In this squad there are some good players - unfortunately there aren't any x-factor players, Newman has yet to prove that. The squad needs some star quality in key positions. Look at our players and ask yourself how many would get in the Saints, Catalans or Wigan side - more worrying is how many would get in either the Leigh or Hull KR sides?
Therein lies the problem - too many average players.
Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:You provide a support network to assist with the transition not provide a platform for matters to get worse. Leeds did all their research and decided of all the coaches they could appoint Furner was the most appropriate. All of a sudden he is no good - perhaps it was the people around him that were no good and prevented him showing his quality.
Leeds have obviously learned a lesson whereby they will back the coach and move the rotten eggs on e.g. Gale and Leeming. We have all worked in businesses with poor staff who disrupt the other staff - these people are poison. Smith saw through JJB and he was gone within 6 months - shame it wasn't done three years earlier.
We really need to avoid getting sucked into a football culture where the coach is always the scapegoat. I've always believed that coaches get too much credit when things go well and far, far too much stick when they don't. It always comes down to the players. Doesn’t matter what the game plan is if the spine players do not have the talent or character to realise it on the field. It's blatantly obvious that the current occupants of those positions are collectively not good enough. That's where the focus should be. Smith worked wonders with a squad that was near bottom of the table when he arrived last season. This year, with peanuts to spend in the off season and with a full back and two halves who are all heading towards their mid thirties he has not been able to maintain that momentum. However, as bad as some of it has been the team has generally competed every week. Our "passive" defence was 4th best in the league last time I checked. Quality additions (if they occur) in the spine positions would make a massive difference. Sacking Smith would be chucking out the baby with the bath water.
Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:In this squad there are some good players - unfortunately there aren't any x-factor players, Newman has yet to prove that. The squad needs some star quality in key positions. Look at our players and ask yourself how many would get in the Saints, Catalans or Wigan side - more worrying is how many would get in either the Leigh or Hull KR sides?
Therein lies the problem - too many average players.
Probably more than you think, look at Hurrell at Saints, slotted in and his weaknesses weren't exposed as much.
The issue for us is the lack of quality in the halfs and the forwards not always having the correct attitude to working hard and getting on top of the opposition. If our pack plays well, we generaly play well, if they dont, we dont.
We'll need the pack to do much better for the rest of the year if we're going to stand a chance of winning many games. We're highly unlikely to have much creativity/fluency out of the spine players we have left. Best chance to get wins is to turn games into a genuine wrestle and play for position. That would mean a much more aggressive defence than we've generally shown, but I just don't see we have many points in us now.
I agree entirely though that IF we had a really dynamic full back and a playmaker (or two!) who could really lead us around the whole team would look massively better for next season. Take the halfbacks out of any team and they'd struggle.
ArthurClues wrote:We really need to avoid getting sucked into a football culture where the coach is always the scapegoat. I've always believed that coaches get too much credit when things go well and far, far too much stick when they don't. It always comes down to the players. Doesn’t matter what the game plan is if the spine players do not have the talent or character to realise it on the field. It's blatantly obvious that the current occupants of those positions are collectively not good enough. That's where the focus should be. Smith worked wonders with a squad that was near bottom of the table when he arrived last season. This year, with peanuts to spend in the off season and with a full back and two halves who are all heading towards their mid thirties he has not been able to maintain that momentum. However, as bad as some of it has been the team has generally competed every week. Our "passive" defence was 4th best in the league last time I checked. Quality additions (if they occur) in the spine positions would make a massive difference. Sacking Smith would be chucking out the baby with the bath water.
4th best defence 9th/10th best at league positions thanks for the stats!
Talk about coaches getting too much credit, suggesting Lee Briers is the reason the Broncos' attack is firing is way OTT. If you were looking for one person who has transformed their attack, its Reece Walsh. He scares the hell out of defenders with his pace and opens up spaces all around him. They have Reynolds who generals the team, Ezra Mam who is developing into a decent 6, and two of the best strike centres in the competition. I really don't think it takes a coaching genius to make them a hugely potent attacking side. Not saying Briers isn't doing a good job, but way OTT to suggest they wouldn't be about the same with any other coach in there.
Once were Loiners wrote:Talk about coaches getting too much credit, suggesting Lee Briers is the reason the Broncos' attack is firing is way OTT. If you were looking for one person who has transformed their attack, its Reece Walsh. He scares the hell out of defenders with his pace and opens up spaces all around him. They have Reynolds who generals the team, Ezra Mam who is developing into a decent 6, and two of the best strike centres in the competition. I really don't think it takes a coaching genius to make them a hugely potent attacking side. Not saying Briers isn't doing a good job, but way OTT to suggest they wouldn't be about the same with any other coach in there.
You can have all the best strike players if they don't work to a pattern they will be redundant. Great thing about Brisbane is they play to their strengths - a bit like Penrith - which is their athletic ability. Watch their plays their all about exposing the opposition so the greater speed/power comes in to play. They are not an off the cuff side/kicking side nor are they a tight physical side like Penrith who simply grind you down to a standstill.
Someone whether it is Briers has devised an attack that suits the participants. He might have been lucky to be in the right place at the right or he just be a very good coach.
ArthurClues wrote:We really need to avoid getting sucked into a football culture where the coach is always the scapegoat. I've always believed that coaches get too much credit when things go well and far, far too much stick when they don't. It always comes down to the players. Doesn’t matter what the game plan is if the spine players do not have the talent or character to realise it on the field. It's blatantly obvious that the current occupants of those positions are collectively not good enough. That's where the focus should be. Smith worked wonders with a squad that was near bottom of the table when he arrived last season. This year, with peanuts to spend in the off season and with a full back and two halves who are all heading towards their mid thirties he has not been able to maintain that momentum. However, as bad as some of it has been the team has generally competed every week. Our "passive" defence was 4th best in the league last time I checked. Quality additions (if they occur) in the spine positions would make a massive difference. Sacking Smith would be chucking out the baby with the bath water.
I would agree with much of this - the one question I have given the squad he has "Is Smith adding value - are the team performing to the best of its abilities on a regular basis" that is all that matters he can only coach what is there - if the honest is yes great, if not then "Houston we have a problem" Which do you think it is?
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