If watching the utter capitulation at the hands of Hawkes Bay wasn't bad enough last Thursday night,the woeful powder-puff performance last night by North Harbour against Manawatu was worst.
No plan,no structure,no brains,no passion,no guts.You name it.I mean,what exactly is a "one out-drift" defence?
This once proud "glamour" Union is now the laughing stock of New Zealand,firmly entrenched at the bottom of the ITM Cup standings with Tasman.
The editorial from the NZ Herald at the weekend nailed it in one."This 2010-2011 North Harbour side is the worst in its history."
But is it really?Is it the players?Last night I saw 2 All Blacks on the field(Woodcock and Wulf).Another,Luke McAlister,has played 2 games this year,while there is a massive dose of NZ Maori,Juniors,U20s,Blues and 7s players in there too.In this list there is Reid,Afeaki,Smith,King,Paulo,Ravulo(Fiji),King,Luamanu,Smylie,Helleur(Samoa),Hamilton,Tuitavaki,Pisi,Ah Ki(Tonga U20s),Raikuna and then add in Anthony Boric.ALL have played either Maori/Juniors/U20s/7s/Blues.
So is it the players?Since when did these rep footballers suddenly become so bad?My instincts tell me it is far more deep rooted than simply blaming the players.Within the Union over the past few years North Harbour has seen its Development side come runner up in its respective competition twice,firstly under Coaches John McKittrick,Frano Botica and Blair Larsen and then again just last year under Alex O'Dowd and Bill Wigglesworth,while the 7s side,with many ITM Cup players in it has always punched well above its weight in winning 8 National titles,most recently in 2009 under Coach Geoff Alley.So for all the reasons stated above,this Straight Shooter says "it aint about the players."
North Harbour,under current CEO Brett Hollister,has had a rotation system with their Coaches,and what poor choices they have been.In 2006 North Harbour won the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in their history,and then promptly sacked Coach Allan Pollock!The inside word at the time was because of a player rebellion.Since when do players start dictating terms?And the comical reign of Wayne Pivac,a proven performer at NPC level(Coached Auckland to title) and International level with Fiji.Sacked because he was "too harsh" on the players!
And on to the absolute farce of appointing the Rock Star duo of Craig Dowd and Jeff Wilson.Neither were proven Coaches,neither had been Head Coaches and neither were 'Harbour' men.They should NEVER have been appointed.But to ensure the almighty sponsorship dollar ,so I was told,they got the job.Incredulous.Wow,that backfired.Sponsors have left in droves as the product has continued to be seen as a Dead Duck.
So at the end of 2010,the Union and its Board could have bitten the bullet,and finally injected a Coach with a proven performance,a Coach with the passion to bestow upon his players,a "Harbour Man."
The contenders?Blair Larsen,Championship winning coach at club level with Takapuna,and proven at 'B' level(see above) and at ITM Cup level as an assistant at Northland.An ex All Black(which seems to be the criteria nowadays)and a 'Harbour Man'
Paul Feeney,another Championship winning club coach and Coach of Div 3 champions Poverty Bay,an assistant coach Internationally with Fiji and another 'Harbour Man'
John McKittrick,succesful club coach,taking Silverdale to 2 semi finals and a final,winner of 4 National Championships with the NH 7s side,and twice run succesful campaigns with the NH Developmental side,another 'Harbour Man'
Charlie McAlister,another Championship winning club coach,and a National Championship winning Secondary school coach with Mount Albert.Had experience at ITM Cup level with Manawatu,but considered too "aggressive" and "intimidating" by the CEO and Board.
Instead,the Union in its wisdom appoints a man who has NEVER been a Head Coach.While Liam Barry has impressive credentials,he is getting found out again.The patterns that Harbour have dispayed this year defies belief.Once again after 3 phases,the halfback sits at the back of a ruck or maul and wonders what the f$%#k do I do next.Flat attack and a defence so paper thin its embarrasing.And incredibly we are led to believe that he chose his assistant,retaining the failed Jeff Wilson.If you dont change the direction of your sails,you will end up going in the same direction.And unfortunately for North Harbour,that means downhill,and fast.
Alternatives for back Coach?See above,Paul Feeney.Also Alex O'Dowd,succesful Championship winning club coach and succesful NH Development coach,a 'Harbour Man.' Geoff Alley,back Coach when Silverdale won their premiership in 2003 and a National Championship winning NH 7s Coach in 2009 and a 'Harbour Man.'
The play of Luke McAlister sadly sums up this season so far.Unwilling to play,listless when he does and in a hurry to just get the hell out of there.Attendance at home games is bordering on farcical and the Union is bleeding horrifically.A clean out is needed,not of the players,but of the Board and of the Coaches.If this was the EPL(English Soccer) Liam Barry and Jeff Wilson would have been gone by lunchtime today.
And you don't have to be a Rocket Scientist to see that the 2 most improved and over achieving teams so far are Bay of Plenty and Northland,Coached by Sean Horan and Adrian Ferris respectively.Neither are Super star ex All Blacks.Both are proven performers with passion.And it shows.
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Brian McClennan gets top Warriors job
Breaking news just through that Brian 'Bluey' McClennan has secured the coaching job at the Warriors,confirming the worst kept secret in Rugby League.
This is great news.Bluey is just the man for the job at just the right time.Credit to Ivan Cleary for doing the job he has in seeing the Warriors through to the playoffs and bringing on the superb young talent on offer.But to be fair,he has had 8 seasons,more than long enough,and the Warriors now need the injection of passion and enthusiasm that McClennan will bring to now finally get them over the line,and win a Grand Final.
With proven records at International and Super League(U.K)levels,McClennan now has the chance to strut his stuff in the NRL,and he will relish it.The change in coach at the Warriors will create real intense competition amongst the players,but perhaps most importantly,will create a real excitement amongst the supporters which may well translate in to sponsorship dollars.
All in all,its a great day for the Warriors and while this season isn't over, not by a long shot,the anticipation is there already of what 2012 might bring.
So long Ivan,thanks for everything.Welcome aboard Bluey.
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
This is great news.Bluey is just the man for the job at just the right time.Credit to Ivan Cleary for doing the job he has in seeing the Warriors through to the playoffs and bringing on the superb young talent on offer.But to be fair,he has had 8 seasons,more than long enough,and the Warriors now need the injection of passion and enthusiasm that McClennan will bring to now finally get them over the line,and win a Grand Final.
With proven records at International and Super League(U.K)levels,McClennan now has the chance to strut his stuff in the NRL,and he will relish it.The change in coach at the Warriors will create real intense competition amongst the players,but perhaps most importantly,will create a real excitement amongst the supporters which may well translate in to sponsorship dollars.
All in all,its a great day for the Warriors and while this season isn't over, not by a long shot,the anticipation is there already of what 2012 might bring.
So long Ivan,thanks for everything.Welcome aboard Bluey.
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
So the Springboks 'rest' their 'injured' players
The Springboks,so we have been told,have chosen to leave behind up to 21 "injured" players,choosing instead to send them to their high performance centre for rehabilitation and specialised training.So what?
Are we too precious here in NZ?Personally I think it is a masterstroke from the South Africans and one that may well pay dividends come the real party time in October.
They did it in 2007 sending a vitual 'B' side down under through that years Tri Nations.Remember that?No,I didnt think so,but I will be sure that you know who won the World Cup that year!Yes,you guessed it,the Springboks.
We have been rightly and roundly criticised and ridiculed for being the best team in the World "in between World Cups"!Cast your memories back to our awesome efforts in sweeping all before us in the Tri Nations of 2003,racking up consecutive 50 point victories over the Boks and Wallabies.Outstanding.And the World Cup,when it mattered?We lost in the semi final to the side we had annihalated just 6 weeks previously.
It is impossible,and I mean IMPOSSIBLE,to expect athletes to remain 'up' and at peak for any longer than 4-6 weeks.So why do we(The NZ rugby public) demand that our All Blacks play every Super rugby game and every test match in World Cup year?Its ludicrous.Players need space,time out and the chance to freshen during a season,if they are expected to maintain their high standards.And we want our All Blacks to be at their absolute peak for the World Cup finals in October.
And the South African public,and the Rugby Union,understand that only too well.I just wish we could be a bit more understanding here too.No one will remember Samoa beating Australia if the Aussies lift the Webb Ellis trophy.No one will remember the consecutive drubbings that South Africa have had these past 2 weeks if the Springboks win the Webb Ellis trophy.But boy oh boy,everyone will remember if we dont win the World Cup,yet once again have easily won another Tri Nations!
Rest players,hey,even ROTATE players if need be.Do what it takes Sir Graham,to win us this Cup.And leave some players behind for the overseas legs of the TN,let them recover from their 'injuries' in the same way that the Springboks are doing now.Then unleash the beasts for the WC.
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Are we too precious here in NZ?Personally I think it is a masterstroke from the South Africans and one that may well pay dividends come the real party time in October.
They did it in 2007 sending a vitual 'B' side down under through that years Tri Nations.Remember that?No,I didnt think so,but I will be sure that you know who won the World Cup that year!Yes,you guessed it,the Springboks.
We have been rightly and roundly criticised and ridiculed for being the best team in the World "in between World Cups"!Cast your memories back to our awesome efforts in sweeping all before us in the Tri Nations of 2003,racking up consecutive 50 point victories over the Boks and Wallabies.Outstanding.And the World Cup,when it mattered?We lost in the semi final to the side we had annihalated just 6 weeks previously.
It is impossible,and I mean IMPOSSIBLE,to expect athletes to remain 'up' and at peak for any longer than 4-6 weeks.So why do we(The NZ rugby public) demand that our All Blacks play every Super rugby game and every test match in World Cup year?Its ludicrous.Players need space,time out and the chance to freshen during a season,if they are expected to maintain their high standards.And we want our All Blacks to be at their absolute peak for the World Cup finals in October.
And the South African public,and the Rugby Union,understand that only too well.I just wish we could be a bit more understanding here too.No one will remember Samoa beating Australia if the Aussies lift the Webb Ellis trophy.No one will remember the consecutive drubbings that South Africa have had these past 2 weeks if the Springboks win the Webb Ellis trophy.But boy oh boy,everyone will remember if we dont win the World Cup,yet once again have easily won another Tri Nations!
Rest players,hey,even ROTATE players if need be.Do what it takes Sir Graham,to win us this Cup.And leave some players behind for the overseas legs of the TN,let them recover from their 'injuries' in the same way that the Springboks are doing now.Then unleash the beasts for the WC.
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
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