Is Des Losing his Mojo?

This is a reminder of how we can move the ball around with Walker, Tom, DCE and Faniu on the park. Keep saying, get this side back out there and we will look a lot different
 
Dion Johnson said:
True, though under Des a few have had contract extensions or have signed on. Jorge, Garrick, Croker, Cust, Parker, JetSki, T-Rex, Turbo, Jake, Walker, Suli, Tomo, Siro, AFB, Paseka, Schuster, Manase, Marty, Ben T, Funa, Anderson, Levi, Titmus, Keppie and Saddler have all signed on under the watchful eye of Des. Boyle and Metcalf I am uncertain of.

A good percentage of the squad Des has had oversight on.

Steven Hales in the last chance saloon for several players and we could pick up the odd decent footballer there, Dylan Phythian has good judges giving their seal of approval.

The recruitment strategy has been about junior talent retention, I would like to see it used.

Agree that a few players should be let go and bring in some others to stop the stale mode and attitude that looks present in the group.
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Yep ... last year, and at the beginning of this year when we beat the Rorters .... there was nothing wrong with our roster ... most good judges were calling us top 4 ... with a shot at the title ....

And bugger me for being on a slippery dip .... now our squad is shiite ... and we need a clean out ....

I'm getting a headache trying to keep up .... it was easier when the numbnuts were blaming Barrett for everything ... including Dylan's bootlace coming loose ...
 
Simonmyers11 said:
This is a reminder of how we can move the ball around with Walker, Tom, DCE and Faniu on the park. Keep saying, get this side back out there and we will look a lot different
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Ok

Fainu could be in jail for 2 years, walker is a passenger and Tom averages 10 games a year. Not looking good.
 
Will on the hill. said:
Just a reminder of Des's credentials.
3 GFs as a player for 2 wins.
15 seasons as a coach, only missed the finals twice.
Made 5 GFs (33.3%, unheard of)
At the helm for our only premierships in 24 years.
A modicum of respect might be in order for one of our greatest clubmen ever.
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Definitely Des has done it all and a top man!!

Your only as good as your last results though, past history only goes so far, look at what happened to Toovey.

Constructive criticism to Des is how can you keep making the same team selections with poor results when we have a 30 man squad to look at.

I feel he is not making the tough calls this season that will benefit the next two seasons ahead.
 
If you look at our roster.
Walker out,
Turbo out,
Fanny out
Blake out

I'd say that was a fair slice of our first grade cap...

The refs have been biased to the point even the media are noticing it.

I'm as frustrated as anyone -is it Hasler's fault - some of it but not the majority.
 
Will on the hill. said:
Just a reminder of Des's credentials.
3 GFs as a player for 2 wins.
15 seasons as a coach, only missed the finals twice.
Made 5 GFs (33.3%, unheard of)
At the helm for our only premierships in 24 years.
A modicum of respect might be in order for one of our greatest clubmen ever.
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Will, few if any are here to disrespect Des, and what he has done for the club and the game.

However, a point must be made about idolising people, placing them on a pedestal, imbuing them with qualities icon like, even God like. Heroes are not perfect. In fact if they were they would not be heroes, because they would have nothing to risk. A hero is one who rises above their own vulnerable state and shows courage in the face of adversity. And without recognising that they are just people, with flaws, doubts, failings, biases etc, we are not seeing the person for who he or she is. We are not showing respect, we are showing indiscriminate adulation. That's a serious error, because it places someone beyond even their reach.

I recently have been watching a programme on Washington, one adulated so greatly by Americans that they named their capital after him. But the programme also showed his failings, his doubts, his luck at crisis periods, his flaws, and after seeing how human he was, I came to truly respect the man, not because of his achievements, but because he was a flawed human, like us all, who showed a courage in facing adversity, few of us will ever have to face. But he was flawed. He was human.

And similarly Des is human with flaws, mistakes, biases, doubts. We may admire his marvellous achievements, but it doesn't make him perfect, and if we look not only at his achievements, we don't really see the man. Looking also at his flaws, we are seeing the person, who is human, not a god. And that I respect. I may question his actions, motives, his perspective, because he's not perfect. But its because I do that, that I am respecting him as a hero, flawed, but achieving despite those human qualities.
 
Bearfax said:
Will, few if any are here to disrespect Des, and what he has done for the club and the game.

However, a point must be made about idolising people, placing them on a pedestal, imbuing them with qualities icon like, even God like. Heroes are not perfect. In fact if they were they would not be heroes, because they would have nothing to risk. A hero is one who rises above their own vulnerable state and shows courage in the face of adversity. And without recognising that they are just people, with flaws, doubts, failings, biases etc, we are not seeing the person for who he or she is. We are not showing respect, we are showing indiscriminate adulation. That's a serious error, because it places someone beyond even their reach.

I recently have been watching a programme on Washington, one adulated so greatly by Americans that they named their capital after him. But the programme also showed his failings, his doubts, his luck at crisis periods, his flaws, and after seeing how human he was, I came to truly respect the man, not because of his achievements, but because he was a flawed human, like us all, who showed a courage in facing adversity, few of us will ever have to face. But he was flawed. He was human.

And similarly Des is human with flaws, mistakes, biases, doubts. We may admire his marvellous achievements, but it doesn't make him perfect, and if we look not only at his achievements, we don't really see the man. Looking also at his flaws, we are seeing the person, who is human, not a god. And that I respect. I may question his actions, motives, his perspective, because he's not perfect. But its because I do that, that I am respecting him as a hero, flawed, but achieving despite those human qualities.
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Agree 100% and Des does have his weaknesses as is stubborn to change, which was also pretty obvious at his last days at the Dogs, with both selection and game plans....I recall the Dogs attack very predictable and almost sluggish in his last days as coach.
Would not want anyone else at the helm, but he is human and just because he has a great resume, does not make mistakes and wrong decisions......I really hope his faith in the players is returned by them come Saturday night.
In light of missing our 2 Best players and a 3rd who offers far more than what we have atm, there are Big stakes to be considered...
I will add Des does not have the luxury of talented , experienced backup as some other clubs currently in the Top 4....so is a very tough call to stick with a 1st grader with NRL experience, or a youngster with more potential upsize, but yet to debut....especially when the side is struggling and missing key players....I think regardless of mixed opinions, the 1 common factor is we all like Des in charge.
 
NZEaglesFan said:
Take first choice 1, 6 and 9 off any team in the NRL and they will struggle, just like we are. Des is not the problem.
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You're right about the fact that 1, 6 and 9 are such important positions.

What the issue is about is that Albert Hopoate is a No 1, Schuster is a No 6. I know they are unproven, but so are so many young players coming into first grade. Hopoate was the star with Bradman Best in the rep match 2 years back. Both have suffered major injuries. Newcastle has risked playing Best and he's already staring. So its not as if Hopoate is not ready, though I will concede that its only last month he was given the all clear. I would suggest as a specialist full back, he is likely to offer more than Garrick or Elliott. Schuster is a little younger, but he has been the recorded star overall in some of the junior comps he has played in. He's been identified as the No 1 junior 5/8 in those competitions. He had an injury late last year but he was over that by the time of the trials and reportedly was impressive in trials.

The question is what is holding them back from at least being listed in the 21 players each match. They are not developmental players, they are listed in the 30. They fit two of the three positions Manly is struggling with and no one is really performing well enough in these positions to justify ignoring these kid's qualities. That is the crux of the question I asking, and so far I've read nothing that convinces me that its a question without merit.
 
Bearfax said:
You're right about the fact that 1, 6 and 9 are such important positions.

What the issue is about is that Albert Hopoate is a No 1, Schuster is a No 6. I know they are unproven, but so are so many young players coming into first grade. Hopoate was the star with Bradman Best in the rep match 2 years back. Both have suffered major injuries. Newcastle has risked playing Best and he's already staring. So its not as if Hopoate is not ready, though I will concede that its only last month he was given the all clear. I would suggest as a specialist full back, he is likely to offer more than Garrick or Elliott. Schuster is a little younger, but he has been the recorded star overall in some of the junior comps he has played in. He's been identified as the No 1 junior 5/8 in those competitions. He had an injury late last year but he was over that by the time of the trials and reportedly was impressive in trials.

The question is what is holding them back from at least being listed in the 21 players each match. They are not developmental players, they are listed in the 30. They fit two of the three positions Manly is struggling with and no one is really performing well enough in these positions to justify ignoring these kid's qualities. That is the crux of the question I asking, and so far I've read nothing that convinces me that its a question without merit.
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Maybe Des hasn't given up on the season,maybe he still thinks we can make the finals and go further.Having watched the games I don't believe putting Hopoate at fullback or Schuster to 6 or the bench increases our chances of winning a game,so what is the point of blooding youngsters if you still believe you are going to turn it around?
I get that people are feeling frustrated and that means people want changes and I am not saying that either view is correct,I am just pontificating what Des might be thinking to answer your question....
Have you seen enough of Albert to judge what his ability under the high ball is,whether his positional play needs a lot of work to play at NRL level,etc...?I have not and can't make that call and would think that Des and Brett Stewart maybe have and have decided not to do it and not to rush a guy with 2 reconstructions back,maybe he is not physically where they want him yet?(I don't know...)Maybe they don't view him as a fullback and view him as a centre,maybe they don't want to promote a guy who may be leaving on a mormon mission?
As to Schuster,I get why people want him in the team and he probably wants to play himself,maybe if the losses continue we will see him named,Des does it his way and that is how it is I guess...
 
Smokin Joe said:
Maybe Des hasn't given up on the season,maybe he still thinks we can make the finals and go further.Having watched the games I don't believe putting Hopoate at fullback or Schuster to 6 or the bench increases our chances of winning a game,so what is the point of blooding youngsters if you still believe you are going to turn it around?
I get that people are feeling frustrated and that means people want changes and I am not saying that either view is correct,I am just pontificating what Des might be thinking to answer your question....
Have you seen enough of Albert to judge what his ability under the high ball is,whether his positional play needs a lot of work to play at NRL level,etc...?I have not and can't make that call and would think that Des and Brett Stewart maybe have and have decided not to do it and not to rush a guy with 2 reconstructions back,maybe he is not physically where they want him yet?(I don't know...)Maybe they don't view him as a fullback and view him as a centre,maybe they don't want to promote a guy who may be leaving on a mormon mission?
As to Schuster,I get why people want him in the team and he probably wants to play himself,maybe if the losses continue we will see him named,Des does it his way and that is how it is I guess...
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Have seen Hoppa under the high ball, kick returns and positional play (attack and defence)...Already ahead of what we have...which points towards your other suggestion - Des feels it's just not the right time, more so than a bad option....and there is no definitive answer unless we see it happen.
Pretty much the same for Schuster.....
There is another factor with Des, he stands by what he believes...he thinks the side he has selected can Win footy games if they execute his game plan better and with increased energy and it's a matter of just supporting whoever takes the field at this stage.
 
Smokin Joe said:
Maybe Des hasn't given up on the season,maybe he still thinks we can make the finals and go further.Having watched the games I don't believe putting Hopoate at fullback or Schuster to 6 or the bench increases our chances of winning a game,so what is the point of blooding youngsters if you still believe you are going to turn it around?
I get that people are feeling frustrated and that means people want changes and I am not saying that either view is correct,I am just pontificating what Des might be thinking to answer your question....
Have you seen enough of Albert to judge what his ability under the high ball is,whether his positional play needs a lot of work to play at NRL level,etc...?I have not and can't make that call and would think that Des and Brett Stewart maybe have and have decided not to do it and not to rush a guy with 2 reconstructions back,maybe he is not physically where they want him yet?(I don't know...)Maybe they don't view him as a fullback and view him as a centre,maybe they don't want to promote a guy who may be leaving on a mormon mission?
As to Schuster,I get why people want him in the team and he probably wants to play himself,maybe if the losses continue we will see him named,Des does it his way and that is how it is I guess...
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Good points, Joe.

I'd add that I don't think that Schuster's long-term future in the NRL is as a 6. Even in the juniors, he was a forward who had enough skill to play in that position. From what I've seen of him (and it's not a huge sample), he's going to be a Nik Kosef style, ball-playing edge forward. His path might be a bit like Siro's, really. All I know is he's a major talent, and while I hope we see him sooner rather than later, I trust that Des and the club are acting in his best interests.
 
Schuster played #12 in both U/16 and U/18 State of Origin.

Also it was mentioned here last year that the club weren't looking at him as a 5/8 either (though he played there at SG Ball level).

Surely there is a good reason that better judges than Silvertails don't put him as a 5/8.
 
susan said:
We’ll compete this week. I’ve no doubt. Des rollickings of the playing group generally have an effect and they copped it no doubt.
Cant see us winning but don’t be surprised if we make them work for it.

But agree with most posters. It’s getting to the stage where we look to the future. We are zero chance this year.
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I’m not 100% sure of the first part of your post but I’m 110% sure of the last part.

I think we’ll compete as best we can for about 20 minutes and then the floodgates will open and the heads will go down.

This could be an absolute bloodbath.
 
I hope for an orderly football game so as to negate the need for a violent bloodbath.....Call me crazy,just don't call me Shirley,and I can't put my finger on it...I just have a feeling we will get the chocolates this weekend(I have been wrong many times and may well be again)
 
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