Kyle Flanagan & the coach

RufusRex

SGI Jersey Flegg
At least compare the correct players

Kerr is the klemmer replacement not JDB
Sele/Stewart stepping into the JDB role

Kerr averaged less min than klem last year but in a better front row rotation … in 25 min per game he averaged 9 runs at about 10 per run … if he can stretch out to 40 he is making very good metres for us

Sele when fit for those 3-4 games out performed JDB but the risk is injury … Stewart is the interesting one though

JDB was moved on for very good reasons most of all around whether we want him influencing our very good very naive players … he was dropping off in speed and effectiveness and that will continue this season …

Not having him there is very good for the players that will step into his role - beyond time to move him on
 
no need for the lol's.... I do understand where Mailroom is coming from... nothing is impossible... if 2026 really does go to sh** early, it will get very very unpleasant for Shane in the media, and guess who will be rallying the journos/fans with a non-stop pitchfork on NRL360.

But I cant see a world where we go looking to uproot things before we've been working so hard to build, before we even get a couple of half decent signings to work with.. just cant see how that would be a better result for us.. not unless the players really do revolt, and I just dont see that happening to Shane who's very experienced, 2028 at the earliest for a new coach I would think.

Also... all the good coaches (imo) got snapped up in the last 2 years, so will be very interesting if they succeed what that looks like for other clubs perspective on hiring young coaches.. but these are all very much hypotheticals.. im hoping we have atleast a half decent 2026 to give us the base for the years to come.
To my old eyes we are a year away from being a competitive top 8 team. I worry about the age of our current spine moving forwards in relation to 1 and 9, very worried 6 and 7 need more than this season to gel. We will find out in the next 3 months
 
At least compare the correct players

Kerr is the klemmer replacement not JDB
Sele/Stewart stepping into the JDB role

Kerr averaged less min than klem last year but in a better front row rotation … in 25 min per game he averaged 9 runs at about 10 per run … if he can stretch out to 40 he is making very good metres for us

Sele when fit for those 3-4 games out performed JDB but the risk is injury … Stewart is the interesting one though

JDB was moved on for very good reasons most of all around whether we want him influencing our very good very naive players … he was dropping off in speed and effectiveness and that will continue this season …

Not having him there is very good for the players that will step into his role - beyond time to move him on
As I said in another post loyalty is no longer a word spoken by either the players or clubs. Its a shame to me that he isn't a 1 club career player but that's the nature of the game these days
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
Ward is a goer. Good skills, slight but willing to go to the game and put his body on the line, time and time again.

What he lacks in size, he makes up for in heart...
Not sure what they will do.. Sullivan is a mile in front of Glover/Ward in experience and they say he will be the Round 1 half with Humphries injury.. hes a good player.. he might not be perfect but has a strong squad.. I assume we will see him in the trial.

I dont rly see how Glover or Ward play, even if Walker is out they would play Wighton.. but I guess they will be the NSW Cup halves partnership initially and be there if called upon. Both got some talent.. but im not shattered that we let either go.. Sullivan I didnt mind though.. but he had some growing up to do at the time.
 
Not sure what they will do.. Sullivan is a mile in front of Glover/Ward in experience and they say he will be the Round 1 half with Humphries injury.. hes a good player.. he might not be perfect but has a strong squad.. I assume we will see him in the trial.

I dont rly see how Glover or Ward play, even if Walker is out they would play Wighton.. but I guess they will be the NSW Cup halves partnership initially and be there if called upon. Both got some talent.. but im not shattered that we let either go.. Sullivan I didnt mind though.. but he had some growing up to do at the time.
Its called experience, in time with experience in 1sts you can gauge if a player has plateaued. This year will tell his tale.
 

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
lol lol lol
Now come on. lol lol lol
Canterbury have recruited Burton, Crichton, Galvin, Thompson and Kikau over the last few seasons. Put them in Saints team and we would be making the top 8 too. When Flanno took over our disaster, our 2 highest paid players both wanted out and were gone by the end of his first season. We did recruit Holmes, who was a current rep player. We recruited Gutho as a leader and better fullback than Slone, but he is at the end of his career and Cook is also a former rep player in his twilight of his career. Then add to Canterbury the other second rung recruits such as Tupouniua, Tracy, Xerri and Curran. Then add the likes of Kiraz and Preston coming through. Comparing us to Canterbury isn't a fair comparison. Canterbury's recruitment has been the most aggressive of any club over the last 4 years or so. Then add youngsters such as Woods and Latu who both have massive wraps on them.

You need to put things into perspective. Canterbury were not favourites or second favourites for the spoon the last 4 years, like we were. Ciraldo was offered the job to coach us and knocked us back, just as Fitzgibbon, Slater and Ryles all knocked us back. We were not an attractive option for aspiring first grade coaches or for in demand players. Flanno is building us up from the ground up and it will take time. Blame our former administration and former coaches for the disaster Flanno took over from. Do you really think Dean Young or Ben Hornby would have done any better than Flanno did? They were our only other options. You should be grateful Flanno took the job. You also need to be realistic and more patient.

We are also favourites for the spoon again this year. That is where the bookies have assessed us and that is what they "expect" from us. It took McGregor 3 and half years to make the top 8 and he only did so, when he had a decent roster at his disposal.

This post isn't just for you, it is for every Saints fan reading this post who wants to say Flanno is under pressure to keep his job. His job should be secure until 2028 and then assess our situation.

Also just remember, Dean Young is probably next cab off the rank for to coach us. Is that what all the ones saying Flanno is under pressure really want? lol
Whilst I tend to see your point Frank and agree somewhat, I have no doubt that if we have a poor start to the season he will be under pressure. And if we get flogged in Vegas there will be an uproar and the knives will be on notice. We gave Mcpeanut way too long, why he was there in the first place beats me.
 

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
Lawrie and Sloan are the last of the top 30 not signed or extended by Flanno. He has no legit right to still use the Griffin excuse, which was true.

I don't think what is true for Hasler, no longer in touch with the modern game, is true for Flanno but if the team starts badly this year, pressure should be on. And if this is another bad year, his third in a row..... well, what club has ever accepted 3 bad years in a row?
Flanno hasn't had the cattle to make the top 8. We have been either favourites for the spoon or second favourites for the spoon ever since and before Flanno took over. Can't you see how many other coaches knocked us back? Doesn't that indicate we were not an attractive proposition for good coaches. We even advertised for coaching applicants and Young and Hornby were the only 2 who applied. As Phil Gould said, in his end of season review in 2019. Our problems were not the coach. He said we lacked leadership. Flanno identified that and signed Gutho, Cook and Holmes for leadership. We have got a new CEO and a new recruitment officer. I have also pointed out that teams such as Canberra, Newcastle, Nth Qld, Gold Coast and New Zealand have not been attractive destinations for in demand players. Let Flanno fix our mess and then let him have success, that no other decent prospective coaches wanted the job. It would be a shame for Flanno to lay the groundwork and then for someone else to come in and reap the rewards for his work.

Still no one can tell me who we should or could have signed to make our team stronger that would have come to play for us. Flanno took the job hardly anyone wanted and even I wouldn't have taken the job, because I thought it would have been coaching career suicide, like it was for the last 3 coaches who coached us. Flanno is the best coach we could have got and will prove it in the next few years.
 

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
no need for the lol's.... I do understand where Mailroom is coming from... nothing is impossible... if 2026 really does go to sh** early, it will get very very unpleasant for Shane in the media, and guess who will be rallying the journos/fans with a non-stop pitchfork on NRL360.

But I cant see a world where we go looking to uproot things before we've been working so hard to build, before we even get a couple of half decent signings to work with.. just cant see how that would be a better result for us.. not unless the players really do revolt, and I just dont see that happening to Shane who's very experienced, 2028 at the earliest for a new coach I would think.

Also... all the good coaches (imo) got snapped up in the last 2 years, so will be very interesting if they succeed what that looks like for other clubs perspective on hiring young coaches.. but these are all very much hypotheticals.. im hoping we have atleast a half decent 2026 to give us the base for the years to come.
Comparing us to Canterbury is completely laughable. Ciraldo was offered the job to coach us and knocked us back, like Ryles, Fitzgibbon and Slater did. Tell me what other clubs have been knocked by so many other aspiring coaches? Canterbury's recruitment has been the most aggressive in the comp over the last 4 years or so. They are becoming Easts like in their recruitment. Phil Gould getting his man, is becoming comparable to Politis always getting his man. Numerous players that we were competing for their signature with Canterbury all "chose" to sign with Canterbury, including Tracey, Thompson, Latu, Curran and Kikau. That isn't Shane Flannagan's fault and it isn't because Ciraldo is such an attraction to to prospective players. If I was an aspiring coach, I would definitely have taken the job at Canterbury and so would most other aspiring coaches have taken the job.

BTW Flanno almost achieved the "impossible" in his first year here and had us in the top 8 for most of the season. If we did make the top 8 in 24, it would have been a minor miracle. Flanno would have won coach of the year for sure. Bennett only won one more game than us last year, with a better roster and with a team who was decimated with injuries like we were last year. No one is saying Bennett is under pressure to keep his job and he still has a better roster than we do. If we did make the top 8 in 24, people's expectation would have been even more unreasonable.

Let Flanno get a decent roster to coach and then be judgmental.
 
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Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
I have no issue with the club letting JDB go even though I've often characterized myself as his biggest fan. There is the idea of letting them go a year early rather than a year late. In the case of JDB, seems to be just the right time.

I just don't understand why Josh Kerr was signed. Even if he did improve while he was gone. How much can someone in his late 20s improve?

To get back on topic, I was disappointed Flanno didn't pick Kyle to play at #9. Even though I doubt he can make a go of it this late in his career, I would have liked to see him get a chance. After all, that's what trials are for, aren't they?

Then again, maybe Finau and/or TPH have standout games.
I want us to sign another top halfback or 5/8, maybe both. I can't recall seeing Kyle play 9 either and would be looking for other hookers who I have seen play hooker.
 

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
Whilst I tend to see your point Frank and agree somewhat, I have no doubt that if we have a poor start to the season he will be under pressure. And if we get flogged in Vegas there will be an uproar and the knives will be on notice. We gave Mcpeanut way too long, why he was there in the first place beats me.
Even McGregor had us playing very well, when he finally had a good roster to coach. Then when we lost DeBelin, we lost out heart and backbone. I agree McGregor was given too long. Just remember even when we sacked McGregor, the only "applicants" we had for the job were Hornby, Young, David Furner and Griffin, with Fitzgibbon rejecting us.

This question if for everyone. If we didn't have Flanno coaching us, who else should we have got that actually would have taken the job? By next year, we will be looking like a more attractive proposition for aspiring coaches. Let Flanno reap the rewards for what he has sown. Also remember Dean Young looks to be positioned to be our next coach, if Flanno isn't our coach. Also remember we are the current favourites for the spoon again. That is because of our roster. When you look at our draw, does anyone look at any games and think they are easy ones?
 

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
The pressure will be on Atkinson for sure. Just like Ilias was and we know what happened in the end to him!!
Atkinson is probably the best halfback or 5/8 we could have signed, who changed clubs and was a chance of signing with us. I believe Cherry and Galvin had their future clubs already lined up, before any news of their exit was reported to the media. Pezet may have been a good signing, but Anasta probably didn't want him to go to us and he got the one year deal with Parra and then the long term deal with Brisbane. Remember Wests signed Luai for 1.2 mil a season. We got Atkinson for 500K a season. I am hoping Atkinson turns out to be a bargain and as good as Luai.
 

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
💯 Big year for him. Is he going to be a highly paid half or a fringe first grade utility?
Acko is only on 500K a year. There are players who haven't even played first grade who are on that or more. He certainly isn't a highly paid half and allows us to sign a real "highly paid" half to play along side him or even 2 highly paid halves, if we could get 2 highly paid halves to sign with us.
 

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
Not sure what they will do.. Sullivan is a mile in front of Glover/Ward in experience and they say he will be the Round 1 half with Humphries injury.. hes a good player.. he might not be perfect but has a strong squad.. I assume we will see him in the trial.

I dont rly see how Glover or Ward play, even if Walker is out they would play Wighton.. but I guess they will be the NSW Cup halves partnership initially and be there if called upon. Both got some talent.. but im not shattered that we let either go.. Sullivan I didnt mind though.. but he had some growing up to do at the time.
I wonder if Glover will be making comments in the media if he doesn't get game time at Souths? Souths don't have an established halfback and Walker is certainly running on old legs.

I also wonder if Anasta and Ilias will be making comments in the media if Ilias doesn't get game time at the Gold Coast? Especially if Campbell or Brimson get injured or Kini gets injured and Brimson is moved to fullback to cover for Kini.
 

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
To start the season we have
Canterbury at Vegas
Melbourne at Wollongong
Parra at Parra
Gold Coast at Gold Coast
Nth Qld at Kogarah
Manly at Wollongong
Souths at Homebush
Easts at the Football Stadium
Newy at Wollongong
Penrith as Brisbane
Warriors at Kogarah

How many of those games does anyone think we will start favourites in or are expected to win by non Saints fans. I keep saying put things into perspective. When we have a roster that we are "expected" to win games, then judge Flanno. Right now anything above last is exceeding bookies and non Saints fans expectations.
 

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
I will also add Bennett knocked us back in 2011, after winning the comp in 2010 and had us leading the comp in 2011. I think he has knocked us back on at least another 2 occasions since then.

We went went all in to sign Bellamy many years ago, and he knocked us back then.
 

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
Flanno hasn't had the cattle to make the top 8. We have been either favourites for the spoon or second favourites for the spoon ever since and before Flanno took over. Can't you see how many other coaches knocked us back? Doesn't that indicate we were not an attractive proposition for good coaches. We even advertised for coaching applicants and Young and Hornby were the only 2 who applied. As Phil Gould said, in his end of season review in 2019. Our problems were not the coach. He said we lacked leadership. Flanno identified that and signed Gutho, Cook and Holmes for leadership. We have got a new CEO and a new recruitment officer. I have also pointed out that teams such as Canberra, Newcastle, Nth Qld, Gold Coast and New Zealand have not been attractive destinations for in demand players. Let Flanno fix our mess and then let him have success, that no other decent prospective coaches wanted the job. It would be a shame for Flanno to lay the groundwork and then for someone else to come in and reap the rewards for his work.

Still no one can tell me who we should or could have signed to make our team stronger that would have come to play for us. Flanno took the job hardly anyone wanted and even I wouldn't have taken the job, because I thought it would have been coaching career suicide, like it was for the last 3 coaches who coached us. Flanno is the best coach we could have got and will prove it in the next few years.
I hope you are right Frank , but the other side of the coin is no other club wanted Flanno either. I also do seem to recall that Flanno spent considerable time at the Dragons as an assistant and recruiting officer. What did we have to show for that period of time he was there?
 

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
Atkinson is probably the best halfback or 5/8 we could have signed, who changed clubs and was a chance of signing with us. I believe Cherry and Galvin had their future clubs already lined up, before any news of their exit was reported to the media. Pezet may have been a good signing, but Anasta probably didn't want him to go to us and he got the one year deal with Parra and then the long term deal with Brisbane. Remember Wests signed Luai for 1.2 mil a season. We got Atkinson for 500K a season. I am hoping Atkinson turns out to be a bargain and as good as Luai.
surely you cant compare Atkinson to Luai, a multi premiership winning 5/8 to a player who has been in 1st grade only because of injuries. I would think for Atkinson $500k was a damned good start. I hope Atkinson stars for us and I would have no problem in a contract upgrade, until then he is an unknown entity.
 
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