Are they moving along though? 🙂
Well unless they just let the applications sit in their inbox for months, they must be!!
It stands to reason that there was a cause or a catalyst for him to leave, but it also seems as though that is not for the public domain. Finney in the LE said that neither Purtill nor Sheens had worked for us or them. Think that’s as much as anyone is going to get for now. Either way, things are moving along…
Interesting he takes a slight dig at Sheens & Purtil. Both committed to the club and then quit, so we need someone who is planning on staying for a good 2-3 years to establish a strong Championship team, oversea some of these young lads to get them ready for the division and mount a push to the top 2 in the league over the next 2-3 years. Going for the biggest name that applies clearly doesn't always work.
Kelly ? No chance.I doubt he has even applied.Peaked as a coach 20 years ago.
It stands to reason that there was a cause or a catalyst for him to leave, but it also seems as though that is not for the public domain. Finney in the LE said that neither Purtill nor Sheens had worked for us or them. Think that’s as much as anyone is going to get for now. Either way, things are moving along…
Interesting he takes a slight dig at Sheens & Purtil. Both committed to the club and then quit, so we need someone who is planning on staying for a good 2-3 years to establish a strong Championship team, oversea some of these young lads to get them ready for the division and mount a push to the top 2 in the league over the next 2-3 years. Going for the biggest name that applies clearly doesn’t always work.
Good call VM. We need someone wbo will keep to his contract along with real coaching ability. Both are hard to judge tbh. A coach who is proved will be sought by others with more money than us, so we just have to trust to PF and the board to make the right choice.
Good call VM. We need someone wbo will keep to his contract along with real coaching ability. Both are hard to judge tbh. A coach who is proved will be sought by others with more money than us, so we just have to trust to PF and the board to make the right choice.
I am afraid that contracts seem to mean nothing these days and coaches are able to walk away from contracts at will - and why would you want to keep a coach who wants to leave anyway. The daft thing is that if a coach fails to deliver and the club end the contract, they are likely to have to pay for this. Wasn't it suggested that we could not afford to end Betts' contract?
I think the Board have a difficult job, but must get this appointment right and may have to pay a decent salary - although whoever they appoint will be written off by some. I think they need to show commitment to bringing in a coach who will stand out as a top class coach or someone who has the ability to be a top class coach. We do not need another Purtill or Cummins or any other bang average coach, just because they are cheap!!!
Cheap? Bang Average? Local? Aussie?
The club just need right man whoever that may be, it may be a name or it may not. The last 2 have just used the position for a stop gap, a year or so in the job then gone, both for obviously for different reasons but the club needs some stability. We won’t be going super league within the next year or 2 or even 3, so let’s use the time wisely to build the squad, staff and club progressively to a good standard so we are in a position to have a shot at going up. No quick fixes, knuckle down, work hard and re build the club, the brand Widnes RLFC.
Winning the league next year has to be our aim. With Craven, Owens, Smith, Tomkins and new signings Cook, Clough, Jewitt and Tyrer in the squad why wouldn't it be.
Toulouse and Leigh start as favourites in a competitive league, but I think we have the best full back/half back/hooker combination in the Championship. Our weak position over the last few years in the forwards has been improved with 3 tough, experienced Superleague props. And in Deon Cross we also have pace and a try scorer outwide, why not a tilt at the title?
Winning the league next year has to be our aim. With Craven, Owens, Smith, Tomkins and new signings Cook, Clough, Jewitt and Tyrer in the squad why wouldn’t it be. Toulouse and Leigh start as favourites in a competitive league, but I think we have the best full back/half back/hooker combination in the Championship. Our weak position over the last few years in the forwards has been improved with 3 tough, experienced Superleague props. And in Deon Cross we also have pace and a try scorer outwide, why not a tilt at the title?
The aim has to be as you say Dan1.
The longer priority though has to be building from the roots up to make us a sustainable club. A flash in the pan 'good show' for one year has to be backed up year on year to be a real success. As things stand we have the basis of a competitive squad, some back up strength will still be needed to cover the inevitable injuries (and maybe a returning Covid19!) but we have a good start.
In terms of a coach the first priority is his commitment! A three year project is probably where we are at in all honesty with steady on and off-field growth. Maybe an aim of fulltime should be part of that growth. A coach who is aware of the Championship challenge, has good connections and good references, and is prepared to see his growth as a parallel to the club's and is prepared to back himself in achieving that.
In the small world of RL it shouldn't be too hard to get personal references with health warnings for unsuitable candidates, no matter how good they look on paper.
It is difficult to evaluate applicants like Ben Cross for instance. Honest bloke by all accounts, but can he coach? Just have to trust in our CEO and Board.
Playing the sort of passing game that we were starting to see this year should boost gates and that has to be a major aim.
Matt Adamson again mentioned as a possibility (on Love RL) quick google shows he has coached reserve grade for Melbourne and been involved with their feeder clubs.
Bit left field but some experience and presumably good contacts.
Matt Adamson again mentioned as a possibility (on Love RL) quick google shows he has coached reserve grade for Melbourne and been involved with their feeder clubs. Bit left field but some experience and presumably good contacts.
Got that right, as I said was interviewed Monday and shortlist drawn up by board who met Monday night, apparently 😃
Just for light relief have a look at Melbourne Storm Coaching Staff (I just googled it). Makes SL look like a lower league domino team!
Just for light relief have a look at Melbourne Storm Coaching Staff (I just googled it). Makes SL look like a lower league domino team!
Different world, almost like a Premiership Football Side in numbers.
Puts even our 'big clubs' in their place. And on top of that their second tier sides are staffed up as well.
Couldn't see any top Aussie coaches thinking about a UK venture, unless,as with TS, they were looking at getting a UK passport!
Puts even our ‘big clubs’ in their place. And on top of that their second tier sides are staffed up as well. Couldn’t see any top Aussie coaches thinking about a UK venture, unless,as with TS, they were looking at getting a UK passport!
NRL is a totally different league literally. Earlier this year, NRL negotiated a seven year tv deal with Nine and Foxtel worth $2.3 billion (about £1.25 billion). Each of the 16 NRL clubs has also received about £3.4m in emergency covid funding from the NRL. No wonder they can have the coaching set up they have and the player contracts. Not bad for the fourth popular sport in Australia!! Where have RFL/SL gone wrong?
Perhaps our expansionist plans should have looked to Australia!!!!! Maybe Argyle will look to NRL if TWP are not re-admitted to SL. Doubt NRL would want any of them.