MICK Potter has opened up about his future at the Wests Tigers, declaring he has no intention of walking out on the final year of his contract.
In a candid and revealing interview with The Daily Telegraph on Sunday, Potter also spoke about the personal toll that speculation about his job has had on his family - and addressed talk he had "lost the dressing room".
Asked if he had knowledge that the players wanted him gone, Potter said: "I think that is a broad, sweeping statement that I don't think is correct."
He admitted changes he had implemented this year haven't impressed everyone, but added: **"I truly do feel in my heart that I am doing the right thing by the team and by the club and by the fans to implement some changes that I think are going to take us forward.\
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"I think we are slowly making some changes which I think needed to be done and there is more to do yet.\
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"But I think we are heading in the right direction.**
"To have been in the job for just six months, you can't finish the job in that time.
**"I need more time. I am confident in my own ability. I am confident in the players' ability. I am confident we are heading in the right direction."**
**When you talk one-on-one with Potter, it is hard to understand why he has been portrayed as a coach who lacks communication skills.**
<big>Maybe some players don't like being told the truth.</big>
Tim Sheens was sacked last year because he fell out with senior players at the Tigers - and the talk now coming out of the club is that Potter faces the same fate.
Potter didn't dance around the subject on Sunday but was typically diplomatic.
"Individually everyone will feel a little differently, that is only natural," he said.
"It is a broad, sweeping statement and when you are losing games it is easy to say, 'he has lost the dressing room'.
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"Change is inevitable and it needs to happen. We are trying to get the club into winning ways and to do that you have to make changes.
"I do feel in my heart I am doing the right thing.
**"I'd be derelict of my job if I buckled to a minority that wanted it any other way.**
"I am very, very confident I am doing the right thing for the club in the way I am going about it.
"I am sure I can alter a couple of things and mannerisms and addressing individuals, I can alter that.
"I have no qualms about that, but the direction I am taking the club I think is the correct one.
"We are trying to make holistic changes, not just miniscule changes."
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When you look at the Tigers' results this season, the win-loss record doesn't tell the entire story.
They sit second last on the ladder but at times they have been forced to play without as many as 14 of their top squad on any given week because of injuries.
And then there has been the debate surrounding Benji Marshall's form and future to contend with.
Potter wouldn't get into the Benji discussion on Sunday but admitted his first season coaching in the NRL had had more than its share of challenges.
"We have had seven players this year (aged) 21 or younger, 10 to 12 are 22 or younger," he said.
"If you scroll across the other teams I don't think their ratios are anything like what we have had this year.
"I am not hiding behind injuries but what has come out of it is that quite a few young guys are nearly ready for first grade and some are ready for first grade.
"It has been a good experience for a lot of the young players and they are going to get better and better for the experience.
"Right at the moment, it is not resulting in us winning games. But having that experience, they will be better for it and with one more pre-season under their belt they will be better players."
THE PERSONAL TOLL
As tough as the last week was on him personally, Potter said he felt more for his wife and children.
"I'd rather it not be like it is and some of what gets tossed up is disappointing to hear," he said. "It is out of my control but I understand it is what has to happen.
"My wife is probably more upset than me because she feels it is not necessary and she understands what I am trying to do as well.
"She has been around the mill with rugby league.
"It is just unsettling for her and obviously the kids. They obviously get people asking them, 'what is going on with your dad and is he still in the job'? They are all rugby league fans and it does hurt them.
"I go with the flow and roll with the punches, so to speak, but I just want to keep doing what I am doing.
"The club is a good club. There are some very, very good people who work in the organisation and their hearts are all in the right place.
"I want to take the rugby league club forward."
In a candid and revealing interview with The Daily Telegraph on Sunday, Potter also spoke about the personal toll that speculation about his job has had on his family - and addressed talk he had "lost the dressing room".
Asked if he had knowledge that the players wanted him gone, Potter said: "I think that is a broad, sweeping statement that I don't think is correct."
He admitted changes he had implemented this year haven't impressed everyone, but added: **"I truly do feel in my heart that I am doing the right thing by the team and by the club and by the fans to implement some changes that I think are going to take us forward.\
\
"I think we are slowly making some changes which I think needed to be done and there is more to do yet.\
\
"But I think we are heading in the right direction.**
"To have been in the job for just six months, you can't finish the job in that time.
**"I need more time. I am confident in my own ability. I am confident in the players' ability. I am confident we are heading in the right direction."**
**When you talk one-on-one with Potter, it is hard to understand why he has been portrayed as a coach who lacks communication skills.**
<big>Maybe some players don't like being told the truth.</big>
Tim Sheens was sacked last year because he fell out with senior players at the Tigers - and the talk now coming out of the club is that Potter faces the same fate.
Potter didn't dance around the subject on Sunday but was typically diplomatic.
"Individually everyone will feel a little differently, that is only natural," he said.
"It is a broad, sweeping statement and when you are losing games it is easy to say, 'he has lost the dressing room'.
\
\
"Change is inevitable and it needs to happen. We are trying to get the club into winning ways and to do that you have to make changes.
"I do feel in my heart I am doing the right thing.
**"I'd be derelict of my job if I buckled to a minority that wanted it any other way.**
"I am very, very confident I am doing the right thing for the club in the way I am going about it.
"I am sure I can alter a couple of things and mannerisms and addressing individuals, I can alter that.
"I have no qualms about that, but the direction I am taking the club I think is the correct one.
"We are trying to make holistic changes, not just miniscule changes."
\
\
\
When you look at the Tigers' results this season, the win-loss record doesn't tell the entire story.
They sit second last on the ladder but at times they have been forced to play without as many as 14 of their top squad on any given week because of injuries.
And then there has been the debate surrounding Benji Marshall's form and future to contend with.
Potter wouldn't get into the Benji discussion on Sunday but admitted his first season coaching in the NRL had had more than its share of challenges.
"We have had seven players this year (aged) 21 or younger, 10 to 12 are 22 or younger," he said.
"If you scroll across the other teams I don't think their ratios are anything like what we have had this year.
"I am not hiding behind injuries but what has come out of it is that quite a few young guys are nearly ready for first grade and some are ready for first grade.
"It has been a good experience for a lot of the young players and they are going to get better and better for the experience.
"Right at the moment, it is not resulting in us winning games. But having that experience, they will be better for it and with one more pre-season under their belt they will be better players."
THE PERSONAL TOLL
As tough as the last week was on him personally, Potter said he felt more for his wife and children.
"I'd rather it not be like it is and some of what gets tossed up is disappointing to hear," he said. "It is out of my control but I understand it is what has to happen.
"My wife is probably more upset than me because she feels it is not necessary and she understands what I am trying to do as well.
"She has been around the mill with rugby league.
"It is just unsettling for her and obviously the kids. They obviously get people asking them, 'what is going on with your dad and is he still in the job'? They are all rugby league fans and it does hurt them.
"I go with the flow and roll with the punches, so to speak, but I just want to keep doing what I am doing.
"The club is a good club. There are some very, very good people who work in the organisation and their hearts are all in the right place.
"I want to take the rugby league club forward."
