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What really happened: Tears and anger after Rick Stones Newcastle sacking
7 minutes ago
Nathan RyanFOX SPORTS
DANNY Buderus almost cried when he spoke to the Newcastle playing group on Tuesday morning.
He never wanted to be put in this position.
Only 18 hours earlier Rick Stone had been sacked as coach of the Knights and Buderus appointed his interim successor.
Its a job he never rallied for, nor was it one he wanted, but he knew the club needed him.
As Buderus came to grips with what will be his new life for the next six weeks, the playing group was left in the dark.
HOW THE PLAYERS FOUND OUT
Most of the squad learned the news of Stones sacking via social media. Some saw tweets from news outlets and fans, while others were tagged in Facebook posts or called by friends.
They were oblivious to what was happening until 2pm on Monday when a generic group text was sent.
It read: Decision by the board today has been too (sic) terminate Coach Rick Stone affectively (sic) immediately. You are required to attend a meeting in the theatrette at 8.00am tomorrow to be addressed by CEO Matt Gidley. Warren.
The Warren referred to by the text message is club football manager Warren Smiles, who has been at the club for over 10 years.
A day after the text, the players gathered in the theatrette. Stone was nowhere in sight.
Many of the players were upset Stone wasnt given the chance to say goodbye.
They were also angry they had to learn of his axing second hand.
WHY STONE HAD TO GO
In general the group was upset that Stone lost his job but, looking at the big picture, they knew it was the right decision.
Stone had lost the locker room.
Many believe he made the ideal assistant coach because he enjoyed being everyones friend but his failure to make the big decisions ultimately cost him his job.
There were times throughout the year he had told players they deserved to be in the first grade side but wouldnt be picked because he couldnt demote a player worth $450,000 to reserve grade.
Thats where he went wrong.
With the players packing out the auditorium, chief executive Matt Gidley was the first to address the group.
He said the next six weeks will be a trial period.
CEOS POSITION IN QUESTION
Privately a small section of the playing group were starting to question how Gidley could maintain his position.
One said: I dont know how you can have football players running a football club when its a business.
They are also upset that the decision to sack Stone was leaked to the media before they were told.
Later, a senior player addressed the playing group, furious that Stone wasnt able to address the playing group one last time.
He also stressed that Stone cannot be used as motivation for the remainder of the season.
He said: The poor bloke has lost his job so we cant start playing for him now. Its too late.
Once Gidley finished speaking, Buderus stepped forward.
BUDERUS BLUNT MESSAGE
His first act as new coach was ripping a tracking chart off the wall.
It was something introduced by Wayne Bennett.
It held the results of the season and was split into five groups.
But its irrelevant, Buderus told the team. He said they didnt need their past failures on display. Everyone at the club knew what a miserable year it had been for results. They didnt need that staring them in the face.
Buderus kept things short and to the point.
IM NOT READY TO BE HEAD COACH
With tears in the corner of his eyes, he told the playing group he was not ready to be a head coach at this point in his career but he loved Newcastle and was prepared to do anything for the club.
He told the players he wanted them to compete. If they saw a ball on the ground, he wanted to see his men diving on it.
He asked the boys to buy into his philosophy, built on work ethic.
He told them they would focus on three Ts Toughness, Tackle and Tomorrow.
The tomorrow reference was a view to the future.
If they could restore pride in the jersey and play for each other then that was half the battle.
He said hed had enough of sitting in these rooms and talking. It was time to act.
BEST TRAINING SESSION OF THE YEAR
It was a passionate speech which fired up the players before they headed onto the field for their first training run post-Stone.
It was the best session theyd had all year and Buderus was leading by example.
Rather than designating drills to his assistants, he ran the drills.
He called people out during the drills for slacking.
He was defensively focused.
He emphasised the importance of pushing up on both sides of the ruck when defending.
It was all about movement off the ball.
When the ball goes left, the right side wont be slacking off, they will be working for each other.
This was how he planned on bringing prestige back to the blue and red
http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/spor...ewcastle-sacking/story-fnp0lyn3-1227461636534
What really happened: Tears and anger after Rick Stones Newcastle sacking
7 minutes ago
Nathan RyanFOX SPORTS
DANNY Buderus almost cried when he spoke to the Newcastle playing group on Tuesday morning.
He never wanted to be put in this position.
Only 18 hours earlier Rick Stone had been sacked as coach of the Knights and Buderus appointed his interim successor.
Its a job he never rallied for, nor was it one he wanted, but he knew the club needed him.
As Buderus came to grips with what will be his new life for the next six weeks, the playing group was left in the dark.
HOW THE PLAYERS FOUND OUT
Most of the squad learned the news of Stones sacking via social media. Some saw tweets from news outlets and fans, while others were tagged in Facebook posts or called by friends.
They were oblivious to what was happening until 2pm on Monday when a generic group text was sent.
It read: Decision by the board today has been too (sic) terminate Coach Rick Stone affectively (sic) immediately. You are required to attend a meeting in the theatrette at 8.00am tomorrow to be addressed by CEO Matt Gidley. Warren.
The Warren referred to by the text message is club football manager Warren Smiles, who has been at the club for over 10 years.
A day after the text, the players gathered in the theatrette. Stone was nowhere in sight.
Many of the players were upset Stone wasnt given the chance to say goodbye.
They were also angry they had to learn of his axing second hand.
WHY STONE HAD TO GO
In general the group was upset that Stone lost his job but, looking at the big picture, they knew it was the right decision.
Stone had lost the locker room.
Many believe he made the ideal assistant coach because he enjoyed being everyones friend but his failure to make the big decisions ultimately cost him his job.
There were times throughout the year he had told players they deserved to be in the first grade side but wouldnt be picked because he couldnt demote a player worth $450,000 to reserve grade.
Thats where he went wrong.
With the players packing out the auditorium, chief executive Matt Gidley was the first to address the group.
He said the next six weeks will be a trial period.
CEOS POSITION IN QUESTION
Privately a small section of the playing group were starting to question how Gidley could maintain his position.
One said: I dont know how you can have football players running a football club when its a business.
They are also upset that the decision to sack Stone was leaked to the media before they were told.
Later, a senior player addressed the playing group, furious that Stone wasnt able to address the playing group one last time.
He also stressed that Stone cannot be used as motivation for the remainder of the season.
He said: The poor bloke has lost his job so we cant start playing for him now. Its too late.
Once Gidley finished speaking, Buderus stepped forward.
BUDERUS BLUNT MESSAGE
His first act as new coach was ripping a tracking chart off the wall.
It was something introduced by Wayne Bennett.
It held the results of the season and was split into five groups.
But its irrelevant, Buderus told the team. He said they didnt need their past failures on display. Everyone at the club knew what a miserable year it had been for results. They didnt need that staring them in the face.
Buderus kept things short and to the point.
IM NOT READY TO BE HEAD COACH
With tears in the corner of his eyes, he told the playing group he was not ready to be a head coach at this point in his career but he loved Newcastle and was prepared to do anything for the club.
He told the players he wanted them to compete. If they saw a ball on the ground, he wanted to see his men diving on it.
He asked the boys to buy into his philosophy, built on work ethic.
He told them they would focus on three Ts Toughness, Tackle and Tomorrow.
The tomorrow reference was a view to the future.
If they could restore pride in the jersey and play for each other then that was half the battle.
He said hed had enough of sitting in these rooms and talking. It was time to act.
BEST TRAINING SESSION OF THE YEAR
It was a passionate speech which fired up the players before they headed onto the field for their first training run post-Stone.
It was the best session theyd had all year and Buderus was leading by example.
Rather than designating drills to his assistants, he ran the drills.
He called people out during the drills for slacking.
He was defensively focused.
He emphasised the importance of pushing up on both sides of the ruck when defending.
It was all about movement off the ball.
When the ball goes left, the right side wont be slacking off, they will be working for each other.
This was how he planned on bringing prestige back to the blue and red
http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/spor...ewcastle-sacking/story-fnp0lyn3-1227461636534
