Why is it that NRL coaches, and even their assistants are apparently so mucjbetter that ours? And that they can make an improvement to our trams when they come over here.
Why is it that our home grown coavjes are so far behinfd them?

They arn't. No coach has matched Nobby's achievements in SL.

I'm surprised Noble is not on the list. I suspect the 31 votes for someone else are for him. His track record as a coach is exemplary and the team he has scratched together at crusaders are nothing like wooden spoonists most predicted. Why people are reluctanct to have him back is beyhond me.

1. Because his success was built on the basis of being able to spend as much as possible on players.

2. Because his success was built on the basis of a team heavy in antipodeans (as of course it is at Crusaders, and as was his approach at Wigan) at the expense of youth development.

Outstanding coach for us when financial constraints were not there, and it was practicable to major on antipodeans and not have to worry about long-term enduring young player development. But we are in a different environment now, one which he would very probably not welcome and IMO would struggle to come to terms with.

There was no way Crusaders would be wooden spoonists once it became clear the sort of money they must have to spend on antipodeans (yet another arrived this week) and coaching staff.

Incidentally, my vote was for someone else and it was not for him.

Mine wasn't for him either.

Been told your signing Millward

80 grand a year, hope its not true.

So do I

Justin Morgan's star seems to be on the wane in quite remarkable fashion.

Yup, Rovers were woeful again today. They somehow managed to be even worse than we were yesterday, which is an impressive feat.

Agreed, I wish we'd drawn them for this week!

According to this morning's League Express, Mick Potter is emerging as the favourite.

Why would Potter come? And why would he leave?

Potter is now 5/2 joint favourite with McDermott, he's out of contract at the end of the year and Saints have said he can start talking to Super League and NRL clubs.

interesting. Potter did some good work at catalans and has a decent record bringing kids through at saints. plus he's got bradford history so thats 2 boxes ticked. Not sure he's a better option than mcdermott but he's out of contract this year so that could tip the odds in his favour.

He's not exactly popular with the Saints fans, once you lose the fans at a club you are a dead man walking, unless you can pull off something special to win them round.

Out of contract in 2011 I believe.

I reckon Potter would be a good choice actually. He is another who is familiar with the club and how we do things at the Bulls.

would be happy with potter good track record would be a move forward in my mind

Agree.

Theres something a little knee-jerk about the reactions of some when Saints have lost a game this season or have not performed as some would have expected.

Potter did a superb job in France and has come into a Saints club that is going through a period of change with key players either leaving or approaching the end of their careers yet the younger players seem to be performing well.

Would be an excellant appointment for Bradford imo.

That's an interesting comment. You can be a dead man walking for several years though apparently.

Potter would be a great option imo.

Has experience of working at Bradford, good record on the pitch in France, good youth development at Saints. Ticks most if not all the boxes.

He left the Bulls 11 years ago! Since then we've had the Nobby glory years; followed by Harrisgate, near bankruptcy, and now more modestly financed re-building.... don't tell me that the club is same as 11 years ago!!! However, he would continue tradition of having B. Smith disciples as head coach.

Spot on Tristram!

Yes but Odsal hasn't changed much!



I just think Potter is more of a 'Bulls' type coach than some of the mentioned contenders. I see names like Millward and I just cannot see how his face would fit at the Bulls. I think Potter's style would suit the Bulls and I reckon he is probably my preferred choice of the names I have seen so far.

And have our methods and ways of doing things really changed that much? With all of our last few coaches having some link with the Brian Smith school of thought I'd be surprised if the main principles had altered that much even over 11 years.

Potter was actually one I had in mind when I ticked "other" although I did not realistically expect he might be either available or interested.

Are Saints indicating to him his contract may/will not be renewed? If so, why?

Don't get me wrong, I also think Potter would be an excellent candidate. But, if his interest was down to a belief that things would be similar to his previous time at the Bulls, he's going to be sadly disappointed...
[list
as you say, Odsal itself has changed little and is decaying so that it is now something of a millstone
the club's host city seems to similarly be in a state of decline
the enthusiasm and energy of 'bullmania' is now little more than a fond memory to those fans that go back that far
whilst there's a chance of a new stadium, that chance seems to diminish with each passing year
the club has tight fiscal policies limiting on and off field expenditure (e.g the number/quality of backroom staff that can be employed)
[/list:u

All in all, a pretty gloomy outlook. However, on the plus side, the club still has a reasonable average gate with some growth potential, seems to have a good junior setup, and, lets face it, it is also one of just 30 clubs in the world with a first grade RL head coaching position!