Quote: sally cinnamon "It does seem like Powell has come up against an attempt for "player power" to try to resist his attempt to overhaul things, probably because they preferred things the way they were before.
In a competitive environment like professional sport if you have players trying to undermine the coach the team is going to lose. The players will know that if the losses mount up, the coach's position is more under threat than theirs is. Often players will win this battle as they can swing public opinion against the coach through keeping losing and through releasing breadcrumbs through friends on social media about how the coach has lost the dressing room.
The only way the coach can get through it is if he has the full backing of the board, is willing to suck up criticism and keep focused on ridding the squad of the players who aren't on board and get to the other side.
The interesting thing to watch is how the players who get moved on perform at their next clubs and which if any play at a level which makes us think "that's a Grand Final winning standard player right there and we messed up by moving him on". Might happen with Cooper. Anyone else?'"
In fairness, the players you accuse of undermining the coach, throwing games, trying to get him sacked, we have not heard their voice.
So why listen to one side of the story from the coach who has confessed that he was not equipped to handle the challenge he says he was given by the directors.
Looking at experienced players, the so called bad apples, like Cooper, Widdop and Charnley, all shipped out appeared to be no worse than the likes of Holmes and Matautia who the coach brought in as examples of what he wants from his players.
There may be a number of reasons why people don't get on with their boss. One reason could be being told that he doesn't rate you and he will move you on asap. Another could be his communication and listening skills are poor, do it my way or else.
You say players can throw a few breadcrumbs of info to friends designed to undermine the coach. What about the coach giving his sob story to the local rag about what a hard season he has had? He can't have it both ways, it has to be fair on both sides.
We will see how the team progresses, hopefully, the lessons Powell has said he has learned will improve his coaching skills and we will have a successful season. And the players who have been moved on, I wish them the best too.
