There is a narrative that Cameron Smith came along at the right time for Bellyache. He was very intense in his first few years coaching. Once Smith proved to him how good he was, he'd take the pee out of an overly intense Bellyache at times and suck the tension out of situations. At the same time, Smith (and Cronk and Slater) would quietly enforce the standards set by the coach without the need for a blow up. Bellyache may have imploded by now without that player dynamic.
NRL Round 23 - Knights Vs Raiders - 2:00pm Sunday, 9th of August - GIO Stadium
- Thread starter jamesgould
- Start date
When I heard that AOB gave Milky no explanation for why he was dropped, and no framework for getting back to FG, it was quite a shock. I would have thought a chat at least with the player would have been a no-brainer for any half-decent manager.
Similar poor management from Benji this season, with his handling of the Douehi situation and the suggestion that some players are treated differently at the Tigers.
With proper roster management and quality coaches in key positions throughout the club, the big thing I would have thought an NRL head coach would need is man management skills.
Maybe that's why the AOB, Hook, Flanagan (and even Des was a yeller), style coaches are going by the wayside...of the current crop of your more stern coaches, Ciraldo, Ryles and Madge all seem to be struggling. Also, there was Payten admitting last year, I think, that he had to tone things down because yelling at them wasn't working...they're at least in the 8 now (albeit conceding 82 a couple of weeks ago).
Similar poor management from Benji this season, with his handling of the Douehi situation and the suggestion that some players are treated differently at the Tigers.
With proper roster management and quality coaches in key positions throughout the club, the big thing I would have thought an NRL head coach would need is man management skills.
Maybe that's why the AOB, Hook, Flanagan (and even Des was a yeller), style coaches are going by the wayside...of the current crop of your more stern coaches, Ciraldo, Ryles and Madge all seem to be struggling. Also, there was Payten admitting last year, I think, that he had to tone things down because yelling at them wasn't working...they're at least in the 8 now (albeit conceding 82 a couple of weeks ago).
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Devils advocate he was brought here more or less on an opportunity contract.
He admitted himself that he didn't really put in.
What exactly did the Knights owe him, let's remember at the Panthers before he came here he was out of their team more often than not and told by Cleary he wasn't wanted there(nicely).
He has kicked on and good on him, but people are thinking he was prime Jenkins that he is now and not the fringe player he was than. - Remember we all laughed at how bad he was from his few outings, and felt fooled after getting excited with his NSW cup highlight reel.
Newygirl
Darren Albert
Gags always has a lot of missed tackles because he flies in to stop plays but bounces off the player. He usually comes back and completes the tackle someone else does. Either way, he does the job he’s supposed to.
If Gags was so bad defensively, the team wouldn’t be conceding almost double the amount of tries on the other side of the field
I didn't say the Knights owed him anything. My criticism was entirely aimed at AOB (and coaches like him).
I don't remember Milky saying that he "didn't put in"; I think he said that he didn't think he was playing well, so had no problem with being dropped on that basis. My point was it's poor man management to drop any player and not give him an explanation and guidance on what he needs to do to win back his spot.
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Again I don't get why he got owed any sort of explanation.
He actually did directly say he didn't put in.
At that time we had Marzhew, Tuala and even Sharpe and Armstrong as contenders for that winger spot.
He was just pissy for me the entire time he didn't want to leave panthers, and than dirty his manager didn't let him know the cows had a 3 year deal for him.
Nothing to stop the player going to the coach in that situation and asking for feedback, either.
Again, it's not "owed"; it's just good management. Clearly, the club wants to get better and to be competing for first-grade spots. He was in Newcastle on a two-year deal.
That's not my recollection.
True.
But we can't have it both ways with AOB, ie., players were scared of their own shadows but also should have been OK to approach him to ask what they need to do to be better.
Tackleslikeagirl
Adrian Bubb
Came here to say the same thing.
Not defending AOB but looking at the big picture. If you’re a coach and you see a player who really doesn’t want to be at your club & not putting in a lot of effort, I can see why he didn’t bother giving feedback. You’d focus on the guys who are having a crack. Is it right, probably not but I can understand the reasoning.
Motivated players also would have harassed the coach until they got some answers too.
Two way street.
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
No doubt last year he lost the playing group and took them as far as he could but for the majority of his time here, he did pretty well.
Billy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
AOB clearly modelled his style on Bellamy, who is a well known cranky character who demands excellence - but I don't think AOB managed to implement the part of Bellamy's character that genuinely cares for his players and gives them a fair chance to reach their potential.
AOB got the cranky and the demanding excellence and I imagine he gave the sort of candid feedback Bellamy is famous for - but missed the caring and fairness briefs.
AOB got the cranky and the demanding excellence and I imagine he gave the sort of candid feedback Bellamy is famous for - but missed the caring and fairness briefs.
Celticman98
Mark Hughes
I agree and also very good with coaching front rowers.
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
And he definitely didn't have the runs on board to give Bellamy sprays to often.
Defence wins games
Todd Bates
I think injuries have played a part and he benefited from the week off.
BlackbuttOG
Danny Wicks
I like Sasagi and he has turned into a high-end talent undoubtedly. He is 25, had a great season last year but was still in full "development mode" up until then. Hunt doesn't even turn 21 until December this year. It's not guaranteed Hunt becomes a top line 1st grader but for the right price a little patience is surely justified.
Yeah, but you only get 11 minutes of first grade before being written off. That's how long some on here watched a kid called Francis Manuleulua before writing him off in round 3. You are born with your full skills, no one actually develops.
Lefty
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I remember Simi playing a game for us at centre, getting shredded by his opponent and us losing by a big margin.
We have to be patient with our young players.
BlackbuttOG
Danny Wicks
On the money.
I don't want to appear a full-blown Hunt apologist (yes, he had some poor moments this week) but he is young, has talent and seems brave. He has also been plugged into numerous positions including playing Centre on both sides of the field.
I do wish we could get some troops back so he could have some big minutes in Cup to progress his talents.