Sack Adam O'Brien

[perverse]

He can't motivate them properly for a whole season, nor can he get them attacking until the season is nearly out of reach, nor can he attract talent to the club.

If we played like we have the past couple of weeks/end of last year all the time, then no-one would be complaining. The problem is, it all comes off the back of Kalyn. His game plan is "hold the fort until Kalyn wins us the game". It's very genius stuff, only a master tactician would come up with it.

 

[slotmachine]

When your halves are cogger and crossland, throw it to KP might be the best plan there is.

 

[Apey]

Wouldn't mind if we brought back "give Best the ball in the 20m zone". We've reverted to using him as a battering ram coming out of our own half.

 

[Woody90]

He can't motivate them properly for a whole season, nor can he get them attacking until the season is nearly out of reach, nor can he attract talent to the club.

I don’t really agree with this. To me I don’t think we’ve had any glaring attitude problems for a long time now, outside of a few isolated exceptions like DSaf but I’m not blaming AOB for not being able to motivate him as putting forwards on long-term large contracts usually leads to poor motivation for the individual player.

I think our bigger issue is that the spine is very weak - really good tactical coaches are able to come up with a game plan to get the best out of what they’ve got, but AOB either can’t, or doesn’t want to as it goes against his philosophy of attacking to set up your defence. Either we need a new spine, or a coach who’s happy to play to the strengths of what he’s got if we want to progress further IMO.

 

[Burwood]

His Post-match press conference where he discussed kicking tactics was interesting. I can understand the tactic and it definitely has its place, but not for 80min every match. The team has no ability to adapt its game plans mid match.

 

[Haffa]

He can't motivate them properly for a whole season, nor can he get them attacking until the season is nearly out of reach, nor can he attract talent to the club.

If we played like we have the past couple of weeks/end of last year all the time, then no-one would be complaining. The problem is, it all comes off the back of Kalyn. His game plan is "hold the fort until Kalyn wins us the game". It's very genius stuff, only a master tactician would come up with it.

Outside of the run at end of last year where he threw away the playbook, his best year was 2020 where he was able to control every detail of the players lives.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Yeah I don’t think the team lacks motivation, the effort has been fairly consistently good over the last 5 years with the occasional shocker thrown in (games against Manly and the Dogs this year stand out from that category) so I don’t think him being able to motivate the players or get them up for the fight is the problem.

We have one of the worst spines in the league, and if KP wasn’t there it would definitely be the worst. I think it’s pretty clear that the club recognises this hence we’ve tapped Brailey and Hastings on the shoulder now. I would say that last year was a bit of a false economy in a way because these guys all played their best football for a 10 week stretch (who knows, possibly the best football they’ll ever play) and then haven’t been able to pack it up this year.

Imo, AOB hasn’t done a bad job. It is infuriating how he tries to dumb down the tactics as much as he does at times but he’s got the right idea at least when it comes to the “DNA” of what he wants the side to be, and I think he’s been pretty clear about his messaging with that since he got here.

Ultimately we can compare him to the premiership winning coaches as much as we want but look at the spines that Bellamy, Robinson and Cleary have at their disposal it’s not even close. All three of those are bursting with talent and arguably several of those players will go onto be all time greats. We simply don’t have that outside of KP.

I’m of the opinion that if we can upgrade 2 out of those 3 other spine positions (preferably hooker and halfback) and can get a couple of guys in who are able to do their job to at least a strong NRL standard every week then we’re cooking with gas.

That’s what we’ve brought O’Sullivan in to do right?

 

[Yosh]

Yeah I don’t think the team lacks motivation, the effort has been fairly consistently good over the last 5 years with the occasional shocker thrown in (games against Manly and the Dogs this year stand out from that category) so I don’t think him being able to motivate the players or get them up for the fight is the problem.

We have one of the worst spines in the league, and if KP wasn’t there it would definitely be the worst. I think it’s pretty clear that the club recognises this hence we’ve tapped Brailey and Hastings on the shoulder now. I would say that last year was a bit of a false economy in a way because these guys all played their best football for a 10 week stretch (who knows, possibly the best football they’ll ever play) and then haven’t been able to pack it up this year.

Imo, AOB hasn’t done a bad job. It is infuriating how he tries to dumb down the tactics as much as he does at times but he’s got the right idea at least when it comes to the “DNA” of what he wants the side to be, and I think he’s been pretty clear about his messaging with that since he got here.

Ultimately we can compare him to the premiership winning coaches as much as we want but look at the spines that Bellamy, Robinson and Cleary have at their disposal it’s not even close. All three of those are bursting with talent and arguably several of those players will go onto be all time greats. We simply don’t have that outside of KP.

I’m of the opinion that if we can upgrade 2 out of those 3 other spine positions (preferably hooker and halfback) and can get a couple of guys in who are able to do their job to at least a strong NRL standard every week then we’re cooking with gas.

That’s what we’ve brought O’Sullivan in to do right?

It feels like O'Sullivan is already having an impact. Putting pressure on the lads to perform is getting the best out of them. I think it's clear to see right?

 

[Knight Tales]

If we go out week 1 I still think the club will have another look at their options.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

If we go out week 1 I still think the club will have another look at their options.

Maybe, depends on which options are out there…

 

[SamSepi0l]

If we go out week 1 I still think the club will have another look at their options.

He's not going anywhere. This kinda talk is just wish casting. Wish for a unicorn while you're at it.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

There would have to be a really good candidate out there for that to happen, and there’s not, so I can’t see it happening any time soon.

The club will be thinking they can improve the roster and that’s where the focus will be.

 

[Nuke]

Kevin Walters is likely to be available soon...



... and no, I'm certainly not encouraging THAT!

 

[Alex28]

If we go out week 1 I still think the club will have another look at their options.

There is zero chance this is happening…

However what options are out there?

And don’t say Maguire after he won an Origin with a squad no club could ever get and players only having to be around him for 3 games. He isn’t a good club coach across a season - the Tigers experience shows that.

Seriously - who are you punting AOB for after he has taken us on our most successful finals series run since the Joey era?

 

[SamSepi0l]

There are no good candidates.
No to Madge. No to Walters. Glad we missed Des.

Of the next up crop I'm curious on Hannay and Morris but not at the expense of AOB right now. Are we really that bored that this is getting dragged up?

 

[Yosh]

There's a lad who is always in the coach's box with AOB who is pretty good apparently.

 

[slotmachine]

It's not even about better options, Uncle Phil isn't going to pay out 3 years to AOB now he has met his contractual KPIs.

 

[Knight Tales]

Maybe, depends on which options are out there…

He’ll get next season but I think top 8 is minimum now.

There is zero chance this is happening…

However what options are out there?

And don’t say Maguire after he won an Origin with a squad no club could ever get and players only having to be around him for 3 games. He isn’t a good club coach across a season - the Tigers experience shows that.

Seriously - who are you punting AOB for after he has taken us on our most successful finals series run since the Joey era

Does not take much around this place to get people going. The board is split down the middle about the guy. It is not as clear cut as you want to believe.

 

[Woody90]

The only way they’ll consider moving him on early is if Ponga becomes disgruntled IMO…unlikely to happen though because he apparently likes AOB and would require him to have high care/stress levels about it enough to raise it which KP just doesn’t seem to have.

 

[Yosh]

To be fair to AOB, taking us to 4 top 8 finishes is pretty impressive considering we were bottom of the table fodder for years.

My issues with AOB mainly come from his negative style of play that was similar to the Storm a decade and a half ago. Overall thoughts on our style for me are

- We look great coming out of our own end. All back five players are getting us great metres with their carries especially Marzhew
- Middles are linking well with each other with short passes
- Forwards offloading the ball well now. We don't force it which is good but also look for second phase play when we're on the front foot
- Ponga is finally getting the ball. He doesn't just sweep around and wait for the ball anymore. Looks like we try to get him the ball a couple of times every set at dummy half, at first receiver, out wide etc. This is great
- Kicking game is worlds better since Crossland and Cogger became our halves. I wish we would challenge more on kicks but we are doing it a little at least
- We still look clunky in the opposition red zone. Thank goodness we have Ponga who can conjour up magic
- Our completion rate is super
- Forward rotation looks spot on

Hopefully we can win a game or two in the finals and carry this positive style into next season.