Wayne Bennett and future coach talk

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/terry-mattersons-knight-move/

Wayne has encouraged club to pick Matterson as his successor. Let's hope the Joey thing is assistant coach but we know his media career won't allow that.

Dont worry, there are enough grains for everyone....

 

[Newie is God's Country]

My concern is Wayne's track record with picking successors is terrible. I rate Matterson but maybe it is a curse.

 

[Noname36]

Brett Finch was glowing in his praise of Matterson on the Roast today (and he has played under a lot of coaches), but if Bennett has suggested him I'd be very hesitant given his bad track record of suggestions in the past of Henjak and Price.

Not sure I'd want Joey on the coaching staff either. He was pretty much a dud here. I know he's had success at Manly but it wouldn't be hard to work with DCE and Foran.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Jeezus not Joey. Club legend and all but a proven dud of a coach and his influence amongst playing groups is pretty cancerous

His stint at Manly being the exception

 

[perverse]

We do need blokes around the club that understand the responsibility of being a player for the Knights, and to bring pride back to the jersey. Someone who won't let people get away with a performance like today. For all Joeys faults, he was one of our most passionate, and was never afraid to give someone a serve when they needed it.

That said I don't think he can coach, although DCE and Foran continue to go from strength to strength, so he's at least not doing them any harm.

 

[Nuffy]

We need to rebuild the culture of the place and reinforce the importance of playing for the knights.

The club needs more blokes like Joey around the place for the reasons outlined by Perv.

We need blokes like Joey, Bedsy, Simmo and BK to build an expectation in the playing group.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Joeys presence alone would be a massive boost at any training session now his been out of the fold for a while.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Couldnt disagree more

I dont want thee "jobs for the boys" mentality to continue. Bringing in Joey does exactly that

This club needs fresh ideas and a fresh perspective to build a fresh culture. The past needs to stay where it belongs

 

[Allstar Knights]

A no nonsense coach with a few local identities in assistant roles would be ideal, I reckon. We don't want a boys club like we've had in the past, but we also don't want a soulless club either.

 

[Frederick]

A no nonsense coach with a few local identities in assistant roles would be ideal, I reckon. We don't want a boys club like we've had in the past, but we also don't want a soulless club either.

I agree with this. We need a new, professional culture, but we do need a couple of old heads around to ensure the new players know what they're playing for.

Bedsy and Simmo would be my pick. Club legends, and ultimate professionals. Big, fat no to Joey...he's too damn immature, and would be far too interested in getting on the piss with all the players

 

[Noname36]

We do need blokes around the club that understand the responsibility of being a player for the Knights, and to bring pride back to the jersey. Someone who won't let people get away with a performance like today. For all Joeys faults, he was one of our most passionate, and was never afraid to give someone a serve when they needed it.

That said I don't think he can coach, although DCE and Foran continue to go from strength to strength, so he's at least not doing them any harm.

We need to rebuild the culture of the place and reinforce the importance of playing for the knights.

The club needs more blokes like Joey around the place for the reasons outlined by Perv.

We need blokes like Joey, Bedsy, Simmo and BK to build an expectation in the playing group.

Joeys presence alone would be a massive boost at any training session now his been out of the fold for a while.

Completely disagree with this. While Joey was a brilliant player for us on the field, I don't want him anywhere around the squad now. We're still feeling the effects of the poor off field culture that emerged during his period...the whole "untouchable boys club" thing. And while Joey wouldn't have been the only one responsible for that, every time he speaks now he's always talking favourably about his party days at the Knights.

No problem with Bedsy. He's been around the club in recent years so he knows that the club is trying to clean up it's image. Bringing Johns back now though would just be a disaster IMO.

 

[voltron]

johns knocked us back anyway
I think he's definitely improved as a halves coach
but i think it's smart for him not to come back
there would be big expectation which he wouldnt be able to fulfil
I mean its not like he hasnt been trying to help the likes of mullen in the past

 

[Joker's Wild]

Couldnt disagree more

I dont want thee "jobs for the boys" mentality to continue. Bringing in Joey does exactly that

This club needs fresh ideas and a fresh perspective to build a fresh culture. The past needs to stay where it belongs

I will add to this that of course, Bedsy would be the exception. The guy is all class and professionalism and that is exactly the type of influence the club needs

 

[Newie is God's Country]

There is something weird about attempting to employ an assistant before you employ your head coach. Why offer Joey a role before the head coach gets to pick his staff? The next coach may not want Johns. I just hope they name the coach by the end of the week. The roster Bennett has left us with is now highly debatable. Scott being the exception out of his buys. The others are too hot and cold to truly judge until the next coach comes in.

 

[Knight Vision]

My concern is Wayne's track record with picking successors is terrible. I rate Matterson but maybe it is a curse.

Henjack and Price were batting after a Bradman century....our next coach will be batting after a Bradman duck egg

 

[Burwood]

Bring back MacDougall and Peden.

 

[otori]

Bring back MacDougall and Peden.

Lol Mad Dog as coach. We'd play every 2nd week and the players would train individually

 

[Burwood]

Lol Mad Dog as coach. We'd play every 2nd week and the players would train individually

haha I knew that would get mentioned!

In hindsight, how much of it was MacDougall being an uncooperative dick, and how much of it was MacDougall knowing his body much better than the coach and support staff? Going back 5 years ago I would have said mostly the former, but now I think it is swinging back towards the latter.

I'd have MacDougall back at the club in a heartbeat to replace Hickmans.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

haha I knew that would get mentioned!

In hindsight, how much of it was MacDougall being an uncooperative dick, and how much of it was MacDougall knowing his body much better than the coach and support staff? Going back 5 years ago I would have said mostly the former, but now I think it is swinging back towards the latter.

I'd have MacDougall back at the club in a heartbeat to replace Hickmans.

Is there a story to this?? Ive never heard this about the Maddog...

 

[Spot On]

I've heard many stories about Johns and his influence on the younger players at Manly, mainly in the 20's, and they are generally negatives ones. That said, their NRL halves are the best in the league. I'm not sure if they wouldn't have arrived at this point without Johns though, they did win a premiership before he starting working with them. They have always been exceptional players.

Johns can't do any worse than Kevin Walters has with our halves. It's a joke he was hired and being paid by the club when you look at how far backwards we've gone in the play making department. Off to Brisbane ASAP please.