Raiders launching Inquiry into bad season . Maybe we need to aswell ?

[Smakked]

Raiders announce sweeping review

Underperforming NRL club Canberra have announced a sweeping review of their set-up to be conducted in part by premiership winning former coach Michael Hagan.

The 14th-placed Raiders, who could still end the season with the wooden spoon, were expected to challenge for the top four in 2011 after they made the eight last year and beefed their roster with big name signings.

The Canberra board has reacted by appointing consultant John Waser and ex-Newcastle and Parramatta coach Hagan, who is currently Mal Meninga's assistant with Queensland, to undertake "an independent high performance review".

Hagan will examine "the tactical side of the team's preparation and performance", a club statement said.

A player survey and interviews, a three-day camp and members' feedback will also be part of the process.

"We're looking at trying to improve the high performance environment and we'll be looking at all avenues from the top to the bottom," Waser said.

" ... In sport it's about performance and performance is very much about on the field and the high performance environment.

"At the moment it's no secret that the team's at the bottom of the ladder and we don't want to be there.

"So when I use the word 'improve', it's about improving the performance to go up the ladder and win premierships.

"That's what the game is about."

Raiders chairman John McIntyre said the recommendations would be in place in time for the team's 2012 campaign.

"(Waser's) independent of the organisation and will give us an honest appraisal without fear or favour," he said.

"We as a board have given him the green light to speak to anyone and everyone he needs to, to improve the organisation for next season."

Significantly, the club said the review would include "coaching to be assessed and recommendations made".

Head coach David Furner, the brother of chief executive Don Furner, is contracted to the club until the end of 2013.

Sauce :http://www.nrl.com/raiders-announce-...5/default.aspx

Thoughts and discussion

[teke]

Result would be the alot of the Players were just not up to standard coupled with alot of Key Injuries starting as far back as before this years Off season.

[Steelers]

They were without Terry Campese for the whole season and Matt Orford was a flop. They did well to win a game considering the rest of their roster.

[Supergoose]

They also had injuries to key forwards throughout their campaign. Their backs went backwards this season. All of this would probably be the same for the Titans however it would be interesting to see what would be said about our paper thin defence. There has to be something wrong with our defensive structure as teams can get around us with ease.

[karnage]

Result would be the alot of the Players were just not up to standard coupled with alot of Key Injuries starting as far back as before this years Off season.

You don't think the support coaching structure would be looked at?? This is our most pressing need. Without a shakeup in the coaching ranks we will play with the same stale structures and we will be unable to score enough points to worry teams.

[teke]

You don't think the support coaching structure would be looked at?? This is our most pressing need. Without a shakeup in the coaching ranks we will play with the same stale structures and we will be unable to score enough points to worry teams.

At the moment I dont know. The strong recruitment for next year says to me that club officials already identified the lack of talent a while back and did something about it.

In 2009-10 we had the players and we won, this year we didnt have the players and we lost - and the onfield playing structure didnt really change. I dont know if any other coaching structure could have made a difference to this bunch.

I certainly put more emphasis towards the playing talent but am not ignoring the coaching ranks - 2012 will shed alot of light on the situation

[karnage]

At the moment I dont know. The strong recruitment for next year says to me that club officials already identified the lack of talent a while back and did something about it.

In 2009-10 we had the players and we won, this year we didnt have the players and we lost - and the onfield playing structure didnt really change. I dont know if any other coaching structure could have made a difference to this bunch.

I certainly put more emphasis towards the playing talent but am not ignoring the coaching ranks - 2012 will shed alot of light on the situation

Yep. Agreed.

I just hope we don't lose another season to poor performance before it is looked at.

[Titanic]

At the moment I dont know. The strong recruitment for next year says to me that club officials already identified the lack of talent a while back and did something about it.

In 2009-10 we had the players and we won, this year we didnt have the players and we lost - and the onfield playing structure didnt really change. I dont know if any other coaching structure could have made a difference to this bunch.

I certainly put more emphasis towards the playing talent but am not ignoring the coaching ranks - 2012 will shed alot of light on the situation

I can't agree with the topic but I also can't fully agree with this either because we had basically the same squad and the same think tank and lost in a very poor low-spirited way.

Yes, we had injuries but those were totally over-ridden by poor selection and promotion options coupled with a one-dimensional game plan ... but in keeping with my resolution not to be negative for this week, these were all lessons we needed to learn and we will be better off for this year's complete ineptitude next year.

[Ryan]

I can't agree with the topic but I also can't fully agree with this either because we had basically the same squad and the same think tank and lost in a very poor low-spirited way.

Yes, we had injuries but those were totally over-ridden by poor selection and promotion options coupled with a one-dimensional game plan ... but in keeping with my resolution not to be negative for this week, these were all lessons we needed to learn and we will be better off for this year's complete ineptitude next year.

I agree with both of you in some ways, combining what you said about 'one dimensional' with Teke's 'playing talent' - maybe the former was a result of the latter? Add in the injury disadvantage, and (in my opinion) the morale problem, maybe that's enough explanation for this years results. It's easy to forget, but Cartwright and our coaching staff were commended on their previous seasons efforts considering their relative lack of experience. I back those same guys to get the job done next year, with this years experience under their belt for much better results.

[Chaos]

It's easy to forget, but Cartwright and our coaching staff were commended on their previous seasons efforts considering their relative lack of experience.

The whole idea of the game is to score more points then the other team...field position can make scoring points easier but its not the only ingredient.
Titans don't have any structure to score points...their only plan is field position.

The current coaching staff have relied on luck when attacking the oppositions line since they started and have never produced an attacking 5/8.
I haven't commended them for their previous seasons because they never looked like they could win a grand final.

Forwards have small goals on the field that they focus on to help win games.
Playmakers are looking to score points and have been playing the game with the full scope of the game.
It would be very hard for Carty to play for so long with certain goals on the field and then try and coach to score points.

[Ryan]

The whole idea of the game is to score more points then the other team...field position can make scoring points easier but its not the only ingredient.
Titans don't have any structure to score points...their only plan is field position.

The current coaching staff have relied on luck when attacking the oppositions line since they started and have never produced an attacking 5/8.
I haven't commended them for their previous seasons because they never looked like they could win a grand final.

Forwards have small goals on the field that they focus on to help win games.
Playmakers are looking to score points and have been playing the game with the full scope of the game.
It would be very hard for Carty to play for so long with certain goals on the field and then try and coach to score points.

Dis-regarding this year - Prince had one of the best attacking structures going 2009-2010. Saying they relied on luck is rubbish, because he was one of few playmakers who didn't resort to 50% kicks most attacking sets. The fact that our forwards scored as many tries as our backs is testament to that - Prince put them over with a variety of short passes, long\cutout passes, dummy runs, ect that were all run off set plays. You'll probably find Titans were leading the comp in gaining repeat sets and scoring off them, can't tell me those were 'lucky' and didn't come from structured attack. Actually those stats were published leading into the finals because they were key grand final winning type stats.

This year Rogers left a hole, Campbell was wasted on the bench, there was no stability in our fullback, 5/8, or center roles (even hooker for awhile), key injuries hurt our structure, and too much attacking responsibility was left with Prince to come up with on his own. Our coaching staff may have made some decisions which turned out to be poor, but without hindsight at least he (Cartwright) had the balls to stick through with them and give them a decent chance to work. Learning the results of those decisions this year may prove to be very valuable next year.

Next year our attacking spine is looking much more promising, and we have some great options for specialist centers - not makeshift 2nd rowers. A decent off\pre season together should help settle positions and mold combinations, and we should see some more fluent attack next year. The coaching staff will have something to work with again, and the praise that lead to Cartwright's 5yr contract won't be too far away.

[Chaos]

Dis-regarding this year - Prince had one of the best attacking structures going 2009-2010. Saying they relied on luck is rubbish, because he was one of few playmakers who didn't resort to 50% kicks most attacking sets. The fact that our forwards scored as many tries as our backs is testament to that - Prince put them over with a variety of short passes, long\cutout passes, dummy runs, ect that were all run off set plays. You'll probably find Titans were leading the comp in gaining repeat sets and scoring off them, can't tell me those were 'lucky' and didn't come from structured attack. Actually those stats were published leading into the finals because they were key grand final winning type stats.

This year Rogers left a hole, Campbell was wasted on the bench, there was no stability in our fullback, 5/8, or center roles (even hooker for awhile), key injuries hurt our structure, and too much attacking responsibility was left with Prince to come up with on his own.
.

I agree with a lot of what you type here but Titans leading the comp in repeat sets was because the forwards did their job and Prince did his by getting the drop outs.
Prince hasn't had any attacking support since he came to the Titans and it is affecting his own play.

I know Rogers did a good job at 5/8 but he's not a ball player and our centres have never shone.

My point is Carty doesn't know how to attack the line and it seems like he isn't getting any help with his supporting staff.

Is Rugby League that short of play makers that only a hand full of coaches are signing them?

[teke]

I can't agree with the topic but I also can't fully agree with this either because we had basically the same squad and the same think tank and lost in a very poor low-spirited way.

Basically had the same squad? It was decimated before the season started.

You could take ONLY Cronk, Slater and Smith out of Storm and see how they fair up. Rogers, Friend, Meyers, Boof, Gordon, etc etc is a Massive loss and the bookies identified it early.

[Ryan]

I agree with a lot of what you type here but Titans leading the comp in repeat sets was because the forwards did their job and Prince did his by getting the drop outs.
Prince hasn't had any attacking support since he came to the Titans and it is affecting his own play.

I know Rogers did a good job at 5/8 but he's not a ball player and our centres have never shone.

My point is Carty doesn't know how to attack the line and it seems like he isn't getting any help with his supporting staff.

Is Rugby League that short of play makers that only a hand full of coaches are signing them?

I also agree we've always have a deficiency in attack in the centers, but I don't think it's from lack of structure(disregard this year), and I don't think it all reflects coaching ability.

Luke O'Dwyer, Brett Delaney, Gavin Cooper, Josh Graham, Clinton Toopi, Bodene Thompson, Sam Tagatese: These are all 2nd row type players who were never gonna be able to offer what a genuine center would - and they didn't. As good as players as they are and regardless of their coaching, they just don't have that type of play in them.

Chris Walker, Esi Tonga, Matt Rogers, William Zillman: The few guys we've had in the 3/4's who broke the line with footwork & creativity as opposed to making meters their shoulders. It's no coincidence our best attacking games and long range trys were with these guys in those positions, yet still the same coaching staff. Unfortunately their time was limited in those positions, largely due to injury to themselves or positions they had to cover.

Between Zillman, Idris, Champion, Michaels, Mead & Peyroux next year we will have more genuine center options to work with.

And I'd love to see someone like Joey on board as a backs coach, I believe there is a lot to be gained from it. I actually put that question to Prince during his live chat to see his thoughts on it, but it didn't get answered....

[Chaos]

And I'd love to see someone like Joey on board as a backs coach, I believe there is a lot to be gained from it. I actually put that question to Prince during his live chat to see his thoughts on it, but it didn't get answered....

Somebody like that would be great but it would need to be a fulltime gig...There's no use bringing someone in for a few sessions showing the backline a couple of lines to run.

An attacking structure needs to evolve over the year...you have injuries that needs addressing and we obviously need recruiting advice.