James Hooper.

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Kevinward777

First Grader
If Hooper continues punching out articles like the 25 Reasons Sydney Fans Can't Cop The Melbourne Storm-then I may have to start taking him seriously.

It's not like we didn't know this stuff already, but it was so refreshing to finally read a news article by a journalist that wasn't coated in sugar.

How about Politis and them Roosters James? Most Sydneysiders hate the as well.
 
Give me Hooper, Kent, Read, Crawley, Webster over Anasta, Hodges, Burgess etc any day

Then again there are outliers like surprisingly Ennis to the good and Rothfield to the very very bad
 
If Hooper continues punching out articles like the 25 Reasons Sydney Fans Can't Cop The Melbourne Storm-then I may have to start taking him seriously.

It's not like we didn't know this stuff already, but it was so refreshing to finally read a news article by a journalist that wasn't coated in sugar.

How about Politis and them Roosters James? Most Sydneysiders hate the as well.

And not surprisingly, Scum fans on social media are blowing up big lol.
 
Remember this story below from Will Swanton that went very much against the general sympathetic reporting at the time. An interesting historical read now.

Story:
NRL: Why Trent Barrett is behaving like a bit of a sook

Full Story link:
will_swanton.png
Will Swanton
Follow @WillSwanton


Manly Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett points the finger during his team’s loss to the Wests Tigers last weekend. Photo: AAPManly Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett points the finger during his team’s loss to the Wests Tigers last weekend. Photo: AAP
Trent Barrett is sounding like a bit of a sook. He’ll pack up his desk and go in the not-too-distant future.
He’ll be entitled to drag the entire desk out the door — Tommy Turbo, mate, can you help me with this bloody thing? — because apparently he’s had to supply it himself.

And yet for all the frustrations of being understaffed and not having enough furniture at the Sea Eagles, Barrett is failing to mention a few crucial things he’s had in his favour during his doomed tenure. Three absolutely elite players … and a roster that should have made the NRL finals.

We’re not suggesting the Sea Eagles are at the cutting edge of sports technology. They’re not. If you’ve been to their training base at the NSW Academy of Sport, you know it ain’t the headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

Weekly schedules are delivered by carrier pigeon. Updates via smoke signals and a beating drum. The demountable offices look borrowed from Newport Public School. Maybe there’s electricity and Wi-Fi in there, maybe the modem’s buggered.

NOT. HAPPY. MAN. Picture: AAPNOT. HAPPY. MAN. Picture: AAP
Look, there’s some glaring off-field deficiencies at the Sea Eagles but in a sense, who cares? Barrett has had the most important asset of all. The ears of capable players. It’s been his job to make it work. He’s failed. Instead of a premiership force, we’ve got the Liberal Party.

READ MORE:Fuming Barrett at breaking point
Barrett is right to gripe about having only nine full-time staff compared to the 20-plus at most other clubs and yet his predecessors in Des Hasler and Geoff Toovey were extremely successful in the same (or worse) environment. Even if the Sea Eagles have been sitting on milk crates trying to find Daly Cherry-Evans’ laptop charger so they can view the video of last week’s match without using up all the data on his phone, Barrett has still had enough quality at his fingertips to make the top eight. It’s only a 16-team competition. You have to be pretty ordinary to miss out.

He’s complained about having to supply the desk for his office. So what? It’s odd, but it doesn’t impact his coaching. His wife and kids had to clean the gym before his first day. Immaterial. He’s had to bring his own backyard furniture for the team’s common room. Hire chairs for the locker room. Again, rather bizarre, but irrelevant to his role of man management. He’s lamented a revolving door of chief executives and general managers of football. Ask most NRL players if a change of CEO is affecting their performances and they will laugh you back to the car park.

Granted, the facilities are not glorious at Brookvale Oval ... but we have it on good authority that Trent Barrett didn’t have to buy these seats. Picture: Adam YipGranted, the facilities are not glorious at Brookvale Oval ... but we have it on good authority that Trent Barrett didn’t have to buy these seats. Picture: Adam Yip
The Sea Eagles have gone 12 months without a recruitment officer and that’s a long-term problem … but Barrett’s job has been to get the best out of the players already recruited. For his troubles, he’s been paid $600,000. He has not succeeded in the slightest and in the manner of his departure, he’s doing himself few favours.

Gun ... Manly’s star fullback Tom Trbojevic. Picture: Getty ImagesGun ... Manly’s star fullback Tom Trbojevic. Picture: Getty Images
Here’s what Barrett has had. He’s had Tom Trbojevic, arguably the most valuable fullback in the NRL behind Billy Slater. He’s had Jake Trbojevic, arguably the most valuable forward in the NRL. He’s had the Queensland State of Origin halfback Cherry-Evans as his chief playmaker. Those three mighty players are enough around which to build a serious premiership campaign. They’re supremely motivated. They’re spectacularly skilful. The brothers, in particular, are a coach’s dream.

He’s had Dylan Walker. Joel Thompson. Martin Taupau. Apisai Koroisau. Akuila Uate. Jorge Taufua. Trent Hodkinson. He’s had the ears of some very fine athletes at his beck and call. Full-time professionals.

He’s had a training field with grass on it. He’s had Steedens. He’s had an elite assistant coach in John Cartwright. And it’s come to nothing.

Manly are in possession of Steedens. Here’s proof. They’ve also got Apisai Koroisau, who even knows how to pass and kick one. Picture: Brett CostelloManly are in possession of Steedens. Here’s proof. They’ve also got Apisai Koroisau, who even knows how to pass and kick one. Picture: Brett Costello
The Trbojevic brothers and Cherry-Evans have nailed it in Origin this year. Which means the Sea Eagles could have nailed it in the NRL. They have failed to a spectacular degree.

It’s unclear whether Barrett’s office has been furnished with a mirror. It should be. Any club’s culture reflects directly on the coach. Craig Bellamy at the Storm. Anthony Seibold at Souths. Trent Robinson at the Roosters. Ricky Stuart at the Raiders. Barrett at the Sea Eagles. Their season under Barrett has been an unmitigated disaster. Off-field disobedience and dramas. Second-last on the ladder. Barrett has to wear the blame. As Gorden Tallis has said on 2 MMM radio of NRL coaches: “Is it that important, the stuff you ask for? You’ve still got 25 players …”

Barrett will coach the Sea Eagles’ final match of the season against the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday. Then a settlement will be worked out for the last year of his $600,000-a-season deal. A new mentor will start with a blank canvas and by the sound of it, an empty office. It’s been claimed that Barrett’s dossier of issues with club chairman/owner Scott Penn is so big that his lawyers need a forklift to move it. They can use it to grab his furniture, too.

Cartwright is the most likely successor. But Michael Maguire, ex-Rabbitohs premiership-winning coach, is interested. Asked to nominate the most important factor for him as a coach, Maguire has replied: “People.”
 
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Keep it going Hoops !!!!

A pic of the Storm team with their state side jersey (or nation if NZ etc) would just about do it ... great segway to the SoO and really ramp up the rivalry ...
 
If Hooper continues punching out articles like the 25 Reasons Sydney Fans Can't Cop The Melbourne Storm-then I may have to start taking him seriously.

It's not like we didn't know this stuff already, but it was so refreshing to finally read a news article by a journalist that wasn't coated in sugar.

How about Politis and them Roosters James? Most Sydneysiders hate the as well.
Article?
 
He was just winding the Storm up for a lark. He has been copping it from Storm supporters on his blog for a while so he probably just thought he would give them something to be properly angry over.

He did miss the biggest reason for why I dislike sCam: Arguing with the ref that the tackle on McKinnon shouldn’t be a penalty while McKinnon was lying on the ground and couldn’t feel his arms or legs. The guy is a sociopath.
 
If Hooper continues punching out articles like the 25 Reasons Sydney Fans Can't Cop The Melbourne Storm-then I may have to start taking him seriously.

It's not like we didn't know this stuff already, but it was so refreshing to finally read a news article by a journalist that wasn't coated in sugar.

How about Politis and them Roosters James? Most Sydneysiders hate the as well.
Isn't he banned from Narrabeen?
 
I’m certain Hooper went missing For a day or so with Royce Simmons after the Riff’s last GF win. So therein lies the possible reason for his article.
 
Well he wasn’t actually missing, he just wasn’t where he should be (at work), rather he was in pubs with Royce
 
Please do.
Link:
 
Remember this story below from Will Swanton that went very much against the general sympathetic reporting at the time. An interesting historical read now.

Story:
NRL: Why Trent Barrett is behaving like a bit of a sook

Full Story link:
will_swanton.png
Will Swanton
Follow @WillSwanton


Manly Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett points the finger during his team’s loss to the Wests Tigers last weekend. Photo: AAPManly Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett points the finger during his team’s loss to the Wests Tigers last weekend. Photo: AAP
Trent Barrett is sounding like a bit of a sook. He’ll pack up his desk and go in the not-too-distant future.
He’ll be entitled to drag the entire desk out the door — Tommy Turbo, mate, can you help me with this bloody thing? — because apparently he’s had to supply it himself.

And yet for all the frustrations of being understaffed and not having enough furniture at the Sea Eagles, Barrett is failing to mention a few crucial things he’s had in his favour during his doomed tenure. Three absolutely elite players … and a roster that should have made the NRL finals.

We’re not suggesting the Sea Eagles are at the cutting edge of sports technology. They’re not. If you’ve been to their training base at the NSW Academy of Sport, you know it ain’t the headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

Weekly schedules are delivered by carrier pigeon. Updates via smoke signals and a beating drum. The demountable offices look borrowed from Newport Public School. Maybe there’s electricity and Wi-Fi in there, maybe the modem’s buggered.

NOT. HAPPY. MAN. Picture: AAPNOT. HAPPY. MAN. Picture: AAP
Look, there’s some glaring off-field deficiencies at the Sea Eagles but in a sense, who cares? Barrett has had the most important asset of all. The ears of capable players. It’s been his job to make it work. He’s failed. Instead of a premiership force, we’ve got the Liberal Party.

READ MORE:Fuming Barrett at breaking point
Barrett is right to gripe about having only nine full-time staff compared to the 20-plus at most other clubs and yet his predecessors in Des Hasler and Geoff Toovey were extremely successful in the same (or worse) environment. Even if the Sea Eagles have been sitting on milk crates trying to find Daly Cherry-Evans’ laptop charger so they can view the video of last week’s match without using up all the data on his phone, Barrett has still had enough quality at his fingertips to make the top eight. It’s only a 16-team competition. You have to be pretty ordinary to miss out.

He’s complained about having to supply the desk for his office. So what? It’s odd, but it doesn’t impact his coaching. His wife and kids had to clean the gym before his first day. Immaterial. He’s had to bring his own backyard furniture for the team’s common room. Hire chairs for the locker room. Again, rather bizarre, but irrelevant to his role of man management. He’s lamented a revolving door of chief executives and general managers of football. Ask most NRL players if a change of CEO is affecting their performances and they will laugh you back to the car park.

Granted, the facilities are not glorious at Brookvale Oval ... but we have it on good authority that Trent Barrett didn’t have to buy these seats. Picture: Adam YipGranted, the facilities are not glorious at Brookvale Oval ... but we have it on good authority that Trent Barrett didn’t have to buy these seats. Picture: Adam Yip
The Sea Eagles have gone 12 months without a recruitment officer and that’s a long-term problem … but Barrett’s job has been to get the best out of the players already recruited. For his troubles, he’s been paid $600,000. He has not succeeded in the slightest and in the manner of his departure, he’s doing himself few favours.

Gun ... Manly’s star fullback Tom Trbojevic. Picture: Getty ImagesGun ... Manly’s star fullback Tom Trbojevic. Picture: Getty Images
Here’s what Barrett has had. He’s had Tom Trbojevic, arguably the most valuable fullback in the NRL behind Billy Slater. He’s had Jake Trbojevic, arguably the most valuable forward in the NRL. He’s had the Queensland State of Origin halfback Cherry-Evans as his chief playmaker. Those three mighty players are enough around which to build a serious premiership campaign. They’re supremely motivated. They’re spectacularly skilful. The brothers, in particular, are a coach’s dream.

He’s had Dylan Walker. Joel Thompson. Martin Taupau. Apisai Koroisau. Akuila Uate. Jorge Taufua. Trent Hodkinson. He’s had the ears of some very fine athletes at his beck and call. Full-time professionals.

He’s had a training field with grass on it. He’s had Steedens. He’s had an elite assistant coach in John Cartwright. And it’s come to nothing.

Manly are in possession of Steedens. Here’s proof. They’ve also got Apisai Koroisau, who even knows how to pass and kick one. Picture: Brett CostelloManly are in possession of Steedens. Here’s proof. They’ve also got Apisai Koroisau, who even knows how to pass and kick one. Picture: Brett Costello
The Trbojevic brothers and Cherry-Evans have nailed it in Origin this year. Which means the Sea Eagles could have nailed it in the NRL. They have failed to a spectacular degree.

It’s unclear whether Barrett’s office has been furnished with a mirror. It should be. Any club’s culture reflects directly on the coach. Craig Bellamy at the Storm. Anthony Seibold at Souths. Trent Robinson at the Roosters. Ricky Stuart at the Raiders. Barrett at the Sea Eagles. Their season under Barrett has been an unmitigated disaster. Off-field disobedience and dramas. Second-last on the ladder. Barrett has to wear the blame. As Gorden Tallis has said on 2 MMM radio of NRL coaches: “Is it that important, the stuff you ask for? You’ve still got 25 players …”

Barrett will coach the Sea Eagles’ final match of the season against the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday. Then a settlement will be worked out for the last year of his $600,000-a-season deal. A new mentor will start with a blank canvas and by the sound of it, an empty office. It’s been claimed that Barrett’s dossier of issues with club chairman/owner Scott Penn is so big that his lawyers need a forklift to move it. They can use it to grab his furniture, too.

Cartwright is the most likely successor. But Michael Maguire, ex-Rabbitohs premiership-winning coach, is interested. Asked to nominate the most important factor for him as a coach, Maguire has replied: “People.”
Hilarious!
 

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