Worst Coaching Decision Ever?

[HunchoRooster]

Now I know I get accused of hating on Robbo and being too negative, but this truly isn't the purpose of the thread. I want some opinions on both the Sam Walker situation and the history of the club/NRL in general.

The dropping of Sam Walker has proven to be one of the most bizarre, unsettling and tone deaf coaching decisions in recent memory. Cannot solely blame the season collapsing on that but it certainly has been a major catalyst. Not just for playing players out of position but basically undoing all the pre-season work we put in with our combinations and creating overall disharmony within the squad.

It got me thinking, is it the worst coaching decision in the history of our club? If not, give us some of your opinions and suggestions as to what was. Could be non-Roosters but preferably keep it Chooks themed.

I'm trying to think of other contenders for worst coaching decision but its escaping me so i'll go the room. Maybe playing Toops on the bench in a prelim? Retention and acquisition of players counts but I want to keep it largely coach themed, not board and club decision themed.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

Dropping Walker in hindsight clearly wasn't the best option but to say the worst ever is abit of an exaggeration. Didn't Robbo say a couple of weeks ago that the plan was to bring him back, but then he got injured.
I think Anasta to fullback was pretty dumb. Playing Hutch in the centres. The signing of Willie Mason. All worse

[HunchoRooster]

Dropping Walker in hindsight clearly wasn't the best option but to say the worst ever is abit of an exaggeration. Didn't Robbo say a couple of weeks ago that the plan was to bring him back, but then he got injured.
I think Anasta to fullback was pretty dumb. Playing Hutch in the centres. The signing of Willie Mason. All worse

All great (or not great) suggestions and arguably worse.

I think the fact that Robbo originally said he "needed to go away for a while and learn how to own a side and run a side" and then Walker gets injured after 40mins of reserve grade and the first grade side look like a directionless rabble and then Robbo changes his tune and says he will return (only for the injury to be more serious than first thought). If he was to return after only half a game of reserve grade, how could he have learned the lessons that were so valuable for him to get dropped in the first place? The whole thing was a complete sh-tshow and obviously his injury isn't a coaching error and is just the cherry on top of the sh-t sundae.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

All great (or not great) suggestions and arguably worse.

I think the fact that Robbo originally said he "needed to go away for a while and learn how to own a side and run a side" and then Walker gets injured after 40mins of reserve grade and the first grade side look like a directionless rabble and then Robbo changes his tune and says he will return (only for the injury to be more serious than first thought). If he was to return after only half a game of reserve grade, how could he have learned the lessons that were so valuable for him to get dropped in the first place? The whole thing was a complete sh-tshow and obviously his injury isn't a coaching error and is just the cherry on top of the sh-t sundae.

He was in reserves for more than just 40mins. It was a couple of games

[eddie]

Bob Fulton owns this.
Waiting to a semi final to decide to experiment by moving Marty Gurr to 5/8 and Schubert to fullback.

[HunchoRooster]

He was in reserves for more than just 40mins. It was a couple of games

It wasn't mate. He played 1 game against the Warriors, got a HIA and then rested for rest of the 2nd half.

Didn't play Magic Round against Souffs ressies due to "illness" (this was the round he had speculation that he met with Bennett and wanted a release) and was then a late withdrawal against the Riff the week after that. He hasn't played footy since Round 9 against Warriors ressies in NZ.

[ism22]

Worst ever decision? Look I disagreed with it at the time but it's not the first or last time that a coach has sacked a player to try and improve his performance. We weren't winning or gelling at the time, LOTS of people wanted to see Manu tested at #6 (heck - many on here saw that as a way of paying him $1m a season long-term) and difficult calls had to be made. It's disappointing that he then copped an almost season ending injury in reggies! Happens though.

Can't say it's up there with anything the Dragons, Tigpies and Doggies are doing. Ask their fans how we're having our worst season in a decade and are still nowhere near wooden spoon territory.

Calm the fark down peeps. The only thing I'm getting sick of is all the farking whinging and whining from so-called 'fans'!!!! UNITE... BACK YOUR FARKING TEAM... let Souffs fans do the heckling!

[Headless Chook]

It's hard to disagree but I wonder what is going on behind the scenes. If the answer is...nothing! Then yeah! A totally dumb decision

[dice]

I felt that Walker deserved a wakeup call after that Sharks game. The resultant injury has probably cost us two close games.

There have been many other things going on so I wouldn't blame the entire season on that one decision.

[elo]

Whilst it was a poor decision I don't think it's even been Trent's worse this season, let alone ever. (let's not forget the genius idea of Toops being on the bench in a final) He compounded the problem this season by moving players out of their optimal positions to fill the hole he created by dropping Walker.

The worst coaching decision in the history of the club? I have no idea what it is - I thought the treatment of Wingy by Ricky signing Finchy was real bad and likely ended up costing us 2 premierships and a three-peat but it's not like we still shouldn't have won at least the 2004 Grand Final, we were a 20 point better team in that first half and should have buried the Dirty Dogs.

Freddy's final season was obviously a disaster but he got stitched up by a whole bunch of players that didn't deserve to wear our colours so I don't blame him for his whacky selections such as Anasta at full-back etc.

Opes one marker ploy?

I dunno, not the dropping of Sammy but it's been a bad one.

[tloos1999]

I felt that Walker deserved a wakeup call after that Sharks game. The resultant injury has probably cost us two close games.

There have been many other things going on so I wouldn't blame the entire season on that one decision.

If Walker deserved a wake call after the Sharks game, then our so called senior leaders in Radley and Keary are 2-3 years overdue a wake up call.

[RoosterFanNZ]

Besmirching Aubos name by saying drew is the new aubo is the worst decision he’s made and something I can not forgive. Sackable offence in my humble opinion.

[Johnny73]

When he was coach of the Roosters Ricky Stuart saying to George Peponis: 'I've coached that Johnathan Thurston in second grade, he's too small. He'll never make it in first grade, I don't want him' is my pick as the stupidest coaching decision I've ever heard about.

A halves pairing of a nascent Jonathan Thurston and Brad Fittler went begging. At least they could have visited the East Leagues creche without a police escort.

[Lydon]

Dropping Sam Walker before the Anzac Day game was a horrible decision by Robinson!

On top of that,likening Drew Hutchison to Mitch Aubusson in the press conference was utter embarrassment and made me start questioning what Robinson is actually seeing..

So looking at the results after that,I can’t say I’m surprised..

[dice]

If Walker deserved a wake call after the Sharks game, then our so called senior leaders in Radley and Keary are 2-3 years overdue a wake up call.

You lost me with Keary. It wasn't about form. It was about high risk plays in tight games like the Walker intercept pass at halfway line when we weren't even in a scoring position.

Radley is a loose cannon who deserves a kick in the nuts for his headbutt and general petulant behaviour. I have no problem with Radley defending with aggression though and I hope it continues.