Justin Holbrook discussion
- Thread starter jamesgould
- Start date
frankLauda
Steve Simpson
As he said the roster is in good shape. We just fell off a cliff this year. That’s attitude. I would not be surprised we are back to fringe 8. He did it at the Titans. I think we have a better squad. We have gotten rid of a lot of dead wood.
mullenmagic
Andrew 'Joey' Johns
All pretty surface level as is to be expected
- Wants to instil "freedom in attack"
- Hasn't figured out exactly how they're going to play in attack but downplays the ‘halfback vs five-eighth’ debate, not worried about what number will be on Dylan Brown's back and says he'd have no issue having him directing the team if that's the best fit
- Says Ponga, Dom, Crossland, Frizell were training at the COE today when he got there
- Plans to sit down with O'Sullivan today to discuss the roster and what they may need but says the nucleus is all there
- Wants to instil "freedom in attack"
- Hasn't figured out exactly how they're going to play in attack but downplays the ‘halfback vs five-eighth’ debate, not worried about what number will be on Dylan Brown's back and says he'd have no issue having him directing the team if that's the best fit
- Says Ponga, Dom, Crossland, Frizell were training at the COE today when he got there
- Plans to sit down with O'Sullivan today to discuss the roster and what they may need but says the nucleus is all there
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
frankLauda
Steve Simpson
Lefty
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
HGV created the Sack AOB thread on 1 May 2022.
From memory (which isn’t that great) AOB was given a decent period of grace before we started calling from a change of coach.
After an initial setting in period, I think the majority of fans will be patient, if they can see some progress is being made. If the team is trying to play an attacking game and is committed in defence, I will be patient. We can’t expect a sudden turnaround.
Manly Beach is a good place to sit in the sun.
mullenmagic
Andrew 'Joey' Johns
Listed as Manly's attack/outside backs coach this year
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Mate we’re an ugly, gritty team. When you have Kalyn Ponga, Dylan Brown, Bradman Best, Dom Young, Dylan Lucas and Fletcher Sharpe, you have to get into the grind and hope.
Newygirl
Todd Bates
Yes KP and Dom known defensive powerhouses.
I especially loved it when we tried to out-grind Penrith, despite the fact that the only teams that have come close to beating them in a GF were both all out attacking teams.
If you can’t score points, then your defence has to be so good you keep your opposition to zero. That wa never happening. Conversely many teams kept our attack to zero. I lost count of scoreless halves in the hand but I’m pretty sure it was a lot
Junior
Dean Carney
apparently he’s signed on now, attacking coach, all but confirms greens exit/change of role
MBQLD
Adam Woolnough
I’m actually properly excited for next year now. Yes we have a lot of the usual guys there but the place badly needed a freshen up. New coaches, new ideas, new approach and a handful of handy pick ups and all of a sudden there’s a different team running out in the red and blue.
Never in all of my years supporting this club did I switch off games let alone a good 10 or more within 15mins. Not because we sucked or were losing but we looked boring, looked tired, often looked disinterested and disengaged. Can handle a loss if the team has a crack but the warriors game was the last time that actually happened. A guy on the weekend asked me who I supported and he actually laughed like a stupid ****ing clown when I told him who. Hopefully that changes.
Onto bigger and better now.
Never in all of my years supporting this club did I switch off games let alone a good 10 or more within 15mins. Not because we sucked or were losing but we looked boring, looked tired, often looked disinterested and disengaged. Can handle a loss if the team has a crack but the warriors game was the last time that actually happened. A guy on the weekend asked me who I supported and he actually laughed like a stupid ****ing clown when I told him who. Hopefully that changes.
Onto bigger and better now.
Thieves Like Us
Aaron Grainger
I’m with you! New season optimism on steroids!I’m actually properly excited for next year now. Yes we have a lot of the usual guys there but the place badly needed a freshen up. New coaches, new ideas, new approach and a handful of handy pick ups and all of a sudden there’s a different team running out in the red and blue.
Never in all of my years supporting this club did I switch off games let alone a good 10 or more within 15mins. Not because we sucked or were losing but we looked boring, looked tired, often looked disinterested and disengaged. Can handle a loss if the team has a crack but the warriors game was the last time that actually happened. A guy on the weekend asked me who I supported and he actually laughed like a stupid ****ing clown when I told him who. Hopefully that changes.
Onto bigger and better now.
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Feels like a good appointment? Manly's attack has generally been good. Feel like Brooks got a bit better since arriving there too.
frankLauda
Steve Simpson
Confirmed Justin Hales on zero tackle. I feel we’ve lost a bit losing McDermott and Green. Our defence was good most of the year until the team put the cue in the rack. And if there’s any truth that Greens attacking strategies were being stunted by AOB then losing him is not great either. IDK I liked Green as a player.
You can look at as a clean slate, I just think AOB was screwing up our attacking, to be this type of team. I’m laying blame to AOB not Green. I could be wrong though.
You can look at as a clean slate, I just think AOB was screwing up our attacking, to be this type of team. I’m laying blame to AOB not Green. I could be wrong though.
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I think slots kind of nailed it when he said something to the effect of, no personal animus towards Blake, but if he was all in on the Ponga halfback/first receiver/Brown + Sharpe 'hybrid halves' idea, if he didn't push back on it at all, not upset to see him go.
We don't know how much of it was him. We don't know if he was actually against it and got overruled. We don't know if the problems with the attack are actually AOB's meddling. But we can't be 100% certain that he wasn't a believer in it, or even the one who pushed for it. So, yeah, not bothered about him leaving. There are a lot of well-credentialed attack coaches.
We also know that he had his loathsome agent trying to bully the club into giving him the job, we know he then pivoted to a Cheika/Green succession plan and media campaign, and we know that he looked for the exit door the moment he didn't get his way.
The new coach is going to bring different ideas and a different approach. Probably for the best that he picks assistants that he knows are aligned with that vision. Also, we appointed Holbrook in the hopes he'd be here for the long haul, not as the interim coach in a succession plan, so it's probably for the best that he not have a bloke who openly covets his job breathing down his neck.
And it's probably for the best that Blake goes to Manly to join the Isaac Moses takeover of that club, because I think Isaac's worn out his welcome in the Hunter. Nothing personal, just think we're changing directions.
We don't know how much of it was him. We don't know if he was actually against it and got overruled. We don't know if the problems with the attack are actually AOB's meddling. But we can't be 100% certain that he wasn't a believer in it, or even the one who pushed for it. So, yeah, not bothered about him leaving. There are a lot of well-credentialed attack coaches.
We also know that he had his loathsome agent trying to bully the club into giving him the job, we know he then pivoted to a Cheika/Green succession plan and media campaign, and we know that he looked for the exit door the moment he didn't get his way.
The new coach is going to bring different ideas and a different approach. Probably for the best that he picks assistants that he knows are aligned with that vision. Also, we appointed Holbrook in the hopes he'd be here for the long haul, not as the interim coach in a succession plan, so it's probably for the best that he not have a bloke who openly covets his job breathing down his neck.
And it's probably for the best that Blake goes to Manly to join the Isaac Moses takeover of that club, because I think Isaac's worn out his welcome in the Hunter. Nothing personal, just think we're changing directions.
Hard Yards
Adrian Bubb
Here’s some historic sh* thouse to penthouse stats for long suffering Knights tragics ( me included ) to consider there may be better times ahead
2001 Penrith wooden spooners - 2003 Premiers
2002 Bulldogs wooden spooners ( salary cap ). - 2004 Premiers
2009 Roosters wooden spooners - 2010 grand finalists
2014 Sharks wooden spooners - 2016 Premiers
2020 Broncos wooden spooners- 2023 grand finalists
There are others as well, so why not the Knights in 3-4 years with a new front office and football department and with Wests money . It’s doable.
2001 Penrith wooden spooners - 2003 Premiers
2002 Bulldogs wooden spooners ( salary cap ). - 2004 Premiers
2009 Roosters wooden spooners - 2010 grand finalists
2014 Sharks wooden spooners - 2016 Premiers
2020 Broncos wooden spooners- 2023 grand finalists
There are others as well, so why not the Knights in 3-4 years with a new front office and football department and with Wests money . It’s doable.