Sharp was actually a decent coach, just poor at recruitment. McRae will have a large role to play there and has been good with his recruitment in the past.

There's always a slight risk involved when you appoint a coach, even if they have a good track record previously. I'm not counting any chickens but at the same time I don't see a reason for any particular concern.

Sharp's Achilles heel was his mania for turning everyone into a utility player. Something that has been prolonged under Agar, with everyone being rotated into new positions every time someone gets injured, instead of bringing in a novice specialist to work amongst a team of experienced supportive specislists.

This is something that Gentle has already idntified as a major weakness, so I doubt he's a new Sharp.

Playing Washbrook out of position was, by-and-large, out of necessity due to injuries in the halves and at 9. This has definitely been to his detriment with some on here and in the stands calling for him to exit the club when a season earlier may of us saw him as a star of the future. However, I think his performances at 13 recently tell us where he should be playing. I really hope he stays and gets a shot under Gentle even though it would mean keeping Westerman in the 2nd row for a little longer. After all, it is unlikely that an Australian coach will play a ball-playing 13. Another thing to remember is that he has been learning his trade under Fitz and you can see it in the way he takes the ball up now and the way he tackles. What a waste to let that investment go without nurturing him further under the new coaching set up.

Sharp had little choice with turning people into utility players as he had an injury crisis that Agar could only have nightmares about. We lost so many players at the same time that it simply wasn't feasible to bring in a few 'novice specialists' and a lot of shuffling about was inevitable. His Achilles heel was recruitment.

Think Gentle has already identified Washy as a back rower, but looks like he's Wakey bound.

It's not just Washy, either, I'm really looking forward to seeing how our other positional flounderers shape up under Gentle and who ends up where in the team. Whiting? Turner? Westy? Will Briscoe even stay on the wing?

Sharp went on record as saying he preferred players to be able to undertake a utility role. The obvious example was the booting out of the specialist Briscoe for multi tasking Motu. Never understood why he tried to make Tony into a fullback. So unnecessary.

Now stop that!

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If Gentle moves Briscoe he wants shooting!

Agree. Just musing, really, harking back to the centre murmurings of Agar. Still short in that position. Don't know if Briscoe really had true potential there or not. Perhaps Gentle and McRae will know.

Agreed. Never liked the idea of him being a centre in the first place, always looked a natural winger to me and has proved how classy he can be in that position.

We will be signing a centre so I have no worries there. The question will be who plays on the other wing. Personally I would give Sharp another go rather than Whiting.

very confident that we will sign another centre Paul,any names in the frame apart from some of the outlandish rumours of Lyon etc.

Only name I heard came at last weeks match, which was Bridge. The Lyon thing I have only heard on here.

I hope Westerman plays 13. Washbrook is an average SL player but Westerman has great potential.

Not surprised you heard bridges name , he was playing

Westerman has been in great form at 2nd row down the right hand channel.

I think we're likely to see Tickle at 13, as a 3rd, more mobile prop, rather than a ballhandler - which seems to be the way alot of Aussie sides line up. I don't think a 3rd pivot in the middle of the park is necessary really.

Horne & Seymour should be the guys putting the plays together, giving Westy more opportunity to attack the fringes, which he's been excellent at this year.

With a quality centre coming in on the right hand side, I would be more than happy to see Sharp/Lynne given a go there. We need a big, quality SR to replace Fitz and, of course, a prop (maybe Lynch).

Three quality signings (prop, SR and centre) and Mr. Gentle could have a real shout with our squad in 2012.


Here's hoping!

If we waved enough cash could we get Gasnier

It's not about cash with him though is it. He's retiring with a ton of money at the end of this season.

I hear this argument a lot, but I don't think that it necessarily follows that getting good results at U20s level = good U20s coach. It's important to remember that Last's job is not to 'put out a competitive side at U20s level' (although obviously you don't want to be getting spanked every week) but to produce players for the first team, and in the time he's been in the job he hasn't done that enough. Most people now seem to recognise the Agar 'youth development guru' line for the utter myth that it is, but when you see, for example, the way Lynn has torn up the u20s yet looks like a fish out of water at SL level, then I don't think you can pin that all on Agar.

It's a similar theory to the one about why the England football team is so poor; youth coaches put all their focus in teaching the kids how to be competitive at that level, at the expense of allowing them to develop the skills required to be competitive at the very top level.

Obviously though, all changes to the backroom staff are now down to SMc & PG and I certainly trust them to make the right decision (I read that the 'conditioner' has already been given the boot which is very encouraging).

I see Wakey have just signed a centre, a fairly average one by the sounds of it though?

Collis is not the calibre of player we should be looking at. Rather have Turner.

Stepped down from his position as Asst Oz coach so he can come across earlier

Never!! Where did you hear this breaking news?