Quote: The Dentist Wilf "well all this certainly does make very interesting reading and it seems that we have all come to the same conclusion in that there is a malaise and culture at the heart of this group that has manifest in the very DNA of the team. It appears that it is one that engenders an attitude that win or lose their jobs are safe, that the next game is just another week, and an attitude of almost 'who cares', ....well we do!!
But it almost seems to reflect an attitude of bugger what the fans think or feel as the paying stakeholders of the club, we run the show. That's hard for me to say because I love this club but its what everyone really is thinking deep down isn't it? For me only a really tough uncompromising coach who is no respecter of reputations (A very salient point for me) can change things and our current coach simply doesn't appear to have the ability to do that.
Its gone on for years. Our previous coach was simply part of the problem being allegedly appointed after the players decided they wanted him as coach and lets face it he often looked to be too close to some of the group throughout. many of us who witnessed a certain play off game felt that the senior players even 'got rid' of the previous incumbent (Peter Gentle) who was a great coach and a good tactician but who found the power base within the club alien to what he had experienced in the NRL, the sort of player power that wielded the influence within the playing group at Hull FC, he once told me baffled him.
I rake over all this for one reason and that is that there is only one constant that runs through all these times at our club and that is the core group of senior players.
Look at what is constant on the staff since 2016 in a string of seasons when as long as we have enough points to stave off relegation and thus ensure continuity of players tenure in Super League, we have seen the same thing over and over again. I conclude myself that coaches have come and gone, assistant coaches have come in, changed and moved on, (with the exception of Yeamo who is a very small part of the operation now but how we could do with 17 Yeamo's out there at present!!) so what is the constant through so many identical seasons? Well what we have left is an owner who has financially saved us from oblivion and who desperately wants success if just to keep the paying public happy, and several players who are seen as the senior group and thus appear to dictate the culture within the wider squad. Houghton, Griffin, Connor, Tumavive, Taylor, Shaul, Bowden, Sneyd have been the constant through all this and so perhaps we need a much bigger clear out than we have seen so far at that level and a new coach who is uncompromising and no respecter of anything except consistent passion, endeavour and wanting. That is all the stake holders out on the terraces want for their investment but after season after season of jam tomorrow the club will be in a real hole without the input from those fans who walked out with 20 minutes to go last night.
As much as he can Dan Tomlinson in the Mail hits it on the head when he talks of the DNA of the club being the issue, heaven help us if Wakey Toulouse and Warrington put in a sudden surge for its hard to see this lot winning again this year. Sorry about the rant but like Chris and a few more on here this is heartbreaking for many of us.'"
Well said Wilf, I agree with all of that, the players treat us like mugs. If only Pearson had gone with Ian Watson and cleared the entire coaching staff out, unfortunately Pearson didn't have the stomach for that which was our loss. Brett's is too nice a guy to do what is required. The lack of discipline from FC has to be sorted and quick, we'll have another raft of bans for Toulouse next week and I seriously doubt we can go there and win. Another promising season petering off to mediocrity.
