I don't see the point in changing unless the coach no longer wants the job. We have been criminally unlucky in the two previous international competitions before this series victory, and have played some superb rugby for the most part aswell. There are an awful lot of international standard players either returning or coming through the ranks, and although there is lots of room for improvement I think the current setup has earned the right to continue.
Joined: Jun 19 2002 Posts: 14970 Location: Campaigning for a deep attacking line
Despite thinking he made some daft and nearly very costly decisions in this test series I think McNamara has earned the right to stay on. And if we keep him for 2016 we've got to keep him for the WC in 2017. Which is fine by me, as I'd like to see the England coach given a 4 year contract starting and ending just after each World Cup. That way they can build toward it and it gives everyone certainty as to who's going to be coach for it. The World Cup is the pinnacle of our sport and I think the England coach should be judged on results and performances in that.
Joined: Jul 22 2012 Posts: 6848 Location: Hill Valley
reckon it is a done deal now that he will be kept on until the next WC on the back of the series win and what details have come out since.The delay will be to give Mcnamara time to square things away with the Roosters and a 2 year deal Will be announced in the new year.
It's not what i would like to see happen but if/when it does, i will be behind the lads 100%. A massive couple of years coming up, a great opportunity to finally make an impact on the international stage, for once we can look forward to international competition with excitement rather than trepidation.
I don't think McNamara has done too badly in all honesty. This series, he got the tactics for the second test wrong, and IMO should've made one or two changes, but on the whole I think it's been positive.
The England set up seems a whole lot better following the structures he's put in place. The team spirit is as high as I can remember.
Since he took over in Apr-10, our results have got progressively better vs Aus/NZ:
I think he's had his chance. Yes we finished on a series win, which was good (cue arguments about weakened Kiwis etc), but there's too much accepting of poor performance. We've had a decent squad for five years now. There have been genuine opportunities to turn over the Aussies and win competitions, and we've come up short every time until this series. That's the thing about international rugby - it's not a season of 28 games where you can afford to mess up a few matches. You only get one shot, and then you've lost. I think, given the talent we've had at our disposal, that we have underperformed over the last 5 years.
Ultimately, the coach has to take the responsibility for that, and I think this series has shown up McNamara's weaknesses :
1) His tenure as an assistant coach in Oz means he has limited direct exposure to the ins and outs of form in the SL. This means he has a default of picking any English player getting game time in the NRL, but when it comes to players in SL, he defaults to names he's familiar with, rather than those who are in the best form, which explains the "He plays for Wigan, he's in the team" selections. It was ridiculous that Gale didn't get a game ahead of Williams/Smith. It was also ridiculous that Cudjoe sat on the sidelines while Bateman played centre.
2) His game plan is extremely conservative. Essentially, he's still playing the 5 drives and a kick method he employed at Bradford. I think we need to offer more than that.
3) Even when the conservative plan has gained an attacking chance in the opponents' half, our passing plays are generally terrible. The second Test was obviously the worst, when the players stood in a flat line a few yards either side of the PTB, with no possibility of any passing moves at all. But in all the games, I saw little evidence of any attack which wasn't "get close to the line and try to barge over from 5 metres or a kick".
I'm 45 years old. I've been reading articles and statements from coaches for 30 of those years about how England/GB is "improving", "closing the gap", "building for the future". Yet in that period, I've seen us lose every series against the Aussies, and lose every Tri/Four Nations and every World Cup. Yes we have occasionally turned over the Kiwis in a home series, but at least they have occasionally beaten the Aussies on a big stage. I'm sick of building/improving/closing the gap. I'd like to win. Preferably in 2017. If we make an excuse for McNamara now, after a lot more losses than wins, then we're more or less guaranteeing that 2017 we'll be reading the same hopeful-for-the-future cobblers which we've had to suffer for the last 30 years. We need to be ruthless with both players - history and profile doesn't win you a place over form - and coaches : I understand McNamara's record against Australia and New Zealand is 3 wins from 12 matches. A 25% win record is going to consign us to also-rans in international rugby league for ever. Time for a change.
"...the biggest boor, the most opinionated pompous bigot that frequents these
boards and he is NOT to be taken at all seriously. "
The jury is still out for me with reguards to McNamara, I still think a full strength Kiwi side would have beaten us, for them to lose Johnson, Foran, Hargreaves, Leuluai, Vatuvei, Taumalolo and the skipper Mannering was massive and we only lost Tomkins and George Burgess. McNamara should NOT be offered a new deal because his record against Australia is pathetic and against New Zealand it aint much better if it is at all. We only beat a half strength Kiwi Team and everybody thinks we are on the verge of greatness!!! New Coach needed.
I'd get someone else in, but I'd still like to see him involved in the backroom staff, having someone involved who coaches in the NRL, and sees the opposition play every week can only benefit the squad, IMO.
King Monkey wrote:Maybe a spell in prison would do Graham good.
Doom&Gloom Merchant wrote:I don't think McNamara has done too badly in all honesty. This series, he got the tactics for the second test wrong, and IMO should've made one or two changes, but on the whole I think it's been positive.
The England set up seems a whole lot better following the structures he's put in place. The team spirit is as high as I can remember.
Since he took over in Apr-10, our results have got progressively better vs Aus/NZ:
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