I was fortunate enough to secure a seat in what was a packed forum at the SFS theatrette. There were nervous faces amongst some of the officialdom and certainly Phil Waugh looked a little apprehensive before proceedings commenced.
An introduction was given by the NSW Waratahs CEO, Mr. Jason Allen who also doubled as the Master of Ceremonies.
The room had some well known media identities amongst the crowd including Greg Clark, Louise Ransome from the ABC, The Roar’s Spiro Zavos and others.
From the start there was a sense that the forum was going to be heated yet civilised.
The panel chosen to front their fans consisted of Drew Mitchell, Chris Hickey (coach), Michael Foley and Scott Bowen (assistant coaches), Chris Webb (team manager) and Phil Waugh (Captain).
There was a brief introduction by the CEO before the questions from the forum began to erupt. To the CEO’s credit, he did a good job of keeping the lid on what threatened on numerous occasions to be a very explosive forum.
The questions were heavily focussed on the Waratahs consistently booting the leather off the ball, their lack of belief in each other, their inability to play attacking running rugby, their aimless kicking, their consistent kicking, and their obsession with kicking.
The questions also targeted the Waratahs’ complacency in not chasing the bonus point victory, their lack of on-field sense of urgency, their seeming lack of pride and their below par execution of basic football handling skills.
Chris Hickey attempted to answer the majority of the questions. He did so very defensively.
In fact, I can’t help but think that the the fans’ need to see expansive, attacking and positive rugby has fallen on deaf ears with the Waratahs’ administration yet again. I hope I am wrong.
Chris Hickey, very disappointingly, reverted to statistics in an attempt to defend their style of play.
The fans then heard about the Waratahs being the fourth highest try scorer in the competition and then the high amount of passes that had been thrown.
But what we did not hear was how many of those passes were actually well executed passes, that is, passes that did not go above the receiver’s head or behind him or worst still, straight over the sideline.
There was no mention of how the majority of the tries scored by the Waratahs this season occurred in the first two games.
Critically and crucially, there was no mention of the statistic that matters the most and that is the reason why we were all there in the first place: how the Waratahs going to stop the haemorrhaging of fans.
It is at the crossroads. Unless the Waratahs front up and take responsibility across the board now then we could very well see the Life Support machine switched on by the end of the season.
What was beautiful about the forum was that the fans seemed to be in sync, working as a team and in unison.
Most of the views were unified and supported by the occasional interjection when a Waratah official again tried to use statistics to explain their on-field performances.
From the forum we moved on to a preview of a video documentary which will certainly be interesting viewing considering the lows the Waratahs have put themselves and their fans through this season.
Then it was out into the change rooms to rub shoulders with some of the players and officialdom whilst enjoying a meat pie and some soft beverages.
I walked away feeling a little empty but it was Phil Waugh that gave me a glimmer of hope. I was able to corner Phil Waugh over a meat pie in the change room and I asked him what he thought of tonight’s proceedings.
He expressed to me his strong desire to get back on the field and for the Waratahs to play passionate and well executed attacking rugby.
All in all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
If the Waratahs swallow their pride and listen to what their fans are pleading with them to do, then we should see a 50 point relentless mauling of the Lions tomorrow night.
A passionate, ruthless and consistently fierce Waratah side will restore some of the damage that has been done. It will start the healing process and if it continues the fans will hopefully come back in droves.
But, if the Waratahs continue their droll boring disrespect of the running game then they will be lucky to get 10,000 at ANZ stadium for the Brumbies clash.
They are now well and truly in charge of their own destiny as has always been the case but this time the writing is on the wall, change the culture or go into liquidation.
I know for one, that I will be there on Saturday night giving my all as a Blue Blood supporter, let’s hope the players reciprocate this passion which was well and truly on display by all the fans last night.
Football Fan
Guest
I'll second that nomination, something to bust up the old boy's network and get fresh ideas ifor engagement in rather than lining up a turkey shoot - that can't hurt, can it... It's also worth nothing the Tahs got booed off the field again even after delivering a bonus point win!
Damo
Guest
Out of synch? Players and coaches? If a camel is a horse designed by a committee, the Tahs are a camel designed by a group of stakeholders with conflicting interests. From my couch the stakeholders seem to be - Players- doing their best to dance on a postage stamp Coaches - similar though limited by selections influenced by others Executive - trying to bring a game to Australia's most populous and footy-competitive state, with big expenses to pay every week Board - trying to steer a professional sports team from the handicap of tradition to success in the present. Venue - looking to lock in a tenant for multiple years for big dollars in exchange for a plastic seat and crappy beer. Fans - till this week just sitting around accepting silently what the 6 legged camel above dished up to them. And I do mean silently because there has been a culture of silence in the crowd when I have been to games in previous years. Also the forum offered an opportunity for the people to speak . Whether the other parts of the camel had any ears I don't know. I think it is mistaken to blame the players as a group or as individuals for the state of the Tahs. When you look at the whole camel it is led usually by it's head. The board and the executive should have fronted that meeting instead of Berrick and Drew. The criticism focuses too much on the technical aspects of 'the running game'. Imagine it's the under 10's. The team plays well when the ground is organized, the crowd is vibrant, the club has a plan and a clue, the coaching is strong,simple and clear and the players confidently 'have a go'. Tahs don't just need a new playing style or coach or 10 or 12 or 5. Tahs need a whole new camel.
Miles Irving
Guest
Phil Waugh also said to that he thought the forum was a positive and healthy thing for the club and fans. However, let's be honest, what else was he going to say? I honestly do think the forum was positive for all involved. Whilst it was heated at times, there was always respect and all opinions were respected regardless of agreement or not. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of Rugby on Saturday night against the Lions. I thought they played positive attacking Rugby and the players actually looked like they were enjoying themselves for a change. The second half was much more of a contest but unfortunately some habits die hard and the 'Tahs were guilty of letting their excellent execution from the first half disappear. This seems to always culminate with the bench getting a run. If the 'Tahs can produce that first half of football again for the full 80 minutes then they will be a very hard team to beat and should make the semis. But most importantly the long forgotten fans will return in force and I believe with a bigger voice than ever before. For me the forum highlighted the extraordinary levels of passion that still exists by the remaining die hard fans. On reflection on the forum, I have a feeling that the players and the coaching staff are out of synch.
Tigranes
Guest
Damo from a $$$ perspective, ANZ stadium is a winner for the Tahs, they get paid regardless of the crowd.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Nice to hear you cornered Phil and asked him what he thought of the forum, and he said he wanted to get back on the field ASAP. Biggest dodge ever from the sound of it. So he didn't answer your question?
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
So basically knock down the Showground at Homebush and build a new Suncorp?
Keir
Guest
Sad but true
Arky
Guest
Agreed on Tom Carter - waste of money....
Arky
Guest
Sponsorships come with ticket sales, bills get paid with ticket sales. That is the revenue base of the business and like it or not without revenues there is no business. The Tahs are killing rugby support in greater Sydney for a whole generation...wake up and smell the roses!
Arky
Guest
The stats are the wrong stats FF - looks at the Reds ticket sales and compare that with the Tahs...
Arky
Guest
As someone with a 13 year old boy who loves his rugby - I have had not one request from he or his mates to watch the waratahs this season as we have done so many times in the past - but interestingly I have had them nagging me for a trip to Brisbane to see the reds play the blues, the crusaders or a semi final...is there any surprise the reds crusaders game had sold 32,000 seats ten days out from game day?
Johnno
Guest
I think the Tahs problem is this, and it is not there fault totally, it is also now a NSW state govt issue. Sydney needs a new rectangular stadium somewhere. Whether thats at homebush converting ANZ into more rectangle( But sydney swans, and NSW cricket might complain because they have there own agenda to), or some other options but sydney simply needs a rectagnular stadium like melbourne that is easy for many people to get to. None of this get of at a train station then catch another bus intraffic crap. Simply like at homebush is now you get of the train and it is a 5-10 min walk to your seat no BS. But where we put the stadium i dont no, but gee melbourne(AAMI park, MCG, rod laver arena) the adelaide oval, suncorp stadium, and the waca have it great for locals. Sydney needs that to. Proposed sites: Darling harbour, newly owned railway land next to central station, lidcombe oval, new parra stadium, Make north sydney rectangular, make chatswood oval rectangular, waitara oval, erskinville oval, lindfield oval, kograh oval would of been great to and make it rectangular. or the Bulldogs project at belmore, but the reality is sydney is crying out for a rectangular stadium somewhere with more accessibility for more sydneysiders. Moore park is defnatley not the heart of sydney, or where the majority of sydneysiders live. It is a total logistical hassle to get to even for people who live in eastern suburbs of sydney.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Damo I see the point, but I still think Hickey's useless. I would say the governing body are obviously useless too: so both those who appointed him are 100% useless and 100% guilty.
BBR
Guest
just watched Lions replay tahs ...Well for now let them win. They don't have the skills for entertainment
BrumbyJustin
Guest
Sorry Chris - they aren't the NSW Waratahs - they are the Central and Northern NSW Waratahs. The Brumbies are the ACT and Southern NSW team ;) I'm just baiting (but it's true)!
Rory
Guest
Me Three
Fabularse
Guest
Damo and p.Tah. Great to see you supporting Ellen H's comment. I think that management should be held accountable as it is they who decide the vision for the club and the strategic plan. Maybe its time to let a suitably qualified woman run a club as a CEO. It would be a first and i'm sure that fresh idea's would flow after all women also follow the game and indeed many play it. I'd like to see Ellen H if she is suitably qualified apply for a leadership role at the Tah's or Brumbies. ;) Miles Irving have you anything to say about this. I look forward to seeing a response from you. FF what do you think?
p.Tah
Guest
Suspect he is trying to focus and help us with the World Cup whilst at the same time stopping 2 of the provinces that are a calling for his head.
Damo
Guest
Tahs and Brumbies structural problems begs the question - if the two most 'successful' teams in recent years are in big trouble -what is the ARU doing? What is John ONeill getting paid for? He may be working behind the scenes but if he is not why not? The whole rugby market in this state and country Is under threat. Big decisions need to made now for next year for a positive culture going into world cup. I repeat- what is John ONeil doing?
p.Tah
Guest
Damo, Jason Allen the CEO took most of the questions and the the chairman of the board Ed Zemancheff took a question. The problem with the forum is that many of the questions/statements were directed at the style of play. In future forums it would be good to ask questions along the lines you have asked. It wouldn't have been appropriate for JON to be there but I'd welcome an ARU public forum.