So,what is really happening at North Harbour?

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