By Gabriel Knowles
May 19th 2009 @ 6:15am
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Full time Freddy
Roosters coach Brad Fittler. AAP Images
For what would be the first time this season Brad Fittler could well be happy with Willie Mason’s form. Unfortunately for Big Willie it had nothing to do with his form on the field but rather his form off it.
You see the hard hitting expose from the News Ltd sleuths on Mason’s indiscretion of urinating in public diverted a good slice of attention away from the fact that the Roosters got mauled on Saturday night.
It also drew attention away from the Fairfax scoop that Brian Noble might be on his way to the Roosters to oversee and guide Fittler. Which is far more interesting than what Willie Mason got up to post match on Saturday night.
The fact that the Roosters are only two points above last place and are playing pretty uninspiring football suggests that this kind of drastic action could well be about to eventuate.
Considering Fittler inexperience in the coach’s box you have to wonder if the Rooster’s board are beginning to seriously question the wisdom of appointing Freddy to the top job. Indeed the story in recent times has been that Chairman Nick Politis isn’t keen on the prospect of possibly having to sack Fittler one day.
On paper at least, the Roosters should be sitting much higher up the ladder. Their current squad is littered with both current and former representative players and apart from the loss of the inspirational Anthony Minichiello they haven’t exactly been decimated by injuries.
Some big name signings may not have quite lived up to expectations but that isn’t a defining reason either.
Perhaps the day in day out schedule of an NRL coach is grinding away Fittler’s ability to just coach his team. In all fairness to Freddy this is his first real long-term, full time job and it might just be that the extra duties that come with the head coach role are proving more than he can handle.
It’s also worth noting that Fittler isn’t long out of the game and is still fairly young. Nathan Brown’s tenure at St George showed that a younger, less experienced coach can get burnt out quickly as they tend to feel every tackle, kick and pass their team makes.
In that context the appointment of Brian Noble in a director of coaching role might just be what the Roosters need.
With Noble on board in a guiding capacity Fittler would surely be freed up to take a more hands on role with the players and that can’t be a bad thing for the Tricolours.
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The Answer said | May 19th 2009 @ 6:50am | Report comment
Good point Gabriel, I think Fiitler would be far better suited a smore of a backs coachand working specifically with the Roosters havles who are really battling to toss up anything close to creative at present.
Mason, what an egg, but when will the media just end its fascination with him. Obviously this story pobably derserves coverage, although will no doubt be seen as another “blackeye to the game” but we’ll now have to read all the interviews aboyt him cleaning up again. The Herald through Jessica Halloran did a big interview with him a few weeks ago about is new lowkey approach to life (which included a few beers at the Sheaf) How often do we want toread about that.
If Clubs are too have no dickheads policy then so should the press, let hear about lots of the good guys in the game.
Horry said | May 19th 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
Theyplayed on Saturday not Friday night….
John Smith said | May 19th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
Brian Noble won’t be joining the Roosters, Wigan have confirmed it…
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/rugby_league/article2434974.ece
Terry Kidd said | May 19th 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Nah, the Roosters just need to get rid of a few dickheads that distract from the notion of ‘team’ and give some committed guys a chance. The answer is to build a team culture and play as a team, the results will then follow.
Gabriel Knowles said | May 19th 2009 @ 11:46am | Report comment
Thanks for pointing that out Horry, should be sorted now. Don’t know what I was thinking!
The Answer – The problem is that the good guys don’t sell papers. I reckon the Roosters halves haven’t been helped by their forward pack in all fairness, that’s not to say I don’t think Fittler spending more one on one time with them wouldn’t help but they need to address their go forward over the whole 80 mins.
Ty brennan said | June 3rd 2009 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
what has happend to the roosters last year they were in the top four and now look sthey are second last soon to be last with the way sharks are starting to look with their new half back. i will tell u the problem it is braith anasta he just cant ge his game together i would drop him next season and try and buy the storm halfback.
znotty said | July 18th 2009 @ 11:41pm | Report comment
Well,well,well Smith bailing on the Knights at the end of the year leaving them in the lurch ..only a genius with amazing insight could have ever predicted such a thing.