Blair ‘trained too hard’ for Tigers

[Tigermama]

Blair's done best for Bellamy and Benny; both "my way or the highway" style mentors, but not so good for Sheens and then Potter. Maybe he just responds better to these kind of coaches. Whatever the reason, he's obviously happy with the move, we've trimmed our cap problems a little and there'd be more than a few fans happy he's gone

I, for one, am very happy :smiley:

 

[everett]

I think the sad ting with Blair's situation is quality players are not attracted to WT due to Sheen's "boys club" and internal infighting.

As a result of the above we paid well overs to attract someone like Blair and it back fired.

Blair is a quality player (you don't play for your country and win premierships otherwise) if given a role in a team with structure like Storm and Broncos. He obviously deals with stronger type coaches. HIs pass in traffic for one of the Broncos tries was quality and he smashed JT a couple of times.

He played well for us when he played prop and did do the 1% like pressure the kickers and clean up work.

WT biggest challenge is to build a club and culture other players want to come too then we can be a premiership threat.

 

[2041]

I think the sad ting with Blair's situation is quality players are not attracted to WT due to Sheen's "boys club" and internal infighting.

As a result of the above we paid well overs to attract someone like Blair and it back fired.

Blair is a quality player (you don't play for your country and win premierships otherwise) if given a role in a team with structure like Storm and Broncos. He obviously deals with stronger type coaches. HIs pass in traffic for one of the Broncos tries was quality and he smashed JT a couple of times.

He played well for us when he played prop and did do the 1% like pressure the kickers and clean up work.

WT biggest challenge is to build a club and culture other players want to come too then we can be a premiership threat.

I think this is just self-flagellation TBH. The reason players sign for the Roosters, say, isn't because of the club's 'culture' - it's because they reliably offer the most money. Or take Cherry-Evans: you think he signed the Titans deal because he'd heard great things about their culture? And then changed his mind because Manly's culture suddenly improved?

Most players will, by and large, sign the best deal offered to them. Some players like to stick with what they know so need to be paid overs to move, others might not want to live in Canberra, say. But actually what would fix 95% of the Tigers' supposed cultural issues - at least when it comes to recruiting players - is having enough money to compete with what other clubs are offering.

 

[ricksen]

Blair knocked back bigger offers to sign with us in 2012\. Remember we had finished 3rd and 4th in 2010/11, and were pre-season favourites going into the 2012 season.

Whilst players definitely chase $$, I'd argue the chance to win a premiership is just as much of an attraction.

 

[stevetiger]

The reason players sign for the Roosters, say, isn't because of the club's 'culture' - it's because they reliably offer the most money. Or take Cherry-Evans: you think he signed the Titans deal because he'd heard great things about their culture? And then changed his mind because Manly's culture suddenly improved?

Most players will, by and large, sign the best deal offered to them. Some players like to stick with what they know so need to be paid overs to move, others might not want to live in Canberra, say. But actually what would fix 95% of the Tigers' supposed cultural issues - at least when it comes to recruiting players - is having enough money to compete with what other clubs are offering.

100% correct. I love all the talk about culture that you get on this board. Well an extra 20k would fix that straight away.

There are 2 factors that matter - a better chance in first grade or increased money. Its like when people say Koro wanted to leave. No he didn't. He was offered a first grade spot and more money.

 

[foreveratiger]

The reason players sign for the Roosters, say, isn't because of the club's 'culture' - it's because they reliably offer the most money. Or take Cherry-Evans: you think he signed the Titans deal because he'd heard great things about their culture? And then changed his mind because Manly's culture suddenly improved?

Most players will, by and large, sign the best deal offered to them. Some players like to stick with what they know so need to be paid overs to move, others might not want to live in Canberra, say. But actually what would fix 95% of the Tigers' supposed cultural issues - at least when it comes to recruiting players - is having enough money to compete with what other clubs are offering.

100% correct. I love all the talk about culture that you get on this board. Well an extra 20k would fix that straight away.

There are 2 factors that matter - a better chance in first grade or increased money. Its like when people say Koro wanted to leave. No he didn't. He was offered a first grade spot and more money.

Yeah i agree Steve , his chances were limited with us and was offered Employment elsewhere in 1st Grade which he wasn't doing at the time with us . Good on him i say , it's nothing more than a Business.

 

[Telltails]

I think the sad ting with Blair's situation is quality players are not attracted to WT due to Sheen's "boys club" and internal infighting.

As a result of the above we paid well overs to attract someone like Blair and it back fired.

Blair is a quality player (you don't play for your country and win premierships otherwise) if given a role in a team with structure like Storm and Broncos. He obviously deals with stronger type coaches. HIs pass in traffic for one of the Broncos tries was quality and he smashed JT a couple of times.

He played well for us when he played prop and did do the 1% like pressure the kickers and clean up work.

WT biggest challenge is to build a club and culture other players want to come too then we can be a premiership threat.

I think this is just self-flagellation TBH. The reason players sign for the Roosters, say, isn't because of the club's 'culture' - it's because they reliably offer the most money. Or take Cherry-Evans: you think he signed the Titans deal because he'd heard great things about their culture? And then changed his mind because Manly's culture suddenly improved?

Most players will, by and large, sign the best deal offered to them. Some players like to stick with what they know so need to be paid overs to move, others might not want to live in Canberra, say. But actually what would fix 95% of the Tigers' supposed cultural issues - at least when it comes to recruiting players - is having enough money to compete with what other clubs are offering.

And the clubs that are regularly referred to as having the best 'culture' all seem to be the ones that are 'wealthy'

 

[tigerlogic]

A source very close to the team told me no one got along with him and was as lazy as anything …. And to add salt into the wound, we are paying $250,000 of his contract still this year.

This is incorrect, he was devastated to have to leave the Tigers he didn't want to, he really enjoyed it at the Tigers and was really close with most of the players particularly the islanders

 

[westTAHger]

So I am guessing that wests-tigers no longer have to pay any of his salary ?
Should free up a little bit of $$$

 

[Doc_Tiger]

We're doing a lot of the right things in replacing old people and old procedures, starting right at the top. It's not pretty and it's bloody risky investing in youth the way contracts are protected in the NRL.

I've said before that I think there should be a limit on contracts for young players. I guess primarily because the pressure that is placed on them immediately after signing must be enormous - unhealthy even. I don't think Brooks is handling it at all well. Of course, I'm yet to find many that support even the suggestion of this. But I really don't think a 20 year old kid needs to earn more than the Prime Minister does. This would also reward clubs such as ours for bringing up the kids without fear of other rich clubs splurging a motza to lure them over once the hard work has been done. It would also free up cash for the middle tier players and the elders. Spending so much on so few makes no sense to me when there is a salary cap to fit into.

As for Blair, well I think even he would admit that maybe he wasn't as great as he was in Melbourne. But without guys around him having a go on the field, jeez…it must have been hard to lift. I remember seeing him always chasing down runaway players when everyone else had given up, grabbing loose balls as has been mentioned before - things like that that go unrewarded and don't come up in the all - important stats that spew out constantly. I think we all know that the senior group have let the club down for some time now. Good on him for getting out. Who the hell could blame him?

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

We're doing a lot of the right things in replacing old people and old procedures, starting right at the top. It's not pretty and it's bloody risky investing in youth the way contracts are protected in the NRL.

I've said before that I think there should be a limit on contracts for young players. I guess primarily because the pressure that is placed on them immediately after signing must be enormous - unhealthy even. I don't think Brooks is handling it at all well. Of course, I'm yet to find many that support even the suggestion of this. But I really don't think a 20 year old kid needs to earn more than the Prime Minister does. This would also reward clubs such as ours for bringing up the kids without fear of other rich clubs splurging a motza to lure them over once the hard work has been done. It would also free up cash for the middle tier players and the elders. Spending so much on so few makes no sense to me when there is a salary cap to fit into.

As for Blair, well I think even he would admit that maybe he wasn't as great as he was in Melbourne. But without guys around him having a go on the field, jeez…it must have been hard to lift. I remember seeing him always chasing down runaway players when everyone else had given up, grabbing loose balls as has been mentioned before - things like that that go unrewarded and don't come up in the all - important stats that spew out constantly. I think we all know that the senior group have let the club down for some time now. Good on him for getting out. Who the hell could blame him?

I don't agree with this. Like any free market it's all about supply and demand and you're effectively limiting their earnings which is not fair, they're entitled to be paid what the market thinks they are worth. Players go into every season carrying perpetual risk that they are one serious injury from ending their careers, clubs should not be insulated from the risk of paying overs for promising kids. It's part of the gig.

Brooks has been pumped up since SG ball about being the next Joey and we've long pinned our hopes on him, wouldn't matter if he was on $50K or $500K he was always on a hiding to nothing due to his outstanding ability compared to his contemporaries in junior grades & NYC.

 

[westTAHger]

A source very close to the team told me no one got along with him and was as lazy as anything …. And to add salt into the wound, we are paying $250,000 of his contract still this year.

This is incorrect, he was devastated to have to leave the Tigers he didn't want to, he really enjoyed it at the Tigers and was really close with most of the players particularly the islanders

So from this, who do you believe?
I'm getting to the stage, where I don't believe anything from anyone.

 

[fibrodreaming]

A source very close to the team told me no one got along with him and was as lazy as anything …. And to add salt into the wound, we are paying $250,000 of his contract still this year.

This is incorrect, he was devastated to have to leave the Tigers he didn't want to, he really enjoyed it at the Tigers and was really close with most of the players particularly the islanders

So from this, who do you believe?
I'm getting to the stage, where I don't believe anything from anyone.

I don't have too much trouble believing the article. The proposition that Blair did extra training was confirmed by Potter. The article even mentioned the players who did the extra training with him; Sue, Tapau and Thomson. None of this has been denied.

In addition, we can use the evidence of our own eyes to confirm that, whatever his other inadequacies, lack of fitness was not one of them.

Potter felt that Blair was one of the best forwards while he was with us. Certainly, Bennet had no hesitation snapping him up.

As for no one getting along with him, we can assume that at least the three that did extra training with him, got along with him.

I can only conclude that Born Tiger's source "very close to the team" is telling porkies.

Everyone seems to have an agenda.

 

[larrycorowa]

I would love to see an analysis of penalties against when playing with the Tigers vs Broncos. Our lack of depth made it an empty threat that poor discipline would cost you your position. Contrast this to gavet whose poor discipline in the first game of the season cost him his position and sent a warning to others in the team that poor discipline would not be tolerated.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

A source very close to the team told me no one got along with him and was as lazy as anything …. And to add salt into the wound, we are paying $250,000 of his contract still this year.

This is incorrect, he was devastated to have to leave the Tigers he didn't want to, he really enjoyed it at the Tigers and was really close with most of the players particularly the islanders

So from this, who do you believe?
I'm getting to the stage, where I don't believe anything from anyone.

I don't have too much trouble believing the article. The proposition that Blair did extra training was confirmed by Potter. The article even mentioned the players who did the extra training with him; Sue, Tapau and Thomson. None of this has been denied.

In addition, we can use the evidence of our own eyes to confirm that, whatever his other inadequacies, lack of fitness was not one of them.

Potter felt that Blair was one of the best forwards while he was with us. Certainly, Bennet had no hesitation snapping him up.

As for no one getting along with him, we can assume that at least the three that did extra training with him, got along with him.

I can only conclude that Born Tiger's source "very close to the team" is telling porkies.

Everyone seems to have an agenda.

Tigerlogic has always claimed to be a mate of his/his family. Meanwhile the "source close to the team" was just that. If you can't name up generally it's just innuendo.

 

[ricksen]

We're doing a lot of the right things in replacing old people and old procedures, starting right at the top. It's not pretty and it's bloody risky investing in youth the way contracts are protected in the NRL.

I've said before that I think there should be a limit on contracts for young players.

I tend to agree - one of the many reasons the whole NRL contracts and trading system just doesn't work.
Most other salary capped sports have regulated contract lengths and sums (be it here or in the USA), but then again they pretty much all operate under a rookie draft system, which I don't think is going to happen here any time soon.
One thing that the NRL could do tomorrow, is protect the contracts of juniors, i.e. make them restricted free agents for the first X years of their first senior contract. Obviously there'd have to be stipulations behind qualifying for such a deal (say 3 years of youth football with said club), but such an easy change would really change the mentality of clubs regarding development, and would reward the smaller clubs who are able to produce their own.

The AFL has a similar system: http://www.afl.com.au/afl-hq/the-afl-explained/free-agency

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
>
Players who are in the top 25 per cent of salaries at their club (that is, in the club’s top nine-10 paid players) are eligible for restricted free agency the first time they are out of contract, if they have served at least eight years with the club.
>
For example, a player who is contracted after his seventh year for one, two, three, four or five years will be eligible for restricted free agency when next out of contract having completed either eight, nine, 10, 11 or 12 seasons respectively.
>
A top 25 per cent player is eligible for unrestricted free agency when next out of contract, provided a player can never be an unrestricted free agent until completing at least 10 years’ service at one club.
>
For example, a player who signs a one-year contract after his eighth season is not eligible for unrestricted free agency until he has completed at least 10 years’ service.
>
Restricted free agents have the right to move to a club of their choice, subject to the current club’s right of first refusal over their services. That is, if the current club can ‘match’ the offer from a suitor club, the player must stay or enter the draft. The tabled offer includes only football payments and Additional Service Agreements (ASA) amounts.

Also a good infographic here: http://www.aflplayers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2013-Free-Agency-Infograhpic.pdf

 

[krayola]

We're doing a lot of the right things in replacing old people and old procedures, starting right at the top. It's not pretty and it's bloody risky investing in youth the way contracts are protected in the NRL.

I've said before that I think there should be a limit on contracts for young players.

I tend to agree - one of the many reasons the whole NRL contracts and trading system just doesn't work.
Most other salary capped sports have regulated contract lengths and sums (be it here or in the USA), but then again they pretty much all operate under a rookie draft system, which I don't think is going to happen here any time soon.
One thing that the NRL could do tomorrow, is protect the contracts of juniors, i.e. make them restricted free agents for the first X years of their first senior contract. Obviously there'd have to be stipulations behind qualifying for such a deal (say 3 years of youth football with said club), but such an easy change would really change the mentality of clubs regarding development, and would reward the smaller clubs who are able to produce their own.

The AFL has a similar system: http://www.afl.com.au/afl-hq/the-afl-explained/free-agency

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
>
Players who are in the top 25 per cent of salaries at their club (that is, in the club’s top nine-10 paid players) are eligible for restricted free agency the first time they are out of contract, if they have served at least eight years with the club.
>
For example, a player who is contracted after his seventh year for one, two, three, four or five years will be eligible for restricted free agency when next out of contract having completed either eight, nine, 10, 11 or 12 seasons respectively.
>
A top 25 per cent player is eligible for unrestricted free agency when next out of contract, provided a player can never be an unrestricted free agent until completing at least 10 years’ service at one club.
>
For example, a player who signs a one-year contract after his eighth season is not eligible for unrestricted free agency until he has completed at least 10 years’ service.
>
Restricted free agents have the right to move to a club of their choice, subject to the current club’s right of first refusal over their services. That is, if the current club can ‘match’ the offer from a suitor club, the player must stay or enter the draft. The tabled offer includes only football payments and Additional Service Agreements (ASA) amounts.

Also a good infographic here: http://www.aflplayers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2013-Free-Agency-Infograhpic.pdf

Thanks Rickson - restricted free agency as in the AFL needs to happen in the NRL starting today.

Why such focus is placed upon a video review bunker and not on contract tampering or creating a signing/trade period is beyond me. Tapau has clearly signed with Manly for 2017 and 2016 hasn't even begun yet! Absolute nonsense that will hang over the club and the league all season and has done for about 5 years now.