Cullen walked on water as far as most fans were concerned. He had the full backing of Moran and could basically have done as he pleased. He is bitter about losing his dream job when he simply wasn't up to it. He should have walked after the HKR defeat in the cup. I cannot believe some people want to exclude him from blame when it comes to talking about the so called 'culture' at the club.

I think it was more that Cullen was strong enough but the board wouldn't allow Paul to remove the bad apples for fear of bad press.

yep the news of the world incident springs to mind.

Why would it create bad press? If you sacked a player and told everyone the reasons why, it would show you to be a strong leader who was not to be messed with. The fact is, he wasn't.

Paul Cullen wanted to sack a player, the board wouldn't let him.

Can I say it any other way that you will understand, Paul Cullen had his hands tied by those higher up.

Ok, so why didn't he just drop the alleged player? He was still in charge of team selection, wasn't he? Or did the board pick the team too?

contracts and politics

i think you'd be surprised about the way he feels about warrington i bumped into him and asked him about coaching and that and he didn't launch into some anti warrington tirade but from what i heard he seemed to have a pretty bad taste in his mouth when it came to warrington

obviously he won't have forgotten they were his boyhood club etc etc but i don't think he has much passion for wire anymore

and i don't blame him i have no idea what went on behind the scenes but the way the "fans" bayed for his blood it upset me (after idolising cullen as a young lad) so i can't imagine how he felt

So he was forced to put a player's name on the team sheet? I'm not having that.

Moe. I am pretty sure that coaches before Cullen have been forced to play players.

Maybe in the past other players have done things they shouldn't and the club might have covered them up. when you try to get rid of other players they threaten to blow the house of cards down on everything that has gone on.

I didnt expect that reply from PC and had to do a double take. I dont think he sounds bitter just trying to enhance his reputation and putting the blame for our failings firmly on the toes of others.

Somebody brought up the Logan Swan thing again the other day and the way he retracted what he said makes me think that we have a very efficient public relations department.

Good post - I didn't see Boots, but you're spot on regarding 'we'll make a story out of this if you answer and if you don't'

As an outsider looking in, I took Cullens reply to be that his advice and recomendations were not put in place, maybe someone higher up wouldn't allow him to do what he wanted. What I would say to this tho in defence of the club, if this was the case Cullen should have set an ultimatum and walked not wait til the tide had turned against him and he was seen as the cause.

On the note that he should have walked after the HKR cup defeat, If I remember correctly he dropped Briers on the day of the game (if rumours are to be believed due to the night before) then this was cited as the reason for the loss, suppose a coach can't win...

And taking that a step further; should the players be aware that their coach is impotent regarding personel, they can do as they like without any fear of reprisal. It could create a team of highly paid prima donnas who turn up for the big games & can't be bothered against the also rans.

It would also explain why a team can win 8 on the trot, followed by loosing 8 on the trot when the training is effectively the same.

Come on you know nothing about Tony Smith yet you just instantly believe he will sort it. How "strong" was Tony Smith in his role as England Coach?

Paul Cullens answer on Boots'n'All was one of the smartest answers I've ever heard from a pundit.

Basically he told you everything you need to know without actually naming names.

So I will spell it out. You have a board who don't listen and don't action what the coaching staff require. I don't know but I suspect that some of your directors consider themselves RL men and have far to much of a say in who gets signed, let go, paid to much, paid to little and shown to much respect. Again I don't know but I can imagine some star struck hangers on are so impressed by certain players they become mates and thus factions are created. It's an old problem in our game and it's the reason why money doesn't always bring success.

Cullen may not be Wayne Bennett but he is a decent coach, however to me he has had the look of a man who knew he was being undermined from above and below for a while. If you think Smith will fair any better long term you may well be disappointed.