Why I think Mick Potter is doing a great job

[MacDougall]

I keep noticing comments and threads questioning Mick Potter and think to myself, what has he done to deserve it?

There are some silly things that get suggested on WTF and that's okay because we're just fans trying to think of ways that the team could improve, hypothetically. People call for Benji to be dropped, but from the perspective of a new coach, he's probably looking at Benji and trying to figure out ways to make him work into a Potter style gameplan, which is what he should be doing, rather than tossing him out and replacing him with an untested combination. I'd much rather Potter figure out how to make him effective that just sacking him.

People are concerned that Potter is persisting with players like Lawrence and Moltzen who apparently are ineffective. It's arguable that Lawrence is worth dropping yet. He is a proven star and could just be down on form and confidence. Do we expect a former Australian rep to be given just 7 rounds under a new coach before he's dropped for performance reasons? He is still having a dig and that's more than can be said for some other players. Moltzen has actually been pretty good. He is still not running back the ball hard enough or backing up enough but he hasn't been bad enough to be dropped, yet Potter seemingly in agreeance with the many on here is making movements towards easing Tedesco into the position. It's not like Moltzen has made it easy but he is still doing it. Potter has handled the Moltzen/Tedesco thing about as good as can be expected.

He is 7 rounds into his tenure and so far has impressed me with his willingness to blood youngsters and drop underperformers. Utai lasted a round. Miller wasn't gelling or doing enough at halfback. He is cycling young forwards trying to find that guy who is going to explode. They have ALL done pretty well. Sue has been the standout so far of the debutant forwards but Potter is playing to our club strengths. Reigning NYC champions, NSW cup runners up, Balmain are reigning SG Ball champions. Our club strength right now is our juniors and he is giving them all a fair crack to impress.

He is doing a great job despite being 2-4\. For a new coach I think the injuries are somewhat of a blessing in disguise because it gives him a chance to put his stamp on the side and tinker with combinations, blood some youngsters etc. I'm impressed so far.

 

[Tigerpete]

Thank You! I've observed it the same way. I think expectations of a swift transition have been just a little too swift. The Tigers needed a change and that change is being undertaken and it does take time. Listening to Potter so far has included the following comments:

1\. Wants to focus on defense and fixing the problems we've had.
2\. Not wanting to change our attacking abilities but rather bettering our judgement on when and where to attack. The old "time and a place" rule.
3\. Not being satisfied with our efforts, "Needing to get better…"

This highlights the fact that he's correcting things. And this is not just one thing but multiple things and the key here is time. With time comes change. As you mentioned, he's looking at youth and giving them chances without adding pressure to them. Lightening their load. To be honest I can find one fault in Potter to this point and that's taking Robbie off against the Eagles. Other than that, he's making the best of a difficult situation.

 

[snowleopard]

Very good and insightful post Mac. Thanks. Agree with everything you have said. There are a few posts querying Potters decisions, especially on the young players and I must admit I didn't realise what his plan for the youngsters was until Aquila didn't play. Also thought it was good making players who only got 20 mins in NRL play State Cup the next day.

 

[snowleopard]

Very good and insightful post Mac. Thanks. Agree with everything you have said. There are a few posts querying Potters decisions, especially on the young players and I must admit I didn't realise what his plan for the youngsters was until Aquila didn't play. Also thought it was good making players who only got 20 mins in NRL play State Cup the next day.

 

[aajlewis]

Fantastic post. Agree
Am looking forward to him coaching us over the next year or two.
Hoping he and our team prosper

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[king_sirro]

Im happy with Potter. Sure i think he's made some mistakes and he even admitted publicly he did so i like that. Could you imagine Sheens doing that lol.

I believe we will make a huge late season run once we get our injury problems sorted.

 

[snowleopard]

Im happy with Potter. Sure i think he's made some mistakes and he even admitted publicly he did so i like that. Could you imagine Sheens doing that lol.

I believe we will make a huge late season run once we get our injury problems sorted.

Am thinking the same on the late season run..but on a much more solid basis so that if we hit the top 8 it wont be purely based on our potential in attack..rather a combination of defence and attack

 

[innsaneink]

Great thread…..agree with all comments, not so sure on the late run but weve seen it before so who knows

Weve had the toughest start a new coach could have, mass injuries and a horror draw which saw 5 games in 17 bloody days....still summer too

I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.....its just a long tunnel

 

[PYMBLEPETE]

I'm happy with the way he is going.

The way he had the team up and playing for the Melbourne game is indication enough that he knows what he is doing.

I think this year is a write off as far as the semis go; just too many injuries and 'star' players not performing. But there is a heap of young talent and a new approach at Concord which is encouraging for the future.

 

[Oxygen]

Agree totally we all knew the mess Sheens left us in was not going to be fixed over a few rounds plus the crippling injury toll he has had to deal with has not helped.

I like what I see and I understand what he is trying to do so we can compete with the top sides , just like any organisation when the management changes it takes a while for the new culture to filter through.

 

[cqtiger]

My only criticism of Potter is that he stressed very early on that our defense had to improve from last year. I see no improvement.

Others will say injuries are part to blame but the trial against the roosters then the debacle against the knights in round one don't back this up. Other teams have new players come in and adapt to the defensive structure with no issues.

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[Furious1]

I laugh at people saying Sheens left us in a mess. It's probably true for nrl but as a club….. We just about won everything last year, some people are hard to please . As for Potter, I said in another thread I wouldn't judge him after four rounds, and I won't do it now either, but I'm certainly encouraged by the way he has handled things so far, and wouldn't complain if he was given a 1 year extension to have a chance to create and work with his own roster.

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[LaT]

" It's probably true for nrl but as a club….. We just about won everything last year"

Last year?

 

[pHyR3]

cqtiger, defence is a much harder thing to fix than stuff like building pressure, selectively using flair which he seems to have done. But he's still done an okay job considering the massive changes in structure from injuries. We've conceded around 27 missed tackles avg per game. Pretty bad, but better than the 30+ last season. Also, we've made the 5th most tackles in the NRL this season. So it's getting better; as we saw vs storm. Lotta work to do there though!!!!

 

[pHyR3]

I laugh at people saying Sheens left us in a mess. It's probably true for nrl but as a club….. We just about won everything last year, some people are hard to please . As for Potter, I said in another thread I wouldn't judge him after four rounds, and I won't do it now either, but I'm certainly encouraged by the way he has handled things so far, and wouldn't complain if he was given a 1 year extension to have a chance to create and work with his own roster.

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Oh yeah! definitely; I admired Sheens' wonderful coaching of the NYC cup side to a premiership and his brilliant purchases of Blair, Anasta and removal of Fifita.

 

[tig_prmz]

we have played controlled footy.. earning the right to score points down the other end (something potter kept saying all pre season)

our 5th tackle options have improved a lot as well.

our forwards are more aggressive, in attack and defense.

have patience, we will see more and more improvement

 

[Defiant]

Agreed good post.

Only the one mistake taking Farah off against Manly. The ruck really opened up and the game was over.

Loving all the players getting rolled through first grade.

Hopefully we can field a full strength team soon and make a late charge.

 

[happy_tiger]

I think our defence has improved , but the problem lays with past years our attack asked far more questions and opposition attacks had been more phsyically tired and had less to throw at us

Now in attack we ask far less questions of opposition teams and they have more in the tank

Just my opinion

 

[Peaches]

There has been gradual improvement for the most part week to week and young blokes are getting their opportunities.
We are 2-4 with our wins against sides we should beat and our losses apart from the Dragons against sides that will feature up the top come end of season. For me that is key.

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[Irvine]

From the outside looking in Potter strikes me as someone who doesn't like the limelight and keeps himself out of the picture. I think he could better communicate his thoughts and plans to both the the fans and maybe the players. Seems like a nice guy but doesn't strike me as approachable and I haven't heard the players talk about wanting to play for Mick Potter.

Attack has gone backwards we don't seem to have any moves anymore from a scrum win, its all really been about defence but his slide defence invites teams to go around us and they do. His notion that Tim Moltzen is a great talker and organiser of the defense I haven't really seen.
He said players will have to come through NSW cup but allows Sironen to play straight from 20's and Nofaluma is back in 20's so I guess he won't be seeing 1st grade anytime soon.