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

Burwood

Bench
Messages
4,990
I think our biggest problem has been squad management, not coaching. Having a quality 9 in our team right now would make a huge difference to onfield performances. Our depth across multiple positions is terrible. Highly paid players are not living up to their contract value. Talented juniors are not reaching their potential at the club. That should not only fall on O’Brien.

My hope is that Parr and co. can improve the squad between now and next season and onfield performances will reflect this.
 

Mr_Knightside

Juniors
Messages
2,377
Raiders went: 15th, 10th, 2nd
Eels went: 10th, 12th, 14th*, 4th
* were actually 8th but had points stripped for salary cap cheating

Knights will end up: 7th, 7th, 14th, ?

So with Ricky and Arthur you can see they were improving, and by year 4 were a genuine top 4 side.
Doesn't apply to the knights under AOB IMO.
Pretty sure the Eels won the spoon not long after that top 4 finish…
 

Apey

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
28,279
Raiders went: 15th, 10th, 2nd
Eels went: 10th, 12th, 14th*, 4th
* were actually 8th but had points stripped for salary cap cheating

Knights will end up: 7th, 7th, 14th, ?

So with Ricky and Arthur you can see they were improving, and by year 4 were a genuine top 4 side.
Doesn't apply to the knights under AOB IMO.
I'd be surprised if we finish above 12th this year.

Panthers (A)
Dogs (A)
BYE
Tigers (H)
Storm (H)
Raiders (A)
Dolphins (A)
Dogs (H)
Souths (H)
Sharks (H)
Dragons (A)

Little to no chance - Panthers, Storm, Souths, Sharks
Could go either way - Raiders, Dolphins
Best chances to win - Dogs x2, Tigers, Dragons
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,942
Yes so much change is terrible for a club. Let's stick with AOB because we know we will consistently finish bottom 4 every year for the foreseeable future. Thank you.
 

Old School

Juniors
Messages
47
Totally agree Yosh, nothing changes & we will all be just as depressed this time next year & the same people will be sticking up for him. O`Brien has had ample opportunity to do something with the squad, how many years does he need? Virtually no one has improved, it couldn`t get much worse, why not lob in a grenade & shake the joint up a bit.
Too many soft, lazy types who couldn`t give a bugger, for my liking.
 

Knight Tales

Bench
Messages
3,024
Not demanding success as a fanbase will forever be our downfall. Tinkler’s reign was where things started to feel like that was about to change and winning would become expectation. Cos Tinkler demanded it.His infamous blow up after Bennett’s debut game in the sheds was a moment we should have bottled. He was actually closer to most of us in this forum than the average Knights fan.
 

aqua_duck

Coach
Messages
18,636
From memory though didn’t they have a couple of bad years under Ricky before that 2nd place finish? And Arthur definitely got a spoon at some point which is normally enough to get a coach sacked, seems like the club’s decision to back him paid dividends.
That wooden spoon was sandwiched between a top 4 finish the previous year and 5th the following year so context is crucial there.
For me a coach’s 1st few years the results aren’t always the best tell, many are inheriting bad or aging rosters, bad contracts, salary cap mess, poor culture, etc. What is important during those years is some semblance of improvement, doesn’t necessarily have to be on the scoreboard, could be in terms of roster building, new style of play, etc. This was particularly evident during Brian Smith’s tenure with us, the results weren’t good but you could see a light at the end of the darkness. If the results aren’t improving or in decline after the first few years that’s when you get worried, by then everyone on the roster has been signed or re-signed under the current coach, the identity of the team starts to resemble the identity of the coach. By then you can’t say it’s not the coach it’s the players because those are the players the coach wanted
 

Nuke

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
5,389
Not demanding success as a fanbase will forever be our downfall. Tinkler’s reign was where things started to feel like that was about to change and winning would become expectation. Cos Tinkler demanded it.His infamous blow up after Bennett’s debut game in the sheds was a moment we should have bottled. He was actually closer to most of us in this forum than the average Knights fan.
I'm not familiar with this story. What happened?
This is the golden point loss to the Dragons in Newcastle, yeah?
That was, I think, the last Knights game I've been to, so was in Newcastle then. I don't recall hearing about it.
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,942
Unless we are in negotiations with Slater. I'd throw the bank and then come at Slater. He can do whatever he wants. Head Coach Slater and two assistants JT and Josh Hannah. Tormented us for years as a QLDer, please do us a favor mate.
 

Knight Tales

Bench
Messages
3,024
I'm not familiar with this story. What happened?
This is the golden point loss to the Dragons in Newcastle, yeah?
That was, I think, the last Knights game I've been to, so was in Newcastle then. I don't recall hearing about it.
Tinkler was very good at damage control for awhile and news out of the place was very select. I thought this was common knowledge! A close relative of a then player told me the story. It may have been mentioned in an article but I do not recall. All thing considered it is really not a big deal. He owned them. His right I guess.
 
Last edited:

Apey

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
28,279
We are biding our time, forget proven coaches, we are waiting for the next Bellamy assistant. #Ryles2025
 

Knight Tales

Bench
Messages
3,024
Hasler was our last experienced good option. And now he is gone. Watch GC win a premiership in the next three years. Cos the usual big spending he does is already done for him. Hunt surely was told about this. Everyone bangs on about morals, history etc. around here and coach choices. Watch Dragons and GC go to another level. Every Club but ours has a coach of some actual earned reputation now. Siebs is arguable but he was a Dally M winner. Ciraldo needs more time.
Titans-Hasler
Dolphins - Wayne
Broncos - Kevvie
Parra - Arthur
Souths - Demetriou
Warriors - Webster
Dragons - Flanno
Canberra - Sticky
Bulldogs - Ciraldo
Tigers - Sheens
Storm - Belly
Panther - Ivan
Cowboys - Payten
Manly - Siebold
Sharks - Fitzy
Roosters - Robbo
Us - I’ve been involved in four premierships.

well Ten of the above have been to GFs as HC. And 8 have actually won one at least.
 
Last edited:

ryan.a87

Juniors
Messages
813
Saw a stat the other day that only three coaches in history have won a premiership at different clubs

so I guess there is some logic at not going for a proven winner, but trying to find the next up and comer coach
 

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,700
Saw a stat the other day that only three coaches in history have won a premiership at different clubs

so I guess there is some logic at not going for a proven winner, but trying to find the next up and comer coach
I'm not even demanding a premiership at this point. Someone who can at least steer the ship back in the right direction would be adequate. I think it's a ridiculous stat to bring up in our situation really.

Is there a stat for coaches that have made a grand final at 2 different clubs? Or even week 2 of the finals at 2 different clubs?
 

Latest posts

Top