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

PhilGould

Bench
Messages
3,469
There's speculation that Brad Arthur has been shopped around to another club despite still having a year to go on his contract. No link to us so far but he and Des Hasler were the 2 I floated as options I could see the club throwing money at if they want a more experienced/proven coach, and now it seems like he's available.
 

ryan.a87

Juniors
Messages
813
There's speculation that Brad Arthur has been shopped around to another club despite still having a year to go on his contract. No link to us so far but he and Des Hasler were the 2 I floated as options I could see the club throwing money at if they want a more experienced/proven coach, and now it seems like he's available.
Article I saw said “Sydney based club” and then hinted that Griffin could be given the boot from dragons
 

macavity

Referee
Messages
20,648
There's speculation that Brad Arthur has been shopped around to another club despite still having a year to go on his contract. No link to us so far but he and Des Hasler were the 2 I floated as options I could see the club throwing money at if they want a more experienced/proven coach, and now it seems like he's available.

mates with O’Brien. No one is going for their mates job.

he won’t be sacked this year, maybe mid year next year.
 

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201

Not to over think it but I find it a little distressing that AOB is thinking short term rather than long term.

It's mostly because I can picture it now; he has 6 or so weeks to play the spine which at this stage is our likely 2023 spine, and then next year will roll around and we'll lose round 1 and he'll say this was our spine's first game together.

Someone please bookmark this to re-visit in March.
 

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,700

Not to over think it but I find it a little distressing that AOB is thinking short term rather than long term.

It's mostly because I can picture it now; he has 6 or so weeks to play the spine which at this stage is our likely 2023 spine, and then next year will roll around and we'll lose round 1 and he'll say this was our spine's first game together.

Someone please bookmark this to re-visit in March.
If you wanted to be really generous, you could say he's trying to boost morale going into the next pre-season by getting some wins on the board.

I'm not that generous personally, but if I were him talking to my boss, it's the argument I would make.
 

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201
If you wanted to be really generous, you could say he's trying to boost morale going into the next pre-season by getting some wins on the board.

I'm not that generous personally, but if I were him talking to my boss, it's the argument I would make.
Exactly and I get that. That's why I don't want to hammer home the point I made.

To be fair I actually like what he said the remainder of the conference. Just hope he holds his end of the bargain re: players earning their jerseys.

He had a bit of a different attitude to him which I guess a healthy club enables him to have now.
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,943

Wish we could have Joey around all the them just giving hell to our players all the time. That's the job I'd sign him up for. Full time just sticking to the lads.
 

Knight Tales

Bench
Messages
3,024
I don't know who should be our coach but I've seen more than enough to know AOB isn't the answer
I’d take a serious look at Steve McNamara. Has a lot of the qualities that Mal Reilly had and would not cop this shit. What he has done with Le Catalans has been nothing short of monumental. He is very popular with players too.
 

aqua_duck

Coach
Messages
18,636
I’d take a serious look at Steve McNamara. Has a lot of the qualities that Mal Reilly had and would not cop this shit. What he has done with Le Catalans has been nothing short of monumental. He is very popular with players too.
He couldn't be worse than AOB
 

Mr Angry

Not a Referee
Messages
51,816
I have been on this train for quite some time, Jayden is getting worse.

Cut the guy FFS.

What do have to lose by 88 before they realise (powers that be).

Dude is a dud. Does not matter who is next, this guy has to go.
 

Bdubs

Juniors
Messages
142
This is the first time i've posted, sorry its a really long one as well

I have grown increasing frustrated with our team and need to vent,
- Basically our coach can't coach, there is no game plan, we no attacking structure (we did under Brownie, but not any more), it is all one out running without any support and we are the unfittest team in the NRL.
- Also how hard is it to defend. Defence doesn't take talent, it takes effort, which most of our side lacks. There is very little repeat effort either and other teams have worked that out, thats why they keep going back to where they just came from cause we clock off
- The majority of the side are mental midgets, as soon as something goes against them they go to water
- our recruitment is disgraceful. There is almost no depth in the club and not enough first grade standard players.

This is tonights team?
1 Ponga - first grader, unfortunately is getting far too many head knocks and it is now becoming an issue for his health in my opinion
2 Hunt - reserve grader, is more a centre than a winger, but is also a solid back up, not first choice starter
3 Tuala - reserve grader, is a winger, but he keeps getting picked at centre where he can't defend at all. Drop him and give a young kid a go to evaluate them
4 Gagai - first grader, just getting frustrated and trying too hard
5 Lee - not here next year
6 Milford - not here next year
7 Clune - reserve grader, unfortunately Pearce screwed us and left once all other halves had moved and left us without anyone
8 Klemmer - first grader, been really good for us every week
9 Brailey - first grader, just injury prone the poor bugger
10 D Safiti - first grader, just not consistant. Drifts in and out of the game
11 Frizzell - first grader, just been carrying injuries all season, but tries his butt off every week
12 Fitzgibbon - is absolutely terrible, should not be anywhere near first grade, we are better playing with 12 then haing him on the field. He has poor ball skills, is slow, can't seem to read the play and is lazy. Always is the last one back in defence and is basically walking to get back leaving holes in the defence. Basically he is an oxygen thief
13 Barnett - not here next year, but he is a second rower, not a lock
14 J Safiti - first grader, very similar to his brother, needs to run hard and get involved in the game, he did it in origin
15 Saulo - fringe first grade, needs more oportunities
16 Jones - reserve grader, good to fill in first grade when injuries occur
17 Crosslands - should be no where nere first grade, speed of first grade is too fast for him. His skills are not of first grade ability

Other players used reguarly in first grade this year:
18 Young - first grader, needs to work on his defence, but been really good this year otherwise
19 Best - first grader, needs to work on his defence, but the guy is made of glass, is injured more than Mad Dog use to be
20 Thompson - fringe first grader, been progressing well, needs more game time
21 Mann - reserve grader, good to fill in for injuries only
22 Croker - fringe first grader, needs more game time to develop
23 Randall - reserve grader, good to fill in for injuries for a couple of weeks, not over half the season

We need to test what we have in the club for the rest of the season to see if they might be worth keeping. That way we can get rid of the dead wood and start getting some more depth in the club to put pressure on the first grade guys so that don't get too comfortable. So they have to earn their position, not feel entitled to it because there is no pressure from other players

Basically our recruitment has been terrible since O'Brien rocked up. Don't know who is the ultimate one to blame for this but we have players on too much money and guys with contracts that shouldn't have one. How do you give Musgrove a 2 year contract for example

Currently our best 2023 team would be?
1 Ponga
2 Young
3 Best
4 Gagai
5 ???
6 ???
7 ???
8 Klemmer
9 Brailey
10 D Safiti
11 Frizzell
12 Hetherington
13 Elliott
14 Sasagi
15 J Safiti
16 Croker
17 Thompson
18 Saulo coach - Flanagan

So there is alot of positions that need to be filled in the squad and i know there are guys with contracts for next year eg Mann, but we should be trying to offload them to other clubs or superleague. We need to stopgoing for the marque players, they are not coming here or we will have to blow our slary cap out of whack to get them, resulting in us not having any depth when injuries occur. Start looking for quality depth players fromclubs that are over stocked and may have cap trouble.

Possible players: no idea if they are contracted, but hey contracts don't mean much these days
Oates Russell Schneider Lam Miller Murchie
Pereira Kurt Falls Timoko Brad Parker Ikuvalu Otukolo
Hoeter Turuva Valemei Kurt De Luis Pezet Hastings
Niu Geyer Harawira-Naera Trindall Brimson or Sexton Talau
Hosking Peoples Keighran Tracey Eliesa Katoa Fa'amanu Brown
Kepaoa
 

Knight Tales

Bench
Messages
3,024
This is the first time i've posted, sorry its a really long one as well

I have grown increasing frustrated with our team and need to vent,
- Basically our coach can't coach, there is no game plan, we no attacking structure (we did under Brownie, but not any more), it is all one out running without any support and we are the unfittest team in the NRL.
- Also how hard is it to defend. Defence doesn't take talent, it takes effort, which most of our side lacks. There is very little repeat effort either and other teams have worked that out, thats why they keep going back to where they just came from cause we clock off
- The majority of the side are mental midgets, as soon as something goes against them they go to water
- our recruitment is disgraceful. There is almost no depth in the club and not enough first grade standard players.

This is tonights team?
1 Ponga - first grader, unfortunately is getting far too many head knocks and it is now becoming an issue for his health in my opinion
2 Hunt - reserve grader, is more a centre than a winger, but is also a solid back up, not first choice starter
3 Tuala - reserve grader, is a winger, but he keeps getting picked at centre where he can't defend at all. Drop him and give a young kid a go to evaluate them
4 Gagai - first grader, just getting frustrated and trying too hard
5 Lee - not here next year
6 Milford - not here next year
7 Clune - reserve grader, unfortunately Pearce screwed us and left once all other halves had moved and left us without anyone
8 Klemmer - first grader, been really good for us every week
9 Brailey - first grader, just injury prone the poor bugger
10 D Safiti - first grader, just not consistant. Drifts in and out of the game
11 Frizzell - first grader, just been carrying injuries all season, but tries his butt off every week
12 Fitzgibbon - is absolutely terrible, should not be anywhere near first grade, we are better playing with 12 then haing him on the field. He has poor ball skills, is slow, can't seem to read the play and is lazy. Always is the last one back in defence and is basically walking to get back leaving holes in the defence. Basically he is an oxygen thief
13 Barnett - not here next year, but he is a second rower, not a lock
14 J Safiti - first grader, very similar to his brother, needs to run hard and get involved in the game, he did it in origin
15 Saulo - fringe first grade, needs more oportunities
16 Jones - reserve grader, good to fill in first grade when injuries occur
17 Crosslands - should be no where nere first grade, speed of first grade is too fast for him. His skills are not of first grade ability

Other players used reguarly in first grade this year:
18 Young - first grader, needs to work on his defence, but been really good this year otherwise
19 Best - first grader, needs to work on his defence, but the guy is made of glass, is injured more than Mad Dog use to be
20 Thompson - fringe first grader, been progressing well, needs more game time
21 Mann - reserve grader, good to fill in for injuries only
22 Croker - fringe first grader, needs more game time to develop
23 Randall - reserve grader, good to fill in for injuries for a couple of weeks, not over half the season

We need to test what we have in the club for the rest of the season to see if they might be worth keeping. That way we can get rid of the dead wood and start getting some more depth in the club to put pressure on the first grade guys so that don't get too comfortable. So they have to earn their position, not feel entitled to it because there is no pressure from other players

Basically our recruitment has been terrible since O'Brien rocked up. Don't know who is the ultimate one to blame for this but we have players on too much money and guys with contracts that shouldn't have one. How do you give Musgrove a 2 year contract for example

Currently our best 2023 team would be?
1 Ponga
2 Young
3 Best
4 Gagai
5 ???
6 ???
7 ???
8 Klemmer
9 Brailey
10 D Safiti
11 Frizzell
12 Hetherington
13 Elliott
14 Sasagi
15 J Safiti
16 Croker
17 Thompson
18 Saulo coach - Flanagan

So there is alot of positions that need to be filled in the squad and i know there are guys with contracts for next year eg Mann, but we should be trying to offload them to other clubs or superleague. We need to stopgoing for the marque players, they are not coming here or we will have to blow our slary cap out of whack to get them, resulting in us not having any depth when injuries occur. Start looking for quality depth players fromclubs that are over stocked and may have cap trouble.

Possible players: no idea if they are contracted, but hey contracts don't mean much these days
Oates Russell Schneider Lam Miller Murchie
Pereira Kurt Falls Timoko Brad Parker Ikuvalu Otukolo
Hoeter Turuva Valemei Kurt De Luis Pezet Hastings
Niu Geyer Harawira-Naera Trindall Brimson or Sexton Talau
Hosking Peoples Keighran Tracey Eliesa Katoa Fa'amanu Brown
Kepaoa
Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
 

Allstar Knights

Juniors
Messages
2,199
AOB just said he was happy with Phoenix and the spark he added to the team tonight.

View attachment 64019
Drew and passed well a few times down a blind side/right edge which was pretty awful and backed up on a break for a try. Can't really fault the guy tonight, but that really isn't anything out of the ordinary and what should be the basic requirements for any NRL half. What else did he do tonight?
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top