Madge Maguire - Mega Thread

[BAGNF05]

Madge hasn't taken a team to finals since 2015. In 2017 he took the Rabbitohs to 12th place, the year after Anthony Seibold took over who's a terrible coach and got essentially the same roster to finish third.

Hopefully he breaks his streak next season.

Needs to reinvent himself

What do you suggest?

The tough guy act didn't work as the players all sulked and brought out their egg shells nonsense.

The nice guy act didn't work either, seemed forced and fake, as seen on the doco.

Needs to just smarten up, bring in some big gun assistants and start shopping around the problem players that think they own the club. Until then, he's on the same track as the last 3 years.

The biggest thing he needs is a string leadership group to drive madges standards and do the talking for madge.

Finucane would if been great.
But from what's available now, I'd make sims a priority.

Give farah a greater role in coaching.

And bring in a young assistant. Gardiner? Hodge? Burgess?

Anyone been watching Sam Burgess on SAS? Natural born leader- you can see why he was a gun player.
Should send Brooks off to do that programme over the off season.

If there are limited options on available players with leadership on the market then not a bad option to target some gun recent ex players with high level leadership and passion to add to the coaching staff somewhere to mentor the young guys with standards, passion, resilience.

Maybe even some left field options with people from other successful code teams to add some guidance, eg an Alastair Clarkson type.

From that article that was posted earlier regarding Garry Jack’s comments, they could certainly better engage with some of the old boys to get around the group. Jumper presentations, mentoring, come to training, helping to convey the history and beat parts of successful cultures of previous teams. Reinforce the identity of the club.

Yeah when slater retired he got a coaching job at St.kilda. he wasn't doing skills, mainly about leadership

Burgess would be perfect.- madge history
Farah is perfect - wt history
James Graham is also one I'd go for - ultimate competitor
And maybe even dean halatau

James Graham is one of the smartest minds in footy, no idea what his aspirations are but I would love to see him at the club.

 

[weststigers]

It's the right decision.

Madge was a good selection when he started and he's had a horrible set of circumstances over the last three years. The results have been disapppointing but the disciplined approach to recruitment has meant we're in a good financial position for the first time in ages.

Madge therefore deserves to coach us next year. You recruit a coach to build something and you can point to the disappointing players being let go and the new young players coming in as evidence of progress at the club. The main thing is he is putting the club in a better position than what it was. And that can't be said for Potter (who wasn't really given a chance), Taylor (who stuffed his) and Cleary (who did more damage to our club than any other coach we've ever had).

Most importantly, it is important for our club's reputation that Madge be given next year. Tearing him down after re-signing him fits the media narrative and would really damage our ability to recruit a quality coach next time.

My one hesitation is that the club hasn't really backed Madge in a way that shows confidence in him. It looks like he's only just holding on, and that undermines both our ability to recruit and the message to the current players. Handicapping him in this way makes his job harder and lets players off the hook.

This isn't an excuse for Madge next year, whatever the circumstances we need to improve next year, but it wasn't well handled by the club and I think there needs to be work going into how to make the decision making process less public and how to develop better media strategies that mean we're not able to so easily be portrayed as a shambles.

Obviously, winning changes everything. I'm glad, whatever happens, that the club gave Madge the opportunity next year.

Agreed.

Not only that, people say it's Madge's team and they point to Tamou, Roberts and Leilua vs Cleary's Packer, Mybe and Reynolds. They conveniently leave out Laurie, Stefano and Blore.

On that point, Madge signed those guys for a total of $1 million a season ($550k of which is Leilua) and on very short contracts. He didn't trash our cap! Cleary's duds cost us 2.5 million and put us on the back foot for 4 years - we are LUCKY Matulino was medically retired or it would have been worse.

Every coach knows there is a risk players don't perform and these guys didn't, but they are on virtually nothing, so if you have someone better, who cares? Put them in reserves...the issue is he doesn't have anyone better, so he's playing the cards that have been dealt.

The reality is, with a side lacking depth, experience and talent, even the Roosters got towelled up this season.

We are seriously lacking players and I don't think Maguire is 100% responsible for that.


Matulino was the cheapest of the 4 signings and was pretty much busted when he arrived but gave his everything on the field.He also retired when he knew he just could not play anymore,he will always have my respect as a supporter of WT.He does not deserve to be called a Cleary "dud" unlike the other 3.I certainly agree with the rest of your post

He was on $800k and he was busted and Cleary knew that before he signed. Definition of dud signing.

I didn't say the guy couldn't play when fully fit or that he ripped off the club.

 

[frullens]

Madge hasn't taken a team to finals since 2015. In 2017 he took the Rabbitohs to 12th place, the year after Anthony Seibold took over who's a terrible coach and got essentially the same roster to finish third.

Hopefully he breaks his streak next season.

Needs to reinvent himself

What do you suggest?

The tough guy act didn't work as the players all sulked and brought out their egg shells nonsense.

The nice guy act didn't work either, seemed forced and fake, as seen on the doco.

Needs to just smarten up, bring in some big gun assistants and start shopping around the problem players that think they own the club. Until then, he's on the same track as the last 3 years.

The biggest thing he needs is a string leadership group to drive madges standards and do the talking for madge.

Finucane would if been great.
But from what's available now, I'd make sims a priority.

Give farah a greater role in coaching.

And bring in a young assistant. Gardiner? Hodge? Burgess?

Anyone been watching Sam Burgess on SAS? Natural born leader- you can see why he was a gun player.
Should send Brooks off to do that programme over the off season.

If there are limited options on available players with leadership on the market then not a bad option to target some gun recent ex players with high level leadership and passion to add to the coaching staff somewhere to mentor the young guys with standards, passion, resilience.

Maybe even some left field options with people from other successful code teams to add some guidance, eg an Alastair Clarkson type.

From that article that was posted earlier regarding Garry Jack’s comments, they could certainly better engage with some of the old boys to get around the group. Jumper presentations, mentoring, come to training, helping to convey the history and beat parts of successful cultures of previous teams. Reinforce the identity of the club.

Yeah when slater retired he got a coaching job at St.kilda. he wasn't doing skills, mainly about leadership

Burgess would be perfect.- madge history
Farah is perfect - wt history
James Graham is also one I'd go for - ultimate competitor
And maybe even dean halatau

James Graham is one of the smartest minds in footy, no idea what his aspirations are but I would love to see him at the club.

Smart
Articulate
ultimate competitior
Recent

He's perfect to help guide our young squad

 

[Fade.To.Black]

Robbo congratulated Madge, calling him a fine coach on NRL360. Respected figure in the game. Now let him whip this roster into shape.

The roster he put together?

Whatever mate, half the marquee money was paid to major duds that hardly took the field. The young guys he did attract played well.

What’s been done with that money now it’s freed up?

If he signs whatever half-decent players that are currently available (Sims, Elliot, Peachy, Scott/Burns/Walker) and they don't work out people will be queuing to jump down his neck for those signings. But there isn't much else out there. So it's a bit of a hiding to nothing for him recruitment-wise for season '22.

4 or 5 of those players would bolster our team significantly IMO.

 

[Fade.To.Black]

Sacked to saved in 6 hours: How ‘circus act’ Tigers flipped on Maguire

JAMES HOOPER from Fox Sports
September 21st, 2021 6:23 pm


On Monday morning word went around the Wests Tigers were preparing to read Michael Maguire his last rites as head coach at the club.

An email was sent informing board members about a 4pm meeting and a statement was drafted confirming Madge was no longer to be the Wests Tigers coach.

At 2.30pm Maguire fronted the Wests Tigers football committee charged with determining the fate of the head coach to plead his case via Zoom.

Whatever Maguire said to under pressure CEO Justin Pascoe, chairman Lee Hagipantelis and board members Simon Cook, Rick Wayde and Danny Stapleton, the pitch worked.

Because in the space of six hours Madge went from being out the door at Concord immediately to being the club’s head coach for a fourth straight season.

The 4pm board meeting was then cancelled as the football committee mulled over Maguire’s admission of his own shortcomings and his vision for 2022.

There were promises made about a complete overhaul of the Tigers football department.

By Tuesday morning the club was drafting an entirely different statement confirming Madge had survived the internal football club review and will remain Wests Tigers coach for 2022.

Head of football performance Tim Sheens has since been informed he will move into a football coaching director role sitting on top of the NRL side.

The sole casualty out of the all-encompassing internal review?

Assistant coach Wayne Collins. Yep, “Snoopy” is the only member of the Wests Tigers coaching staff who is gone for 2022. For now.

One of rugby league’s genuine good guys, it says everything about those who sit in the Tigers front office.

In the statement released on Tuesday Pascoe said: “We are firmly committed to building a high performing club. With our strong financial position, increased investment and recent success of our pathways teams, the new centre of excellence and continued work on a South West academy, the arrival of Tim Sheens and his experience in NRL systems, this club is posed to reap the rewards of several years of hard work.”

Firstly, we think he means “poised” to reap – not posed (SIC).

More importantly, Tigers members and fans are fed-up with the model diagrams of the Centre of Excellence and the corporate mumbo jumbo quotes.

During Pascoe’s six-year tenure, Wests Tigers have failed to make the finals every single season.

In the past three years, they’ve gone backwards.

Fans couldn’t care about the off-field success of the business when the on-field results are a road to nowhere.

Sheens, 71, is the great hope of the side to fix the mess.

The first immediate challenge will be trying to intelligently spend the $1.6 million the club still has out of its $9.3 million salary cap for next year.

The Tigers still have four spots available on the club’s NRL roster with the challenge of signing players one of the biggest pitfalls of Maguire’s tenure.

Joe Ofahengaue, James Tamou, BJ Leilua and James Roberts have hardly turned the club’s fortunes around.

Jackson Hastings and Oliver Gildart arrive from the UK Super League shortly but aside from that the Tigers are rolling into 2022 with a roster widely-regarded as simply not up to NRL standard.

Tigers power brokers have guaranteed they will refrain from giving Maguire a six to eight week deadline and will instead push all-in on Madge for next year.

But how would you know what might happen if there’s another 66-16 debacle like what we witnessed against the Melbourne Storm on the Sunshine Coast.

Sheens will be a genius if he can improve the perception of the club amongst the remaining 15 NRL sides.

Because from an outside perspective the Wests Tigers are a complete circus act.

After the last 48 hours, all that’s remaining is for the club to bring out the bearded lady.

Hooper sites Joe O, BJ Leilua, James Roberts and Tamou as being dud recruits. That bit is fair enough. But he conveniently forgets to mention a few other Madge signings..... Doueihi, Laurie and Stefano: 3 signings who had very good seasons and are likely to keep improving.
Hooper is a deadbeat.

 

[Fade.To.Black]

Sheens set for increased role as Maguire retains job
Author - Brad Walter & Dan Walsh
Timestamp - Tue 21 Sep 2021, 06:13 PM
........

However, the main change next season will be the involvement of Sheens, who coached Maguire at the Raiders and **has a relationship with Tigers great Robbie Farah – a member of the club’s staff – from his time in charge of the Kangaroos.**

>

But weird they cite sheens relationship with frah is from his time as Kangaroos coach rather than his the 6 or 7 years coaching at the tigers ?

Not sure how good the relationship between Sheens and Farah is these days. Remember when Sheens was sacked he publicly stated "players get coaches sacked", Robbie and Benji were the head honchos of the boys club at that time so it would be natural to assume Sheens was talking about them in that instance?

 

[BAGNF05]

Robbo congratulated Madge, calling him a fine coach on NRL360. Respected figure in the game. Now let him whip this roster into shape.

The roster he put together?

Whatever mate, half the marquee money was paid to major duds that hardly took the field. The young guys he did attract played well.

What’s been done with that money now it’s freed up?

If he signs whatever half-decent players that are currently available (Sims, Elliot, Peachy, Scott/Burns/Walker) and they don't work out people will be queuing to jump down his neck for those signings. But there isn't much else out there. So it's a bit of a hiding to nothing for him recruitment-wise for season '22.

4 or 5 of those players would bolster our team significantly IMO.

I’d only be happy with current origin player Sims. Significantly upgrade Stef and Laurie and then see what comes up , there must be a few decent players feeling undervalued around the league. Can’t keep taking dregs.

 

[WT2K]

Chairman has done a Q&A with chammas.

 

[WT2K]

Chairman has done a Q&A with chammas.

Sydney Morning Herald rugby league reporter Michael Chammas spoke to Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis to find out why Michael Maguire was spared the axe.

Chammas: What transpired in the last 24 hours because it appeared Michael Maguire was a dead man walking on Monday? Was there a meeting or not?

Hagipantelis: There was a football committee meeting at 2.30pm [on Monday]. Michael Maguire addressed the football committee for the purpose of responding to concerns that had been raised by the internal review document. There was a 4pm board meeting scheduled to take place if required following the football committee. After Michael’s address, it was decided that the board meeting did not need to proceed, and therefore I cancelled it. The football committee reconvened this morning [Tuesday] after deliberating overnight and affirmed Michael’s engagement as the NRL head coach.

Chammas: The club’s performances haven’t improved in the last three years. What makes you think things will change next year?

I think there have been changes over the last three years, which aren’t reflective of the results on the paddock. There’s no doubt that we haven’t improved to the extent that we wanted. We finished 13th this year, 11th last year and ninth the year before. It is not the direction we wanted to go in, but I think we’ve put around Michael resources and opportunities for him to really excel next year and progress. We’ve got a very young and talented roster. I think it’s the youngest in the league. There’s a real smell about 2005 [when the Tigers won the premiership] with this roster, that they’re young, they’re keen and they’re hungry to learn. I think Michael Maguire is the right person to teach them.

Chammas: Are you concerned about recruitment, given the talk about Michael’s inability to attract players?

Hagipantelis: That’s a narrative that we’ve had to deal with. Unfortunately, there is a perception that it’s a self-fulfilling narrative but that’s not the impression that we’ve had. We’ve had a very positive response from players and from player managers to Michael and to the club itself. We regard the Wests Tigers as a destination club. There is a lot to offer at the Wests Tigers. I think Tim Sheens is going to be a very attractive proposition. So, it is a narrative that we’ve had to deal with but I don’t think we need to be concerned by it.

Chammas: You have been very critical of the team’s performances under Michael. Have you changed your opinion of him?

Hagipantelis: No, I’m very critical of losing. It’s not something that I’m used to and not something that I’m ever going to accept. But I’m not critical of Michael. I don’t have the level of experience or expertise to criticise him as a coach. He is a two-time premiership winning coach. He has all the qualifications and experience necessary to do the job. I’m unhappy finishing 13th, as our fans and members should be, but as a person and as a coach I’ve never been critical of Michael.

Chammas: He will head into next year under enormous pressure. How do you expect him to perform in an environment where an axe hangs over his head every week?

Hagipantelis: The pressure will be external, it won’t be internal. It won’t be pressure we’ll be putting on Michael or the playing group. We will provide them all the support and resources that they need to succeed, and we expect them to succeed. The pressure will be from journalists - such as yourself Michael and others, of course - who have an expectation now moving forward as to why the employment was confirmed. We expect Michael to do his best.

Chammas: Were you concerned that you couldn’t get Cameron Ciraldo as coach? Did that play a part in the decision-making process?

Hagipantelis: Well it would have, had we made a play for Cameron Ciraldo. The fact is we didn’t. We did not consider any alternatives whatsoever. We did not approach any alternative candidates, and we did not speak to anyone about any alternative candidates. Our focus was solely on the Wests Tigers and the coaching department as a group within the football department, which was the subject of the review.

Chammas: What was Michael’s reaction when you told him?

Hagipantelis: I think relief. There’s been a lot of media pressure on Michael and his family. Sometimes we forget that there’s a real-life human being behind all of this. We forget that Michael’s a married man with a young family. I think it’s very unfortunate for him to go through this process, but having said that I think he’s appreciative of it. I think he realises that there was an opportunity for us to actually really take time to pause, look at the organisation holistically, look at what we’re doing well, what we haven’t done well what we need to address moving forward to improve.

Chammas: What will change next year, and how does Tim Sheens fit into that?

Hagipantelis: Well, there will be some structural changes with respect to key personnel, there’ll be some procedural changes as well. They will be dealt with in-house. I think Tim Sheens will bring a lot to the organisation. I’ve dealt with him quite extensively over the last few months. He’s very impressive and his knowledge of the game has been next level. I think he’s going to be of great assistance to Michael and the NRL team. This is a man, of course, who has coached over 700 first-grade games. You don’t see that often. I think he will be an incredible value as a resource to the football department as a whole.

Chammas: Will Michael report to Tim Sheens next year?

Hagipantelis: I don’t know if we sorted out exactly the management structure as such, and I’m not really fussed about reporting. I think people work together. There is a hierarchy in place, but in terms of nuances of where people sit in that hierarchy - that doesn’t concern me. They’ll work it out for themselves. The fact is, Tim by reason of just his stature in the game and who he is, will take on a very senior role.

Chammas: What does this all mean for the future of Luke Brooks because it’s said he hasn’t enjoyed his time under Michael Maguire?

Hagipantelis: That’s not the feedback we’re getting at board level. The response we’re getting is Luke is absolutely committed and loves this club. He’s a local junior. He’s played all of his professional career with Wests Tigers. We would like to see him finish his career with the Wests Tigers despite reports to the contrary in the press. Luke Brooks is staying with the Wests Tigers and will be our halfback in 2022 and beyond. So if there are any genuine, legitimate concerns that we need to deal with, they’ll be dealt with in-house. But as I say, that’s not my understanding or impression as to what’s happened.

Chammas: What about the criticism of yourself, Justin Pascoe and the board in regard to this process?

Hagipantelis: Some of it is legitimate, some of it is not. The process did take a little bit longer than what I would have liked. The other thing that I do regret, and it’s most unfortunate, [is] that far too much of this process was played out in the media. There was far too much engagement, by some within the organisation, of the media. Yesterday, for example, was in my view a debacle and an embarrassment to the club. As the chairman, I’m greatly concerned. I made those concerns known to my fellow board members in no uncertain terms. The process itself, however, I thought was very fair and equitable. I thought it was an opportunity for all key personnel to address the board in a very comfortable and confidential environment.

Chammas: There’s a lot of pressure on Justin Pascoe to be removed as the CEO. He’s overseen the failures of the last six years. Is that fair or unwarranted?

Hagipantelis: I think it’s fair that we’re all subject to criticism. But I think there is an attempt to align Justin’s role with what happens on the field and I think that is inherently unfair. If someone can convince me that Justin’s termination as the CEO would reflect in better on-field performance, then I’d be happy to recommend that. Or if I felt that my resignation as chair of the organisation would result in better on-field performance, then I would resign. But I don’t see the necessary alignment between what we do in terms of administration and management, where we rely on the expertise of others, and they’ve got to be responsible or accountable for what they do. That’s not an attempt to shirk responsibility and say we can’t be held accountable for what happens on the paddock. If there are changes to be made at board level or executive level, I’m happy to entertain them once someone can convince me that those changes will result in a better on-field performance.

Chammas: How do you expect next year to pan out, because every week there is going to be speculation about Michael’s future. Has he been given assurances that he will see out next year?

Hagipantelis: Michael hasn’t been given that assurance, but I’m happy to do so. Michael Maguire still has two years on his contract. He’s expected to fulfil that contract. There is no suggestion whatsoever that there will be a review or consideration at a six- or the eight-round mark of season 2022.

 

[Fade.To.Black]

Hypocritical of Lee to criticise certain people of playing out things in the media. He seems to love doing that himself.

 

[TonyTiger]

Madge hasn't taken a team to finals since 2015. In 2017 he took the Rabbitohs to 12th place, the year after Anthony Seibold took over who's a terrible coach and got essentially the same roster to finish third.

Hopefully he breaks his streak next season.

Needs to reinvent himself

What do you suggest?

The tough guy act didn't work as the players all sulked and brought out their egg shells nonsense.

The nice guy act didn't work either, seemed forced and fake, as seen on the doco.

Needs to just smarten up, bring in some big gun assistants and start shopping around the problem players that think they own the club. Until then, he's on the same track as the last 3 years.

The biggest thing he needs is a string leadership group to drive madges standards and do the talking for madge.

Finucane would if been great.
But from what's available now, I'd make sims a priority.

Give farah a greater role in coaching.

And bring in a young assistant. Gardiner? Hodge? Burgess?

Anyone been watching Sam Burgess on SAS? Natural born leader- you can see why he was a gun player.
Should send Brooks off to do that programme over the off season.

If there are limited options on available players with leadership on the market then not a bad option to target some gun recent ex players with high level leadership and passion to add to the coaching staff somewhere to mentor the young guys with standards, passion, resilience.

Maybe even some left field options with people from other successful code teams to add some guidance, eg an Alastair Clarkson type.

From that article that was posted earlier regarding Garry Jack’s comments, they could certainly better engage with some of the old boys to get around the group. Jumper presentations, mentoring, come to training, helping to convey the history and beat parts of successful cultures of previous teams. Reinforce the identity of the club.

Yeah when slater retired he got a coaching job at St.kilda. he wasn't doing skills, mainly about leadership

Burgess would be perfect.- madge history
Farah is perfect - wt history
James Graham is also one I'd go for - ultimate competitor
And maybe even dean halatau

James Graham is one of the smartest minds in footy, no idea what his aspirations are but I would love to see him at the club.

Smart
Articulate
ultimate competitior
Recent

He's perfect to help guide our young squad

Would need an interpreter to translate

 

[jadtiger]

It's the right decision.

Madge was a good selection when he started and he's had a horrible set of circumstances over the last three years. The results have been disapppointing but the disciplined approach to recruitment has meant we're in a good financial position for the first time in ages.

Madge therefore deserves to coach us next year. You recruit a coach to build something and you can point to the disappointing players being let go and the new young players coming in as evidence of progress at the club. The main thing is he is putting the club in a better position than what it was. And that can't be said for Potter (who wasn't really given a chance), Taylor (who stuffed his) and Cleary (who did more damage to our club than any other coach we've ever had).

Most importantly, it is important for our club's reputation that Madge be given next year. Tearing him down after re-signing him fits the media narrative and would really damage our ability to recruit a quality coach next time.

My one hesitation is that the club hasn't really backed Madge in a way that shows confidence in him. It looks like he's only just holding on, and that undermines both our ability to recruit and the message to the current players. Handicapping him in this way makes his job harder and lets players off the hook.

This isn't an excuse for Madge next year, whatever the circumstances we need to improve next year, but it wasn't well handled by the club and I think there needs to be work going into how to make the decision making process less public and how to develop better media strategies that mean we're not able to so easily be portrayed as a shambles.

Obviously, winning changes everything. I'm glad, whatever happens, that the club gave Madge the opportunity next year.

Agreed.

Not only that, people say it's Madge's team and they point to Tamou, Roberts and Leilua vs Cleary's Packer, Mybe and Reynolds. They conveniently leave out Laurie, Stefano and Blore.

On that point, Madge signed those guys for a total of $1 million a season ($550k of which is Leilua) and on very short contracts. He didn't trash our cap! Cleary's duds cost us 2.5 million and put us on the back foot for 4 years - we are LUCKY Matulino was medically retired or it would have been worse.

Every coach knows there is a risk players don't perform and these guys didn't, but they are on virtually nothing, so if you have someone better, who cares? Put them in reserves...the issue is he doesn't have anyone better, so he's playing the cards that have been dealt.

The reality is, with a side lacking depth, experience and talent, even the Roosters got towelled up this season.

We are seriously lacking players and I don't think Maguire is 100% responsible for that.


Matulino was the cheapest of the 4 signings and was pretty much busted when he arrived but gave his everything on the field.He also retired when he knew he just could not play anymore,he will always have my respect as a supporter of WT.He does not deserve to be called a Cleary "dud" unlike the other 3.I certainly agree with the rest of your post

He was on $800k and he was busted and Cleary knew that before he signed. Definition of dud signing.

I didn't say the guy couldn't play when fully fit or that he ripped off the club.

I dont know where you get the 800k from i heard it was about 500k-530k,certainly not cheap but acceptable

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Hypocritical of Lee to criticise certain people of playing out things in the media. He seems to love doing that himself.

Certainly doesn’t hate seeing his name in the papers, I would prefer a bit less yapping from him it’s been more destabilising than anything.

 

[hobbo1]

I will now support him as I want what's best for the team but I am disappointed.

I can’t share the same view. After almost 40 years I’m done with the club.

Come be an AC Milan fan with me?

@happy_tiger @hobbo1

You know what you can do with that AC Milan crap lol

Come and blow bubbles with Happy and @hobbo1

Demps is full blown wog … pleather jacket AC Milan shirt , skinny jeans and white sneakers lol

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Robbo congratulated Madge, calling him a fine coach on NRL360. Respected figure in the game. Now let him whip this roster into shape.

The roster he put together?

Whatever mate, half the marquee money was paid to major duds that hardly took the field. The young guys he did attract played well.

What’s been done with that money now it’s freed up?

If he signs whatever half-decent players that are currently available (Sims, Elliot, Peachy, Scott/Burns/Walker) and they don't work out people will be queuing to jump down his neck for those signings. But there isn't much else out there. So it's a bit of a hiding to nothing for him recruitment-wise for season '22.

4 or 5 of those players would bolster our team significantly IMO.

There was though. JAC, Finucane etc, and he couldn’t sign them either.

 

[The_Patriot]

I thought that was a pretty decent interview by Lee.

The most interesting part being him letting the board know in no uncertain terms that releasing information to the media was not on.

its one thing to do these sort of interviews and be in the media spotlight. Some criticise him for it but its a whole other thing for board members to be leaking sensitive information to the media about the workings and intentions of the club.

I hope those board members responsible have a good hard look at them selves.

They are part of the problem at this club. You cant run a tight ship with guys like that releasing sensitive and confidential information to the media.

 

[Hbom]

I thought that was a pretty decent interview by Lee.

The most interesting part being him letting the board know in no uncertain terms that releasing information to the media was not on.

its one thing to do these sort of interviews and be in the media spotlight. Some criticise him for it but its a whole other thing for board members to be leaking sensitive information to the media about the workings and intentions of the club.

I hope those board members responsible have a good hard look at them selves.

They are part of the problem at this club. You cant run a tight ship with guys like that releasing sensitive and confidential information to the media.

Spot on.

 

[Guest]

The first team meeting should be fun when the playing group is addressed by Coach Sheens and cuck Maguire.

Awkward.

 

[Fade.To.Black]

Robbo congratulated Madge, calling him a fine coach on NRL360. Respected figure in the game. Now let him whip this roster into shape.

The roster he put together?

Whatever mate, half the marquee money was paid to major duds that hardly took the field. The young guys he did attract played well.

What’s been done with that money now it’s freed up?

If he signs whatever half-decent players that are currently available (Sims, Elliot, Peachy, Scott/Burns/Walker) and they don't work out people will be queuing to jump down his neck for those signings. But there isn't much else out there. So it's a bit of a hiding to nothing for him recruitment-wise for season '22.

4 or 5 of those players would bolster our team significantly IMO.


There was though. JAC, Finucane etc, and he couldn’t sign them either.

Didn't Finucane fall through because WT didn't want to give him the 4 year deal he was chasing (and got at Sharks)?
Happy we didn't go ahead with him for 4 years, Sharks will be lucky to get more than 1 year out of him on-field with all the head knocks he's been getting. JAC, meh, he's been on the decline a bit this year, IMO he will struggle at the Bulldogs just like he more than likely would of here. $700k or whatever he is on per season.

 

[diedpretty]

Apparently they’re having a secret meeting? Has it already been held?

According to the media they held the secret one after they held the cancelled one which was before the one they didn't have after the review by an outside organisation or maybe by Pascoe and definitely included all the players but only some players were included in the cancelled meeting but no players were allowed at the secret meeting which decided to keep Madge even though at the cancelled meeting they had decided to sack him and appoint Ciraldo, Woolfe, McNamara and Sheens as a consortium of coaches. The media has congratulated itself on nailing it down and fully consolidated what a pack of twats they are.