Farah feels for Potter but time is nearly up
August 9, 2013
Glenn Jackson, Adrian Proszenko - SMH
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Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah says he feels for embattled coach Mick Potter, who has just three matches to save his NRL career.
Potter has lost the support of key powerbrokers, as well as key players. The Tigers board will meet on August 29, and it is likely Potter's fate will be sealed then.
As the coaching restructure that could claim his job intensified around him, Potter remained defiant, saying he was confident he would serve the second year of his contract at the Tigers. And he does have some hope - the 10-man board would need to vote unanimously to end Potter's tenure only one season into it, and he does still enjoy some support on the board, from directors who believe he should be at least given a chance with his own staff.
With that in mind, the Tigers confirmed that three staff members would leave at the end of the season. They are believed to be assistants Royce Simmons and Steve Georgallis, as well as rehabilitation manager Andrew Leeds. It's also understood that as part of the coaching restructure, the club will be hiring assistants in more specified roles. Former Balmain front-rower Steve Roach is likely to re-join the club as a forwards coach, while others will be considered for backs coach and kicking coach roles.
It's also almost certain Holden Cup coach Todd Payten will be promoted to the role of assistant NRL coach next season - although the 2005 premiership-winning forward also has some support for the head coaching position.
Asked if Potter should remain in charge next year, Farah said: ''It's always a hard one. Footy these days is a business and driven by results. We're sitting second last at the moment so there is always pressure on the coach.
''We need to get some wins to ease that pressure and if we start winning footy games things will turn around and the pressure on Mick's job will go away.
''He's still got 12 months left and it's been a tough year for him. He's come over from England, it's his first year in the NRL. It's been a tough initiation. He's doing his best and hopefully we can help him out.''
Farah said the whole club, including the players, had to take responsibility for the side's predicament.
''I've spoken to the coach about it to make sure he's all right,'' Farah said at the launch of the new Monster iSport headphone range at the UFC Gym at Alexandria.
''He's under a bit of stress, it's been a tough time for him and he's doing the best he can. For us as players we have to get on with it. As players, if we start winning footy games that will help take the pressure off him.''
The Tigers released a statement on Thursday which responded to speculation around Potter's future in recent weeks. It was stated that the statement was meant to clarify the club's position on Potter's future. In truth, though, it was designed to do anything but.
Club officials are hoping that by airing the club's position formally, they will buy Potter and others some breathing space. The problem is, sections of the board have been agitating for change. There have been suggestions that players have approached some officials to say that Potter had ''lost the dressing room'', which is invariably a fatal wound for a coach.
Asked if that was the case, Farah said: ''Not from me. You'd have to ask every individual player. We understand it's been a tough initiation for Mick and with everything that's gone wrong this year, injuries, we haven't played as well as we could have. There have been other distractions with Benji going and Blake Ayshford being released.
Potter remained adamant that he was supported by the players, saying before Friday night's match against Parramatta - a match which shapes as being crucial in his own future.
