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I like Brian Smith. I'd even keep him in some role within the Club. He is good for the joint- doing something but not Head Coach.
But it is becoming clear to me that he doesn't have that key quality the elite coaches have of making good players better and effectively growing class kids into top first graders.
Bennett has it, Hasler, obviously Bellamy, Cleary. I reckon the bloke before Bennett at Newcastle had it, same with Griffin.
People who say that our current massive problems in both attack and defence are about poor players and will bag them regularly (including me). My question is -if it's only about players why is there a coach?
Are the Storm 40 points a better team on paper ? No. So what's the difference ? I have no doubt that their team coached by Brian Smith would slowly slide - incentive for a Cronk to stay diminishes - oblivion in 5 years.
When the problems start extending right across the team - forwards and backs, in defence and in attack, then the problem is greater than the players.
We're not getting the basics right. We are the only team in the comp who presents no danger at all when we are in the opponents 20. We have nothing.
In my view Gallen is the equal all-round best player in the world alongside Marshall, Slater and Thurston. But he doesn't have the raw talent that the rest have. His extraordinary ability lies in his fitness, his commitment and his will to win. Hindmarsh had it as well. Luke Lewis. Dallas Johnson had it. Brad MacKay had it. Bunny Reilly. Hussey has it in cricket. The very best was Horrie.
I reckon that a guy like FPN could be coached to become a player like that. Same with Mose. Kennedy. Cordner. BJ Leulia.
A coach in my view makes little difference to a Slater. I could coach him and he'd still be a freak. But these other blokes need a Bellamy or a Bennett.
Imagine a player like Tariq Sims at Melbourne or Cordner. They'd be SOO in 12 months. Here they'd stay just good first graders.
That's the difference a coach makes. We don't have it. Uncle Nick knew it and went after Bennett. Sad about that.
But it is becoming clear to me that he doesn't have that key quality the elite coaches have of making good players better and effectively growing class kids into top first graders.
Bennett has it, Hasler, obviously Bellamy, Cleary. I reckon the bloke before Bennett at Newcastle had it, same with Griffin.
People who say that our current massive problems in both attack and defence are about poor players and will bag them regularly (including me). My question is -if it's only about players why is there a coach?
Are the Storm 40 points a better team on paper ? No. So what's the difference ? I have no doubt that their team coached by Brian Smith would slowly slide - incentive for a Cronk to stay diminishes - oblivion in 5 years.
When the problems start extending right across the team - forwards and backs, in defence and in attack, then the problem is greater than the players.
We're not getting the basics right. We are the only team in the comp who presents no danger at all when we are in the opponents 20. We have nothing.
In my view Gallen is the equal all-round best player in the world alongside Marshall, Slater and Thurston. But he doesn't have the raw talent that the rest have. His extraordinary ability lies in his fitness, his commitment and his will to win. Hindmarsh had it as well. Luke Lewis. Dallas Johnson had it. Brad MacKay had it. Bunny Reilly. Hussey has it in cricket. The very best was Horrie.
I reckon that a guy like FPN could be coached to become a player like that. Same with Mose. Kennedy. Cordner. BJ Leulia.
A coach in my view makes little difference to a Slater. I could coach him and he'd still be a freak. But these other blokes need a Bellamy or a Bennett.
Imagine a player like Tariq Sims at Melbourne or Cordner. They'd be SOO in 12 months. Here they'd stay just good first graders.
That's the difference a coach makes. We don't have it. Uncle Nick knew it and went after Bennett. Sad about that.