Last Chance Saloon

Quote: BP1 "We are miles away from being able to seriously challenge for silverware and not just because of the third rate coaching set-up currently in place.

Out of our current squad (and based chiefly on form this season), only three players would unquestionably be capable of holding down a place in a Grand Final winning team, those players being Fitzgibbon, O'Meley & Manu. I would think that every Coach and supporters of the other thirteen SL clubs would welcome any of those three as worthy additions to a side aiming to be the best.
I would also possibly add Whiting to that list as well, particularly if a coach was able to fully utilise his undoubted Rugby brain, although there is a question mark over whether he could claim a starting spot in a side sitting atop the table.

Added to that are three other players (Long, Berrigan, Horne) who obviously have played, successfully, at the very pinnacle of the game. However, all three have experienced major problems with fitness/injury in the last twelve months and there has to be a question mark against all three being able to consistently reach the heights previously graced. Fully fit and injury free, yes they can, but therein lies the crux of the problem with those three players.

We also have a batch of promising young players (Briscoe, Briscoe, Lynne, Houghton, Hall?) who with the correct coaching and development may reach the top of the game, but who at the moment are clearly still some way short of Grade A status.

That leaves us with the bulk of our first team squad, (Tansey, Calderwood, Yeaman, Dowes, Radford, Tickle, Washbrook, Cusack, Lauaki, Moa, etc, etc) and I'm afraid to say they are nothing more than mid-table trundlers. Not necessarily bad players, but not exactly outstanding either, and no team made up with the bulk of those players is ever going to be doing a lap of honour around Old Trafford in October (this year or any year).

If we were able to build a team from scratch (hypothetically speaking) to win a Grand Final then I reckon only those three players listed above (Fitzgibbon, O'Meley, Manu) would definately be assured of their place in that squad. For the rest, there has to be serious question marks against their continued presence (too old, too injury prone, unproven, or just simply not good enough) within a side challenging for honours.

And, of course, all of this is before we address the major problem of our coach, the single biggest handicap within the club. But win lose or draw in the next three games, we're stuck with him, at least until the end of next season at the very earliest in my opinion, so I think some of us are going to have to lower our sights a little, because I'm afraid under the current coaching & playing set-up, the only way any of us will be attending Wembley & Old Trafford is as neutrals.'"

Interesting post and I agree with a few points.

However I disagree with a couple of points I dont think we are miles off a top coach like Smith or Maguire and a 2 top players (Halfback and centre) would see us challenge for silverwear, look at Wigan they havent signed anyone and have gone up to the next level by just getting a top class coach.

I think you are being harsh on a couple of players also Moa, Yeaman, Caldewood, Tickle and Tansey are far better than plodders and good enough (if used right) to play for a top team challenging for silverwear.