Is Potter really capable of making the big calls?

E

Eddie

New member
It is depressing how he is continuing with Anasta. The bloke is more finished as a footballer then any other player in the NRL. He has been for about 3 years. He would not make a single other team in the NRL. He could well cost us a spot in the Top 8 this season, thats how bad he is. He pute pressure on the whole side, he makes our right edge clunky and useless.

Although I am happy with a lot of what Potter is doing at the club this frustrates me. Is he capable if having the tough conversations or making the tough calls to take us to the next level. Is he capable of dropping senior players with very little to offer?? Lawrence has been shocking since Potter came to the club yet has never had any pressure at all applied to his spot.

He got much credit for benching Marshall. Well he benched him for 15 minutes, and then started him every game for the rest of the season despite insipid form. Bit of a slap on the wrist if you ask me. I think it was more Benji had had had enough of WT (thank god) rather than Potter pushing him out the door. If Benji wanted to stay he would have been re-signed forr 700K and 3 more years. Potter gets huge credit for getting rid of Marshall but did he really??

Lets also remember he played Moltzen ahead of Tedesco at fullback for the first 8 rounds last season. Who is too say that would not have continued if Moltzen did not get injured? He also never dropped Ayshford for his terrible performances last season. Ok I know there were issues with mass injuries and perhaps second tier cap last year.

Now we have close to a full strength side in 2 seasons. There are ZERO excuses at this stage to miss the Top 8\. It doesn't matter what the experts say the talent is there in this squad to do something good this season. It will be interesting to see how Potter reacts if the like of Anasta and Lawrence continue to under perform. What happens if Koro, Moses and Austin continue to kill it in reserves??

Don't get me wrong I am in favour of re-signing him. However I am starting to wonder how capable he is of making the tough calls.
 
Eddie really well said i couldnt agree with you more, every point is very fair and im feeling exactly as you and as frustrated as you.. How Anasta gets picked continutelly puts me in a bad mood and he seems to get picked in week out..
 
I think Potter has shown he is not afraid to make the big calls…last year with Benji and Farah...case in point...

I think Braith has survived largely because during the last 8 weeks we have had the horrific injury toll to deal with and Potter felt he needed Anasta in the team...remember Potter did hook Braith and played Austin at #6 the last game at CSS...I expect Potter will give Anasta one last chance being this week...if he fails I would not be surprised to see him hooked permanently..
 
Anasta, Lawrence, Fulton OUT, Koro and Moses, Gavet/Sirro (One of them will miss out next week due to Fulton) in !!
 
Anasta gets picked because Potter does not think the alternatives are ready. Remember Braith was still playing first grade at the Roosters before we signed him. I don't want him there as he offers very little, but Potter likely sees some leadership attributes behind the scenes that we don't get to see and this is important in a young team. Just like when Sattler came over.

Sure he benched Marshall, and Marshall deserved it….but Sheens never did, the NZ team never did. That took balls to bench the highest profile player in the club, and the player that the kids look up to. It was likely to affect the publics perception of the tigers and merchandise sales, but he did it anyway because he thought it was best for the team....just like replacing Farah whether you agree or disagree with it.

I think Potter deserves more latitude. He has gotten rid of a lot of our dead wood. We are building depth in the forwards, and the guys being brought in have aggression which we have dearly lacked.

If his only negative is to keep picking Anasta then I am happy to give him the benefit of the doubt.
 
I really like Potter however I think he needs to be tougher as well. Anasta needs to go. I think Tedesco should go as well. Koro should probably be in firsts.

I just think at some point he has to make the tough calls. Sheens had this problem as well. Potter is definitely better than Sheens but I think he needs to take some more risks when picking his top team.
 
@pacman said:
Anasta, Lawrence, Fulton OUT, Koro and Moses, Gavet/Sirro (One of them will miss out next week due to Fulton) in !!
Click to expand...

Anasta, Lawrence, Fulton IN.

Koro a defensive liability OUT

Moses physically ready yet OUT

Gavet is still injured OUT

Sirro not fit enough OUT
 
Ink lets not confuse Farah's comments.

He gave him big kudos in regards to driving a different off field culture. A new set of standards to meet on the training track. A more robust leadership group that was more demanding.

He never gave him any wraps about his on field displays. Nothing about his guidance or experience or stuff he was doing during the 80 minutes to help the side.

I think there is a big difference. However I understand the point you are trying to make.
 
When moltzen was at FB he was actually outplaying Tedesco, believe it or not, and playing quite well while Teddy was still adjusting to FG, especially defensively. Perfectly fine decision by me.
 
That was a good read, Eddie.
Awesome to see a post with such objectivity!
I agree with you on Marshall: I think it was all Marshall the reason he left. I also agree that his farah decision was the one people should refer to when saying he can make the tough calls.
As for Anasta though, I remain bipartisan: I think the times he wasn't in the side this year farah wasn't either, or something like that, so there hasn't yet been the best opportunity for Austin to show he is the better option. But I also don't know how brooks feels with and without him in the side? Impossible for me to say, but I have to believe Anasta is only there because brooks and farah want him there?

Overall, I think potter came to the tigers with a holistic programme that, despite tedesco, is receiving the patience and respect it needs to work, and therefore, is.

I think that alexaki is spot on and that potters 'baby steps' plan will see Anasta fade away. It's already started with Austin solely getting more and more time. Maybe Anasta knows this is the plan and that's why he is so unconcerned? Maybe he is happy he is passing the torch and is doing it well?
 
@Eddie said:
He never gave him any wraps about his on field displays. Nothing about his guidance or experience or stuff he was doing during the 80 minutes to help the side.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I wish I could tell!!! Maybe he isn't good for the side?

Btw, I wish he would make the tough call and punt tedesco….
 
@Eddie said:
Ink lets not confuse Farah's comments.

He gave him big kudos in regards to driving a different off field culture. A new set of standards to meet on the training track. A more robust leadership group that was more demanding.

He never gave him any wraps about his on field displays. Nothing about his guidance or experience or stuff he was doing during the 80 minutes to help the side.

I think there is a big difference. However I understand the point you are trying to make.
Click to expand...

Im not confused either by farahs comments, as im sure you arent.
They surprised me, in as much as Farahs comments seemed absolutley genuine.

We know there is a helluva lot of spin in interviews when it comes to CEOs, coaches and players…but to me this was not one of those times

Thats my point....those that matter obviously do see or know something that we dont
 
We do not know what goes on in the training field. So all our comments are re selections r obviously speculative. I do think players get picked based on their efforts they put in at training and think anasta still in the side because potter doesn't want to rush Moses (similar to brooks). Which I think is fair enough.. potter has a really young side so we have to remember to be patient.
 
Let's hope that keeping Tedesco and Anasta in first grade doesn't come back to bite us and finish our season in a few weeks. The situation with Wests Tigers at the moment is very tenuous and the Tedesco circus has accelerated its momentum.
 
I just saw woods on fox sports comment on Tedesco. While supporting his mate u could tell he was disappointed with tedesco decision. also news said tedesco scared of fan backlash at a home game. Don't blame his. Haha. Also siro is looking HUGE.
 
@littletiger said:
I just saw woods on fox sports comment on Tede$co. While supporting his mate u could tell he was disappointed with Tede$co decision. also news said **Tede$co scared of fan backlash at a home game**. Don't blame his. Haha. Also siro is looking HUGE.
Click to expand...

and so he should be….he deserves to cop it big time at our next home game.
 
I would hold back until after Origin is wrapped up to make this call of Potter.

Coaching at this level is more manipulation than education… managing ego's, extracting the most they have to offer from players. Once Braith realises he has zero chance of making the 300 club, how do you expect him to perform? We need him through Origin... It would be unwise to not cover a Moses promotion on the bench, and we will be needing Austin to super-sub for Luani. Easiest way to put it, if Braith is giving his everything at present and it isnt up to scratch, could you imagine the Braith who has thrown in the towel?

I think Braith is a pro, he may deal with it, but I would guess we are pretty shakey at the moment, and rocking the boat before we have to...
 
I think he has the reins in hand and well in control. From the sideline or the screen it is plain to see Anasta has been directing the team around the park, though Brooks did assume more responsibility the last couple of games. Further to Farah's comments, several weeks back, all four players interviewed on the WT site mentioned the team missing Anasta the week before when suspended.

Like it or not, he still plays his part in our side, albeit increasingly more of a supporting one and being weaned out of the role. Whilst he certainly adds some individual spark, I had hoped Austin might have shown a little more direction during his limited time at six. Unless he really stands up next time, I cannot see him grabbing the spot and Moses will get the jump on him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Total: 343 (members: 3, guests: 340)
Back
Top