Coaching Credentials.

[TIGERS]

1. James Tedesco had 3 preseasons under Jason Taylor at our club. Our attack was pretty damn awful during that time for those who can remember.
2. Taylor gets sacked, joins the Roosters a few months later, and subsequently becomes Tedesco's attack coach at the Roosters in 2018 as they go on to win the comp.

Now I understand that's a massive simplification lacking context and nuance. But you can see where I'm going with this.... You can't just plonk a coach somewhere and import the essence of another teams playing style into yours.

I don't want to have an argument, I want to understand other people's perspectives. How do you figure out if an assistant coach is any good? Royce Simmons is beloved here at the club but he got wooden spoons at the Panthers before joining us. I feel like this forum is a little bit harsh on our current assistant coaches, without really being able to give a clear enough example of whats lacking and why individuals from elsewhere might make a better alternative.

Like there are 11 Premiership rings collectively between our senior players and our coaching team. 9 of those playing in the spine across 3 different clubs. I'm pretty sure that they're capable of collaborating and interacting in a way where they're going to improve and figure a few things out. They're not waiting on Nathan Fien to come in and be like, "Bro, you're doing it wrong". It's not like a pack of rank amateurs in there that have never been to a grand final. I think it's a pretty solid cross section of experience. It's a process as much as a puzzle.

Again, not looking to bicker. But keen to know and understand in real terms what is so bad about our assistant coaches? Is it just their records?? Because that doesn't always tell the whole story.

 

[Jolls]

1. James Tedesco had 3 preseasons under Jason Taylor at our club. Our attack was pretty damn awful during that time for those who can remember.
2. Taylor gets sacked, joins the Roosters a few months later, and subsequently becomes Tedesco's attack coach at the Roosters in 2018 as they go on to win the comp.

Now I understand that's a massive simplification lacking context and nuance. But you can see where I'm going with this.... You can't just plonk a coach somewhere and import the essence of another teams playing style into yours.

I don't want to have an argument, I want to understand other people's perspectives. How do you figure out if an assistant coach is any good? Royce Simmons is beloved here at the club but he got wooden spoons at the Panthers before joining us. I feel like this forum is a little bit harsh on our current assistant coaches, without really being able to give a clear enough example of whats lacking and why individuals from elsewhere might make a better alternative.

Like there are 11 Premiership rings collectively between our senior players and our coaching team. 9 of those playing in the spine across 3 different clubs. I'm pretty sure that they're capable of collaborating and interacting in a way where they're going to improve and figure a few things out. They're not waiting on Nathan Fien to come in and be like, "Bro, you're doing it wrong". It's not like a pack of rank amateurs in there that have never been to a grand final. I think it's a pretty solid cross section of experience. It's a process as much as a puzzle.

Again, not looking to bicker. But keen to know and understand in real terms what is so bad about our assistant coaches? Is it just their records?? Because that doesn't always tell the whole story.

I think you’ve actually landed on the key issue yourself with the Tedesco/Jason Taylor example — context and environment matter far more than we like to admit.

The common assumption is that coaching quality is portable: take a coach from a successful club, drop them somewhere else, and the outcomes should follow. But coaching doesn’t operate in a vacuum. What really determines impact is the environment the coach is operating in — the club’s football governance, player leadership, standards, stability, and the willingness and capability of the playing group to execute consistently.

Taylor at the Tigers versus Taylor at the Roosters is a perfect case study. Same coach, same player, wildly different outcomes. The difference wasn’t suddenly superior football IQ — it was a club with ruthless standards, clear roles, aligned leadership from board to coach to senior players, and a playing group that already knew how to win. At the Roosters, the system amplified the coach. At the Tigers, the system constrained him.

That’s why I struggle with the idea that assistant coaches are the primary problem in isolation. Assistants don’t set roster strategy, don’t control retention decisions, don’t enforce club-wide standards, and don’t determine whether senior players actually drive accountability day to day. Their effectiveness is heavily dependent on:

• the authority they’re given
• the clarity of the overall football philosophy
• the consistency of messaging across years (not months)
• and the buy-in and maturity of the playing group

Records alone are a blunt instrument. Royce Simmons is a great example — wooden spoons on paper, but universally respected as a developer and mentor. That tells me results are often lagging indicators of deeper structural issues. I was firtunate enough to have some time under Royce at St Marys - love the bloke!

You’re also right about the experience within the group. Between premiership-winning coaches and spine players, there is plenty of football knowledge in the building. This isn’t a situation where someone like Nathan Fien walks in and suddenly unlocks secret plays no one’s ever seen before. Improvement at this level comes from alignment, repetition, trust, and time — not magic bullets.

For me, the real question isn’t “Are the assistants bad?” but:

• Are they operating in a stable, cohesive structure?
• Are standards consistently enforced regardless of name or reputation?
• Is the playing group mentally ready to carry responsibility, not just receive instruction?

Until those pieces are locked in, swapping assistants feels more like treating symptoms than fixing the cause. Coaching quality matters — but environment is the multiplier. Benji and Richo (now Shaun) have laid a foundation and despite the immediate lack of success we are building.

I trust that 2026 is a turning point for us - the groundwork has been laid, HBG have been "aligned" by PVL and we appear to have a happy and dedicated playing group. Throw some increased $ from HBG into the mix and we may just get there.

 

[Telltails]

Maguire at the WTs v Maguire at Broncos.
His detractors here said he would never get a coaching gig again was passed it ....
HBG don't meet the criteria necessary for success until they do - we know already.

 

[TIGERS]

Maguire at the WTs v Maguire at Broncos.
His detractors here said he would never get a coaching gig again was passed it ....
HBG don't meet the criteria necessary for success until they do - we know already.

Madge has never had to build a team. The Brisbane senior players asked him to ease off on the intensity mid season last year after a run of defeats, I think just after a bad loss to Manly. They didn't mind the hard work, its just his intensity was making everyone anxious. And with that bit of feedback he refined his approach. They were 11th and had just lost to Manly. I think if you actually look back there are actually quotes from me at that time saying it only took him half a season to turn Brisbane into us,.... give a man enough rope hahahah...

I don't think our players had that sort of interaction or gave him that feedback with when he coached us. I've read Corey Parker describe similar interactions with Wayne Bennett where they didn't follow his instructions and then afterwards they had to meet halfway. It's not just who is there but how everyone interacts with each other.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Madge has never had to build a team. The Brisbane senior players asked him to ease off on the intensity mid season last year after a run of defeats, I think just after a bad loss to Manly. They didn't mind the hard work, its just his intensity was making everyone anxious. And with that bit of feedback he refined his approach. They were 11th and had just lost to Manly. I think if you actually look back there are actually quotes from me at that time saying it only took him half a season to turn Brisbane into us,.... give a man enough rope hahahah...

I don't think our players had that sort of interaction or gave him that feedback with when he coached us. I've read Corey Parker describe similar interactions with Wayne Bennett where they didn't follow his instructions and then afterwards they had to meet halfway. It's not just who is there but how everyone interacts with each other.

Madge at the tigers had the eggshells saga. Players said they were worried about losing positions week to week. Instead of playing better they whinged. Kind of the same

 

[Jolls]

Madge has never had to build a team. The Brisbane senior players asked him to ease off on the intensity mid season last year after a run of defeats, I think just after a bad loss to Manly. They didn't mind the hard work, its just his intensity was making everyone anxious. And with that bit of feedback he refined his approach. They were 11th and had just lost to Manly. I think if you actually look back there are actually quotes from me at that time saying it only took him half a season to turn Brisbane into us,.... give a man enough rope hahahah...

I don't think our players had that sort of interaction or gave him that feedback with when he coached us. I've read Corey Parker describe similar interactions with Wayne Bennett where they didn't follow his instructions and then afterwards they had to meet halfway. It's not just who is there but how everyone interacts with each other.

Exactly the environment issues I raised earlier.

 

[426Tlgerland]

I would love to know what each coaching staff member has done for their own development , what type courses etc , would be interesting to know how much they have done to better themselves but to also bring in quality ideas from the courses etc , for the players and team .

 

[Telltails]

Madge has never had to build a team. The Brisbane senior players asked him to ease off on the intensity mid season last year after a run of defeats, I think just after a bad loss to Manly. They didn't mind the hard work, its just his intensity was making everyone anxious. And with that bit of feedback he refined his approach. They were 11th and had just lost to Manly. I think if you actually look back there are actually quotes from me at that time saying it only took him half a season to turn Brisbane into us,.... give a man enough rope hahahah...

I don't think our players had that sort of interaction or gave him that feedback with when he coached us. I've read Corey Parker describe similar interactions with Wayne Bennett where they didn't follow his instructions and then afterwards they had to meet halfway. It's not just who is there but how everyone interacts with each other.

No depth at the club or challenge for positions. There were players that backed Maguire but there weren't enough of them - or it seems the right ones at the time.
Players overpaid to underperform. Impossible for a coach to set standards at a club that operates with low standards where the players know that options are limited and the coach is the fall guy.

 

[TIGERS]

Exactly the environment issues I raised earlier.

Jollsie when I’m back in syd we will have to go for a beer mate

 

[Jolls]

Jollsie when I’m back in syd we will have to go for a beer mate

I'm not is Sydney mate, I'm 45 mins North of Canberra in a small town called Murrumbateman. If you're down this way always happy for a frothy!

 

[TIGERS]

I'm not is Sydney mate, I'm 45 mins North of Canberra in a small town called Murrumbateman. If you're down this way always happy for a frothy!

Even better!

 

[Lestronge]

Madge has never had to build a team. The Brisbane senior players asked him to ease off on the intensity mid season last year after a run of defeats, I think just after a bad loss to Manly. They didn't mind the hard work, its just his intensity was making everyone anxious. And with that bit of feedback he refined his approach. They were 11th and had just lost to Manly. I think if you actually look back there are actually quotes from me at that time saying it only took him half a season to turn Brisbane into us,.... give a man enough rope hahahah...

I don't think our players had that sort of interaction or gave him that feedback with when he coached us. I've read Corey Parker describe similar interactions with Wayne Bennett where they didn't follow his instructions and then afterwards they had to meet halfway. It's not just who is there but how everyone interacts with each other.

In hindsight madge just didn’t mesh with who we were as a club . I think where we stuffed up , is when we blooded our then gun youths , the big 4 and change , we also decided we would completely depart from the clubs dna at the time , and basically import the storm and manly game plans. Of which it was always going to be a pale imitation.
I think we are on the right path now . Lean into our own identity , and recruit players to suit that style . It’s not going to be for everyone . Just look at this forum . Even our own fanbase is divided on this. But ultimately much like boxing , it’s far better to have a contrasting styles than to pretend you can imitate someone else’s to the same success.
As a league surely this is the ultimate goal . Ebb and flow of styles , and variations within that to provide a better product.
I mean really we are still transitioning out of the wrestle ball era , and hopefully this new era can allow for fluidness in the table ie. 20 years of the same teams in the top 4 .
Teams moving up and down as form and skill go in and out of teams . Instead of 1or 2 systems that just play cynical footy and , maybe not rig the system , as that’s not fair , but definitely gaming it .
Melbourne - with the wrestling really since the nrl decided to do nothing circa 2006(they could have outlawed the wrestle from the start . I remember seeing news articles and reports about this “new” footy style).
The roosters - buying a premiership by recruiting the best players , and then basically gaming the system , with allowing teams to march downfield and basically give away a million penalties on thier tryline until one of 2 things happen . They take the 2 points , or they stuff up and hand the ball over . Extremely cynical football … you can call it whatever you want .
Penrith - very similar to the roosters , a lot of time wasting , bombing to corners , and just strangling teams out of games . Way less cynical, and extremely hard to execute for most teams , but I wouldn’t call it a style that added to the highlight reels . A NRL purist type of footy, I personally find it boring, and if it ever leads to long losing streaks would cause most players to tune out if prolonged losing streaks , as it doesn’t really allow for anyone to step outside of thier role . But credit where it’s due. They’ve managed to maintain success with buy in and a rigid style that doesn’t really allow for individual flamboyance. Not easy to do in modern days of individual brands , and guys trying to maximise thier exposure .