I agree with the comment by UTS that the appointment screams of "cheap" and I would have been far more comfortable with a "known" appointment. It is a hell of a risk at a time when, arguably we can't afford to take risks.

However, I feel willing to give Rob a fair go - to be honest none of us know what he'll be like as head coach - he is untried at the level and he'll either sink or swim. Like Under The Sticks, I have my season ticket and will be there screaming my support.

Good Luck Rob

What makes everyone think Rob is the cheap option. I would have thought the coaching position was advertised with a salary scale in the same format as any other business vacancy. Rob may be a great bloke, the new signings may be great people but this is not going to build the club. As much as we love the sport at the end of the day it is a buisness and I cannot see us making headroom with the close season signings. How I would love to be proved wrong. I will still support the team and have purchased my season ticket but at this moment in time I don't see progression just much of a muchness and the fanfare for signings and coach naming has been as always a deflating ballon.

That defeats your argument I'm afraid

I can see that it's easy to criticise his appointment, but I dont know anything of his coaching style or ability and Im willing to give him a fair go and not pre-judge him. He's got to be better than Mac, and I cant quite believe Leeds have Mac and Lowes as their two top coaches. Recruitment already looks more sensible and well thought out than it ever seemed under Mac, he speaks sensibly and calmly (unlike Mac) and not in coaching cliches (unlike Noble and Mcnamara). Lets wait and see, but I feel fairly positive about his appointment.

This generation of Northern English coaches arent up to much in my opinion and unless there was a Morgan or Brown type knocking on the door I think Rob could be the next best thing.

i'd like to think he can't be any worse than brian mcdermott but if he is there'll soon be a facebook group: throw in the towel, powell

I've been trying to think of something like that all weekend. Cheers.

Like how you make a very selective choice from the quote, wonder if we will ever see you think and feel Positive, in fact have you ever been throughout the years of the club, I know I have!

So in the context of Rob Powell's appointment, let's look at thew other side of the coin. With the sort of squad we have, who could do much? Would Wayne Bennett have been able to keep us out of the bottom 2 with the current squad.

Of course I wish Rob well, and no doubt he will become a better coach from the experience. However, for me it's just another step in the decline of the club. For some while I've not been able to see where any positive change in the club's fortunes would come from. Regrettably, there is nothing about the forthcoming season that leads me to believe otherwise.

I'm curious ... why do you find that a strange decision?

From a Saints' fan's POV, it's a risky move given the club's (and fans') overall expectations, following on from the success of the Daniel Anderson era. However, like every other club we are constrained by finances and a lot of the directors' cash has been ploughed into preparations for the new stadium, which looks like it might actually happen at last (pending no further credit crunches or economic downturns). No doubt an assistant coach could be bought at a lower price than a proven first grade coach. I'm sure finances had a part to play in Saints' choice of new coach. However, McManus has also mentioned Simmons' ability to connect with players and fans (something our previous coach entirely failed to do - well, with the fans anyway; can't say about the players, obviously) and also the desire for expansive, attacking rugby, and Simmons has served under Tim Sheens at club, Origin and national level. Wests Tigers have the reputation of playing the most expansive attacking rugby in the NRL. So I suppose given our financial constraints and given the criteria McManus/the Board appear to have used for the post, in theory at least Simmons fits the bill perfectly.

From an outsider's POV, I would have thought Quins would have opted for a proven first grade coach, probably from down under, given the slide in league placings in recent seasons. However, that may be more to do with the number of inexperienced players you have been using; inexperienced players who now have some experience under their belts (and that does make a difference). If Rob Powell can do something with your defence, there is no reason at all why Quins shouldn't be up there competing next season because with a bit of confidence back in the side Quins could pull of some great attacking moves. Their defence, however, always seemed to let them down.

Haven't for the past 2 years and I've been spot on. Was heavily criticized this year last time for predicting a dreadful season and I was correct.

Given our financial circumstances I think his appointment is a reasonable one. Until we get some major investment in the playing squad we are going to find it very tough to attract a proven top-drawer coach (or even an up and coming NRL assistant for that matter). With this in mind, I would rather we gave someone who has progressed through the ranks in London a chance to show us what he can do than bring in a journeyman from the North or Australia who doesn't share the same commitment to RL in the Capital.

He may lack wider experience but he should have a very good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of our squad and of the younger players who will be coming through in the next year or two. If, as has been stated in the press, he really does have the support of the senior players then he may well be capable of getting the team playing to its potential (however limited that may be given the lack of strength in depth).

I don't know much about his abilities on the training ground but his lack of top-level playing experience shouldn't be a barrier to being successful - Mourinho and Wenger didn't win many trophies in their playing careers but they've not done badly as coaches in the round-balll game.

Anyway, only time will tell. Good luck Rob (you'll need it given the amount of pessimism on here!)

I find it amusing you wasted your time typing all that out.

Nobody cares.

i do

I enjoyed typing it out, but thanks for your concern anyway. However, I wasn't asking you the question. If someone on your site finds my club's choice of coach strange, which they did do, then I might well ask why and provide possible reasons.


That's fine. I care about your choice of coach because I am not parochial but care about rugby league as a sport. I am interested in your club's choice of coach and will be looking forward to seeing what he can do with Quins next season. Apparently, in the annals of history, Saints did something similar in choosing a coach who had hardly played the sport and who no-one knew but turned out to be an exceptional coach who brought us silverware. So you never know; your untried newbie could be the making of Quins RL. But instead of interpreting my post as a genuine interest in the success of Quins you could try to insult me all over again if you like. But make a better effort at it next time, will you? Your last attempt was feeble.