Benn Robinson fronted the media this week, the day after the worst kept secret in Super Rugby circles was confirmed as Michael Foley left his head coaching position and moved to the Western Force franchise.
The following interview in The Sydney Morning Herald shows a clearly angered Robinson, who is the captain of his NSW team, on the news of Foley’s departure.
For those who do not know the Waratahs bombed out the Super Rugby competition with one of their worst season performances ever, not only on the ladder but also their style of play.
With such a disastrous year how did one the most experienced players in the squad not know that someone would have to take the blame, and unfortunately the coach is often the casualty.
Robinson stated that “it’s a big shock to the players…” Pardon?
Sorry Benn, I’m not buying it; every NSW supporter, commentator and reporter has been questioning Foley’s position and style of coaching all year with continuing pressure on his job and speculation he would move too WA. The players must have buried their heads in the sand a long time ago to not realise what was happening.
Robinson then epitomises what is wrong at the Waratahs by suggesting that the players should effectively choose the next coach.
“It’d be nice for [the Tahs administration] to speak to a few of the key players who might have a fair say or fair influence on how the team should be moving forward,” he said.
In other words the players want to name their coach. That is a pretty big entitlement for a playing group who finished 11th overall.
The soft pre-season at the Waratahs before this Super Rugby campaign has been a big factor in their demise, as the “playing group” or “senior group” or “key player group” or whatever they are calling themselves these days asked Foley for a lighter pre-season regime to keep fresh throughout the year with Wallaby duties very much in mind. Foley did so much to the delight of his players, but later the results would speak for themselves.
Now after the worst season on record this group wishes to effectively pick the coach? Why? So they can have another easy pre-season with no real consequences if they lose? My point being many of the Waratahs were still picked for the Wallabies squad and none were removed from the club.
In my opinion, Robinson has effectively told us exactly what is wrong with the Waratahs; too much power in the playing group, and honestly the next coach should rip them apart to bring them back to earth.
Add to this an administration in shambles with too many fingers in the pie, and we have a pretty dire situation to fix up.
I hope the next coach has a big enough broom for the Waratahs, whenever he may arrive.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
For those calling for a clean out of the board my take is that it has already started. Nick Farr-Jones and Tim Gavin will clean the joint up and join NSW rugby to the Waratahs again. Never understood how we could afford two administrations. With Ed Zemechev gone along with Foley and the assistant coach the players are going to be in that situation of will the new coach like what I do or will I be on the outer. Hopefully the new coach will set the laws down clearly and work with the players to raise not only their fitness (which I have argued was not up to scratch) but also on their attitude. There are some their who have raised themselves inside of that toxic mess and dave dennis seems the best of those few. Cliffy Palu tried hard with knees that look like they have been shot for years. I hope that they bring in a talent scout to wander the grounds looking for young talent amongst schools and colts but will also have a look at some players running around in Shute Shield and imagine what they could do if they were fitter and better coached. I'm feeling better about NSW than I have in the last 10 years but it won't happen next season, they are not like the Brumbies who feel off their perch and needed to be put back on it, the Waratahs have deep endemic problems. I would be happy if they are capable of upping the speed, compete at breakdowns, passing effectively and running lines. Is that too much to ask? It has been in the past..............
bennalong
Guest
Hate?!!!!
JIM
Guest
and a bit like the Blues this year. Too many chiefs, not enough indians
Sluggy
Roar Guru
"”When you join a company you can’t then ask the person interviewing you whether you can have a say in who the CEO is or the chairman of the group are" This. The Waratahs need a head coach who is 25 years older than the players, who while he listens to them, makes the decisions and tells them to do it his way.
TembaVj
Guest
If the tahs showed any guts this season I'd say culture is good but I think to many are worried about making their hair appointments at the local bondi hairdressers. As much as I hate them Ausitralia needs a strong tahs team or they will face losing NSW to RL completely.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Spot on Jeznez. Robinson and the other players at the Tah's have been allowed to let their ego's get in the way and when you have a soft pre-season you will be soft during the regular season. Check the Tah's Win/Loss record for proof. I could hardly imagine the Chiefs, Sharks, Crusaders, Stormers having taken the easy option during the off season.
AndyS
Guest
Got to say, my first thought when I saw that was that he is lucky he wasn't there a couple of years ago. Not that long since something like that would be a sacking offence...
chivasdude
Guest
The players need to concentrate on their 1st priority...playing. Benn, as captain, does have the right to expect to be consulted (note, consulted but not the right to approve) a new Coach. But my biggest issue is that this should all be private and not aired through the press. The fact that he saw fit to hold a press conference to demand this is a bad look and I don't see how it helps the goal to get a new good quality coach. Unless, of course, he means that he (or the team) does not trust the Board to find the right coach. All this just confirms that the organisation needs a radical shake up of player, coaching staff and Board ranks. And the fact that he is surprised that Foley left seems arrogant naive. After all, are there to be no consequences for such a poor season? This is the Waratah players' problem. You can play poorly and: (i) still be a priority pick for the Waratahs, (ii) make the Wallaby team, and (iii) pick your coach. Bring on a Jake White hard-head as coach please. And fast or your membership will reduce further.
TembaVj
Guest
White was right pull your head in, if you want that much power, you should hold just as much responsibility. Tahs need a Brumbie clean out, starting with bad egoes and self entitlement attitudes.
formeropenside
Guest
As the old saying goes, good to be Australian, better to be a Queenslander.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I love Jake White's call on this: ''I'd say just focus on being a player, Benn, and concentrate on the things that you need to concentrate on,'' he said. ''When you join a company you can't then ask the person interviewing you whether you can have a say in who the CEO is or the chairman of the group are - you join a company and you put your head down and do what you have to.''
stainlesssteve
Guest
Ghenjis Khan would've just shaken his head and said, "they've lost the common touch" The blues don't ask for more say, because they feel respected. culture takes time to build because it gets transmitted from captain to captain, from one senior player group to the next. this doesn't happen because some sergeant-major yells out an order have a look at the AFL clubs; they know about this; and while you're at it, check out the richest club with the most right-wing attitude. i won't name it for legal reasons, but its name begins C-a-r-l-t-o...best players that money can buy. dirtiest underhand tricks. best blaring supremacist propaganda. why do they fall in a heap? morale! who is going to play their heart out for people who don't respect them.?
Argyle
Roar Guru
"Its great to play for Australia but playing for Queensland is much more fun becuase of the culture and your mates." Words to these effect we spoken to me and several others from two Reds players who are in the current Wallaby Squad. When asked further about players from other franchises the general tone was the 'Wallaby Group' was friendly but Waratah players generally did there own thing in free time where Reds, Force, Brumbies & Rebels tended to be more group minded. An interesting insight....
Shungmao
Guest
SD- you're spot on with your comment, there is a old saying about culture: "Culture is CAUGHT not TAUGHT" , the culture at the tahs is the culture and unless players are cleaned out or major changes are made, otherwise it will be what it will be.
mania
Guest
snobby - LMAO awesome line " will simply be rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic."
Snobby Deans
Guest
Why does it take time for culture to build up? Either players buy into the culture of a team and what they're trying to achieve, or they don't. The hardest part is understanding how to instill the culture into the organisation. Defining a culture is one thing, what can be done practically to instill / embed that culture is another. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
Snobby Deans
Guest
A Roarer posted a comment previously about the Hurricanes, and how they changed after a raft of former All Blacks were shown the door, with the no-names fronting and taking them to the edge of the play-offs. While this is true, it wouldn't have been necessary for those All Blacks to have been shown the door if they were willing to buy into the culture that the new coach, Mark Hammett, was trying to instill - a culture, it should be noted, that would have its roots from his days at the Crusaders. So as I see it, it comes down to the Tahs needing to get a strong-willed coach (someone like a Jake White) who is prepared to be ruthless in his rebuilding if the players are not willing - or able - to buy into a change in culture. Because if the culture doesn't change, then nothing will. The culture is the foundation on which everything else is built. It was interesting that, while the Auckland Blues had a similarly shocking year, there was no talk of their team wanting any input into who their next coach should be. Nor do I recall anything similar with the Brumbies last year. It's been said many a time on this site, but there needs to be a real clean-out at Tahland - but as I've said above, if the culture doesn't change at the same time, then it will simply be rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.
mania
Guest
cd - nah i dont look at it that deeply as i dont care enough. its amusing to read the headlines that each franchise is canabilising the other then vice versa. i reckon its due to player and coach depth as well as those in charge being unable to think outside of the old boys club. definately need new blood in so many aspects of aus rugby u say its because it isnt the #1 sport in aus, thats true but then whose faults that? ARU have had over 100 years of rugby in aus. what happened to all those profits? super has been going for 15 years, wheres the grass roots? i dont expect an answer CD its just a rhetoric question to point out the failings of the ARU
Cattledog
Roar Guru
Not really. These things go in fits and roundabouts. This year it's the Aussie Conference, next year it may be another. There has been considerable disruption this year, and the introduction several years ago of an additional franchise is still being felt. It may settle down next year, it may not. It's far from endemic. Unlike NZ and SA, Aust are in a huge competition with Aust Rules and League for the talent pool. This has and will be a continuing problem and all adds to what appears to be major disruptions. However, in the scheme of things these so called disruptions are really only minor speed bumps. I think you may be looking at it too deeply, Mania.
mania
Guest
oh yeah, rebels. but you dont see it as endemic of aus issues? not enough coach or player depth so they have to screw over each other within the aus conference? same as any other conference? dont think its as bad in nz. we're not playing musical coaches and a few players change francises but no where near the level that aus conf does