Madge Maguire - Mega Thread

[GNR4LIFE]

Buzz Rothfield saying Madge turned down the Manly Coaching job to coach us?!

That was reported at the time, so it’s hardly a revalation.

 

[avocadoontoast]

Buzz Rothfield saying Madge turned down the Manly Coaching job to coach us?!

Manly dodged a bullet there

 

[GCfan]

Certainly not against Pascoe moving on(same result etc) but if we think sacking him will do anything for 2022 is laughable.


So what’s the point of sacking him then?
If sacking fixes nothing I don’t get the point

Cause you want to change the next 5 years not the next year. Need to look for coach or players

I still think our bigger issue is weak minded individuals in the team. Much harder to fix though.

Weak minded or largely fractured and disgruntled because non performing players on massive salaries weren’t contributing?

If that’s the case we’ve got even bigger issues than we think. If any of our players aren’t putting in because someone’s earning more than them and they don’t think they should be then pack ya bags son, that kind of crap will do more damage than any coach.

Most of those highly paid under performing players have moved on now so if there’s fractures due to that issue they should be resolved.

Every club has players who earn more than guys beside them and it’s not always representative of output or form. They need to grow up a bit. It’s like a child crying because their sibling got more ice cream than they did.

 

[BAGNF05]

Certainly not against Pascoe moving on(same result etc) but if we think sacking him will do anything for 2022 is laughable.


So what’s the point of sacking him then?
If sacking fixes nothing I don’t get the point

Cause you want to change the next 5 years not the next year. Need to look for coach or players

I still think our bigger issue is weak minded individuals in the team. Much harder to fix though.

Weak minded or largely fractured and disgruntled because non performing players on massive salaries weren’t contributing?

If that’s the case we’ve got even bigger issues than we think. If any of our players aren’t putting in because someone’s earning more than them and they don’t think they should be then pack ya bags son, that kind of crap will do more damage than any coach.

Most of those highly paid under performing players have moved on now so if there’s fractures due to that issue they should be resolved.

Every club has players who earn more than guys beside them and it’s not always representative of output or form. They need to grow up a bit. It’s like a child crying because their sibling got more ice cream than they did.

No other club has butchered marquee money like we did.

 

[Telltails]

Certainly not against Pascoe moving on(same result etc) but if we think sacking him will do anything for 2022 is laughable.


So what’s the point of sacking him then?
If sacking fixes nothing I don’t get the point

Cause you want to change the next 5 years not the next year. Need to look for coach or players

I still think our bigger issue is weak minded individuals in the team. Much harder to fix though.

Weak minded or largely fractured and disgruntled because non performing players on massive salaries weren’t contributing?

If that’s the case we’ve got even bigger issues than we think. If any of our players aren’t putting in because someone’s earning more than them and they don’t think they should be then pack ya bags son, that kind of crap will do more damage than any coach.

Most of those highly paid under performing players have moved on now so if there’s fractures due to that issue they should be resolved.

Every club has players who earn more than guys beside them and it’s not always representative of output or form. They need to grow up a bit. It’s like a child crying because their sibling got more ice cream than they did.

The best teams have the best players earning the most money some would suggest ours runs the opposite way - and the results back that up.

 

[BAGNF05]

Certainly not against Pascoe moving on(same result etc) but if we think sacking him will do anything for 2022 is laughable.


So what’s the point of sacking him then?
If sacking fixes nothing I don’t get the point

Cause you want to change the next 5 years not the next year. Need to look for coach or players

I still think our bigger issue is weak minded individuals in the team. Much harder to fix though.

Weak minded or largely fractured and disgruntled because non performing players on massive salaries weren’t contributing?

If that’s the case we’ve got even bigger issues than we think. If any of our players aren’t putting in because someone’s earning more than them and they don’t think they should be then pack ya bags son, that kind of crap will do more damage than any coach.

Most of those highly paid under performing players have moved on now so if there’s fractures due to that issue they should be resolved.

Every club has players who earn more than guys beside them and it’s not always representative of output or form. They need to grow up a bit. It’s like a child crying because their sibling got more ice cream than they did.

The best teams have the best players earning the most money some would suggest ours runs the opposite way - and the results back that up.

A lot of people in denial at our club, the problems are obvious and the creator won’t go away. He’s quietly reviewing others haha

 

[GCfan]

Certainly not against Pascoe moving on(same result etc) but if we think sacking him will do anything for 2022 is laughable.


So what’s the point of sacking him then?
If sacking fixes nothing I don’t get the point

Cause you want to change the next 5 years not the next year. Need to look for coach or players

I still think our bigger issue is weak minded individuals in the team. Much harder to fix though.

Weak minded or largely fractured and disgruntled because non performing players on massive salaries weren’t contributing?

If that’s the case we’ve got even bigger issues than we think. If any of our players aren’t putting in because someone’s earning more than them and they don’t think they should be then pack ya bags son, that kind of crap will do more damage than any coach.

Most of those highly paid under performing players have moved on now so if there’s fractures due to that issue they should be resolved.

Every club has players who earn more than guys beside them and it’s not always representative of output or form. They need to grow up a bit. It’s like a child crying because their sibling got more ice cream than they did.

No other club has butchered marquee money like we did.

No doubt about that.
Does that then give players the right to take no pride in their performance, no pride in the jersey?
My position is now way, but many of the players seem to think otherwise.

 

[GCfan]

Certainly not against Pascoe moving on(same result etc) but if we think sacking him will do anything for 2022 is laughable.


So what’s the point of sacking him then?
If sacking fixes nothing I don’t get the point

Cause you want to change the next 5 years not the next year. Need to look for coach or players

I still think our bigger issue is weak minded individuals in the team. Much harder to fix though.

Weak minded or largely fractured and disgruntled because non performing players on massive salaries weren’t contributing?

If that’s the case we’ve got even bigger issues than we think. If any of our players aren’t putting in because someone’s earning more than them and they don’t think they should be then pack ya bags son, that kind of crap will do more damage than any coach.

Most of those highly paid under performing players have moved on now so if there’s fractures due to that issue they should be resolved.

Every club has players who earn more than guys beside them and it’s not always representative of output or form. They need to grow up a bit. It’s like a child crying because their sibling got more ice cream than they did.

The best teams have the best players earning the most money some would suggest ours runs the opposite way - and the results back that up.

The other thing I’d say is we’ve clearly taken a youth policy at the Club and tried to cherry pick the best emerging playing talent, and or blocked players e.g Laurie and Steff, You could argue that Matterson was similar given his path.

In this situation regular first graders who have been around a while will more than likely be earning more than these young or blocked players. Based on what your saying it’s the young guys who would be fractured and dropping their performance but that’s generally not happening at the club.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Certainly not against Pascoe moving on(same result etc) but if we think sacking him will do anything for 2022 is laughable.


So what’s the point of sacking him then?
If sacking fixes nothing I don’t get the point

Cause you want to change the next 5 years not the next year. Need to look for coach or players

I still think our bigger issue is weak minded individuals in the team. Much harder to fix though.

Weak minded or largely fractured and disgruntled because non performing players on massive salaries weren’t contributing?

If that’s the case we’ve got even bigger issues than we think. If any of our players aren’t putting in because someone’s earning more than them and they don’t think they should be then pack ya bags son, that kind of crap will do more damage than any coach.

Most of those highly paid under performing players have moved on now so if there’s fractures due to that issue they should be resolved.

Every club has players who earn more than guys beside them and it’s not always representative of output or form. They need to grow up a bit. It’s like a child crying because their sibling got more ice cream than they did.

No other club has butchered marquee money like we did.

Bet you they have.

 

[tony soprano]

The actual articles continues on with 2 sections on the tigers

Here’s the Tigers part

Long Tigers review keeps coaching pot on boil

The longer the Wests Tigers season review drags on, the more names that are dragged into the team’s head coaching mix.


One of those is Cameron Ciraldo, who has the coaching world at his feet – he just needs to decide if the Wests Tigers are a sensible first step into head coaching.

But rather than chase a job that may not even become available, he is focused purely on the Panthers’ push to a title.

RELATED ARTICLE
Ryan Papenhuyzen crosses for the Storm against Manly.
NRL 2021
Papenhuyzen rising at the right time as Storm flex finals muscles
So if the Tigers are in a hurry to replace Michael Maguire, Ciraldo may not be their man. Ciraldo is represented by manager Daryl Mather and would consult with his current boss Ivan Cleary before any move. But he will ultimately be guided by a man whose opinion he rates above all others: Phil Gould.

One of Gould’s close mates is former top agent Wayne Beavis, who is doing some talking of his own. Beavis is no longer a registered player agent, but that has not stopped him having in-depth conversations with Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis about what Shane Flanagan could bring to the club.

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He is making it known to the Tigers that the Sharks premiership-winning coach and rebuild specialist is ready to go if they sack Michael Maguire. But Flanagan won’t be drawn on the actions of Beavis.

While the names swirl, Maguire is in Brisbane ignoring the speculation about his future.
He is smart enough to know there is a strong push against him. He is not exactly sure where it is coming from. If he had read the damning comments from Hagipantelis in recent days, it would be clear to him.

Play Video


Tigers players hung Madge out to try: Joey
Play video
2:04
Tigers players hung Madge out to try: Joey
The Tigers' players' group has hung embattled coach Michael Maguire out to dry, that's the belief of eighth immortal Andrew Johns.
The problem the Tigers have is that the board re-signed Maguire at the start of this year, and to move him on it will need to cough up a year’s salary – $700,000.

They would then need to fork out big money to sign their next coach. It would be a major admission from the board that it got it wrong, and the chairman and chief executive Justin Pascoe would be in the firing line.

Advertisement

Something that gets lost in the tearing down of Maguire is the position he has the team in with $1.5 million to spend on players.

Yes, he has struggled to get results and to sign a superstar, but he has put the club in a place where it can afford to shop for players.

A new coach would need to win over a fractured playing group. But they won’t have to put up with a film crew documenting their movements, as Maguire did this year with the Fox Sports series Tales from Tiger Town.

Maguire was far from happy that the club agreed to open its doors and confided in people that a big-time club would not have agreed to it.

Another pascoe master-stroke .

 

[frullens]

Certainly not against Pascoe moving on(same result etc) but if we think sacking him will do anything for 2022 is laughable.


So what’s the point of sacking him then?
If sacking fixes nothing I don’t get the point

Cause you want to change the next 5 years not the next year. Need to look for coach or players

I still think our bigger issue is weak minded individuals in the team. Much harder to fix though.

Weak minded or largely fractured and disgruntled because non performing players on massive salaries weren’t contributing?

If that’s the case we’ve got even bigger issues than we think. If any of our players aren’t putting in because someone’s earning more than them and they don’t think they should be then pack ya bags son, that kind of crap will do more damage than any coach.

Most of those highly paid under performing players have moved on now so if there’s fractures due to that issue they should be resolved.

Every club has players who earn more than guys beside them and it’s not always representative of output or form. They need to grow up a bit. It’s like a child crying because their sibling got more ice cream than they did.

No other club has butchered marquee money like we did.

Of course other clubs have butchered there marquee money - that's why they are at the bottom with us.

Everyone needs to spend the same amount of cap money - the clubs with bad squads have obviously spent money in bad places

St George - million on hunt $$$ Corey Norman plus De Ballin who didn't play for x years

Bulldogs - $$$ foran who was always broken down, heaps on DWZ and other outside backs but no spine

Broncos - million on Milford $$$$ bird - played handful of games

Cowboys - $$$ on broken down Morgan, just spend $$$ on townsend

 

[BAGNF05]

The actual articles continues on with 2 sections on the tigers

Here’s the Tigers part

Long Tigers review keeps coaching pot on boil

The longer the Wests Tigers season review drags on, the more names that are dragged into the team’s head coaching mix.


One of those is Cameron Ciraldo, who has the coaching world at his feet – he just needs to decide if the Wests Tigers are a sensible first step into head coaching.

But rather than chase a job that may not even become available, he is focused purely on the Panthers’ push to a title.

RELATED ARTICLE
Ryan Papenhuyzen crosses for the Storm against Manly.
NRL 2021
Papenhuyzen rising at the right time as Storm flex finals muscles
So if the Tigers are in a hurry to replace Michael Maguire, Ciraldo may not be their man. Ciraldo is represented by manager Daryl Mather and would consult with his current boss Ivan Cleary before any move. But he will ultimately be guided by a man whose opinion he rates above all others: Phil Gould.

One of Gould’s close mates is former top agent Wayne Beavis, who is doing some talking of his own. Beavis is no longer a registered player agent, but that has not stopped him having in-depth conversations with Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis about what Shane Flanagan could bring to the club.

Advertisement

He is making it known to the Tigers that the Sharks premiership-winning coach and rebuild specialist is ready to go if they sack Michael Maguire. But Flanagan won’t be drawn on the actions of Beavis.

While the names swirl, Maguire is in Brisbane ignoring the speculation about his future.
He is smart enough to know there is a strong push against him. He is not exactly sure where it is coming from. If he had read the damning comments from Hagipantelis in recent days, it would be clear to him.

Play Video


Tigers players hung Madge out to try: Joey
Play video
2:04
Tigers players hung Madge out to try: Joey
The Tigers' players' group has hung embattled coach Michael Maguire out to dry, that's the belief of eighth immortal Andrew Johns.
The problem the Tigers have is that the board re-signed Maguire at the start of this year, and to move him on it will need to cough up a year’s salary – $700,000.

They would then need to fork out big money to sign their next coach. It would be a major admission from the board that it got it wrong, and the chairman and chief executive Justin Pascoe would be in the firing line.

Advertisement

Something that gets lost in the tearing down of Maguire is the position he has the team in with $1.5 million to spend on players.

Yes, he has struggled to get results and to sign a superstar, but he has put the club in a place where it can afford to shop for players.

A new coach would need to win over a fractured playing group. But they won’t have to put up with a film crew documenting their movements, as Maguire did this year with the Fox Sports series Tales from Tiger Town.

Maguire was far from happy that the club agreed to open its doors and confided in people that a big-time club would not have agreed to it.

Another pascoe master-stroke .

Had to be a shameless cash grab

 

[Telltails]

A good read about Munster and his development at the Storm,Bellamy, Christian Welch as a mentor, and the weekly sprays..


SportNrl
NRL 2021: Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy gives star Cameron Munster ‘a good spray’
Melbourne Storm playmaker Cameron Munster said that coach Craig Bellamy gave him ‘a good spray’ ahead of Friday’s qualifying final.

Joel Gould
3 min read
September 11, 2021 - 4:56PM
NCA NewsWire

NRL: The Melbourne Storm is into the preliminary finals after flogging the Manly Sea Eagles in the first round of the finals at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
anonymous-non-premium-pixel
Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster has revealed how multiple Craig Bellamy sprays, including one last week, and the mentorship of prop Christian Welch had been crucial in getting him to the milestone of his 150th club game, after he returned from a night in hospital to inspire a 40-12 qualifying final win over Manly.

Watch every 2021 NRL Telstra Finals Series match before Grand Final. Live & Ad-Break Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >

Munster suffered a deep wound in his knee against the Eels in round 24 but forgot to take his antibiotics and it became infected, requiring a hospital visit, much to the annoyance of Bellamy.


“The physios told him I didn’t take my antibiotics and Craig gave me a good spray during the week so I definitely will be taking them next time don’t worry about that,” Munster said.

“If I don’t get at least one spray a week then I am not doing the right job. It pulls me into line when he gives me a good crack.

“I don’t mind a rev. Sometimes I just sit back and let everything happen but I am very lucky the coaching staff and players find ways to get me up.”

Munster celebrated his milestone match in style with two try-assists, and a one-on-one steal and a 40/20, which both led to tries. His knee held up a treat.

“It is very motivating and I am happy with the way it worked out. It could have gone the other way. I took the risk and it paid off,” Munster said.

“There were no issues with ligaments. I could run nicely. It was a little bit tight with the stitches.


“If I’d had impact and hit the ground it could have split open but I didn’t run the ball much. I played in a dinner suit and pretty much handed it off to Paps (fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen) and he did the rest.

“It was about time I pulled my weight. The team needs me to get my hands on the ball more and give space to those outside me.”

Bellamy and the Storm claimed this year’s minor premiership. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Bellamy and the Storm claimed this year’s minor premiership. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
There was a time when Munster thought he’d only play one game for the club. That’s what made Welch’s presentation of his 150th jersey so special.

“I’ve done everything with Christian,” Munster said.

“I lived him with him for seven years. When I first came here he was the first bloke to show me around Melbourne and we lived together.

“We have shared a lot of memories together and are very close friends. It was very touching for him to give me my jersey.

“I was lucky. I came to Melbourne in 2013, played my first game in 2014 and didn’t play another game until round six in 2015.

“I had to wait but when you have Billy Slater at fullback you’ve got to bite the bullet and find other ways of playing in the team. I found a home at six and I am really enjoying it.

“It took me almost a year to get back in the team. It was crazy. I got hooked after my first game and Kurt Mann ended up playing fullback the rest of that year so it was a learning curve.”

Welch scored his second try of the season on Friday night. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Welch scored his second try of the season on Friday night. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Munster said the Storm still had another gear in them and must be better in the preliminary final in a fortnight.

“We still gave Manly chances to get back into the game and could have controlled the ball a bit more,” Munster said.

“Against Penrith, Souths and the other teams still in the comp we need to put more pressure on.

“We have got Josh Addo-Carr coming back into the team which is another boost for us. We were the best team for 25 rounds but anything can happen in this competition with the new rule changes.”

 

[tony soprano]

Buzz Rothfield saying Madge turned down the Manly Coaching job to coach us?!

Mate buzz didn't miss with Phil Gould either got a reaction from Gus too.

 

[yeahcaz]

I’m sure this has clicked to some people already but the keeping Madge decision effects 2023 more than next year. We’re able to start talking 2023 FAs in 2 months time.

Now what are the chances Maguire actually sees out his contract ? I’d say incredibly low. So we are already at a major disadvantage for negotiating. No player in their right mind will join a struggling team that can’t guarantee its coaches safety.

Say we start the year 0-5, 1-6 whatever, Madge will get the punt, no doubt about it. By the time a new coach is appointed, it’s highly likely all those big name players off contract are already re signed or signed away.

Which I believe narrows the board down to two choices.
1) the whole club accepts another season of mediocrity with the hopes of some encouraging performances but ultimately finishing bottom 4 again, giving Maguire the chance to recruit some players for the final year of his contract, meaning 2023 will be his last shot or he will be let go.
2) you sack him now, appoint a new coach who can sell his long term vision for the team in 2023 and potentially beyond. Both results obviously equate to another down year.

 

[JC99]

I’m sure this has clicked to some people already but the keeping Madge decision effects 2023 more than next year. We’re able to start talking 2023 FAs in 2 months time.

Now what are the chances Maguire actually sees out his contract ? I’d say incredibly low. So we are already at a major disadvantage for negotiating. No player in their right mind will join a struggling team that can’t guarantee its coaches safety.

Say we start the year 0-5, 1-6 whatever, Madge will get the punt, no doubt about it. By the time a new coach is appointed, it’s highly likely all those big name players off contract are already re signed or signed away.

Which I believe narrows the board down to two choices.
1) the whole club accepts another season of mediocrity with the hopes of some encouraging performances but ultimately finishing bottom 4 again, giving Maguire the chance to recruit some players for the final year of his contract, meaning 2023 will be his last shot or he will be let go.
2) you sack him now, appoint a new coach who can sell his long term vision for the team in 2023 and potentially beyond. Both results obviously equate to another down year.

Has to be option 2. If Madge isn't sacked now I doubt he makes it to 2023 anyway so what's the point of keeping him.

 

[the road runner]

Brooks, Nofa, Liddle.


Is it any wonder that these guys have been in the club the longest.
Brooks and Nofa since 2013- juniors before that.
Liddle since 2015 in NYC

So you believe this crap. Thought you were a bit smarter than all the other gullible ones on here.

 

[Tiger5150]

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire retains strong support from elements of the club’s board as his future is expected to be decided by the end of this week.

While Maguire has dominated headlines in recent weeks, counterpart Brad Arthur’s time at Parramatta will also come under the spotlight should the Eels be bundled out of the competition as early as Sunday when they play the Knights.

Maguire’s future at the Wests Tigers is clearly at the crossroads. It comes as Maguire made one last pitch to the Tigers board last week, where he urged them to have faith in the direction he was taking the club.

Even still his position is delicately poised but it is understood some members of the board want to see Maguire remain at the helm. Whether that will be enough to save his job will be determined at a board meeting this week.

The Tigers board were awaiting a final report and recommendation from the club’s post-season review. Different parts of the review were undertaken by Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis, chief executive Justin Pascoe, head of football Adam Hartigan, new head of performance Tim Sheens and board member Danny Stapleton.

Sheens’ view will hold great sway given he has been the only Tigers coach to lead the joint-venture to success. There is a belief among high-profile figures at that club that getting Sheens closer to the team next year could assist with the on-field performance.

While the departures of highly-paid players Moses Mbye and Russell Packer will help end some of the expectations placed on underperforming shoulders.

Several high-profile players have made it known they want Maguire to see out the remaining two years of his deal.

The club still has about $1 million left to spend on its roster for next season.

Tune in for episode 5 of Wild Wests: Tales From Tiger Town for the final verdict.

Off course players want Maguire to stay these are the same players that have No respect for the jersey only there pay packet .
The Board want to be very careful with there decision as I know there is much anger in the membership and supporter base the day of reckoning has come for this club !
High profile players are these the ones that tanked last round !

Think you’ll find a few ‘high profile’ players getting punted if Maguire stays.
Every story now is pro Maguire or saying Brooks should look for a new club.
Blokes like John’s, Fittler and just about everyone else is pro Maguire and pointing the finger at entitled players.

The binary is ridiculous. Two things can be true at once. Some of our players could be entitled and a big part of the problem AND our coach could be not up to it.

The idea that we Just get rid of the coach/entitled players and everything is ok is a path to failure.

The first and most immediate question is, is Madge a good enough coach and capable of quickly building a success team/culture/skill set and attract players to replace the entitled ones? If yes then happy days and lets get on with it.

If no the replace Madge and see if these "entitled" players problem survives the new coach.

 

[Tiger5150]

A good read about Munster and his development at the Storm,Bellamy, Christian Welch as a mentor, and the weekly sprays..


SportNrl
NRL 2021: Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy gives star Cameron Munster ‘a good spray’
Melbourne Storm playmaker Cameron Munster said that coach Craig Bellamy gave him ‘a good spray’ ahead of Friday’s qualifying final.

Joel Gould
3 min read
September 11, 2021 - 4:56PM
NCA NewsWire

NRL: The Melbourne Storm is into the preliminary finals after flogging the Manly Sea Eagles in the first round of the finals at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
anonymous-non-premium-pixel
Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster has revealed how multiple Craig Bellamy sprays, including one last week, and the mentorship of prop Christian Welch had been crucial in getting him to the milestone of his 150th club game, after he returned from a night in hospital to inspire a 40-12 qualifying final win over Manly.

Watch every 2021 NRL Telstra Finals Series match before Grand Final. Live & Ad-Break Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >

Munster suffered a deep wound in his knee against the Eels in round 24 but forgot to take his antibiotics and it became infected, requiring a hospital visit, much to the annoyance of Bellamy.


“The physios told him I didn’t take my antibiotics and Craig gave me a good spray during the week so I definitely will be taking them next time don’t worry about that,” Munster said.

“If I don’t get at least one spray a week then I am not doing the right job. It pulls me into line when he gives me a good crack.

“I don’t mind a rev. Sometimes I just sit back and let everything happen but I am very lucky the coaching staff and players find ways to get me up.”

Munster celebrated his milestone match in style with two try-assists, and a one-on-one steal and a 40/20, which both led to tries. His knee held up a treat.

“It is very motivating and I am happy with the way it worked out. It could have gone the other way. I took the risk and it paid off,” Munster said.

“There were no issues with ligaments. I could run nicely. It was a little bit tight with the stitches.


“If I’d had impact and hit the ground it could have split open but I didn’t run the ball much. I played in a dinner suit and pretty much handed it off to Paps (fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen) and he did the rest.

“It was about time I pulled my weight. The team needs me to get my hands on the ball more and give space to those outside me.”

Bellamy and the Storm claimed this year’s minor premiership. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Bellamy and the Storm claimed this year’s minor premiership. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
There was a time when Munster thought he’d only play one game for the club. That’s what made Welch’s presentation of his 150th jersey so special.

“I’ve done everything with Christian,” Munster said.

“I lived him with him for seven years. When I first came here he was the first bloke to show me around Melbourne and we lived together.

“We have shared a lot of memories together and are very close friends. It was very touching for him to give me my jersey.

“I was lucky. I came to Melbourne in 2013, played my first game in 2014 and didn’t play another game until round six in 2015.

“I had to wait but when you have Billy Slater at fullback you’ve got to bite the bullet and find other ways of playing in the team. I found a home at six and I am really enjoying it.

“It took me almost a year to get back in the team. It was crazy. I got hooked after my first game and Kurt Mann ended up playing fullback the rest of that year so it was a learning curve.”

Welch scored his second try of the season on Friday night. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Welch scored his second try of the season on Friday night. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Munster said the Storm still had another gear in them and must be better in the preliminary final in a fortnight.

“We still gave Manly chances to get back into the game and could have controlled the ball a bit more,” Munster said.

“Against Penrith, Souths and the other teams still in the comp we need to put more pressure on.

“We have got Josh Addo-Carr coming back into the team which is another boost for us. We were the best team for 25 rounds but anything can happen in this competition with the new rule changes.”

Bellamy will go down as the greatest caoch of all time and deservedly so. If Munster was at any other club he would be another Ash Taylor/Cory Norman.

 

[the road runner]

I know everyone hates him, but does Brooks look like the trouble making type? Noffa I could see. He has attitude and a bit of ego, but Brooks? The guy has looked scared of his shadow ever since his debut. He’s never grown a voice. What you see on the field, the timid, emotionless bore is exactly who he is off field. He’s not going to be apart of any kind of mutiny. It’s not in his personality.

Brooks would be weak as water he’d whinge behind peoples backs, and when it came to the crunch it would be deny,deny,deny. Well that’s what I’d imagine him being like ?

You would be wrong