Sack Griffin/New Coach Discussion

[GCBRONCO]

And yet people wanted us to rush out and buy Chris Sandow after two matches this season so it goes both ways don't be so quick to write him off, I don't see him as the messiah at all, I think at his best he can be an important part of our spine but can't do it alone and anyone expecting one player thrown into the back of last season when confidence was at an all time low for the season to somehow consistently carry the spine was an unrealistic expectation. Does he have a long term monopoly on the position? certainly not but he should be given the remainder of the season to show why he should be there. The game against the Roosters will give him a lot of confidence, lets see where it takes him.

 

[Ari Gold]

Okay, so... who hired Corvo?

Ben Hunt did the same in a couple of games last year, and went into his shell again. Let's not act like he is the messiah just yet...

I just don't get it. Griffin is doing all the right things, including the stuff most people here wanted done, and the club seems to be headed in the right direction, but there's no recognition for that?

I don't know if he is the answer, but as far as I'm concerned, he has earned a reprieve and more time to continue in the same direction. Let's see what comes of it...

Hunt isn't a messiah, and I don't think will ever be a dominant half like others are, but in tandem with Barba and Milf he could be an important piece of the puzzle. My point is, we'd have had a better answer to this question if Hunt wasn't played at hooker for 2 years.

And yes, Griffin hired Corvo. In fact, he's doing an excellent job of getting us out of the hole that he dug us in. But IMO, he still dug the hole to begin with. He deserves recognition that he's getting us out of the whole so far, but that's the extent of it. If he does more than that, I'll be in favour of keeping him, but if you consider our last 2.1 seasons as a whole, Griffin is not the man I want in charge of us in 2015.

 

[Ari Gold]

I feel that Newcastle is Bennett's swansong. He is someone who acts with dignity and he wouldn't risk his reputation. He is also 64 years old and I would be surprised if he would want to coach long term after his deal with Newcastle ends.

I wonder what impact McKinnon's injury might have on any plans WB might otherwise have had. Maybe none, but it seems to have affected him a fair bit and you don't know what kind of impact it might have on his thought process.

 

[Big Pete]

In fact, he's doing an excellent job of getting us out of the hole that he dug us in.

Darren Lockyer's retirement*

He hasn't been without fault, but to indicate that the blame lies with Hook is too heavy handed.

 

[GCBRONCO]

IMO the Darren Lockyer argument just highlights the club's failure to address the problem for too long, we didn't go to the market in 2012 for a replacement and when we did in 2013 it was a past his used by date Scott Prince which combined with persisting with Wallace at halfback for too long, shifting Norman to fullback to make way for Prince and then proceeding to keep him there even when he signs with the Eels, Hunt rarely got any look in the halves and even when it did it was for a week or two at most, no reasonable time frame to impress until the back end of 2013 when he showed the sort of potential that wasn't being utilised for too long.

 

[Big Pete]

To replace a player like Lockyer, it requires more than just putting on your fantasy coach hat and throwing ridiculous sums at a half.

The mistakes were made before Hook assumed control.

 

[Alec]

Try to replace Lockyer 3 years onwards.
Decide to go with Hoffman.

Bravo, Mr Griffin. Bravo.

 

[Big Pete]

Milford*

 

[GCBRONCO]

To replace a player like Lockyer, it requires more than just putting on your fantasy coach hat and throwing ridiculous sums at a half.

The mistakes were made before Hook assumed control.

I don't expect to replace a player of the calibre of Lockyer Big Pete overnight, doesn't mean mistakes weren't made or it could have been handled better and Griffin made more then his share in 2012 and 2013.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Milford*

Yes and Barba and I acknowledge those, however it doesn't change 2012 and 2013 mate, I'm prepared to see how things pan out in 2014 still mate but two signings doesn't save his neck.

 

[Big Pete]

Which is what I already said, just not to the extent some are suggesting.

 

[broncos4life]

Try to replace Lockyer 3 years onwards.
Decide to go with Hoffman.

Bravo, Mr Griffin. Bravo.

No, he decided to go with Milford, Hoffman is clearly a stop gap

 

[GCBRONCO]

Oh definitely I agree his not entirely to blame either, he contributed a lot still though. But there have been some positive changes for 2014 and hopefully more to come for 2015, that's why I'm prepared to see how things unfold.

 

[Cult]

I feel that Newcastle is Bennett's swansong. He is someone who acts with dignity and he wouldn't risk his reputation. He is also 64 years old and I would be surprised if he would want to coach long term after his deal with Newcastle ends.

Bennett's whole career has been based on risking his reputation.

 

[Big Pete]

I agree that Griffin made mistakes - but I don't think there's a coach in the game that's perfect.

For the sake of clarity, what mistakes are people pinning on him exactly?

 

[Ari Gold]

Darren Lockyer's retirement*

He hasn't been without fault, but to indicate that the blame lies with Hook is too heavy handed.

The fault isn't entirely on Hook. My post is primarily a reference to Porthoz's post. When I say he dug us in a hole, I mean:

1) The whole bulk bulk bulk program
2) Not giving Hunt a fair crack at half til now.

For me, two of the biggest positives this year are Corvo and Hunt's form in game 3, arguably 2 things that I feel Griffin stood in the way of prior to initiating those changes. He's done a great job of getting us out of those 2 problems, but those two specifically I feel he put us in.

WB probably spoiled us completely, but I want our long term coach to be forward thinking and one step ahead of the curve. The things I just mentioned in my post don't give me much faith Hook is forward thinking, and whilst he's done very well so far this year, I think it's fair to say he's caught up to the curve, rather than jumped ahead of it.

 

[Russell Coight]

I agree that Griffin made mistakes - but I don't think there's a coach in the game that's perfect.

For the sake of clarity, what mistakes are people pinning on him exactly?

So you think in 2012-2013 were not griffins fault? its a results driven business how he still has a job is beyond me.

 

[rnabokov]

If only Hunt had been developed as a specialist half instead of all those years as a bench hooker. That is a tragedy. What Hunt is starting to show now, and hopefully continues to evolve, is what could have started years ago so that now, all things being equal, we may well have had a top shelf half back.