !

I'd say you are right. Whoever is Griffin's assistants don't seem to be doing a great job. We should not have extended Griffin, rather we should have put Head back to reserve grade coach and Flannigan to assistant coach (letting him know he would be given a go if Griffin is not extended).

 

[denis preston]

I'd say you are right. Whoever is Griffin's assistants don't seem to be doing a great job. We should not have extended Griffin, rather we should have put Head back to reserve grade coach and Flannigan to assistant coach (letting him know he would be given a go if Griffin is not extended).

The only reservation about this is what did Flanagan do under McMuppet that was so good , we still played shit ? I'd still put him there but I doubt he would accept.

 

[twinkletoes]

I watched the reserve grade match on Sunday....final score 44-12. Our side was a rabble and showed no heart, energy, enthusiasm or skill..they were just going through the motions. Sloane was playing fullback and at least tried but eventually became so frustrated with the rest of the bunch that he got sin binned. It was very sad to see him with head down and drooped shoulders playing in a side that was no better than schoolboys. I think from memory Burgess had 1 or 2 runs in the whole game. Sloan will not develop playing in such a poorly coached side. I was extremely disappointed that no pride was shown in the jersey..

 

[Dragon David]

I watched the reserve grade match on Sunday....final score 44-12. Our side was a rabble and showed no heart, energy, enthusiasm or skill..they were just going through the motions. Sloane was playing fullback and at least tried but eventually became so frustrated with the rest of the bunch that he got sin binned. It was very sad to see him with head down and drooped shoulders playing in a side that was no better than schoolboys. I think from memory Burgess had 1 or 2 runs in the whole game. Sloan will not develop playing in such a poorly coached side. I was extremely disappointed that no pride was shown in the jersey..

Well it is clear as the wrinkles on the back of my hands that you could put all of Hook's players in the reserves and still get thrashed if Aitken was the coach. Where is the depth of players that was boldly mentioned by all and sundry of the club? Where is the depth in the coaching ranks and who appointed these people? Where is the insight being used to determine what we truly need as a united club moving forward as St George Illawarra Dragons to be aspiring to reach the levels of rugby league similar to the best teams?

Where?

You know, there are a lot of people waiting for Tiger Woods to hit his first drive in the 2022 Masters. He might not win it or he might not make the cut but he is just an inspiration for sports players and fans of all classes of people around the world. He shows commitment and courage in adverse situations and that is the reason for his success in golf and life.

This is what the Dragons need to do - get everyone involved at the club to aspire and be inspired to achieve great results no matter what the circumstances are.

I rest my case.

 

[SAP58]

I have heard a number of times in interviews with players and the like that Hook does more of an overseeing role, giving overall direction & managing the players and leaves it to the assistant coaches (Gentle & Head) to run the training sessions etc. Well that has to change either he gets better assistant coaches including Aitken or he needs to get more involved and it probably is a combination of the two. The reserves have let in 180 points in the first four round and scored 34 totally unacceptable with a number of players with first grade experience. The clubs latest advice to members stated Hook was resigned as they believe he has the club heading in the right direction and wanted stability well he has a hell of a lot of work to do by the look of the current side(s). Looking at assistant coaches at other clubs they are of higher quality IMO than we have and I have asked before, is that where we are cost cutting ? If this is how Hook does things as a head coach he needs better quality assistants and that means the club has to spend more to get them.

 

[denis preston]

I have heard a number of times in interviews with players and the like that Hook does more of an overseeing role, giving overall direction & managing the players and leaves it to the assistant coaches (Gentle & Head) to run the training sessions etc. Well that has to change either he gets better assistant coaches including Aitken or he needs to get more involved and it probably is a combination of the two. The reserves have let in 180 points in the first four round and scored 34 totally unacceptable with a number of players with first grade experience. The clubs latest advice to members stated Hook was resigned as they believe he has the club heading in the right direction and wanted stability well he has a hell of a lot of work to do by the look of the current side(s). Looking at assistant coaches at other clubs they are of higher quality IMO than we have and I have asked before, is that where we are cost cutting ? If this is how Hook does things as a head coach he needs better quality assistants and that means the club has to spend more to get them.

Very good points. There's got to be something going on behind the scenes in reserve grade , surely ? With AC's ,only those at the club would know what they bring to the side but I notice that we have traditionally appointed local or ex players to these roles , is that working ? For the Dragons with Hook being out of coaching for a couple of years it is imperative he has very good AC's but has he ? O for the days when you had people like Ron Massey, Paul Broughton & Maxie Ninnis.

 

[Dragon David]

I have heard a number of times in interviews with players and the like that Hook does more of an overseeing role, giving overall direction & managing the players and leaves it to the assistant coaches (Gentle & Head) to run the training sessions etc. Well that has to change either he gets better assistant coaches including Aitken or he needs to get more involved and it probably is a combination of the two. The reserves have let in 180 points in the first four round and scored 34 totally unacceptable with a number of players with first grade experience. The clubs latest advice to members stated Hook was resigned as they believe he has the club heading in the right direction and wanted stability well he has a hell of a lot of work to do by the look of the current side(s). Looking at assistant coaches at other clubs they are of higher quality IMO than we have and I have asked before, is that where we are cost cutting ? If this is how Hook does things as a head coach he needs better quality assistants and that means the club has to spend more to get them.

I agree SAP58 Hook needs better quality assistants for firsts and a better coach in reserves. It is so obvious to me. He also needs to smarten himself up as well by taking the bull by the horn, or in our case the tail of the dragon and shouting some stern orders to all and sundry in both teams. What are the players' thinking? Some could be thinking why have I joined this club? Some just could be going through the motions which has been a common problem as far as I think. Where is the pride - seemed to have disappeared for many years and where is Mr Webb in all of this slackness?

 

[denis preston]

I agree SAP58 Hook needs better quality assistants for firsts and a better coach in reserves. It is so obvious to me. He also needs to smarten himself up as well by taking the bull by the horn, or in our case the tail of the dragon and shouting some stern orders to all and sundry in both teams. What are the players' thinking? Some could be thinking why have I joined this club? Some just could be going through the motions which has been a common problem as far as I think. Where is the pride - seemed to have disappeared for many years and where is Mr Webb in all of this slackness?

I'm sure Webby will keep his nose out of the team dynamics out of respect for the coach. Come mid season or later if things don't improve then he will. Remember part of Hook's brief was changing the culture so that's going to take time.

 

[justadragon]

I'm sure Webby will keep his nose out of the team dynamics out of respect for the coach. Come mid season or later if things don't improve then he will. Remember part of Hook's brief was changing the culture so that's going to take time.

I agree with all and sundry, one of the things I hate listening to during press conferences is Hook telling us how good the OTHER team was. Maybe it should be they looked good because of the way we played, not to mention in some cases we have played teams back into form.

 

[denis preston]

I agree with all and sundry, one of the things I hate listening to during press conferences is Hook telling us how good the OTHER team was. Maybe it should be they looked good because of the way we played, not to mention in some cases we have played teams back into form.

Parra & Sharks WERE red hot when they played us, don't you think ?

 

[justadragon]

Parra & Sharks WERE red hot when they played us, don't you think ?

No doubt, they were on fire, but the quote of "you are only as good as the other team lets you be" still rings a bell with me.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

Bring back Mary .......

Yes - Mary's input as a consultant for the Eels was obviously the main contributing factor to their demolition of the Dragons. He's a changed man. Seven years of destroying the Dragons was just the apprenticeship he had to serve for his consultancy roles with the Eels and the NSW Blues.
Damn, if I could only get this tongue of mine out of my cheek.

 

[Dragon David]

I'm sure Webby will keep his nose out of the team dynamics out of respect for the coach. Come mid season or later if things don't improve then he will. Remember part of Hook's brief was changing the culture so that's going to take time.

Fair enough denis.

 

[SAP58]

Parra & Sharks WERE red hot when they played us, don't you think ?

I stopped listening to press conferences when Mary dribbled on & on & on but I must admit no coach except those that cannot control their emotions will give much away straight after a loss.

 

[blacksafake]

Would love to see Neil Henry come on board as an assistant.

 

[BLM01]

I have heard a number of times in interviews with players and the like that Hook does more of an overseeing role, giving overall direction & managing the players and leaves it to the assistant coaches (Gentle & Head) to run the training sessions etc. Well that has to change either he gets better assistant coaches including Aitken or he needs to get more involved and it probably is a combination of the two. The reserves have let in 180 points in the first four round and scored 34 totally unacceptable with a number of players with first grade experience. The clubs latest advice to members stated Hook was resigned as they believe he has the club heading in the right direction and wanted stability well he has a hell of a lot of work to do by the look of the current side(s). Looking at assistant coaches at other clubs they are of higher quality IMO than we have and I have asked before, is that where we are cost cutting ? If this is how Hook does things as a head coach he needs better quality assistants and that means the club has to spend more to get them.

TBH..like 1st grade coaches, good assistants a few and far between and the ones that are good are locked up by the super clubs at the top of the table.
No different to 1st grade depth getting thin across the board and the 17th team wont help that either. As soon as a player has a sniff of not being picked in the top squads they are whisked away by their managers somewhere else in the world for a pay day.
That is one of the biggest problems we have for gaining that competition we seek in Aus where all teams have their good and bad times.
It is all about money and the ones with less input from ownership etc will stay down the bottom because the salary cap is not the perfect be all and end all that they trot it out to be.