You know what shits me? The argument that a great group of players could essentially do well even with no coach, and that our crop are doing all of this on their own.
Mary has proven himself incompetent in several areas over the years, but fmd some people here have absolutely zero perspective in how a footy team is run. It boggles the mind to see some try to pass off their hate-boner for Mary by saying "Yeah they're doing well but anybody could have done that with this group".
First of all, it's plain as day in the sheds when you see the players in the sheds talking to Mary. He is coaching a lot of what is making this side successful whether people like it or not. He was in a deep discussion with Ben Hunt last night that looked exactly like a player listening to and learning off his coach.
Secondly, I know Mary is not a recruitment manager, but he was instrumental in bringing Hunt to the club. Repeated meetings with Hunt throughout the year, both before and after he signed. Same goes for Graham, who mentioned he signed after a conversation with Mary in an interview last year. And the way he has utilised Hunt in this team has certainly shown up the "Master coach".
I should stop entering this thread because it always make me look like some massive Mary fan, but I'm really not. If we miss the 8 he should be sacked on the spot, 3 drop offs in 4 years will be impossible to come back from for him. But at least I can put aside any preconceptions I have and at least try to be objective. Mary is coaching better and smarter in 2018 than in 2017, we are a layered team with multiple plays and options, and reasonable depth. I am excited to see how we handle Origin and Denver test periods, as that will be Marys most important period as a coach so far.
I just hope that if we continue to do well, some people give him more credit. And if we don't, resume regular programming!
