Neil Henry Sacked

[Big Pete]

North Queensland Cowboys coach Neil Henry sacked, effective next season | Rugby League, NRL Scores, NRL Ladder | Fox Sports

Something just had to give there.

Thoughts?

 

[Alec]

Cowboys have had one of the best sides in the comp for years now. I dunno if it's the coach...but it's the coach.

 

[Bucking Beads]

They had to. They've just been so bad for a team that I thought should have been top 4. They've gone backwards from last year. Brad Arthur, Kevin Walters and Paul Green are the leading candidates apparently.

 

[Broncos1995]

I never liked the guy and didn't understand all the fuss about him. It surprised me when the cowboys didn't get rid of him in 2010.

 

[Broncos1995]

I liked to see Paul Green get the job.

 

[Kimlo]

Right thing to do, with the talent the Cowboys have they should be top 4. I'd say Kevin Walters will replace him.

Part of me is now secretly hoping they win every remaining game and take out the premiership just to see what happens :laugh:

 

[theshed]

I dont think its coincidence that Kevvie moved back to QLD last week.

 

[Coxy]

Except Kevvie cited the desire to be near his family's home in Brisbane. Townsville isn't much closer than Melbourne...

 

[theshed]

I dont believe that. He wanted to be near his family weeks out from the finals and the Storm didn't fight to keep him until the end of the season at least?

 

[Kimlo]

As 1910 alluded to, there's some drama behind his reasons for leaving the Storm.
[MENTION=1764]Coxy[/MENTION] I think he'll move to Townsville if offered a head coaching position but not for an assistant coaching position.

 

[Broncoman]

He had to suffer the consequences with the roster the Cowboys have you would expect them to be challenging for the title yet they are struggling to string a few wins in a row. Kevie Walters to replace him.

 

[Big Pete]

Seems like a lifetime ago Neil Henry was considered a supercoach and was getting all sorts of opportunities all because Terry Campese showed the NRL competition what he was capable of. In the end, his time at North Queensland was really up and down with the downs outweighing the highs by a fairer margin.

A lot of people point to the Cowboys side and while it does look good on paper you can see where all the weaknesses are. A lot of players going on a year too long, no recognised halfback, no recognised dummy half and not much else to write home about. The Cowboys achieved moderate success in 2011 and 2012 and were perhaps unlucky not to receive higher honours (JT getting injured at the wrong time in 2011, getting rorted in the semi against Manly) but I thought it was pretty clear that they needed to make some tough decisions and move a few players on. A player like Glenn Hall for instance, while a respected journeyman really had nothing left to offer. Especially when they have the likes of Taumalolo and Grevsmuhl coming through.

In the end, the side relies way too much on Tamou, Scott & JT to lead the way. I don't think Henry ever got the best out of JT. He kept trying to coach his natural game out of him to allieviate some of the responsibility but all it ended up doing was blunting the Cowboys offence. A player like Tamou is also very difficult to manage. He's the type that has a ton of talent, but keeping him motivated and doing the little things was always going to be tough. I think as good as his 2012 was, there were still aspects of Tamou's game that needed work and sadly I think they've largely been ignored.

I'll be very interested to see how the Cowboys move forward from 2013. I suspect some players will be moved on and they may make a couple of pick ups in the reserve grade side. I reckon a Kurt Baptiste for instance would go gangbusters up there.

 

[Dexter]

Yep they need a 9, staggered they haven't picked up anyone during the year when it's so obvious.

 

[Porthoz]

I'd reckon Wallace would be a great player to complement Thurston there, and if they get themselves a good dummy half, they'd be premiership quality.

 

[Kimlo]

I'd reckon Wallace would be a great player to complement Thurston there, and if they get themselves a good dummy half, they'd be premiership quality.

I agree, I think Wallace would be a very good partner to Thurston, certainly better than Lui/Morgan and the other fringe first graders they have in their squad.

 

[vertigo]

I never thought about it but Wallace to the Cowboys makes perfect sense.

 

[Je$ter]

Paul Green would make a great NRL coach.

 

[1910]

I reckon a Kurt Baptiste for instance would go gangbusters up there.

He's playing second row in FOGS last week- he's going down hill fast.