Adam Hartigan

[Bronte Chook]

Does anyone know much about the U/20's coach?
Last week we obviously lost to second last placed Titans and the week before we lost to last placed St Merge and they'd only won 2 games all year.
Is it uncommon for Holden Cup coaches to be sacked during the season?

[2026]

Our Holden Cup side is running 6th, hardly a sackable offence.

[Rooster_6]

There was a huge turnover of 20s players into 2015 so 6th is pretty good.

Young players by nature are inconsistent so it's hard as an outsider to really judge where the blame should lay.

Then there's the whole argument of results Vs development, what's more important?

[Chooky]

With the games I have watched. The problem is there is no game plan. They play only half the field and mainly attack on the left, the halves and hooker all follow this same way, so the right side does not see the ball, it makes the team have less attacking advantage and involvement. They are basically playing with 11 players because of this. There are boys who will not pass and not playing as a team, they keep the ball amongst themselves with their mates. Players are not picked for the right positions and then constant changes are made during the game with players who are not the best selected for those positions. A close friend to this has told me players have spoken to the coach about some problems and some have wanted to change playing positions, they have been told NO and they have been told .... to sort it out yourself with the other players, which is falling on deaf ears. Its a very unhappy team and some players are wanting out because of this

[Burnt Rooster]

Its touch football only, the defence in the 20's is deplorable

[Game Fowl]

With the games I have watched. The problem is there is no game plan. They play only half the field and mainly attack on the left, the halves and hooker all follow this same way, so the right side does not see the ball, it makes the team have less attacking advantage and involvement. They are basically playing with 11 players because of this. There are boys who will not pass and not playing as a team, they keep the ball amongst themselves with their mates. Players are not picked for the right positions and then constant changes are made during the game with players who are not the best selected for those positions. A close friend to this has told me players have spoken to the coach about some problems and some have wanted to change playing positions, they have been told NO and they have been told .... to sort it out yourself with the other players, which is falling on deaf ears. Its a very unhappy team and some players are wanting out because of this

Chooky this assessment seems plausible as it was the same impression I got of their "Game Plan" when watching them play on the weekend , it was obvious that something is amiss.

The Passing to the Left side syndrome is pretty common amongst footballers as most have a dominant right hand and prefer to pass Left to Right , even the FG hooker has this tendancy and that is why most attacking players are stacked on the left and Defensive players work the right of the field.

If there are issues with personnel and that is the response from the Coach then it shows a big shortfall in coaching ability.

Most coaches are man managers and would take this head on, as nothing drives a team apart quicker than annexure and isolation - inclusionism is the fundamental basis of Teamwork.

I have basically given up watching 20s as there is no emphasis on Defense and it is becoming a Tryfest competition.

[Chooky]

Chooky this assessment seems plausible as it was the same impression I got of their "Game Plan" when watching them play on the weekend , it was obvious that something is amiss.

The Passing to the Left side syndrome is pretty common amongst footballers as most have a dominant right hand and prefer to pass Left to Right , even the FG hooker has this tendancy and that is why most attacking players are stacked on the left and Defensive players work the right of the field.

If there are issues with personnel and that is the response from the Coach then it shows a big shortfall in coaching ability.

Most coaches are man managers and would take this head on, as nothing drives a team apart quicker than annexure and isolation - inclusionism is the fundamental basis of Teamwork.

I have basically given up watching 20s as there is no emphasis on Defense and it is becoming a Tryfest competition.

I have a mate who has a kid in the team and I have bumped into and spoken to a few of the players myself asking whats happening ? They have said, the coach is not an approachable person to ask him things and he has told some kids if you're not happy , you can go play park footy for Kingsgrove. Players aren't happy with some players and the coach. I think some of the boys are just holding out to the end of the season and then getting their managers to find them new clubs. Which is sad and shouldn't be the case. The team is basically not coached properly, players not in correct positions, players being changed around on the field. The coach has favourites and those players get looked after, as the talent is there. The right side is only getting the ball passed to them on average twice in the whole 80 mins, compared to our first grade side where the ball comes out well to both sides on the edges and we then have a better strike plan and the opposition does not know what's happening as the ball is not just going one way all the time, every week

[davos]

There was a huge turnover of 20s players into 2015 so 6th is pretty good.

Young players by nature are inconsistent so it's hard as an outsider to really judge where the blame should lay.

Then there's the whole argument of results Vs development, what's more important?

Yeah that's true. Manly have had some of the best young talent come in from the their 20s side over the last 5-10 years, even though their U20s side has been consistently bad throughout many of those years.

The opposite can be said of the warriors who have failed to win any NRL silverwear but consistently are the best u20s squad.

The u20's comp is really there to gauge the individual standouts amoungst any team. At least 90% of the players in every year won't make it to first grade.I'd say the players who can make it from our current team are obviously SOH and L.Mitchell, maybe Shaq Mitchell(for latrell's sake) , and maybe Joseph Manu. The rest are long shots or will have to bide their time at wyong to eventually get a shot.

[Chooky]

Yeah that's true. Manly have had some of the best young talent come in from the their 20s side over the last 5-10 years, even though their U20s side has been consistently bad throughout many of those years.

The opposite can be said of the warriors who have failed to win any NRL silverwear but consistently are the best u20s squad.

The u20's comp is really there to gauge the individual standouts amoungst any team. At least 90% of the players in every year won't make it to first grade.I'd say the players who can make it from our current team are obviously SOH and L.Mitchell, maybe Shaq Mitchell(for latrell's sake) , and maybe Joseph Manu. The rest are long shots or will have to bide their time at wyong to eventually get a shot.

The whole team has good talent and a lot of players have representation honours . But the best is not coming out of them at the moment, because they are not coached properly and being utilised properly. I have watched all our u20s , before our first grade comes on and its rubbish and I feel for the boys and their families. Players like Joseph M look good when the ball gets into their hands all the time but put him on the right edge with Johnny and they wouldn't see it, just like the other 2 players there. I am hearing some boys want to play for Wyong now for the rest of the season but would be surprised to see any boys turning up to Wyong next season as they will probably be leaving for new clubs

[theGman]

Yeah that's true. Manly have had some of the best young talent come in from the their 20s side over the last 5-10 years, even though their U20s side has been consistently bad throughout many of those years.

The opposite can be said of the warriors who have failed to win any NRL silverwear but consistently are the best u20s squad.

The u20's comp is really there to gauge the individual standouts amoungst any team. At least 90% of the players in every year won't make it to first grade.I'd say the players who can make it from our current team are obviously SOH and L.Mitchell, maybe Shaq Mitchell(for latrell's sake) , and maybe Joseph Manu. The rest are long shots or will have to bide their time at wyong to eventually get a shot.

Three more standouts to add. Hooker Grant Garvey, 5/8 Connor Watson & half/hooker Joey Lussick.

[2026]

Three more standouts to add. Hooker Grant Garvey, 5/8 Connor Watson & half/hooker Joey Lussick.

I like Lussick.

He has i big future.

[Chooky]

Garvey is a good player and tough. Lussick is known by a lot of people that he can only pass one way. Watson thinks he is a winger and doesn't need to pass the ball , not good for a 5/8 can't do it in first grade

[Guest]

I love the fact there are so many keyboard warriors on this page. You honestly have no idea about NRL and Holden Cup. You claim to know someone who knows the players. You live in a fairly land where you dream of being a groupie. The Holden Cup team is going well. You talk about strategy as if you have coached a decent grade before. Write about things you know.

[Pass the Ball]

I love the fact there are so many keyboard warriors on this page. You honestly have no idea about NRL and Holden Cup. You claim to know someone who knows the players. You live in a fairly land where you dream of being a groupie. The Holden Cup team is going well. You talk about strategy as if you have coached a decent grade before. Write about things you know.

I'm glad you have joined the Chookpen Mr Hartigan...

[Rooster8888]

I have a mate who has a kid in the team and I have bumped into and spoken to a few of the players myself asking whats happening ? They have said, the coach is not an approachable person to ask him things and he has told some kids if you're not happy , you can go play park footy for Kingsgrove. Players aren't happy with some players and the coach. I think some of the boys are just holding out to the end of the season and then getting their managers to find them new clubs. Which is sad and shouldn't be the case. The team is basically not coached properly, players not in correct positions, players being changed around on the field. The coach has favourites and those players get looked after, as the talent is there. The right side is only getting the ball passed to them on average twice in the whole 80 mins, compared to our first grade side where the ball comes out well to both sides on the edges and we then have a better strike plan and the opposition does not know what's happening as the ball is not just going one way all the time, every week

Mate I've never had an issue with him to be honest see him at the ground and ask questions always happy to answer them and he is also on Twitter and answer questions on there as well