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http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/wests-tigers-coach-mick-potter-says-it-is-unacceptable-for-his-side-to-miss-the-finals/story-e6frf3wu-1226845203057
Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter says it is “unacceptable” for his side to miss the finals
Dean Ritchie The Daily Telegraph March 04, 2014 10:00PM
MICK Potter has spoken out on the pressure and pain which engulfed his first season as Wests Tigers coach, declaring: “I had to make some tough decisions - and I had to stand my ground.’’
Potter survived being ousted by the club’s board and returns in 2014 fresh and ready to help rebuild Wests Tigers.
And in this exclusive one-on-one interview with Dean Ritchie yesterday, Potter outlined his ambitions, claiming it “unacceptable’’ if his team misses the finals.
Wests Tigers Coach Mick Potter says his side can move past a disappointing 2013 season.Source: News Corp Australia
Dean Ritchie: Do you have any regrets from last year?
Mick Potter: Not regrets but I was disappointed in aspects, obviously not winning enough games. That was a disappointment we all felt. Regrets…I had to make some tough decisions and I had to stand my ground and be confident my principles and structures were going to hold in place. I never compromised. If you compromise you bow to someone else and you’re not doing it the way you think is the right way. And the honest way. It was about discipline and sticking to my guns.
DR: Could you be accused of being inflexible?
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MP: I am flexible to a point of doing things right and doing things wrong. Once it becomes more wrong than right, then you don’t do it. I’m flexible with facets of play and playing to your strengths. If you’re not playing to your strengths, that needs to be looked at. I thought we did as best we could with what we had. Flexibility is a word that can be used as a positive or a negative. I don’t think the game is that complicated. You don’t need to revolutionalise it to find an easy fix.
DR: It must have been terribly difficult season reading all those back page headlines about your job?
MP: It was a tough year for the club, me and the players. It wasn’t what everyone wanted but the silver lining was that some of the young players, who probably wouldn’t have played a lot of first grade, did. And they will be better for that experience and hopefully will be better prepared for what’s coming this year.
DR: How did you personally cope about suggestions you would be sacked?
MP: It does affect you. It’s frustrating because sometimes you can’t say what you really feel because it’s not the right thing for the club or players. I think I had some very good people around me at the time to support me. That’s all you need. I had it here at work and with my family.
DR: What is acceptable to you this year Mick, and what is unacceptable?
MP: An acceptable result is making the eight and that is what we are striving for.
DR: So if you miss the eight, that would unacceptable?
MP: I think so, yes. You put yourself under pressure and the team under pressure. You make the eight or you don’t make the eight.
DR: Given your results last year, are you a club starting 2014 under pressure?
MP: When you come 15th from 16th there is always pressure. We just want to win more.
DR: Benji Marshall has left. A good thing, or bad thing?
MP: We’ll see when we either start accumulating points or don’t accumulate points whether it will be a factor. I think with Benji not being here, Luke Brookes is very capable young player and it has allowed Braith (Anasta) to step into the number six and show what he can do. He got moved around a bit last year. That was unfortunate but necessary. I think we have a better balance there.
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Keven Mealamu and Benji Marshall of the Blues shake hands after the round three Super Rugby match between the Auckland Blues and the Christchurch Crusaders.Source: Getty Images
DR: Was Marshall difficult to deal with?
MP: Benji wasn’t difficult to deal with at all. He knew what good practice was and he knew what he needed to do. I think he is a very intelligent player. He knows the game inside out and knows how to create space. It was just unfortunate at times he knew he could have been playing better. And there were times when he played pretty well for us.
DR: You mentioned Luke Brookes. What do expect from him this season?
MP: I expect Luke to do a lot more good than bad. He will have those games when he doesn’t have a ten out of ten rating game. Most young blokes are unable to sustain a level in the NRL for a long period of time when they’re young. And he’s young. I expect him to have a dip here and there but we will push through.
Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter says it is “unacceptable” for his side to miss the finals
Dean Ritchie The Daily Telegraph March 04, 2014 10:00PM
MICK Potter has spoken out on the pressure and pain which engulfed his first season as Wests Tigers coach, declaring: “I had to make some tough decisions - and I had to stand my ground.’’
Potter survived being ousted by the club’s board and returns in 2014 fresh and ready to help rebuild Wests Tigers.
And in this exclusive one-on-one interview with Dean Ritchie yesterday, Potter outlined his ambitions, claiming it “unacceptable’’ if his team misses the finals.
Wests Tigers Coach Mick Potter says his side can move past a disappointing 2013 season.Source: News Corp Australia
Dean Ritchie: Do you have any regrets from last year?
Mick Potter: Not regrets but I was disappointed in aspects, obviously not winning enough games. That was a disappointment we all felt. Regrets…I had to make some tough decisions and I had to stand my ground and be confident my principles and structures were going to hold in place. I never compromised. If you compromise you bow to someone else and you’re not doing it the way you think is the right way. And the honest way. It was about discipline and sticking to my guns.
DR: Could you be accused of being inflexible?
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\
MP: I am flexible to a point of doing things right and doing things wrong. Once it becomes more wrong than right, then you don’t do it. I’m flexible with facets of play and playing to your strengths. If you’re not playing to your strengths, that needs to be looked at. I thought we did as best we could with what we had. Flexibility is a word that can be used as a positive or a negative. I don’t think the game is that complicated. You don’t need to revolutionalise it to find an easy fix.
DR: It must have been terribly difficult season reading all those back page headlines about your job?
MP: It was a tough year for the club, me and the players. It wasn’t what everyone wanted but the silver lining was that some of the young players, who probably wouldn’t have played a lot of first grade, did. And they will be better for that experience and hopefully will be better prepared for what’s coming this year.
DR: How did you personally cope about suggestions you would be sacked?
MP: It does affect you. It’s frustrating because sometimes you can’t say what you really feel because it’s not the right thing for the club or players. I think I had some very good people around me at the time to support me. That’s all you need. I had it here at work and with my family.
DR: What is acceptable to you this year Mick, and what is unacceptable?
MP: An acceptable result is making the eight and that is what we are striving for.
DR: So if you miss the eight, that would unacceptable?
MP: I think so, yes. You put yourself under pressure and the team under pressure. You make the eight or you don’t make the eight.
DR: Given your results last year, are you a club starting 2014 under pressure?
MP: When you come 15th from 16th there is always pressure. We just want to win more.
DR: Benji Marshall has left. A good thing, or bad thing?
MP: We’ll see when we either start accumulating points or don’t accumulate points whether it will be a factor. I think with Benji not being here, Luke Brookes is very capable young player and it has allowed Braith (Anasta) to step into the number six and show what he can do. He got moved around a bit last year. That was unfortunate but necessary. I think we have a better balance there.
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Keven Mealamu and Benji Marshall of the Blues shake hands after the round three Super Rugby match between the Auckland Blues and the Christchurch Crusaders.Source: Getty Images
DR: Was Marshall difficult to deal with?
MP: Benji wasn’t difficult to deal with at all. He knew what good practice was and he knew what he needed to do. I think he is a very intelligent player. He knows the game inside out and knows how to create space. It was just unfortunate at times he knew he could have been playing better. And there were times when he played pretty well for us.
DR: You mentioned Luke Brookes. What do expect from him this season?
MP: I expect Luke to do a lot more good than bad. He will have those games when he doesn’t have a ten out of ten rating game. Most young blokes are unable to sustain a level in the NRL for a long period of time when they’re young. And he’s young. I expect him to have a dip here and there but we will push through.
