Re: Darryl Powell Interview : Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:06 pm  

The Speculator wrote:

Regarding club culture, it's interesting looking back at that classic post-match interview Jake Mamo did in 2021, where he talks about being a member of the Positive Reinforcement Crew, along with Tom Lineham, Matt Davis, Joe Philbin and Rob Mulhern. I know it all seemed a bit jokey, but it does make me wonder if there was already some disgruntlement among the squad at that point, which the PRC was trying to challenge. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it. Either way, there was definitely not much evidence of a PRC in 2022!

I’m not so sure it was gripes from the PRC, just that Powell doesn’t do cliques. Nor does he want senior players treated any differently from those below them, business interests or not. It’s clear from the introductory video at the end of 2021 that he wants a one-for-all and all-for-one attitude. Remember the ‘next available seat’ policy at lunch that he borrowed from Graham Murray? And the quotes about humility from the All Blacks book? Leaving work early because you’re a senior player, getting off a coach early instead of sharing the blame with the whole team on the way back from a heavy defeat, pushing back against a new style of training. And so on. You can see on the pitch just how excited the players are now compared to the last few years.

I hope this is something that stays with us long after Powell moves on, engrained in the mind of our good core of academy graduates coming through.

Re: Darryl Powell Interview : Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:29 pm  

easyWire wrote:

I’m not so sure it was gripes from the PRC, just that Powell doesn’t do cliques.

No, I wasn't suggesting that the PRC had gripes - just that in 2021 they were maybe trying to create a more positive atmosphere because certain other members of the squad already had negativity creeping in at that point. But anyway, it's water under the bridge now, because the spirit in the current side is there for all to see, thankfully.

Re: Darryl Powell Interview : Wed Mar 29, 2023 4:23 pm  

The Speculator wrote:

But anyway, it's water under the bridge now, because the spirit in the current side is there for all to see, thankfully.

Let's not get too carried away. It's easy to look like a happy camp when you have won 6 on the bounce. The real test for this new found spirit is when we lose a couple of matches, in particular if we take a bit of a heavy loss, and we'll soon see the character of the squad (& probably goes for our spectators too, who showed last season they can soon get on the team's back given half a chance).

Re: Darryl Powell Interview : Wed Mar 29, 2023 4:29 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

Let's not get too carried away. It's easy to look like a happy camp when you have won 6 on the bounce. The real test for this new found spirit is when we lose a couple of matches, in particular if we take a bit of a heavy loss, and we'll soon see the character of the squad (& probably goes for our spectators too, who showed last season they can soon get on the team's back given half a chance).

Yes, that's a fair point. Spirit is best shown in adversity, so let's see what happens when that time comes. In the meantime, let's hope we all manage to stay aboard the happy train a while longer yet!

Re: Darryl Powell Interview : Wed Mar 29, 2023 4:46 pm  

I think we can see a difference already. Would last season’s team come back against Salford? Dug in against Huddersfield? I very much doubt it. How we respond to defeat will show us a lot though

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Darryl Powell Interview : Wed Mar 29, 2023 5:16 pm  

Captain Hook wrote:

I think we can see a difference already. Would last season’s team come back against Salford? Dug in against Huddersfield? I very much doubt it. How we respond to defeat will show us a lot though

Good point Captain, I too can see a different energy. ,

Whilst I agree with others that we are looking at a small sample, (pardon the expression) and some might say that the real 'testy' teams are yet to be played, but last season's team wouldn't have been coming from behind like they have done this.

Re: Darryl Powell Interview : Wed Mar 29, 2023 5:49 pm  

I always hark back to the Kipling quote UR…not the one about how good his cakes are.

Re: Darryl Powell Interview : Wed Mar 29, 2023 6:03 pm  

DSM

We both know fans are extremely fickle.
If we lose a couple of games - especially heavily - there will be calls for 'Powell out'.
I can hear it now.....

Re: Darryl Powell Interview : Wed Mar 29, 2023 8:13 pm  

Some of the small things are telling...

Ratchford celebrating a call going our way like we'd scored a try (he is really energised this year) was an example from last week.

Re: Darryl Powell Interview : Thu Mar 30, 2023 8:50 am  

But last year and the year before I always found it frustrating that when a player made a mistake you got all the players giving 'pats on the back' to the guy who made the error - almost the same as if he'd scored a try.
I always thought that was over done.
Clearly you'd want to show support and say 'never mind' or 'put it behind you' but more than that doesn't do it for me.
I thought the good bit about Ratch was he fluffed the 'easy' conversion, then when he scored the nest one he shook his arms in the air to celebrate and laughed.