No. He took over an average squad playing poorly battling relegation.

The next coach comes into an average squad playing poorly, battling relegation.

The results and performance suggests we're in the same sorry state as we were back then.

After listening to JJB's press conference, the culture and attitude sounds absolutely pathetic, just as it was back then.

So no, all the evidence suggests we'r no better off.

We looked better off mid pre-season. In fact we looked better off after week 1 v Warrington but at this moment in time we look probably worse off than at any point since 1996.

What the reason for that is i have no idea but it looks a mess right now.

New coach, few players back and it can start to look different tho. Lets hope so.

Nope, we looked like making some progress last year but look to have regressed badly this year.... utterly bizarre. Like Marty says, get a new coach in who's quality, and some key players back and we'll look a lot better imo.

To be fair, I think Myler has been an even more significant injury than Newman in terms of our style of play. I'm not a massive fan of Walker, but his strength lies in his running game. Myler had become an expert in picking out the perfect pass on those edge plays, which I'm sure is how we'd set up all pre-season, which would have taken a lot of pressure from Austin and Sezer.

Still, top teams need to adapt to these scenarios, and that has been Agar/Longs undoing.

Our squad gets weaker every year and has done for over a decade, not really fair to blame any coach, Hetherington is the common factor.

Its really strange if we're at the same total wage spend as Sts. Suggests a whole lot of players being paid way more than their ability would justify and the complete opposite of a few years ago where most of our best players were getting less than they could individually elsewhere. I supposed that's what winning does.

I think the writing was on the wall even during last year.

It's a bit depressing we've not heard any updates yet. I know GH has said he'll take his time, but we don't even know definitively who he has planned to meet in Oz!

Think the club should provide an update to keep the supporters on side.

Confirmation he's actually set off would be a start.....

Is Sian still in the office.....

Hetherington left Sunday, arrived today. You think the club should have given a blow-by-blow account of his movements so far?

Even when he has got there he can't simply tell the world who the candidates are and who he has interviewed or met with - a lot of these people will have existing jobs and may not have told their clubs they have applied, or would rather it didn't become public knowledge.

Not at all mate.
I have no problem being challenged. Everyone's opinion counts.
It's just that you say, you have lost interest in watching games and only listen on the radio.
Not sure that makes you ideally placed to compare NRL to SL.
I watch a lot of NRL and just happen to think that they get away with more aggression than SL.
Just my opinion.

Anyhow, see you at golf sometime....

It’s completely impractical to say who he’s meeting and when for lots of reasons, but it’s fair to say when he’s back.

Is this a delayed April Fool joke?

Cue "Beatle Mania" scenes at the airport as the finest coaches in the NRL jostle for position.

I want to know what he had for breakfast. Actually, fk that he's not got time for breakfast.

We’re so deep in it, he needs to bring the new coach back with him, smuggled in a suitcase if necessary…

When you are battling relegation / middle 8’s which we have made quite a habit of in recent years, you can’t attract top players without £££££ even a middle of the road squad filler will want £££ to come bail you out when you are down on numbers.
Factor in the constant chopping and changing of coaches, direction and/or ability all while trying to replicate a bygone era with players who wouldn’t get a job carrying the kicking tee then this is why we find ourselves so far behind the 8 ball.

I accept we've paid overs for some. But Briscoe? Donaldson? Thompson? Sutcliffe? Austin? None of these guys would have got a big contract anywhere else. Even Sutcliffe had he joined Cas wouldn't have been a star player. Myler signed a long deal, partly I assume to offset a lower annual wage. I don't see Walker being worth much on the market, or a fair few others who play every week. Etc.

The way out of it is the same way we built up to win in 2004 - build the core from juniors and bring in the odd star where needed. Given where we are now I understand that's difficult, but one of the first steps has to be getting rid of the dire players when contracts end. Focus on what positions we are desperate in and get the best we can, and forget about squad-filling numpties elsewhere. If we get the core of the team right we can use younger players to fill gaps.

xiledrhino wrote:
It's a bit depressing we've not heard any updates yet. I know GH has said he'll take his time, but we don't even know definitively who he has planned to meet in Oz!

Think the club should provide an update to keep the supporters on side
———————————————

If it helps you we are supposed to be interested in Shane Flanagan and his half back son Kyle according to reports this morning.

YEP suggesting Shane Flanagan and son Kyle are potentially Leeds bound - recycling a story from the Aussie media.

This is recycled from an April Fools joke on Twitter.

Yeah, isnt he (Shane Flannagan) being linked / tipped to be taking over Mags at the tigers?

I watch spot if highlights but not full games no. Nae bother, we are probs both as disillusioned about the dross being served up. You up for going up to watch City Knights? We can sort it at the golf club