Johnson and Tomkins are trying their best, but nobody is paying attention. The Warriors culture, with this playing group, does not perform well with a 'lead by example' type model. E.g. Mannering, Matulino, Vatuvei. Those players, as leaders, are severely lacking. Great individual, performers. But lacking as leaders as a senior group.
I also however think that our young guys and senior guys don't react well to being 'talked at'. This needs to change.
Earlier in the season, it seemed to me that the younger guys looked taken aback by Townsends yapping and direction. They need to get over this. Guys like Johnson Tomkins and Townsend need to be the senior leaders for this team. If the younger and older guys can't get on board with being bossed around, then they need to f**k off.
We are never going to turn into a consistent top 8 let alone top 4 team unless we can develop a strong onfield leadership group. At the moment it looks like this isn't been allowed to happen.
Why it isn't is another story entirely.
We were comprehensively outplayed by a much more professional and mentally stronger team. Refs had nothing to do with it.
This post Mirrors my own thinking.
Personally I hope they try the Model what they did with Price and Campion and make the outsider the New Captain signalling a new direction and changing the command structure.
If Not Hoffman then Sam Tomkins. Someone that's articulate basically and that will be able to talk specific tactics with players during games instead of someone that can only parrot coaching phrases like ' stick to our processes'.
I also think that Shaun Johnson should be made Vice Captain, the only reason not to put him in the lead right off is to be careful with his headspace long term.
Simons a great player in defence. He's an admirable person and symbolises what we want from this team.
But why would having a lead by example person in charge be enough in of itself in the team that bludged off Michael Luck and Nathan freind..... plus Simon Mannerings defensive efforts...whilst never stepping into that mold themselves.
This team do not need pack horses in charge carrying them. They need an experienced voice, experienced in winning.
On a side note Our forwards got killed tonight, they got cut down before the advantage line.
That problem was unfortunately generated by our dummy half service which was appalling.
