Quote ="-VIKINGMAN-"Had a lot of time to think about Thursday, reflection time you might call it (no latte involved though)
First of all Leigh Centurions, if I were a fan I would be absolutely loving it (Keegan Style) well drilled and super fit, Ian Millward must be credited along with Paul Rowley for an outstanding pre season in terms of training and recruitment. Millward based this year on attracting local players from around the region and boy hasn't he done well. No ex super league rejects filling the ranks (exception being Littler but he's a good solid player and a leyther) Darryl Powell adopts a similar style of recruitment as does Karl Harrison. The one common factor in all this is the coach does the recruiting, it all stops with them. If Leigh stay clear of injuries this year they will do the double.
Now on to my beloved Widnes, first of all the fans are brilliant, we can be a little negative at times but were only human! we have the most fans in the division and probably the most loyal considering all the lows and highs we've been through. Next the club itself, Widnes as a business is top notch headed by a wealthy successful passionate man. Julie Gaskell is a great Chief exec and the youth and reserve coaches are bob on as we have proved by [uWINNING[/u the league for 18's and Reserves being [uCONSISTENT[/u on the pitch and winning far more than they lose.
Widnes 1st team.
Its a fact that Terry O'connor and Paul Cullen do the recruiting, Nothing to do with Mick Cassidy or Denis Betts. Steve O'connor trusts both and simply leaves it to them. I'm coming to the conclusion that Steve O'connor needs to make a big and tough decision and ditch Terry from his role as recruiter along with Cullen. Widnes need an experienced 1st team coach who can be given the pot of cash to recruit who he wants, Betts isn't the answer IMHO.
Director of Rugby we don't need
Player Welfare/Recruitment we don't need.
To put it simply
Head Coach - Ian Millward or Brian Noble
Assistant Coach - Whoever the above would want
Head coach does the recruiting the book stops with them, its important to recruit the correct coach for SL none of this Wigan old boys club.
Phil Finney - youth development and recruitment
And finally do we deserve Super League? yes we bloody do!'"
Hmm. So 'none of this Wigan old boys club', yet you want ex Wigan coach Brian Noble to take over? It's amazing how the longer Noble is out the game, the better he seems to have become as a coach.
