Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Thu Jun 13, 2024 12:54 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Come on, do you think Frawley is going to become a MoS candidate even if he changes a position? My point is not comparing directly because they're different players/positions, my point is there is an obvious gulf in class.

I was more commenting on Croft and Miller who were mentioned.

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Thu Jun 13, 2024 1:39 pm  

A good appointment in my view and a very long time overdue.

Arthur C made a good point , he needs to get more out of our homegrown players.

It’s a real pity this did not happen a year ago when he could have dealt with the 11 coming off contract. The timing of this gives a way the lie that this is a strategic move.

The disappointing bit is on the face of it Blease had little room to change the squad for 18 months. Olpherts, Fusitua, Donaldson and Corey Johnson leaving will Hall already coming in, might leave space for 1 decent quota signing.

However, if we lose Martin it’s a pretty big hole to fill as he is a good character, reliable , durable, attacks well when we get on front foot and a great goal kicker.

We will need a quality second row , I wonder if Kallum Watkins may be on the radar.

Regardless , I’m glad he is here but I think his hands are tied in terms of players for nearly 2 years due to the unrelenting incompetence of our recruitment and GH in particular.

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Thu Jun 13, 2024 2:09 pm  

Blease coming in might give players like Johnson some new hope actually, we'll see.

I think Martin will end up going, someone out there is going to offer enough money for him to go (maybe Leigh already have). Olpherts + Donaldson might be enough for a project signing, Fus + Martin should be enough for the kind of prop we need. Blease might yet move one or two other players on to make room.

Don't we have potentially a third marquee available for next year anyway?

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Thu Jun 13, 2024 2:17 pm  

Loiner at large wrote:

My thoughts as well. Hopefully Blease is a good appointment but the sporting director role is to provide a structure that facilitates success and development at all levels within the club. To take a football analogy if a pep guardiola team plays his style of football at first team level all development teams within the club are coached and play a similar fashion which helps young players move upwards with a greatest opportunity to progress to that next level. Elitë level signings also fit the system and it is clear how they improve the team and compliment the club developed players. Thats my point regarding culture and identity its about a clear vision and framework to operate in at all levels. Penrith and Melbourne are good examples of this in the NRL. To be fair to RS he came in as manager but had no input to all the other coaching appointments below him. Moving forward the sporting director with significant input from the first team coach should be creating a joined up rugby pathway through all levels of the club.

Good post.

TBF we havent helped ourselves with the playing style being dictated largely by the coach and then were getting rid of the coach every other year and starting again. At least with Blease, he will set the clubs tone and the coach (if we get rid of Rohan) will have to fit that brief. Everything else should fall into place within that framework in an ideal situation.

Anyway until he does the root and branch which I really hope is honest and forthright it will probably be the end of the year before changes start happening I cant see major changes happening until the off season unless the wheels completely fall off.

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Thu Jun 13, 2024 4:17 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Blease coming in might give players like Johnson some new hope actually, we'll see.

I think Martin will end up going, someone out there is going to offer enough money for him to go (maybe Leigh already have). Olpherts + Donaldson might be enough for a project signing, Fus + Martin should be enough for the kind of prop we need. Blease might yet move one or two other players on to make room.

Don't we have potentially a third marquee available for next year anyway?

He may be able to make a bit more room , don’t know what the marquee rule is for next year. We already have Hudson as a project prop wearing shirt 22 who has never played a SL game, I’d hope we are done with projects unless Blease can spot a diamond. We need players who can really impact a SL game.

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Thu Jun 13, 2024 6:02 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Blease coming in might give players like Johnson some new hope actually, we'll see.

I think Martin will end up going, someone out there is going to offer enough money for him to go (maybe Leigh already have). Olpherts + Donaldson might be enough for a project signing, Fus + Martin should be enough for the kind of prop we need. Blease might yet move one or two other players on to make room.

Don't we have potentially a third marquee available for next year anyway?

Martin is our best Forward , we should have had him signed up by now

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Thu Jun 13, 2024 6:21 pm  

We should have huge cap space and a QS or two and a new marquee spot too for next so if we can't sign players we need then that's a huge issue.

We should already have a top 3 list for prop and back row.

With Martin it's not that simple. He will be closer to 32 by seasons end and this will be his last contract. If an NRL team comes in or big offers from other teams do we want to match that ?. What if it means missing out on big quality elsewhere?.

I don't want to lose him but given how much s%/t we got in with silly contracts I don't want us to go stupid for him

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri Jun 14, 2024 8:14 am  

Loiner at large wrote:

My thoughts as well. Hopefully Blease is a good appointment but the sporting director role is to provide a structure that facilitates success and development at all levels within the club. To take a football analogy if a pep guardiola team plays his style of football at first team level all development teams within the club are coached and play a similar fashion which helps young players move upwards with a greatest opportunity to progress to that next level. Elitë level signings also fit the system and it is clear how they improve the team and compliment the club developed players. Thats my point regarding culture and identity its about a clear vision and framework to operate in at all levels. Penrith and Melbourne are good examples of this in the NRL. To be fair to RS he came in as manager but had no input to all the other coaching appointments below him. Moving forward the sporting director with significant input from the first team coach should be creating a joined up rugby pathway through all levels of the club.

Great post

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri Jun 14, 2024 11:24 am  

Trebor1 wrote:

Great post

would be a great quote if it was factually correct about RS not having an input on the coaches below him? he got a new guy in to run the academy, he chose him nobody else and we can argue all day about how good a signing that has been,from GF winners to not even getting into the play offs last year and being bottom of the academy league until 3 weeks ago ?? RS has a massive input which players and which coaches were allowed to stay. as for an aligned playing structure i for one agree but what does it look like as i cannot see it when we play so how can that reach the clubs players at the bottom end of the scale, i love watching our kids but can tell you now theres only 1 team worth watching at the moment and thats our under 16s that programs been strong for years now it aint broken@ that level!! don't know the workings of it behind the scenes matts your man for that but i sure like going and watching these boys play

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Sat Jun 15, 2024 3:11 pm  

Sacking Smith in 40 minutes time would be a fantastic way to get everyone on board with him.