Sack Adam O'Brien

[Woody90]

I still think our errors and always losing possession this year has been a bigger problem than is stated. It’s hard to have any energy to do anything in attack when all of your energy is zapped from having to repeatedly defend your line, and that’s how I’d describe our “attack”…lethargic.

The errors are a new problem this year though and to me is a mental thing. The coach obviously needs to have responsibility in that as it’s not just 1 player hurting us, it’s a whole squad, especially the backs, suddenly being incapable of holding the ball. Some players like Leo for example have suddenly become very ill disciplined too which doesn’t help with the possession. I think I read that was his 5th crusher tackle for the year on Friday hence the lengthy suspension.

 

[SamSepi0l]

I still think our errors and always losing possession this year has been a bigger problem than is stated. It’s hard to have any energy to do anything in attack when all of your energy is zapped from having to repeatedly defend your line, and that’s how I’d describe our “attack”…lethargic.

The errors are a new problem this year though and to me is a mental thing. The coach obviously needs to have responsibility in that as it’s not just 1 player hurting us, it’s a whole squad, especially the backs, suddenly being incapable of holding the ball. Some players like Leo for example have suddenly become very ill disciplined too which doesn’t help with the possession. I think I read that was his 5th crusher tackle for the year on Friday hence the lengthy suspension.

100%.

This 2025 team in particular are playing tired and almost just defeated and part of it is down to roster imo. We decided to clean it up with POS and as a result had to just kind of punt on this year.
Part of the problem with that is NRL is one of the few sporting competitions in the world where teams can't just be bad according to the media/fans without drastic action.

 

[Woody90]

100%.

This 2025 team in particular are playing tired and almost just defeated and part of it is down to roster imo. We decided to clean it up with POS and as a result had to just kind of punt on this year.
Part of the problem with that is NRL is one of the few sporting competitions in the world where teams can't just be bad according to the media/fans without drastic action.

I think fans/the media would be more ok with having to have some shit years for a rebuild if we’d previously had some success that we needed to rebuild from. For 2 decades now we’ve been in a constant loop of rebuilding after making dumb recruitment decisions. I think that’s why I’m OK reserving judgement and waiting to see what POS’ plans are for the team before I make a snap judgement out of current fear because at least it’s different to what we’ve done in the past. It’s still shit having to sit through another few years of guaranteed shitness though after years and years of that.

It’s not AOB’s fault that we’re here, I think he’s probably done as well as could be expected with the roster, but he’s obviously out of ideas to improve things. I’m not expecting any coach to perform miracles with what he has access to squad wise at the moment, but he’s obviously out of ideas to improve what he does have. Sitting through a rebuild is inevitable, but a fresh coaching perspective while we’re going through it might be just what the likes of Lucas, Best, Sharpe, etc. need to keep improving and happy at the club while we’re doing it.

 

[Nuke]

I think fans/the media would be more ok with having to have some shit years for a rebuild if we’d previously had some success that we needed to rebuild from. For 2 decades now we’ve been in a constant loop of rebuilding after making dumb recruitment decisions. I think that’s why I’m OK reserving judgement and waiting to see what POS’ plans are for the team before I make a snap judgement out of current fear because at least it’s different to what we’ve done in the past. It’s still shit having to sit through another few years of guaranteed shitness though after years and years of that.

It’s not AOB’s fault that we’re here, I think he’s probably done as well as could be expected with the roster, but he’s obviously out of ideas to improve things. I’m not expecting any coach to perform miracles with what he has access to squad wise at the moment, but he’s obviously out of ideas to improve what he does have. Sitting through a rebuild is inevitable, but a fresh coaching perspective while we’re going through it might be just what the likes of Lucas, Best, Sharpe, etc. need to keep improving and happy at the club while we’re doing it.

I think that last sentence is where I'm at in this situation.

I feel we need new ideas, new gameplans, maybe new training, ect. If that's AOB who can bring them, great. If it's not, get someone in who can. But whoever it is, change things up a bit, because what we are seeing currently is stale, uninspiring, and predictable.

 

[Knight Tales]

If we replace AOB it will be very interesting to see how our defence holds up next year. I believe it may regress. And TBH I am not certain we should be ok with that. It is pretty clear he wants this to be the bar we set. Defence above all else. He wants resilience. We have wanted it for decades. Truth is he has actually got us there.

And he is clearly hoping Brown unlocks the attack next year. This season is done barring a miracle anyway. The injuries are beyond unfair to him. And while yes they are excuses, he was always banking on his top squad being fit to make the 8 this year. He has to wear their lack of performance though. And also why it has crashed so badly.

It is simply a case of what sacrifices this club are brave enough to make. Does he stay or does he go? And where is the guarantee it won’t get worse? The one thing AOB has done is bring this side together as a band of brothers. They will be pretty shattered if he sacked IMO.

 

[SamSepi0l]

Brown will be the best player we've had in the halves in god knows how long? Given age etc is he the best player we've had in the halves since Joey? Better than Mullen, arguably better than end of career Pearce.

I also don't necessarily subscribe to the idea of AOB's out of ideas. I think he's unwilling to just throw the towel in and play for variance as a bandaid that undermines long term structures. Makes it shit to watch but I get it.

 

[mozza91]

Brown will be the best player we've had in the halves in god knows how long.

Short memory bruh. What about premiership winner and noted straightener Jack Cogger?

 

[SamSepi0l]

Short memory bruh. What about premiership winner and noted straightener Jack Cogger?

I was having a good day prior to this.

 

[ryan.a87]

I have a bad feeling that Brown is going to fall into the same camp of Pearce and Hodkinson

Both times we were crying out for a half, we sign a high quality rep half, and they fail to deliver

 

[SamSepi0l]

I have a bad feeling that Brown is going to fall into the same camp of Pearce and Hodkinson

Both times we were crying out for a half, we sign a high quality rep half, and they fail to deliver

He's already better than both. I'd be open to that discussion if he suffers the mandatory critical injury before arriving though.

 

[Yosh]

Mullen was near the best half in the game for a season or two.

Worried about Brown. We have too many supporting acts who are getting paid to be the main star. We need a Kobe or a Jordan but got too many Pippens and Pau Gasols...

 

[mozza91]

I have a bad feeling that Brown is going to fall into the same camp of Pearce and Hodkinson

Both times we were crying out for a half, we sign a high quality rep half, and they fail to deliver

Brown is younger and less worn out than the other 2. Hodkinson was basically crippled by the time he arrived.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Mullen was near the best half in the game for a season or two.

haha no, no he most certainly was not

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Brown is younger and less worn out than the other 2. Hodkinson was basically crippled by the time he arrived.

Apparently he does have an ACL thats barely holding on....

 

[mozza91]

Apparently he does have an ACL thats barely holding on....

Dang. That’s makes him a very Knights signing.

 

[Apey]

Mullen was near the best half in the game for a season or two.

Not the best but I think people forget how good he could be. Shame he was a mental midget. The whole origin thing didn't help.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Mullen was just Luke Brooks before there was a Luke Brooks

 

[Apey]

Mullen was just Luke Brooks before there was a Luke Brooks

Exhibit A

 

[mozza91]

Mullen was just Luke Brooks before there was a Luke Brooks

He was a better footballer than Brooks. Way better kicking game especially.

 

[Woody90]

I have a bad feeling that Brown is going to fall into the same camp of Pearce and Hodkinson

Both times we were crying out for a half, we sign a high quality rep half, and they fail to deliver

I’d give an organ for a Pearce level half at the moment…as is the current state of affairs.