A crucial period for Madge...

[BirchgroveTigers]

Bloody expensive 14...

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Bloody expensive 14...

He was signed to be Tedesco’s replacement. Let that sink in.

 

[BirchgroveTigers]

Lol least we saved 100k 😂😂😂

 

[tony soprano]

Out of all the players dropped....it still beggars belief that Mbye has come through it all unscathed....

He gave a penalty and a seven tackle set away directly leading to Knights' first try.

It seems they try to find a position for him every week.....he'll be playing prop next week.

With our injuries to Walters and Grant, sure as eggs he will be first picked next week....but he seems to be getting worse

All of our backs are getting worse.

lol who? Talau keeps getting better. Nofa best footy in years. Joey looks the exact same as he did last year. Left wing there’s been a heap of different guys Talau excelled but others haven’t. Mbye just as good as last year which isn’t very good.

Lol Brooks, Reynolds, Mbye, Jennings are all much worse. Joey Leilua is not the player he was at Canberra. Nofo is having a good season relative to his previous disasters. Talau has never played first grade so how can we say he’s playing better? Madge might be a good forwards coach but you can’t say the same for the backs.

Brooks also had his best season under Madge? Has Reynolds really been worse, I thought he’s looked pretty good for us this season. Jennings was never good unless he was playing outside future immortal Greg Inglis. Statistically Mbye is doing better than last season in the centres compared to being at fullback. Talau looks better in first grade than he did in first grade. I agree Madge is more a forwards coach than a backs coach but there’s no truth in saying ALL our backs are going backwards when majority of them are just as good or going better.

Mate that is utter rubbish. Brooks, Reynolds and Benji are in the worst forms of their career. Brooks best year was 2018. Mbye was fantastic in 2018 but has declined constantly ever since. Jennings may not have been great but he was a hell of a lot better than he has been with us.

Our backs have regressed significantly under him. Blind Freddie could see that.

Reynolds has been injured for years and has probably been our best half this season, to say he’s in the worst form of his career is just crap ? Brooks is definitely in a slump no argument there. Benji played on a year too long and age has caught up to him, that’s not really on the coach although they should’ve told him to retire. If you watch Jennings he’s never been any better than what he is here. Solid defender, okay under the high ball and can fall over the line and score, gonna look good in any good team and will struggle in a bad team.

You’re really clutching at straws to defend Madge mate.

And you’re making up rubbish to make him look bad. You’re ignoring the good and only pointing out the bad. If brooks can play career best footy under Madge one year then struggle the next, that’s on Brooks.

Some of our outside backs certainly haven’t improved but you saying EVERY outside back is getting worse is a huge exaggeration intentionally trying to make it seem worse than it is.

One back is playing better, the rest have all gotten worse. For some reason you can’t criticise him for anything. You find excuses for everything ?

Reynolds, Talau, Nofa all improved. Despite the hate on Mbye, I would argue he’s doing better than last season too. That’s 4 lad. I can criticise Madge but I can also see that he won’t bring intent results and there’s no coach in the world fixing us in less than three years. I’m happy to give him time is all.

Lad? Lol ?

If you think Reynolds and Mbye have improved then there’s no point talking to you about it as you’re deluded.

When are you comparing Reynolds to? 2014? I’m comparing him to his time here. He’s playing his best footy for us since being at the club. Mbyes best footy was 2018, 2019 he was average, this year he’s clearly not a good player but he’s assisting and scoring more tries and his defence on that edge has been very good

So you’re now agreeing Mbye has been worse since Madge came? That’s good.

Reynolds hasn’t played good football since he’s arrived but I feel he’s looked particularly bad this year.

Mbye did well in 2018. Poor in 2019. A bit better again this year. He’s not exactly a great player though but he’s had his ups and downs.

I thought Reynolds has been solid. We’ve missed him out there lately he certainly helps with our energy and intensity.

That's really all he has though energy, we need more from our halves

At the moment energy is better than what brooks and Benji are offering up. I’d put him Brooks in the halves next week they did better than any other halves combo.

Brooks and Reynolds were ok be4 the lost it on the Souths game.


Can’t believe we matched in with panthers to where we at now.


Probably wasn’t a good idea bringing benji back

 

[hobbo1]

Is Mbye signed for 2022 or just next year?

2022

????

I’d offer him a cash out deal ..it would be worth it ?

 

[tony soprano]

Is Mbye signed for 2022 or just next year?

Do you think he care if we gave him the Robbie Farah treatment?

 

[BirchgroveTigers]

Is Mbye signed for 2022 or just next year?

Do you think he care if we gave him the Robbie Farah treatment?

Well I can’t see a bunch of fans rocking up at concord at least

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Is Mbye signed for 2022 or just next year?

Do you think he care if we gave him the Robbie Farah treatment?

Well I can’t see a bunch of fans rocking up at concord at least

He needs only needs about 20 to match Farah’s rally.

 

[bbobb]

I really have mixed feelings about Madge as a coach. Yes - he does have positives like Improving accountability, making us defence focused, pathways programs and junior developing and overall improving our culture.

I just don’t see him improving the skills of the players and our game plans do seem to lack some imagination. I think back to his Souths glory days and he relied on a power game through the forwards. The fact he had the Burghi and others at his disposal fitted that plan. The Tigers don’t have those metre eaters (maybe Rusty) and we get dominated in the ruck but we do the same thing week after week.

Posters have been complaining about the halves and some of that is warranted however without the forwards creating a platform - it is very difficult for them. Some also mentioned that Madge is a great forwards coach. I’d agree with that if he has the cattle to execute his game plan. I am starting to think he may be a bit of a one-trick-pony who doesn’t easily adapt. I recall the Dogs having a halves issue and Dessie had the forwards ball play through James Graham to great success (Grand Finalists). He had a problem and adapted.

I am not gunning to remove Madge. I don’t think that’s the answer given our history and who is available. Although, there is something not right at the moment and I cannot see it changing in the near future. Yes squad changes will be made soon but the concern for me is that we aren’t really improving.

 

[avocadoontoast]

I really have mixed feelings about Madge as a coach. Yes - he does have positives like Improving accountability, making us defence focused, pathways programs and junior developing and overall improving our culture.

I just don’t see him improving the skills of the players and our game plans do seem to lack some imagination. I think back to his Souths glory days and he relied on a power game through the forwards. The fact he had the Burghi and others at his disposal fitted that plan. The Tigers don’t have those metre eaters (maybe Rusty) and we get dominated in the ruck but we do the same thing week after week.

Posters have been complaining about the halves and some of that is warranted however without the forwards creating a platform - it is very difficult for them. Some also mentioned that Madge is a great forwards coach. I’d agree with that if he has the cattle to execute his game plan. I am starting to think he may be a bit of a one-trick-pony who doesn’t easily adapt. I recall the Dogs having a halves issue and Dessie had the forwards ball play through James Graham to great success (Grand Finalists). He had a problem and adapted.

I am not gunning to remove Madge. I don’t think that’s the answer given our history and who is available. Although, there is something not right at the moment and I cannot see it changing in the near future. Yes squad changes will be made soon but the concern for me is that we aren’t really improving.

Good post. We have a telling few weeks coming up with our draw. If we play like we have the last two weeks we won’t win another game.

 

[Lauren]

Surely coaching this current roster is like trying to get blood from a stone. Maybe the attacking shapes or structures may differ from another coach, but they certainly wouldn't have prepared this team to the level Madge did for Eels and Panthers.

I think Madge's only problem has been some of his selection choices and game plans, for certain games. Obviously no CCup also contributes to this too though.

 

[bigsiro]

@bbobb good post and I think it's hard to disagree with most of what you say. Except for expecting Madge to adapt his play around our pack. We just aren't anything like those Dogs teams.

Hasler's Bulldogs GF teams were blessed with incredible forwards (most rep players) and the 2012 had a stacked backline, including Ben Barba in the type of form rarely seen.
The halves weren't the best. J Reynolds was the 6 ironically, but don't forget he was Origin level at that stage. Hodkinson was weak, but he was a gun kicker.
The substitutes he had in both years arguably made up the most dynamic bunch of forwards you might ever see on a bench.

What is definitely true is that the interplay from the forwards was ingenious.
But Hasler was not starved for talent.

Unlike Madge.

I'd suggest that if we had even half Hasler's cattle then any coach would recognize their potential - not least of all Maguire.

 

[Tigerbuck63]

There’s no coach turning this team around in less than 3 years. Madge doing the best with the crap he has been given. His recruitment has been smart and the club as a whole is building, unfortunately a tough draw and some poor performances will not make us look good on the ladder come the end of the year but as a whole I think the club is building the right way.

He’s going about things a whole lot better than our last couple coaches. He’s playing the long game which takes patience but in our current predicament it’s the best option. We can’t afford a new coach, extend Madge one more season and see how he goes.

Desperately need to keep cleaning out the rubbish from our cap, he’s trying his best and will continue to try. I’m happy he’s tough and willing to yell and drop players, a soft coach wouldn’t be able to change our culture I think

He’s not perfect and has made mistakes but he’s our best option

Sorry but this year is more his team than last year and we’re going backwards. I was in favour of an extension during the week but there is no way in hell he should get one now.

It’s still barely his team mate. I would say we’re doing the same as last year. There’s no better options than Madge and a rebuild takes a long time

Hasn’t Madge signed or re-signed something like 17 players ?

Yes but the ones he signed are on smaller contracts maybe with the exception of AD but he is not a fullback, and BJ who can play when given good ball by the halfs.
Problem is we still have al ot of deadwood, Mybe, Renyolds, Packer, Brooks.
I am assuming that 2 stalwarts Benji/Lawrence should or will retire at season end and don't put them in the same category based upon loyalty and service.

 

[Furious1]

Boys should be on the cans tomorrow. Get some bonding going before ramping up the intensity as the week goes on.

 

[bbobb]

@bbobb good post and I think it's hard to disagree with most of what you say. Except for expecting Madge to adapt his play around our pack. We just aren't anything like those Dogs teams.

Hasler's Bulldogs GF teams were blessed with incredible forwards (most rep players) and the 2012 had a stacked backline, including Ben Barba in the type of form rarely seen.
The halves weren't the best. J Reynolds was the 6 ironically, but don't forget he was Origin level at that stage. Hodkinson was weak, but he was a gun kicker.
The substitutes he had in both years arguably made up the most dynamic bunch of forwards you might ever see on a bench.

What is definitely true is that the interplay from the forwards was ingenious.
But Hasler was not starved for talent.

Unlike Madge.

I'd suggest that if we had even half Hasler's cattle then any coach would recognize their potential - not least of all Maguire.

Yeah good points about that Dogs pack - I forgot how good they were . I just remember them doing something different and it questioned the defences of teams.

If just hope we don’t dish up the same thing next week and expect a different result

 

[851]

Just watched the presser...disappointing to be honest. "We need to learn how to control momentum...do all the little things...completions...etc".

Reality is we have beaten no one above us. Reality is Newcastle are a 7th / 8th place type team and they have beaten us 40 + TWICE.

We need to realise where we really are.

He’s not wrong though. Errors and a lack of game management killed us. Did we force a drop out all game? Lots of laziness in defenders that was not there a few weeks ago.

Our halves are bog average, watching games over the weekend makes you realise how far off our 2 halves are, and we have no one else to blame but ourselves.
Madge extended Brooks and gave Benji another contract for this year, both decisions were clearly wrong, it is one bad decision after another for us, it is diabolical, we don't even have a goal kicker after 4 years of missing simple conversions.

 

[hobbo1]

Just watched the presser...disappointing to be honest. "We need to learn how to control momentum...do all the little things...completions...etc".

Reality is we have beaten no one above us. Reality is Newcastle are a 7th / 8th place type team and they have beaten us 40 + TWICE.

We need to realise where we really are.

He’s not wrong though. Errors and a lack of game management killed us. Did we force a drop out all game? Lots of laziness in defenders that was not there a few weeks ago.

Our halves are bog average, watching games over the weekend makes you realise how far off our 2 halves are, and we have no one else to blame but ourselves.
Madge extended Brooks and gave Benji another contract for this year, both decisions were clearly wrong, it is one bad decision after another for us, it is diabolical, we don't even have a goal kicker after 4 years of missing simple conversions.

If Madge didn’t extend brooks what year would’ve been Brooks’s last ?

 

[JC99]

Just watched the presser...disappointing to be honest. "We need to learn how to control momentum...do all the little things...completions...etc".

Reality is we have beaten no one above us. Reality is Newcastle are a 7th / 8th place type team and they have beaten us 40 + TWICE.

We need to realise where we really are.

He’s not wrong though. Errors and a lack of game management killed us. Did we force a drop out all game? Lots of laziness in defenders that was not there a few weeks ago.

Our halves are bog average, watching games over the weekend makes you realise how far off our 2 halves are, and we have no one else to blame but ourselves.
Madge extended Brooks and gave Benji another contract for this year, both decisions were clearly wrong, it is one bad decision after another for us, it is diabolical, we don't even have a goal kicker after 4 years of missing simple conversions.

If Madge didn’t extend brooks what year would’ve been Brooks’s last ?

Pretty sure he was off contract before extending? Maybe he had a contract for this year still. He was so good last year it’s a shame he’s been so bad this season.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

I really have mixed feelings about Madge as a coach. Yes - he does have positives like Improving accountability, making us defence focused, pathways programs and junior developing and overall improving our culture.

I just don’t see him improving the skills of the players and our game plans do seem to lack some imagination. I think back to his Souths glory days and he relied on a power game through the forwards. The fact he had the Burghi and others at his disposal fitted that plan. The Tigers don’t have those metre eaters (maybe Rusty) and we get dominated in the ruck but we do the same thing week after week.

Posters have been complaining about the halves and some of that is warranted however without the forwards creating a platform - it is very difficult for them. Some also mentioned that Madge is a great forwards coach. I’d agree with that if he has the cattle to execute his game plan. I am starting to think he may be a bit of a one-trick-pony who doesn’t easily adapt. I recall the Dogs having a halves issue and Dessie had the forwards ball play through James Graham to great success (Grand Finalists). He had a problem and adapted.

I am not gunning to remove Madge. I don’t think that’s the answer given our history and who is available. Although, there is something not right at the moment and I cannot see it changing in the near future. Yes squad changes will be made soon but the concern for me is that we aren’t really improving.

Have a look at their 2014 squad. They had an insane amount of skill, speed and finnesse, guys who are household names now. They had guys who could play flat and on the advantage line off the back of their forwards.
- Alex Johnston
- Luke Keary
- Apisai Koroisau
- Issac Luke
- Cameron McInnes
- Chris McQueen (when he was good)
- Adam Reynolds
- John Sutton
- Dylan Walker

He has also coached the Kiwis for a bit now who basically follow the same game plan. Bromwich and Nelson-Asofa Solomona steamroll the opposition, with Brandon Smith, Johnson and Nikorima playing fast and flat.

The game plan can work, he just needs to get the right troops in place. In theory, Brooks is the perfect half to execute such a game plan. Although we all know his troubles this year.

 

[bigsiro]

Just watched the presser...disappointing to be honest. "We need to learn how to control momentum...do all the little things...completions...etc".

Reality is we have beaten no one above us. Reality is Newcastle are a 7th / 8th place type team and they have beaten us 40 + TWICE.

We need to realise where we really are.

He’s not wrong though. Errors and a lack of game management killed us. Did we force a drop out all game? Lots of laziness in defenders that was not there a few weeks ago.

Our halves are bog average, watching games over the weekend makes you realise how far off our 2 halves are, and we have no one else to blame but ourselves.
Madge extended Brooks and gave Benji another contract for this year, both decisions were clearly wrong, it is one bad decision after another for us, it is diabolical, we don't even have a goal kicker after 4 years of missing simple conversions.

If Madge didn’t extend brooks what year would’ve been Brooks’s last ?

Pretty sure he was off contract before extending? Maybe he had a contract for this year still. He was so good last year it’s a shame he’s been so bad this season.

Josh, Brooks has been at this same dreck level for years.
I’m a Madge fan, but keeping brooks was the worst thing he coulda done.
Time to realize sunk costs, cut losses and move on. That is, if we want to win.