Hook a retrospective thought

[rnabokov]

I'm over the Hook bashing (having indulged in it a bit myself this year). He failed. He wasn't right for the job.

Hook's methods just didn't work. Some of them bordered on the inane.

He couldn't get the best of out of each player nor could he get the team to gel as a unit in attack and defence.

The team failed to play as a team far too often. When they did, the football was terrific. But for mine, Hook just wasn't able to come up with a game plan AND get the players to stick to it, fully committed, motivated, organized and disciplined.

Hook just wasn't right for this roster which had some very very good talent

 

[Big Pete]

And BP, I know you knew what I meant, but do you think a Gillett, Glenn, Parker, Thaiday, Hodges, Hannant, Reed and Hoffman outweighs a Soward, Wallace, McKendry, Kite, Whare, Manu, Idris, Taylor and Grant ?

(I'd call our 'potentials' about even fwiw)

And if you rate them about the same, does that not add more weight to how bad our boys have been coached the past few years?

Look, I definitely think Ivan Cleary is a better coach than Anthony Griffin. I know that isn't a stretch to say at all but what I was pointing out is that the Panthers line-up isn't as bad as first thought and our line-up isn't necessarily as strong as what people reckon in the grand scheme of things.

Specifically, the Panthers are well balanced across the park where as the Broncos are weak in certain areas but have a fairly famous forward pack. I think what we've learned these past few years is that fame means very little when you're getting bent over for 60m on the daily.

 

[Socnorb]

Well we'll never have a team like 06 again. That side was just ridiculous when you think about. It's an issue that's gonna be constantly brought up every time we have a bad season. We've been awfully spoiled. I mean I hope Wayne can recreate that when he's back, but the days of us supplying 13 of 17 Origin or Test players are long gone.

And BP, I know you knew what I meant, but do you think a Gillett, Glenn, Parker, Thaiday, Hodges, Hannant, Reed and Hoffman outweighs a Soward, Wallace, McKendry, Kite, Whare, Manu, Idris, Taylor and Grant ?

(I'd call our 'potentials' about even fwiw)

And if you rate them about the same, does that not add more weight to how bad our boys have been coached the past few years?

So you must be talking about the golden days when Reed,Hoffman,Glen and Gillett were coached by Ivan. Correction .Reed wasn't coached by Ivan. the main difference between this current side and the bronco's sides of old is that they don't have a Lockyer,Langer ect.

 

[subsbligh]

I really hope Hook gets the post at the Tigers or another NRL club to really see his coaching ability.

Maybe a team/club like the Sharks could benefit from a level headed leader to rebuild its culture and playing group.

Would have also been great in a few years if he came back into the fold as Under 20s coach or development manager or something. He seems like too good of a talent/person to lose for the Broncos. Sure, he's not quite there as an NRL level coach, but he's good people.

 

[theshed]

It'd take a brave man to want to coach the tigers.

Unfortunately Hook had an extremely strong relationship with most of our team and he still couldn't get them to dig in or stick to his game plan. I'm not sure how well he'll handle the rabble at the tigers.

 

[noisetheory]

Unfortunately Hook had an extremely strong relationship with most of our team and he still couldn't get them to dig in or stick to his game plan.

i dont really get this. there was not a single game this year where our team just 'gave up'. even when we would wind up 12 or 18 down we'd almost always give the game a red hot crack. they were always trying. its something i am proud of hte team this year regardless of how frustrating watching us was at times.

i think we failed because tactically hook was not good enough. our players need a ilttle more structure. better defined roles. basic plans in place for various situations so that things like getting caught on the last tackle dont repeatedly happen.

i think some selections could of been better, bench choices and rotations better and more evenly spread. things like using lowrie for 8 mins a game is just stupid and thats all the coach. kennedy was improving week to week at the end of the year but still only getting 20 mins. granville would add a nice spark off the bench but still only play 7 mins and then not at all. (if he stopped getting picked because he went to the cows then thats just stupidly, we are here to win games, not play favourites).

 

[Porthoz]

Yes, one thing no one can put on Hook is the team's attitude. This is the main difference to the Henjak coached Broncos, who could easily capitulate. Our scramble and goal line defense can be amazing, our fighting spirit was never lost regardless of the scoreboard, and those things are what defines attitude imo.

On the other hand, the use of the bench, lack of tactical nous, almost non existant set plays, horrid ruck defense and individual tackling ability, are all telling of an inept coaching team.

 

[subsbligh]

Yes, one thing no one can put on Hook is the team's attitude. This is the main difference to the Henjak coached Broncos, who could easily capitulate. Our scramble and goal line defense can be amazing, our fighting spirit was never lost regardless of the scoreboard, and those things are what defines attitude imo.

On the other hand, the use of the bench, lack of tactical nous, almost non existant set plays, horrid ruck defense and individual tackling ability, are all telling of an inept coaching team.

"Attitude" might not be the word for it.

We have been sloppy all season. Comically terrible mistakes. Corey out off the full - versus Manly first kick off and then after the first try is conceded in the elimination final. I don't care if you kick the ball 10.1 metres so long as the opposition don't get a free set in our half.

Bar the Manly game at home, we've look poor to start all year.

I have faith Bennett can whip the squad mentally into shape and iron out some of the amatuer things in our game. It's something Hook hasn't been able to do. But **** it worries me how bad the Knights have gone this year.

 

[Allo]

So you must be talking about the golden days when Reed,Hoffman,Glen and Gillett were coached by Ivan. Correction .Reed wasn't coached by Ivan. the main difference between this current side and the bronco's sides of old is that they don't have a Lockyer,Langer ect.

wut?

 

[theshed]

Yeah when I said "have a dig" I meant more towards subslighs interpretation than just putting in effort.

We missed tackles, couldn't close out games, gave up big leads, made unforced errors, drifted in and out if games. That's more what I was talking about.

 

[Socnorb]

wut?

Well you related our form to coaching ,so given the coaching history of these guys, and that you intimated that they were so much better before, I thought it was an obvious question.

 

[FaithinHook]

I have it on very good authority lads that Hook is gonna be announced as the Tigers coach within the week. Lets hope he continues to impress with the young team he will have to work with down there.

Hearts are certainly breaking round red Hill tonite I suspect though :(

 

[vertigo]

Good luck with Farah if he delivers the same results he did here, he'll be out on his arse within two years just like Potter.

Farah doesn't care if someone's a good bloke or a good man manager, he wants another premiership.

 

[Big Pete]

If he wants another premiership, maybe he should take a pay-cut and do more to help attract key players to the club instead of just ESL players looking for a chance?

 

[Cult]

Hook should go somewhere like the Warriors or the Eels. They need Griffin-ball to push them through to that undeserved 8th spot they missed out on this year.

 

[Alec]

I have it on very good authority lads that Hook is gonna be announced as the Tigers coach within the week. Lets hope he continues to impress with the young team he will have to work with down there.

Hearts are certainly breaking round red Hill tonite I suspect though :(

Thanks for keeping us updated, Anthony.

 

[Allo]

Well you related our form to coaching ,so given the coaching history of these guys, and that you intimated that they were so much better before, I thought it was an obvious question.

Hoffman especially had arguably his best season in 2010.

But in terms of their skill and potential, they're not where they should be. That much should be obvious. In fact, in pretty much all debut or first full seasons of those guys they were world-beaters. Which shows that under Griffin's game plans over the past few years, they've stalled or become ineffective, barring the occasional flash of brilliance. I never said Henjak was better so don't try and make it out like I did.

 

[Socnorb]

Hoffman especially had arguably his best season in 2010.

But in terms of their skill and potential, they're not where they should be. That much should be obvious. In fact, in pretty much all debut or first full seasons of those guys they were world-beaters. Which shows that under Griffin's game plans over the past few years, they've stalled or become ineffective, barring the occasional flash of brilliance. I never said Henjak was better so don't try and make it out like I did.

Yes, but equally you can't put that all on a coach. it's like cricket, a new bowler comes on the scene, say Philander , he's a world beater for the first year, until other players study his chops. the good players have more than 1 dimension, something I think Hunt has showed us this year.