Quote: Gazwire "Every coach, even the greatest coaches, at some point in their careers haven't won anything of note. Club boards will have identified potential in a coach and given them the gig. We're all hoping this is the club where he'll have the resources to win the big one, where at Castleford, he over-achieved.
Cooper is nearing the end of his career where he's spent most of his time at Warrington, probably the highest spending club, yet hasn't won the big one along with many other 'renowned' players. So I think Powell has every right to justify making changes given that we've fallen short due to, in part, complacency.
Cooper has always been a top performer for us and at the start of the season, I'd guess, he'd hold more influence over the other players than anyone else, given his Warrington roots and his pedigree. Rather than make it difficult for the new coach and undermine him with regards to the proposed changes, he should have gotten on board out of respect to the club and its fans. Cooper is a top player but he isn't coach. What right has he to question the credentials and coaching methods of Powell.
The other major issue is that; which coach could we have potentially recruited with Grand Final winning experience - Brian Noble, Brian Mcdermot, Iain Millward? The only other possibility was Shaun Wayne who stated on Sky Sports at the beginning of the season that 'its a tough job Warrington'. I wonder why that is? Did he foresee the same problems Powell is encountering now? We're the biggest spenders and have been for years, yet Shaun Wayne said this. I don't think he would gave come anyway.
Who else would have been a realistic appointment given that the fans wanted 'entertaining' rugby with a coach who has a track record of improving teams and individual players? if the club were to sack him now, who would we bring in?'"
If you’re going to say something like that (if it is true) then you need to be able to back it up, otherwise it’s misplaced arrogance. It’s antagonist without having a point to make. I’m not asking for kid gloves, but if you’re going to say something stupid, back it up.
On the point of reasonable alternatives, at the time of appointing Powell the coaches either available or in the final year of their contract included: Wane, McDermott, Bellamy, Bennett and Flanagan. Assistants in “good systems” included Fitzgibon, King, Wellens. So if you want someone to come in and say “you’ve not done it, and I’m here to show you how” literally ANY of those are better placed. If you want someone to improve players and get them to win it (as we were led to believe) then Powell is fine as an appointment, but he isn’t doing that job, Bullock aside individuals have gone backwards or have been replaced.
That is my point on transparency with the fans. The club have let Powell down, we should have been told that the club has been poorly governed and that we need to brace ourselves for a rocky start as a significant overhaul is absolutely necessary.