How can you say Stone is a decent coach after the season we've just had?
Compared to 2009 we scored less points, but conceded 78 more. In comparison, our amount of points conceded in 2008 and 2009 were the lowest since 1999.
Our winning strike rate in his first full year of coaching was 41.67%.
It was our sixth worst amount of games won in 23 years, and our fourth worst in the last 19 years.
Our recruitment has been horrible.
We have gone backwards in most areas of development, going from a side that looked a genuine top four prospect to a wooden spoon contender at times in 2010.
Smith had a bad first year with us in 2007 and turned it around, I hope Stone does the same. But so far it is not promising at all. Yet you call him a "super-coach". It just doesn't make sense, or is a joke.
Personally, I'd be sending out feelers to Brian McClennan, who is currently jobless after years of success with Leeds and the Kiwis, and desperate to crack an NRL head coaching role.
Since 2004 we have averaged 11 wins a season. So we were only one win below our average over that span, a span in which our greatest player played a total of less then 2 full seasons. You cant really compare this side on paper with the ones from 91-2003 IMO.
Of coarse you cant say Stone is a great coach after this season, but you cant say he is a terrible one.
Stone had a lot of things happen in 2010 that didnt happen in 2009. He had to deal with losing 2 top grade forwards (one who was on the brink of SOO), plus all the controversy around that. He had Taia and DeGois coming back from serious late season injuries (both of whom were KEY to our 2009 success).
And the key to the season IMO, was Kurt Gidleys season. He got injured in the all-star game, meaning he missed the entire pre-season. He also missed the 5 games (where we went 1-4). This led to poor crowds early in the season, contributing to EAS not being the fortress is was in 2009.
We were 1-7 (2-2 last year, but we never missed him for more then 1 week at a time) without Gidley this year, the one win coming in round 1 (a game we'd most likely lose if not for the emotion). With Gidley we were 9-7.
Im willing to give Stone the benifit of the doubt for this season, and will judge him at the end of next season on whether he has what it takes to coach in the NRL (he obviously has the resume of a good coach at lower levels of the game).
And on recruitment, you say it has been terrible. What has this got to do with Stone's coaching ability? Doesnt some of that blame come on our recruitment officer, Onslow. I know Stone aint exactly winning players over, like say a Bennett would, but give the guy a break, he has 1 year experience in the NRL, and is coaching a team notorious for not signing high profile guys.
Look who Stone has Signed this year.
Kaufusi
Costigan
Henry
LikiLiki
O'Donnell
Southern
Look who Smith Signed (in his first season)
Cross
Fa'aso
Housten
Wicks
Hilder
Sau
Ciraldo
Naiqama
Taia
Lulia
Vuna
Both had one high profile signing (Cross and Costigan, only Costigan is younger, and on much less money).
Both signed a young centre (Likiliki is by far the more praised centre, Junior was struggling to find a contract).
Both signed players struggling for consistent form, like Kaufusi, Fa'aso, Ciraldo, Naqama, Hilder and Southern.
That Leaves Housten, Wicks, Vuna, Taia, Lulia, O'Donnell and Henry. Young guys with promising futures looking for a go, stuck behind a long line of established FGers at their previously clubs.
And the reasons why Smith had a lot more leverage in terms of signing players, resulting in a higher quantity of players is that 1. He had a clean out, meaning more roster spots available (giving those fringe first graders a legit shot at making the team on an even playing field), 2. Probably had more cash to work with and 3. There were plenty of significant changes to the salary cap this season, resulting in teams being able to retain players with more ease, and less players being squeezed out of clubs.
The recruitment drive this season was completely different to that in 2007. In 2007/2008 we were looking to build a young side, to head into the post Johns/Buderus era. The Core of this side still remains today. Whats lacking is the superstar edge to take it to the next level, which is why the club went after a lot of big names. No point signing another 10 fringe first graders when they most likely are no better then what we have. They might not have come away with getting a superstar, but at least we dont go into 2011 with a weaker playing roster. It was a gamble they could afford to take. It would have been bad if we let go some real promising players to free up the cap space, and then failed to sign a big name, leaving us with a inferior squad with next to no depth.
