Cobbo: “I think he’s a nice guy but not a good coach”

[McHunt]

Article in the Daily Telegraph: Who will be the first coach to be axed in 2023?
Contributions from various journalists.

Badel is no longer optimistic about Kevvie.

Brisbane Broncos​

Kevin Walters (2023)​

Walters enters the season coming off-contract and the drums are beating at Red Hill. No-one likes to see an NRL legend sacked by their beloved club but that is almost certainly the outcome if Walters fails to steer the Broncos to the playoffs.​

​

‘Kevvie’ has missed the top eight in consecutive years, although he was desperately unlucky last season after Brisbane crashed from fourth to ninth in a shocking six-week collapse. This time, there are no excuses. Walters has the talent, personnel and class to get the Broncos back to finals football and if he does that, his reward will be a contract extension.​

​

Safety rating: E​

– Peter Badel​

​

The rest:

​

​

Canterbury Bulldogs​

Cameron Ciraldo (2027)​

Safety rating: A​

– David Riccio​

​

Canberra Raiders​

Ricky Stuart (2025)​

Safety rating: A​

– Michael Carayannis​

​

The Dolphins​

Wayne Bennett (2025)​

Safety rating: A​

– Travis Meyn​

​

Newcastle Knights​

Adam O’Brien (2024)​

Safety rating: C​

– Dean Ritchie​

​

Gold Coast Titans​

Justin Holbrook (2024)​

Safety rating: C​

– Travis Meyn​

​

Melbourne Storm​

Crag Bellamy (2023)​

Safety rating: A​

– Fatima Kdouh​

​

North Queensland​

Todd Payten (2023)​

Safety rating:A​

— Peter Badel​

​

Parramatta Eels​

Brad Arthur (2024)​

Safety rating: A​

– Paul Crawley​

​

Penrith Panthers​

Ivan Cleary (2027)​

Safety rating: A+​

– Fatima Kdouh​

​

St George Illawarra Dragons​

Anthony Griffin (2023)​

Safety rating: D​

– Paul Crawley​

​

South Sydney Rabbitohs​

Jason Demetriou (2023)​

Safety rating: A+​

– Matt Encarnacion​

​

Sydney Roosters​

Trent Robinson (2028)​

Safety rating: A​

– Paul Crawley​

​

Manly Sea Eagles​

Anthony Seibold (2025)​

Safety rating: B​

– Dean Ritchie​

​

Cronulla Sharks​

Craig Fitzgibbon (2024)​

Safety rating: A+​

– David Riccio​

​

Wests Tigers​

Tim Sheens (2024)​

Safety rating: A-​

– Fatima Kdouh​

​

New Zealand Warriors​

Andrew Webster (2025)​

Safety rating: A-​

– Matt Encarnacion​

​

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-news-who-will-be-the-first-coach-to-be-axed-in-2023/news-story/e795140e046e650263c60fa3d232fbe1?amp&nk=68593a3c2f41e26915af0b5ea7c5ba4e-1673666812

 

[IceWorks]

Article in the Daily Telegraph: Who will be the first coach to be axed in 2023?
Contributions from various journalists.

Badel is no longer optimistic about Kevvie.

Brisbane Broncos​

Kevin Walters (2023)​

Walters enters the season coming off-contract and the drums are beating at Red Hill. No-one likes to see an NRL legend sacked by their beloved club but that is almost certainly the outcome if Walters fails to steer the Broncos to the playoffs.​

​

‘Kevvie’ has missed the top eight in consecutive years, although he was desperately unlucky last season after Brisbane crashed from fourth to ninth in a shocking six-week collapse. This time, there are no excuses. Walters has the talent, personnel and class to get the Broncos back to finals football and if he does that, his reward will be a contract extension.​

​

Safety rating: E​

– Peter Badel​

​

The rest:

​

​

Canterbury Bulldogs​

Cameron Ciraldo (2027)​

Safety rating: A​

– David Riccio​

​

Canberra Raiders​

Ricky Stuart (2025)​

Safety rating: A​

– Michael Carayannis​

​

The Dolphins​

Wayne Bennett (2025)​

Safety rating: A​

– Travis Meyn​

​

Newcastle Knights​

Adam O’Brien (2024)​

Safety rating: C​

– Dean Ritchie​

​

Gold Coast Titans​

Justin Holbrook (2024)​

Safety rating: C​

– Travis Meyn​

​

Melbourne Storm​

Crag Bellamy (2023)​

Safety rating: A​

– Fatima Kdouh​

​

North Queensland​

Todd Payten (2023)​

Safety rating:A​

— Peter Badel​

​

Parramatta Eels​

Brad Arthur (2024)​

Safety rating: A​

– Paul Crawley​

​

Penrith Panthers​

Ivan Cleary (2027)​

Safety rating: A+​

– Fatima Kdouh​

​

St George Illawarra Dragons​

Anthony Griffin (2023)​

Safety rating: D​

– Paul Crawley​

​

South Sydney Rabbitohs​

Jason Demetriou (2023)​

Safety rating: A+​

– Matt Encarnacion​

​

Sydney Roosters​

Trent Robinson (2028)​

Safety rating: A​

– Paul Crawley​

​

Manly Sea Eagles​

Anthony Seibold (2025)​

Safety rating: B​

– Dean Ritchie​

​

Cronulla Sharks​

Craig Fitzgibbon (2024)​

Safety rating: A+​

– David Riccio​

​

Wests Tigers​

Tim Sheens (2024)​

Safety rating: A-​

– Fatima Kdouh​

​

New Zealand Warriors​

Andrew Webster (2025)​

Safety rating: A-​

– Matt Encarnacion​

​

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-news-who-will-be-the-first-coach-to-be-axed-in-2023/news-story/e795140e046e650263c60fa3d232fbe1?amp&nk=68593a3c2f41e26915af0b5ea7c5ba4e-1673666812

Mostly correct I would say, didn't realise Holbrook and O'Brien both have an extra year on their contract compared with Walters and Hook.

Clear smokey from that list would be Brad Arthur I think. Parra having a poor start could easily reignite the discussion around him, was quite noisy before they had a strong finish last year.

 

[McHunt]

And now Meyn reckons the club opened contract negotiations with Walters before Christmas, to extend him beyond this year.

Donuts:

“Kevvie has all of our support. We are right behind him but also standing right beside him. Yes, he’s the conductor of the team as the head coach, but it’s a collective effort and we’re all in it together. The feedback I’ve got from the senior players across the course of the pre-season is that training, preparation and the whole program has really stepped up. They are working incredibly hard and Kev is leading that."​

​

“He is doing a great job and we are absolutely committed to continuing to support him, as we are with the entire football program, to help us get back to where we want to be. We all saw the progress last year. We got a bit sloppy at the back end of last season but we have reviewed it, learnt from it and implemented steps to improve it."​

​

“The feedback I’m getting is that’s happening and I’m seeing strong progress across the course of the pre-season. What that looks like on the field will play out in the early rounds, but I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen from across the entire football program.”​

​

“We’ve been really clear that continuity and stability at our club is really important. We’ve been through a lot of change over the last decade and haven’t had a lot of success. That’s not a coincidence. Stability and continuity is important, but so is progress. We want to see growth in the program."​

​

“From what I’m seeing and the feedback I’m getting, we’re certainly seeing improvement across the board in our football program. Coaching the Broncos is a different beast. It’s a club that has a lot of eyeballs on it. We have the largest membership base, TV audience, social following and are in the heartland of rugby league. It’s not for everyone, but Kev’s done a great job bringing people together. He’s been terrific at connecting everyone involved in the footy club. It’s a much more stable environment than what it’s been and that gets overlooked a lot in the whole discussion.“​

 

[McHunt]

Donuts says Cobbo will be "sanctioned:"

“There was a lot for Selwyn to take in last year. At the end of the day he is a 20-year-old kid that’s had a pretty meteoric rise in the game. A big part of that rise has been through the support, understanding and nurturing of Kev. I don’t think he would have played Origin without that. A big part of his regret and remorse has been because he agrees with that. There was a lot thrown at him last year and a lot of new experiences that there’s no textbook for."​

​

“We will put an arm around him and support him, but this is a real opportunity for him to understand the requirements of being a professional player and what’s right, what’s wrong and what’s acceptable at our club. Selwyn has made a really significant error in judgment in agreeing to do a podcast without the club’s approval."​

​

"I don’t want to punish him for eternity for it, but he needs to know what happened and what was said was totally unacceptable. He will be sanctioned for it because it’s a clear breach of club policy. We will deal with that internally and move on from this.”​

 

[pagey]

And now Meyn reckons the club opened contract negotiations with Walters before Christmas, to extend him beyond this year.

Donuts:

“Kevvie has all of our support. We are right behind him but also standing right beside him. Yes, he’s the conductor of the team as the head coach, but it’s a collective effort and we’re all in it together. The feedback I’ve got from the senior players across the course of the pre-season is that training, preparation and the whole program has really stepped up. They are working incredibly hard and Kev is leading that."​

​

“He is doing a great job and we are absolutely committed to continuing to support him, as we are with the entire football program, to help us get back to where we want to be. We all saw the progress last year. We got a bit sloppy at the back end of last season but we have reviewed it, learnt from it and implemented steps to improve it."​

​

“The feedback I’m getting is that’s happening and I’m seeing strong progress across the course of the pre-season. What that looks like on the field will play out in the early rounds, but I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen from across the entire football program.”​

​

“We’ve been really clear that continuity and stability at our club is really important. We’ve been through a lot of change over the last decade and haven’t had a lot of success. That’s not a coincidence. Stability and continuity is important, but so is progress. We want to see growth in the program."​

​

“From what I’m seeing and the feedback I’m getting, we’re certainly seeing improvement across the board in our football program. Coaching the Broncos is a different beast. It’s a club that has a lot of eyeballs on it. We have the largest membership base, TV audience, social following and are in the heartland of rugby league. It’s not for everyone, but Kev’s done a great job bringing people together. He’s been terrific at connecting everyone involved in the footy club. It’s a much more stable environment than what it’s been and that gets overlooked a lot in the whole discussion.“​

Que meltdown......

 

[Blindside Bronco]

Donuts says Cobbo will be "sanctioned:"

“There was a lot for Selwyn to take in last year. At the end of the day he is a 20-year-old kid that’s had a pretty meteoric rise in the game. A big part of that rise has been through the support, understanding and nurturing of Kev. I don’t think he would have played Origin without that. A big part of his regret and remorse has been because he agrees with that. There was a lot thrown at him last year and a lot of new experiences that there’s no textbook for."​

​

“We will put an arm around him and support him, but this is a real opportunity for him to understand the requirements of being a professional player and what’s right, what’s wrong and what’s acceptable at our club. Selwyn has made a really significant error in judgment in agreeing to do a podcast without the club’s approval."​

​

"I don’t want to punish him for eternity for it, but he needs to know what happened and what was said was totally unacceptable. He will be sanctioned for it because it’s a clear breach of club policy. We will deal with that internally and move on from this.”​

Wonder what the punishment will be?

 

[Blindside Bronco]

No towels......

 

[McHunt]

Wonder what the punishment will be?

Hopefully sent to bed without his usual family pie and chips.

 

[theshed]

Would be cool to see DD and co implement the Storm all players have to work a regular job for a bit in the preseason, at least as a one off.

Cobbo needs to go carry bricks for a week

I know Oatesy would probably love it but it would be good to see Reyno, Capewell, Patty, and Billy leading by example and volunteering to do so. Kev could earn a bit of respect by doing it along side them.

 

[Super Freak]

Wonder what the punishment will be?

A very stern talking to and told that he's been a bad boy and to never do it again.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

And now Meyn reckons the club opened contract negotiations with Walters before Christmas, to extend him beyond this year.

Donuts:

“Kevvie has all of our support. We are right behind him but also standing right beside him. Yes, he’s the conductor of the team as the head coach, but it’s a collective effort and we’re all in it together. The feedback I’ve got from the senior players across the course of the pre-season is that training, preparation and the whole program has really stepped up. They are working incredibly hard and Kev is leading that."​

​

“He is doing a great job and we are absolutely committed to continuing to support him, as we are with the entire football program, to help us get back to where we want to be. We all saw the progress last year. We got a bit sloppy at the back end of last season but we have reviewed it, learnt from it and implemented steps to improve it."​

​

“The feedback I’m getting is that’s happening and I’m seeing strong progress across the course of the pre-season. What that looks like on the field will play out in the early rounds, but I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen from across the entire football program.”​

​

“We’ve been really clear that continuity and stability at our club is really important. We’ve been through a lot of change over the last decade and haven’t had a lot of success. That’s not a coincidence. Stability and continuity is important, but so is progress. We want to see growth in the program."​

​

“From what I’m seeing and the feedback I’m getting, we’re certainly seeing improvement across the board in our football program. Coaching the Broncos is a different beast. It’s a club that has a lot of eyeballs on it. We have the largest membership base, TV audience, social following and are in the heartland of rugby league. It’s not for everyone, but Kev’s done a great job bringing people together. He’s been terrific at connecting everyone involved in the footy club. It’s a much more stable environment than what it’s been and that gets overlooked a lot in the whole discussion.“​

If that is the case, literally the only reason they're doing it is so the old boys have zero excuse to whinge when Kev is inevitably let go.

 

[theshed]

And now Meyn reckons the club opened contract negotiations with Walters before Christmas, to extend him beyond this year.

Donuts:

“Kevvie has all of our support. We are right behind him but also standing right beside him. Yes, he’s the conductor of the team as the head coach, but it’s a collective effort and we’re all in it together. The feedback I’ve got from the senior players across the course of the pre-season is that training, preparation and the whole program has really stepped up. They are working incredibly hard and Kev is leading that."​

​

“He is doing a great job and we are absolutely committed to continuing to support him, as we are with the entire football program, to help us get back to where we want to be. We all saw the progress last year. We got a bit sloppy at the back end of last season but we have reviewed it, learnt from it and implemented steps to improve it."​

​

“The feedback I’m getting is that’s happening and I’m seeing strong progress across the course of the pre-season. What that looks like on the field will play out in the early rounds, but I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen from across the entire football program.”​

​

“We’ve been really clear that continuity and stability at our club is really important. We’ve been through a lot of change over the last decade and haven’t had a lot of success. That’s not a coincidence. Stability and continuity is important, but so is progress. We want to see growth in the program."​

​

“From what I’m seeing and the feedback I’m getting, we’re certainly seeing improvement across the board in our football program. Coaching the Broncos is a different beast. It’s a club that has a lot of eyeballs on it. We have the largest membership base, TV audience, social following and are in the heartland of rugby league. It’s not for everyone, but Kev’s done a great job bringing people together. He’s been terrific at connecting everyone involved in the footy club. It’s a much more stable environment than what it’s been and that gets overlooked a lot in the whole discussion.“​

well from an organisational point of view there is no better time to negotiate an extension than off the back of a massive bed shit and with no other club approaching him despite being off contract. Should get a pretty good bargain to continue to offset the Seibold pay out.

 

[1910]

Would be cool to see DD and co implement the Storm all players have to work a regular job for a bit in the preseason, at least as a one off.

Cobbo needs to go carry bricks for a week

I know Oatesy would probably love it but it would be good to see Reyno, Capewell, Patty, and Billy leading by example and volunteering to do so. Kev could earn a bit of respect by doing it along side them.

It's only for new Storm players. two 40 hour weeks.

This year last year's newbies had to do it because they couldn't do it with Covid.

Storm staff Peter Robinson's house burnt down and players helped the builders with the rebuild this off-season.

The beautiful thing is they stil lhave to train, so they are up at 4 doing weights and then back after work to train and home at 8pm.

Bellamy tells them that's how it was!

 

[Kooly87]

well from an organisational point of view there is no better time to negotiate an extension than off the back of a massive bed shit and with no other club approaching him despite being off contract. Should get a pretty good bargain to continue to offset the Seibold pay out.

Exactly right. I thought DD was supposed to be some sort of commercial genius???

There is no commercial reason to do this right now from the club’s perspective whatsoever.

 

[nopatience101]

And now Meyn reckons the club opened contract negotiations with Walters before Christmas, to extend him beyond this year.

Donuts:

“Kevvie has all of our support. We are right behind him but also standing right beside him. Yes, he’s the conductor of the team as the head coach, but it’s a collective effort and we’re all in it together. The feedback I’ve got from the senior players across the course of the pre-season is that training, preparation and the whole program has really stepped up. They are working incredibly hard and Kev is leading that."​

​

“He is doing a great job and we are absolutely committed to continuing to support him, as we are with the entire football program, to help us get back to where we want to be. We all saw the progress last year. We got a bit sloppy at the back end of last season but we have reviewed it, learnt from it and implemented steps to improve it."​

​

“The feedback I’m getting is that’s happening and I’m seeing strong progress across the course of the pre-season. What that looks like on the field will play out in the early rounds, but I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen from across the entire football program.”​

​

“We’ve been really clear that continuity and stability at our club is really important. We’ve been through a lot of change over the last decade and haven’t had a lot of success. That’s not a coincidence. Stability and continuity is important, but so is progress. We want to see growth in the program."​

​

“From what I’m seeing and the feedback I’m getting, we’re certainly seeing improvement across the board in our football program. Coaching the Broncos is a different beast. It’s a club that has a lot of eyeballs on it. We have the largest membership base, TV audience, social following and are in the heartland of rugby league. It’s not for everyone, but Kev’s done a great job bringing people together. He’s been terrific at connecting everyone involved in the footy club. It’s a much more stable environment than what it’s been and that gets overlooked a lot in the whole discussion.“​

All the same shit donuts said this time last year. I expect they don’t want to undermine Kevvie with the players thinking he’s a dead man walking if they don’t resign him another year. Doesn’t mean they still can’t punt him.

 

[Kimlo]

Extension means squat, he likely has a 1 or 2 month pay out clause. It shows the players he's supported so they don't try to undermine him (anymore than they have) but behind closed doors the discussion would be entirely different when Walters isn't in the room.

Regardless of platitudes, or "extensions" I'm sure it's perform or perish.

 

[theshed]

It's only for new Storm players. two 40 hour weeks.

This year last year's newbies had to do it because they couldn't do it with Covid.

Storm staff Peter Robinson's house burnt down and players helped the builders with the rebuild this off-season.

The beautiful thing is they stil lhave to train, so they are up at 4 doing weights and then back after work to train and home at 8pm.

Bellamy tells them that's how it was!

Yeah we should do the same. But as far as I know we aren’t doing it currently which is why I suggested all players should do it to set the culture and the only new players moving forward.

Im pretty sure even Sims had to do it which is awesome

 

[BooKhaki]

It's only for new Storm players. two 40 hour weeks.

This year last year's newbies had to do it because they couldn't do it with Covid.

Storm staff Peter Robinson's house burnt down and players helped the builders with the rebuild this off-season.

The beautiful thing is they stil lhave to train, so they are up at 4 doing weights and then back after work to train and home at 8pm.

Bellamy tells them that's how it was!

Great system. Should 100% be replicated by us.