You're the coach now

[Huge]

Firstly, mods if such a thread exists already I apologize.

Okay, this threads about how you personally would go about fixing our team. This is not about Seibold, previous roster management or players past efforts.
Strictly about the steps you'd take and even more importantly, in which order you'd take them. As Boyd and Fifta won't be around next year let's leave comments about them to one side. Just who you have going forward. Yes, the last nine games of this season too but bear in mind, this is not about slagging off Boyd, Croft and Milford.

I really do want to hear about YOUR solution and methods, changes and your benchmarks to give yourself a pass. I'll do mine later too.

Go!!

 

[Galah]

Defence, defence, defence.

It gives you confidence to play with the ball by knowing how to play without it.

Roosters, raiders, Storm and to a lesser extent parra, all play with high effort and trust in defence, they wear you down and kill you in the last 30 minutes. We are no where near the the effort levels needed to accomplish that, haven’t been since 2015.

 

[Huge]

Defence, defence, defence.

It gives you confidence to play with the ball by knowing how to play without it.

Roosters, raiders, Storm and to a lesser extent parra, all play with high effort and trust in defence, they wear you down and kill you in the last 30 minutes. We are no where near the the effort levels needed to accomplish that, haven’t been since 2015.

Agreed it's important but I was looking to hear about the nuts and bolts, the way you'd achieve your goals. You see, Fat Tony (forgive me here this one time) might just read this thread and pick up a pearl of wisdom. I really want to read about our/your detailed approachs, exactly how you'd get it done.

 

[Gaz]

If I was the coach now I would sack myself.

 

[rnabokov]

Defence, defence, defence.

It gives you confidence to play with the ball by knowing how to play without it.

Roosters, raiders, Storm and to a lesser extent parra, all play with high effort and trust in defence, they wear you down and kill you in the last 30 minutes. We are no where near the the effort levels needed to accomplish that, haven’t been since 2015.

We did well in the 1st half against the Storm, moving up quickly and tackling really well. It forced them into errors and interrupted their usual plays. Even the Storm acknowledged that energy and effort. For me it was a really positive sign. As always, as we all know, it's a question of keeping that effort up for 80 minutes which as you say, separates us from the better teams. But, we showed we can do it, and we did.
[automerge]1595731749[/automerge]

Agreed it's important but I was looking to hear about the nuts and bolts, the way you'd achieve your goals. You see, Fat Tony (forgive me here this one time) might just read this thread and pick up a pearl of wisdom. I really want to read about our/your detailed approachs, exactly how you'd get it done.

For mine, the absolute 1st step is to address the lack of confidence in the side, build resilience and faith in each other.

That article the other day about our psychology of failure said it all - analysis and solution. This just has to be the first step, and one that has to be taken now. The player's mental state is paramount to their ability to perform for the full 80. We have shown we can do it for 40. We now need the strength and courage to be resilient in the face of adversity so the effort remains for the entire match.

 

[Captain Grumpy]

They have to build a platform based on dedication 1 percenters and brutal honesty to develop mental toughness. It concerns me that people are talking about how the first half was an improvement, they still got dusted by 40 so it's not good enough to welcome any level of mediocrity. Listening to Bellamy's presser you would have thought the Storm had lost the game he was so angry with their first half performance. The media management needs to change, having the players interviewed before games talking up their chances is only adding pressure. Total media ban. Remember the Baby Broncos from 10 or so years ago that pulled off a number of upsets by playing hard up tempo and backing themselves, so youth is no excuse. Bennett and Bellamy have always shielded their players from the media, this is a priority. I'm not sure if they still do it, but Bennett used to take the boys to Canungra with the police SERT team and go through their training which was torturous stuff physically and mentally. Then they had to come back to Kelvin Giles and spar with Chopper Burgess. 90% of their failings are psychological, they are fit enough, big enough and talented enough, but they are mentally weak.

 

[Galah]

Agreed it's important but I was looking to hear about the nuts and bolts, the way you'd achieve your goals. You see, Fat Tony (forgive me here this one time) might just read this thread and pick up a pearl of wisdom. I really want to read about our/your detailed approachs, exactly how you'd get it done.

This could take a while, I would start at the end of the season, fly them up to the jungle warfare training in Tully and get them to do five days of infantry patrols and obstacle courses coaching staff included. Four things will come of it, one, you’ll find out who’s mentally fragile and can work on building that resilience. Two, blokes will REALLY learn what teamwork is. Three, what it’s like to do a relentlessly tough job for **** all money. The fourth is probably the most important NEVER move to NQ and play for the cowboys because it’s a SHIT HOLE!!

This would be the start

 

[theshed]

Do all you can to rid us of all or most of the following contracts:

Boyd, Milf, Macca, Offa, Oates, Croft

Tell the following they can look for other clubs if they want:

Niu, Isaako

Do all you can to sign Widdop and bring him back to Australia. Sign Opacic, Tamou, and try to find a reliable but mid price 2nd row.

1. Bird
2. Farnworth
3. Opacic
4. Staggs
5. Coates
6. Widdop (VC/leadership group)
7. Dearden
8. Tamou (leadership group)
9. Turpin
10. Haas
11. Glenn (C/leadership group)
12. TPJ
13. Carrigan (leadership group)

14. Paix
15. Flegler
16. Lodge (leadership group)
17. Teo(leadership group) / Oates (if cant be moved on).

 

[Huge]

They have to build a platform based on dedication 1 percenters and brutal honesty to develop mental toughness. It concerns me that people are talking about how the first half was an improvement, they still got dusted by 40 so it's not good enough to welcome any level of mediocrity. Listening to Bellamy's presser you would have thought the Storm had lost the game he was so angry with their first half performance. The media management needs to change, having the players interviewed before games talking up their chances is only adding pressure. Total media ban. Remember the Baby Broncos from 10 or so years ago that pulled off a number of upsets by playing hard up tempo and backing themselves, so youth is no excuse. Bennett and Bellamy have always shielded their players from the media, this is a priority. I'm not sure if they still do it, but Bennett used to take the boys to Canungra with the police SERT team and go through their training which was torturous stuff physically and mentally. Then they had to come back to Kelvin Giles and spar with Chopper Burgess. 90% of their failings are psychological, they are fit enough, big enough and talented enough, but they are mentally weak.

I do get where you're coming from but I think we all can describe our situation but what I want to focus on is how each one of us would approach our imagined role as coach.

My first step would be to get the guys to fill in a targeted questionnaire.

It would be anonymous and obligatory (Note here: this process would be difficult but still achievable via an electronic process) In other words if all the questions weren't filled in the player wouldn't be selected. I'd ask them if they considered the pay scale appropriate, which player was putting in or otherwise amongst other probing questions. It would be done in such a way that every player could feel secure in the knowledge that they could be honest but not reveal their identity.

I'd have to know where the divisions existed and which players didn't have the support of their teammates. Sooner or later I'd learn where the cancer is, a place to start cutting. That's step one.

 

[Sproj]

I would genuinely consider moving Carrigan to prop and putting Macca at lock next year. This side is soft through the middle and need some glue to stick tackles and Macca is very good at that. He is also experienced, loves the club and sets a wonderful standard in training.

 

[Seibs]

Widdop would be a great get.

 

[Viti]

I do get where you're coming from but I think we all can describe our situation but what I want to focus on is how each one of us would approach our imagined role as coach.

My first step would be to get the guys to fill in a targeted questionnaire.

It would be anonymous and obligatory (Note here: this process would be difficult but still achievable via an electronic process) In other words if all the questions weren't filled in the player wouldn't be selected. I'd ask them if they considered the pay scale appropriate, which player was putting in or otherwise amongst other probing questions. It would be done in such a way that every player could feel secure in the knowledge that they could be honest but not reveal their identity.

I'd have to know where the divisions existed and which players didn't have the support of their teammates. Sooner or later I'd learn where the cancer is, a place to start cutting. That's step one.

I rate this idea and would do it as part of a mini camp during this season. No phones allowed, just the boys and the coaching staff bonding.

 

[lynx000]

I do get where you're coming from but I think we all can describe our situation but what I want to focus on is how each one of us would approach our imagined role as coach.

My first step would be to get the guys to fill in a targeted questionnaire.

It would be anonymous and obligatory (Note here: this process would be difficult but still achievable via an electronic process) In other words if all the questions weren't filled in the player wouldn't be selected. I'd ask them if they considered the pay scale appropriate, which player was putting in or otherwise amongst other probing questions. It would be done in such a way that every player could feel secure in the knowledge that they could be honest but not reveal their identity.

I'd have to know where the divisions existed and which players didn't have the support of their teammates. Sooner or later I'd learn where the cancer is, a place to start cutting. That's step one.

This is a good idea, but I would be doing this at CEO level and not the coach level to discover whether in fact Seibold has lost the playing group. If he has, that situation is not going to be recovered and he should be moved on.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

First things first, to state the obvious, I march into Paul White's office and tell him flat out "This is my footy side. If you can't respect that arrangement (you know, the same arrangement that any successful footy club needs), then fire me right now". His response would tell myself a lot about how unnecessarily stressful this job is really gonna be.

Assuming White and the Board got the picture about the footy and business sides of the club being 100% separate, my first port of call is Boyd and Milford. Boyd gets one last chance at fullback to prove he can still be useful for something, and if he dogs it he's gone for good and can retire sitting on his ass at home being nagged by the wife. Milford on the other hand needs a couple of weeks warming the bench to wake him up to himself. If being benched doesn't send a rocket up him, he is free to explore his options elsewhere or to take a pay cut. If the reserve grade were actually still going, he'd be playing there.

That's the reality though at the moment, nothing tangible can be done until the end of next year judging by who is off contract. This side desperately needs a full pre-season or two and a clean slate with some major signings.

Outs: Darius Boyd, Jack Bird, Brodie Croft, Jamil Hopoate, Tom Flegler, Alex Glenn, Anthony Milford, Corey Oates, Jordan Kahu, Joe Ofahengaue, Matt Lodge

Ins: Harry Grant, Ryan James, David Nofoaluma, Josh Papalii


This should leave us with a big war-chest going into 2022, when I would be making a big money play for RTS. Lets face it, we're in for some lean years beyond this one, we may as well plan for the long term. If we discover a revelation at fullback between now and then than fair enough, but I'm not seeing it in any of our youngsters at the moment.

2023 Broncos:

1. RTS
2. Nofoaluma
3. Farnworth
4. Staggs
5. Coates
6. Paix
7. Dearden
8. Haas
9. Grant
10. James
11. TPJ
12. Papalii
13. Carrigan

14. Turpin
15. Kennedy
16. Ballemor
17. ??

 

[Huge]

This is a good idea, but I would be doing this at CEO level and not the coach level to discover whether in fact Seibold has lost the playing group. If he has, that situation is not going to be recovered and he should be moved on.

Yes I see but in my hypothetical scenario Seibold doesn't exist. Like I wrote in my opening, this thread was intended to be what we the coach would do. Mind you, IF I was some overlord above Fat Tony question one for the players would be, does the coach know what he's doing? Heaps more questions about him after. However I'd really apreciate it we left FT out of it, anyone who isn't here next year and posters explained their methodology and goals.

 

[Twbapony]

Fitness first and foremost, we seem to run out of steam and that leads to errors and giving away penalties to try to control what we can. Secondly bring in a brains academy for the forwards, Maybe Cory for the skills, and get them to spend two sessions a week with alfie, S. Prince, a good half to teach them how to look at an unfolding attack or defensive line and find holes, or identify the active runners. Do the same with the backs, but get Cory to spend time with them to show them life from a forwards perspective. Recruit for attitude and brains, we want smart forwards and strong backs. Get a dedicated halves coach, Locky would be awesome, if your halves don't want oversight, drop them so fast their stomachs are between their ears. That would take pressure of the Coach to come up with a tailored game plan for each team, i.e play structured unstructured football against the Storm, A solid boring game against the warriors, Stifle the Eels offloads. Stuff that shows that the coach is active, not a set and forget robot. Drop players who aren't willing to put in on the training field, but reward those how are doing extras with either starts if they can handle it, or bench time to blood them if they are to raw. Bring in specialists consisting of finance, life skills, health and rehab, diet, and sports psychologists to bring the best out of our group. Lastly billet the young guys within 5 minutes walk from the club and provide social events to try and keep them off the piss when training is over, also to build a core team culture, Those older than 3 years playing time at the Broncos can live off site, but limit this piss time as well within reason. If we get these in place it makes no difference who comes in, they have a standard to be measured against.

 

[Dazza 92]

take a long hard look at what Newcastle have done to themselves post 2016 season...

 

[Broncapz]

Watch tapes of the good teams. Watch how they tackle, and how they play the ball while trying to run forward. Identifying that's not how quick you play the ball, but HOW you play the ball.

Learn about individual referees and what they tolerate.

Find the best assistants/psycologists money can buy.

Buy Luke Keary.