What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Sack Adam O'Brien

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201
Apparently we spent all season 'tackling'. Not focusing on 'defence' but 'tackling'. Isn't that what under 12s do?
The Cowboys said all they did this off-season was tackle and it's worked a treat for them. Perhaps different intensities and standards between the clubs.

197-28 in the last 5 home games. I'm so glad his main focus is defence...
Last 5 home games we've lost 39.2 - 5.6 on average. In what world is that acceptable, no matter what the circumstances or excuses there are?

Imagine 20,000 turning up each week to only watch us score 1 converted try each time... And then concede 6+ tries. f**king brilliant.
 
Last edited:

Mr_Knightside

Juniors
Messages
2,383
Whilst I don’t like where we are as a club right now I don’t like the idea of firing AOB and hiring a new coach unless it’s a serious upgrade and I’m not convinced that there’s an option out there right now that’s really kicking the door down.

Also there’s plenty of data to suggest that clubs that fire/hire coaches every few years don’t get very far. The Tigers, Warriors, Bulldogs & Titans have all had several coaching changes over the last 5-10 years and are arguably worse now than what they were before their most recent coach got there.

The other thing to consider is that we’re clearly looking to reshape the roster. Elliott, Hetherington and the two young English guys will improve the roster for sure. I just hope we get the two English guys for 2023. Imo they’ve gotta give AOB a chance with an improved roster next year. If he can’t improve the performances from there then he’s gone. I’m not convinced that anyone outside of the top 3-4 coaches could have done that much with our 2022 team, especially with the injuries we have had.

I’m as pissed off as everyone else is right now but I just think we need to play the long game and I’m not convinced that firing AOB right now will do much at all.
 

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201
I get what you're saying @Mr_Knightside but outside the first 2 rounds this year there's no indications we're moving forward and improving on the field.

Our style of play/structures has been bottom of the barrel stuff for years. How long do we keep AOB for before we say ok this isn't working?

The ONLY thing saving AOB is we have Brailey to come back and there's potential there he tightens a lot of our play up. Even then though we never had a good enough back-up in place and that sits with AOB too.

So yeah I get what you're saying but man I'm sick of it. Especially when you see what Todd Peyton has done. Rookie coach has a rough first year but he sets things how he wants them and now is reaping the rewards. The Broncos also have turned things around nicely this year too.

Fine line between waiting for things to turn and moving on when you realise nothing is changing or improving.
 
Messages
2,093
Also there’s plenty of data to suggest that clubs that fire/hire coaches every few years don’t get very far. The Tigers, Warriors, Bulldogs & Titans have all had several coaching changes over the last 5-10 years and are arguably worse now than what they were before their most recent coach got there.
This is 1000% true and cannot be overstated
 

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,703
Right... So is the argument that we're better off sticking with a dud coach for 10 years and failing than trying to fix the issue?

A very strong contributing factor for successful clubs having the luxury of stability is that they have good coaches that are worth hanging onto. It's also a false argument. Cowboys have a new coach, they're going alright. Broncos have a new coach and seem to be doing fine. Sharks, doing ok. Let's worry about even getting that level of success before even considering being a club like Melbourne or the Roosters.
 

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201
I mean, that's just a logical fallacy. Of course the good clubs with good coaches aren't sacking their coaches. Why would they?

Sticking with a problem is not the answer.
Yep. Go through some of the new coaches.

Cowboys - New coach - 1 year of crap and turned things around super quick
Broncos - New coach - terrible first year but back to playing good consistently
Sharks - New coach - Appears to have elevated them to another level this year

It doesn't always work, but these clubs identified something wasn't working and brought in new coaches, along with some astute signings and are now seeing very early dividends.
 

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201
I also want to point out that the Cowboys were seen as wooden spoon contenders by many this year.

As it turns out, they have some talent and Todd is getting the best out of them. They have structures in place and every player seems to know their role and requirements to contribute to the team.

So I don't want to hear they have better talent. We have bloody Ponga! We have Best who is meant to be a Ferrari but is yet to see the highway.

We are capable of getting much better out of our current squad and I do believe coaching is what's holding us back.

Or it's just the Newcastle lifestyle where they get too comfortable here and that's a hard thing to break out of.

We really need a hard bastard that says take it or leave it to come in next. It might mean more pain but it needs to be done. I'd kill to have 2007 Brian Smith back here.
 

Sir Galahad

Juniors
Messages
719
I do believe coaching is what's holding us back.

Or it's just the Newcastle lifestyle where they get too comfortable here and that's a hard thing to break out of.
the buck stops with the coach.

In what world do you reward players like DSaf with his woeful efforts by selecting him the next week ? What message does that send to the team and what culture does it create?

When we are a winning team he mentions we have X,Y and Z player to return yet- What message does that send to the squad? Positions are guaranteed and not earned.

AOB has nurtured a losing culture of his own making and will at the end of the day reap the rewards.
 

Latest posts

Top