Potter was massively disliked at Saints, I think they would have given him the boot and he knew it. The emergance of so many young players this year means his stock actually went up after he'd gone.

He will probably end up in the NRL, but as has been said it will only happen after he's turned it round with us.

Schofield said in 2009 he had it on good authority McNamara will be sacked after we lose to Saints at Knowsley road. Neither happened.

that was daniel andersons team he inherited...the one that gets to old trafford anyway..(and loses)

If Potter does go at the end of 2011 (which I doubt he will) then either promote Cummings to 1st team coach or get Noble back. Only problem with Noble is will he continue to bring in youth while recruiting high quality players?

Back to punditry now is he Schofield?

Seen as his coaching record makes McNamara look like Wayne Bennett, I wouldn't listen to a word he says.

TBH, I wouldn't believe Gary Schofield if he told me the sky was blue. As for his "opinions" and "knowledge" of RL? I think his coaching record speaks volumes on both scores really.

I must admit, I got quite excited when I read the words "Looking for a job in Aus...." Then felt terribly deflated when I reached "..according to Gary Schofield".

Never mind, we'll just have to wait until next year to get rid of the Messiah that never was.

Not true. Some people gave him credit for the young players while he was at Saints. At the time, I would only go so far as crediting him with integrating them into the team, when he really had no choice. But having seen the way Simmons has done it this season, when he too really has had no choice, I'd take Simmons' way over Potter's way any day.

When Jamie Foster won his try of the month award last month, he credited Matt Gidley with the improvement in his game, as Matt used to stay behind after training to help him develop. Jamie Foster was probably our most improved new player last season (only getting his debut halfway through the season). Take from that what you will.

What really divided Saints fans was the style of play Potter introduced (or some say furthered) at Saints and also that we looked fat and unfit, leaving us knackered in the second half. According to Flannery, Potter 'demands' that his players put on weight.

agree he if full of cr@p and doesn't really know anything.

Maybe it is wishful thinking on his behalf

might be angling for coach of bulls 2012

Afterall he did a great job at barrow

A very good player who should have become a great coach. But an ego the size of a country and arrogance that his talent can't back up means Schofield has failed epicly. Mind you Ian Millward was quite good....hmm

Fair to say that I stand corrected. On your last point, wouldn't the strength and conditioning guy decide about weight? We've got the world-class former Saints guy Geoff Evans with us, who got the players in outstanding shape ahead of the 2010 season (sadly without the performances to match).

You've cracked on under Simmons, but with Potter you still made 2 Grand Finals and a challenge cup, and made a massive transition in offloading Long. That was surely Potters call?

Seemed to be a lot of hype about him when he joined the club and he's highly qualified but the players don't -IMO- seem to be any better in terms of stamina when defending towrds the back end of each half than when Clawson was around. Against Leeds and Salford this gave the opposition a) the ability to get quick play the balls in and b) penalties and missed tackles to take advantage of.

I'll declare a bias here, he's allowing me in on sessions etc. and helping me out in my infancy as a conditioning coach. But as I'm in the industry I can tell you he's very highly thought of, I wasn't exagerating saying he's thought of as "world class" in his field.

To cut a long story short, we found ourselves playing catchup to the Leeds, Hudds and Saints of this world, who carried on the revolution our own Carl Jennings started in Rugby League. His methods were enhanced by sports scientists at other clubs. I'm pretty sure the errors you have mentioned are down to poor play and not that the players Evans has to work with are not in optimum shape.

Oh right. Well your more qualified to comment than I am.

Not under Potter, no. Chris Flannery stated categorically in the local newspaper this season that Potter insisted they put on weight. Simmons said just as he arrived here that our conditioner had asked him (Simmons) for a fitness and conditioning plan but Simmons said that it was up to him (the conditioner) to sort that as he (Simmons) wasn't the expert. While we appear to have picked up a ridiculous amount of injuries this season, they are almost all athletic style injuries - groins, hamstrings, ankles. They aren't the quads and other upper body muscle problems we had under Potter. We also can come back in games now whereas we would always fade in the second half, often hanging on for grim death! I prefer our sleaker, fitter, pacier Saints than what grew under Potter. But each to their own and maybe Potter has learned stuff from his time with us.


Not really. We made it to three Grand Finals on the trot under Daniel Anderson, but only won the first one (and we were knocked out of the CC semis both years under Potter). We still had Keiron Cunningham during Potter's time here plus Longy for the first season. And there was Leon, plus a raft of edge players who had been around for a few years. This season we have had to do it really new. Aside from Roby (who has been magnificent), Graham and Wellens, we have been relying heavily upon a lot of the young players as Leon has only played for three minutes and Kyle couldn't be bothered when he was on the pitch. To me, Simmons has shown his credentials as a coach because he has had to actually coach. He hasn't had what he called 'six internationals' to rely upon. He has had Roby, Jammer, Wello and TP. Gardner has had to be fired up and Meli is as lazy as always with the odd spot of brilliance. All the rest have either been crocked all season, young or new to the team.