The influence any NRL coach has on his players is as powerful as the Pied Piper’s on the rats of Hamelin.
All the associated analytics that come together when trying to determine the winner of any given match means little if the players are not prepared physically and mentally, and equipped with a winning game plan.
The head coach is weighted above all else, and each coach carries his very own individual rating, largely based on his win percentage and an ability to get his team into the big games.
All the great coaches comprehend disciplined defence, the hallmark of how they plan their offence. Most players improve under the great coaches.
The top four rated coaches in the NRL in 2014 are Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy, Des Hasler and Trent Robinson, who is only in his second year. It would be easy to write about these four wonderful mentors for hours on end, but as good as they are and as great as they are, they all have the same weakness – loyalty.
It seems to be a great coach you have to love your players like they are your family. When a coach enjoys success with a player, the bond strengthens. These players are generally just as important to the team and the coach off the field and often act as an unofficial assistant coaches.
But there comes a time when the player stops improving, the coach cannot impart any more knowledge to help him grow and Father Time has entered the dressing room. The coach must make the heart wrenching decision to sack his ‘son’ for another player, or a young gun who has been itching to get his chance in the top grade.
The top four NRL coaches have earned their high rating because they are the very best at what they do, but they are also human, and sometimes loyalty wins over the bleeding obvious.
It is not Wayne Bennett’s seven grand final wins that impresses me the most, but the fact he has never been beaten once his team makes the big one. He has put together an aged forward pack at the Knights and many have followed him from club to club. It is doubtful if he will ever sack Jeremy Smith or skipper Kurt Gidley, even though they are struggling, while Willie Mason and Beau Scott continue to thrive under Bennett.
Craig Bellamy is a creator of great players and turns average journeymen into valuable first graders, but he has also shown that he finds it difficult to tap one of his beloved ‘sons’ on the shoulder – one of the reasons his amazing club record is not reflected as an Origin coach. Bellamy maintains a stunning 67 per cent win record and has won three grand finals for the Storm (2007 and 2009 were stripped of title).
Bryan Norrie and Ryan Hinchcliffe have been wonderful servants and under ‘Bellyache’ have played well above their god-given talent for many years, but are now playing past their use-by date. Still, they keep showing up in the Storm’s top 13 every week. Why? Because they would take a bullet for their coach and he knows it.
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler won two premierships at Manly, largely by sticking with the same squad and he has taken that loyalty to Canterbury. Sam Perrett is a beneficiary and has found himself as the club’s fullback when the Roosters discarded him three years ago as a slow winger. There seems to be a new story breaking every day about who will be the new fullback at the Bulldogs, but you get the impression that Des is in no rush to move Sam on.
When it comes to moving old fullbacks on, Roosters coach Trent Robinson must get sick of people asking why Anthony Minichiello keeps getting the number one jersey over Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. It is like driving a Veedub when you could be sitting in a Ferrari, but Robbo did not win the Premiership in his rookie year because he makes the same decisions as everyone else. He knows his Veedub will get him from A to B without crashing every week.
planko
Guest
Agreed as a player very very good. Pretty good drinker as well. But coach..... Nope
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Glenn I certainly have Craig as my number 1, but someone else has to be 2,3 and 4 and I am happy with my lot.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Glenn All true mate, but I am backing him in. Every player under him improved last year, incl Mini - amazing effort.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Scrubbit No only that his attitude at training is not 100% and anyone that does that to his hair has problems.
Muzz
Guest
Scotty, When you say that the Rooster's have better options in their 1 to 5 positions,do you factor in balance and the variety of attacking options these players offer? Do you consider the combos and understanding between players that take's time to form? Don't forget the Roosters had the best "points for" and the lowest "points against" and are the Premiers. Why the panic? Why be overly creative and risk a winning formula when you know that things will soon fall into place. There are many teams playing well but are there any close to the Roosters 2013 form? If you were picking a team, would you use a system that is purely based on the way you rate players?
Scrubbit
Guest
He says he wants to stay in/near Brisbane though so I'd say he won't go anywhere other than suns, reds, broncs, or titans. and I have an inside man (well really he's my only league world man in a club) says that Carney has been pondering asking for a release saying he's unhappy at cronulla. Heard anything that suggests this may be true?
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Scrubbit I sat next to him on a plane when he was on his way to sign with the AFL. He told me that he would love to follow Lockyer and be a 6 and then said that his kicking game is better than what people think. How right he was. If he wants to come back and play 6 he should go to Melb.
Glenn Innes
Guest
I am also far from convinced about Bennett six of his titles came at The Broncos in an era when the salary cap was not properly enforced and the other two QLD teams were sclerotic outfits no one wanted to play for. He was training defacto state of origin teams in a club competetion it was men vs boys.Nathan Browne had that saints team at the pointy end of the comp for a couple of seasons before Bennett arrived and the year he won it he didn't have to beat Melbourne who were the testing material at the time, He is into his third year at Newcastle so if his current squad has limitations who is to blame for that.?Craig Bellamy is the greatest coach of the NRL era indeed the only one of the above four who deseves the title champion.
Glenn Innes
Guest
I seem to remember Ricky Stuart winning a comp wIth Easts so it is a bit of an early crow as far as Trent is concerned.Two seasons down the track he may well have been given the arse from Bondi and be training fish and chip on sea in the English super touch football league. Or Easts may have won three straight comps and he will go down in history as one of the smartest men ever to hold a clipboard - only time will tell ,but as someone far brighter than me once said "one swallow does not make a summer."
Elron
Guest
Scott, point taken. What Im saying is Stuart is on the decline to the up and comers. Maguire and Robinson are just starting out and in time may become super coaches too but its just to soon to say. In fairness, Stuart starting out with the Roosters won a grand final and led them to near triumphs. Like you said, in 5 years, lets see if Trent Robinson can exceed Ricky Stuart coaching achievements and win % (inherited roster arguments aside).
The spectator
Guest
Of those 7 you speak of for Bennett, how many were won under the thorough breds! Bennett is a top coach no doubt but it's like saying Bellamy's won 3 grand finals fair and square!! What was it 2 mill a season over but caught cheating is sweet they won so it's there's, give Manly just 500k over and swap Ballin for Smith and how many so Manly win in the last ten years? Tooves trumps Robbo at presenter and time will tell. Keep up the good reading Scott.
Johnno
Guest
One of the best halfback's in the last 30 years a quality player,if i was playing for my life Ricky Stuart or Alan Langer, I'd pick Ricky Stuart. A much better kicking game 2nd best ever I seen after Joey Johns, much better passing game, controls a game better. Alfie a better runner, a good little grubber kick, but when Alfie's forwards get pushed back, useless. 1990 and 1994 roo tours, Ricky Stuart was picked at halfback in 4 out of the 6 tests, they toured. And in the 1st test at Wembley, people forget Ricky Stuart was the 5/8, many assumed he wasn't in the test side for the 1st 1990 test. Also state of origin, 1992-94, Ricky Stuart won 3 straight titles over Alfie, when both in there prime. But Ricky Stuart a a crap coach.
Scrubbit
Guest
I did mean Ben hunt, and you really think he's a poor defender? I've seen a lot of very good defensive reads from him saving a fair few tries this year despite his size. And speaking of Special K. Where would you see him fitting in assuming he chooses league over another multi mil deal as an average aussie ruler?
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Scubbit I assume you mean Ben Hunt and not Karmichael? When Ben Barba finds his best form he is world class so I am fine with 1. I think McCullough is a hog and telegraphs his dummy pass. he has improved his fitness this season and in career best form but I think he is over rated and have Jake Friend a long way in front of him to replace Cam Smith one day. Hunt has had a good year and a handy 7, but handy ideally is not what you want. Milford could be anything and he really is a fullback. I am not convinced he is a good enough organiser to be at 6 and I also think he will get hammered in defence as he is only tiny. In a nutshell, your 1, 6 and 7 are all small and all poor defenders. You will score plenty of tries but also let plenty in.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Elron Mate Ricky Stuart is 17-56 (30%) since 2009. How on earth can you even mention his name? Did you not see how the Sharks and the Eels improved when he left?
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
planko I dont stay loyal to anyone. I judge games on their merits and facts.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Nick I mentioned Pearce and Maloney's lack of repeat sets to their coach last year and then they went on and won the GF without improving their repeat sets. You hope Gidley is playing for NSW as I am sure all Qlanders are.
Scrubbit
Guest
Based on current form and future potential Scott. What's your opinion of next years broncos spine (assuming Milford at 6 hunt 7 McCoullough 9 and barba 1)
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Rene It is my opinion. get back to me in 5 years.
Elron
Guest
To me a great coach is one who keeps players egos in check season after season, all the while motivating his team to be a constant premiership threat. Yes, three wonderful mentors mentioned above. Toovey almost there but Robinson way down the order with Maguire, just above Stuart.