Everything looks bad at the moment. Almost as bad when Brian Smith jumped ship from the Knights and went to the wooden spooners, the Roosters. He was the biggest bastard in the world then, wasn't he? Well, he's not the biggest bastard in the world now, is he? Sometimes you've got to make big decisions to make big changes.
When Anderson was appointed I was thrilled, but had some small doubts because of his falling out with the Warriors. Monty Betham warned us that Daniel would fall out with the Polynesian players, and I'd say there's not too many of those laddies in the club who are mourning his departure. Frankly I think Daniel ran out of ideas and inspiration. I really like the bloke and thought he would make all the difference to a lazy roster. He didn't. For half of 09 they were atrocious and for most of 10 they were just as bad. Inu withered under his coaching, and it was hard to identify any game plan this year. Last year on the golden run even Anderson admitted he had no idea whay they ere going so well.
My opinion is that letting Kingston, Gulavao and Lowrie go was plain dumb and set the team back on their heels from the git go. Humble should have replaced Mortimer early on in the season at 5/8 and stayed there to work with Keating. At least we would have had some zip to our halves.
And what about Kearney? I'll bet all the Pacific Islander players in the club have got a spring in their step knowing he's coming. And don't listen to the 'he's untried at the top level' crap. He's been coaching at the top level with Bellamy for years and Bellamy wouldn't have him there as his understudy if he didn't have the talent. Besides how much of the Storm's success may be due to Kearney's influence? Bennett helped him out too, with NZ. That's got to say a lot about him. Hagan and Stuart are two rookie coaches who have won premierships in their first year. All of Bellamy's smarts are coming to our club with Kearney. Yes, please! And as much as I dislike Bellamy, I have to admit he knows how to identify talent and build and inspire a team long term and I'll bet Kearney will be no less talented.
As much as I hate to see Daniel get the chop, I think Kearney will be sensational for the club and will really prove to be a major incentive for lots of talent coming to our club. How good is his relationship with Cronk, I wonder? and if I am not mistaken I think Kearney and Orford were Premiership winning team mates in 1999. That's got to say something about the recent approaches to Orford.
For too long we've had a lumbering captaincy. We need a real halfback. Orford and Humble will do me for a season. I'd make Orford the captain and you'd see a snappier team from Round 1.
We have had some wonderful Pacific Islander talent in our system and very few have ever attained their true potential. Perhaps that might now change, and really, a coach who can't get on with them is not doing the club any favours. With the AFL wooing Folau specifically to attract the PI talent in western Sydney, perhaps signing Kearney as coach is a more inspired move for our club than first appears, and a significant move in the war against AFL on our doorstep. Maybe, just maybe, the internal politics and cloak and dagger stuff are clouding what might be a very very smart move.
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For me its all about what kind of footy he will bring to the club.
Will i see expansive attacking footy? or am i gonna see wayne bennet type of footy which puts me to sleep.
if its the former than i will adjust to him as our new coach. but if he is the type of coach that will stifle any flair out of our side than i will be devastated if he comes.
Weather it is DA's sacking or Steve's signing or the fact that the club may still be chasing a halves combination, deciding who stays and who goes can be pretty tough.