I was wondering when you'd appear. Getting harder and harder to defend Powell, isn't it?

I don't see any possible way Powell can continue. He's the wrong man and everyone knows it. the corrections you've made notwithstanding, he simply has to go. He's not up to it.

Like it or loathe it Bronco's are stuck with Rob Powell until at least the end of his contract.

As I said, I disagree with that opinion, but there's no doubt that something's not working atm. I just take the view that it's down to rather more than simply the coach.

Anyway, as Simmons discovered at Saints, ultimately the coach of any sport is held responsible for results. Inescapable. Also inescapable that Broncos' results have been below expectations given the much-vaunted claim that they're spending up to the cap this year. It's a tough time for everyone - supporters, club staff, players, owner and coach. Tough enough, without blaming the poor bugger for off-field issues which are transparently not his doing.

Supporters are entitled to their opinions. I don't have to like those opinions, and you don't have to like mine. What I don't like is when different opinions prompt personal abuse. That pack mentality which turns aggressively against any sort of difference is not healthy.

Your posts are painful to read. However, I haven't seen any aggression on here whatsoever, I think that's all in your head because 95% of the forum disagrees with you. And like you have alluded to, that's just tough really and everyone has to get on with it rather than being hyper sensitive about things.

Hello Roy

It is always a pleasure to hear from you.

I know Karl Temata and he was granted a one year extension by Powell. The negotiation wasn't concluded until the end of the season but he was in talks and told me on the plane to Catalans. I like Karl but at 34 was not a better bet than Wilko who wanted 3 years.

Andy Ellis was offered a deal very early in the season but chose to wait for a better offer. After a while the offer was withdrawn without a further negotiation. This was not expected by Andy. Good communications were missing and I suspect the CEO was at least partly responsible. I know Andy also and that was his view. It doesn't justify the re-signing of Randall or Rinaldi either.

David Hughes works full time in South Kensington near my wife's former workplace so he would not be full time in admin or rubber stamping so cannot be blamed for Powell's folly. Powell surely knows the backgrounds of all the players as he has been at the club since January 2007 and before then as a helper before McGrath quit.

Hickey is an Australian trained in Australia there is no ambiguity but if there was any doubt releasing Randall instead of offering 2 more years was the sensible option, as with regret Howell had more contract

Easy brother
Rammo

Beyond satire.

I think you underestimate the role David Hughes plays in player recruitment and retention - not the admin, but the decisions. Not a surprise given it's basically his money.

It's clear that bot Roy and mark have a good understanding about the club and the game itself. 95% of people disagree with Roy. So he's the bad guy apparently. If people could try and divorce themselves from the emotion behind it all, they may see that what he says isn't actually as bad as they may think it is. As for Andy Ellis. I have to say I am aware of much, much worse both here in Oz and indeed with London Broncos/Quins in the past. Think about it rationally and not emotionally. He was offered something. HE chose not to take it straight away. The club withdraw any offer. He could have taken it, he chose not to on first offering. He missed out. Is that good management or bad management?

I know players over here who'd love to be offered a contract early on in a season. The best example of which is Vic Mauro. Vic had just won a premiership and played in the Grand Final for Manly. He only got to sign a new contract during this off season.

With the benefit of hindsight we could probably have retained Andy Ellis if the management's communication had been better. In my opinion this is bad management, especially when considering the options we do have at hooker.

But you're using hindsight. Put yourself in the club's shoes at that time of happening. The geezer didn't want to sign for us straight away. What message would you take from that?

That he was a promising young player with ambitions to advance his career at a bigger club. We need to be prepared to fight to retain such talent and not get the hump when they take their time to look for other options. It could be argued that what transpired was an outcome where both sides lost out.

Spot on. Hardly the first time and by no means the last time a player has had the gall to consider his options rather than sign the first deal put in front of him. I don't think Ellis lost out much, he had probably worked out by the end of the season what was going on (see Mark Rammonds summary of which rounds we were defeated in) and didn't want to stifle his career by working under such a poor coach.

Maybe it was good management as the coach had decided the style of play would be to go wide early rather than pick and go which was Ellis's strength.(Just a thought that maybe has been overlooked-He has brought in stacks of wingers!) The one trick pony Higham at Wire has been shipped out of many a club due to his pick and go style not suiting the coaches intent.(He is a proven international)

Rammond-Turn that into a thesis of conjecture, statistics and non rugby league nonsense as per your norm

Good post.

I've said before, it was a crying shame Ellis left - for whatever reason - as we look a poorer team without him. I'm afraid I don't have the confidence (or respect) for the people behind the scenes to believe the theory that he left as part of some 'grand plan'