Where do Parramatta go from here? A season that was expected to be at least be better than last years awful season has followed up with a trainwreck! The problems appear monumental and the club is fair dinkum rudderless. To me the first thing the club should do is reign in Ricky Stuart. He's made a tough position look catastrophic. Yes, he's been bold and brave by giving the club a shake up but i still feel he's not handled the situation as best as possible.
For example, look in comparison with our own Mick Potter. 6 weeks into the season and we and Parra were alike. The difference in hindsight was the handling of the situation by the coaches. Potter didn't panic, he kept faith and was firm but fair with his young charges. He encouraged them. As time went on they improved. The encouragement whilst expecting higher standards was critical. Stuart though got tough. He preached patience early on but that was all talk. Several weeks later 12-14 players were told they could leave as they were surplus. Stuart at least in public has rarely encouraged his younger players, he's been intense and critical. As the season has worn on our players got better, Parra's have stagnated at the same level. I blame Stuart.
To me Ricky Stuart is the problem. This is a coach who's only ever succeeded with a talented roster at his disposal. He's shown zero capability to develop players, not even those is his very own half back position. That's a bad rap to have. I admire Ricky's passion and some of his motivational tools but he's extremely overrated as a coach. If he's there in 2015 i'll be stunned.
So what do Parra do?? Ricky needs to change his approach. Go back to what he started preaching. Patience for starters would help. He needs to encourage the players. whilst being firm like Potter. That would solve a lot of his issues. Remember with young players, their inexperience causes them to more or less play in their shell. They don't have the confidence to back themselves. If Stuart did this i don't doubt they would improve and from their they can build something.
For example, look in comparison with our own Mick Potter. 6 weeks into the season and we and Parra were alike. The difference in hindsight was the handling of the situation by the coaches. Potter didn't panic, he kept faith and was firm but fair with his young charges. He encouraged them. As time went on they improved. The encouragement whilst expecting higher standards was critical. Stuart though got tough. He preached patience early on but that was all talk. Several weeks later 12-14 players were told they could leave as they were surplus. Stuart at least in public has rarely encouraged his younger players, he's been intense and critical. As the season has worn on our players got better, Parra's have stagnated at the same level. I blame Stuart.
To me Ricky Stuart is the problem. This is a coach who's only ever succeeded with a talented roster at his disposal. He's shown zero capability to develop players, not even those is his very own half back position. That's a bad rap to have. I admire Ricky's passion and some of his motivational tools but he's extremely overrated as a coach. If he's there in 2015 i'll be stunned.
So what do Parra do?? Ricky needs to change his approach. Go back to what he started preaching. Patience for starters would help. He needs to encourage the players. whilst being firm like Potter. That would solve a lot of his issues. Remember with young players, their inexperience causes them to more or less play in their shell. They don't have the confidence to back themselves. If Stuart did this i don't doubt they would improve and from their they can build something.
