So what are Mick Potter’s chances of coaching Wests Tigers next season now the club has deferred a decision on whether to offer him a new contract until the end of the season?
Unless the management has already put a line through Potter’s name but isn’t prepared to admit as much at this stage, I reckon the chances of an extension coming Potter’s way look something like this.
The Tigers miss the finals – no chance. They make the bottom half of the top eight – maybe. They make the top four – probably. They win the premiership – definitely.
Rugby league, the game that keeps on giving, was in Santa Claus mode over the weekend, handing out presents here, there and everywhere.
If you like your drama off the field, you had the player unrest at Manly continuing to bubble along at the same time as the speculation over Potter’s future at the Tigers exploded.
Last night, the Tigers’ board met and decided to put contract negotiations with Potter on hold until after they see how the team finishes the year.
That came at the end of a day in which a feud erupted between Tigers captain Robbie Farah and radio commentator and ex-international Gorden Tallis.
Potter took Farah into a private area of the dressing-room at ANZ Stadium for a chat, presumably aimed at establishing exactly where the two stood with each other, and the Tigers lost 28-12 to St George Illawarra.
That defeat wasn’t fatal to the Tigers’ chances of making the finals, but it was certainly a blow. They are in 11th place, in a logjam of teams from seventh to 12th which are all on 22 points.
The Tigers need three wins from the last six rounds to get to 28, which is considered the least amount that may be good enough to get a team into the finals.
Tallis claimed Farah had told him to his face during a conversation last year that Potter “can’t coach”. Farah fumed when he heard about this.
We’ve also got another investigation into a possible salary cap breach on our hands. Gold Coast joins Brisbane in that category. The Titans don’t provide much interest on the field, so they may as well provide some off it.
Which brings me to Parramatta, and Jarryd Hayne, easily my favourite subject coming out of the weekend. That second-half attacking blitz from him in the 24-18 win by the Eels over Gold Coast on Saturday night was phenomenal.
The long-range try Hayne scored to pull the Eels level in the second half, when he made Greg Bird look like a second-rate defender and Kevin Gordon look slow by standing him up before scoring in the corner, was in his top five all-time in my view.
And that is saying something, because Hayne has scored a whole bunch of stunners over the years.
Hayne’s second try, scored from inside Gold Coast’s 20-metre area when he careered on to a good ball from Chris Sandow and continued on an angle to the line, was brilliant as well, and then he made another important run in the lead-up to the try that gave Parramatta a match-winning lead.
If Hayne wasn’t out there, the Eels would have lost. Simple as that. He was being freakish.
Alternatively, the best defence on the weekend came from Manly. They were superb in the way they repeatedly held out the Warriors in Auckland.
The Warriors led 6-0 early and were banging on the door to go further ahead, but the Sea Eagles simply refused to let them and gradually got on top, winning 22-12.
I tipped the Roosters to win the premiership at the start of the season, so I’m stuck with that, but if I was allowed to change I’ve been thinking for at least a month now that I’d rather be tipping Manly
The Sea Eagles may have their own issues off the field, with some players unhappy about retention decisions that have – or haven’t – been made, but it’s not going to stop them on the field.
Once we get to the finals, I doubt if any opposition teams are going to stop Manly either.
Albo
Guest
If I was the next Newcastle coach, I would keep Beau Scott , turf the rest and start again !
Albo
Guest
They have good footballers ! They buy good ones more often than not ! Must have a great scouting system ! They found match winners like DCE, Foran Mattei , the Stewart brothers, and snapped up Jamie Lyons when dopey Penrith with the inside running, wouldn't pay the money for him some years back !
The eye
Guest
They havent had just ONE bad season Cowboy..Bookies installed them pre season faves to take the 2012 title when Wayne came up with a swag of premiership winning players in tow finishing a dismal 10th..last year they fell into the final 8 and finished 7th,that was not above expectations what so ever if anything considering the roster and the coach it was average..and then there is this year.The stats tell us that he is the worst performing Knights coach of all time,he has basically given his failure with the side as his main reason for quitting..Uate has gone from leading winger to worst winger in the NRL..believe it or not but Snowden played for Australia..Darius 6 decent games in 3 years,on paper their backline is one of the finest..not one player has improved,not even Roberts who is still a defensive liability..roarer Knightvision made a very pertinent point yesterday regarding the huge turnaround in player attitude once Bennett announced his resignation..doubt the club got anywhere near the $3 million in value they outlayed..so.on the contrary doubt knights fans have forgotten anything about Bennets time there,just one horrible thing after another..
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Coaching is a brutal business, I feel for Potter. I was at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, saw Potter and thought he could be out of a job by days end. The guy has the rest of the season to put his case forward. Last year the Tigers won 7 games, this year they've 9 with a chance to win a few more. They've improved under Potter and could still make the semi's this year. What more does the Club want ? Manly are ultimate proof of mental toughness, despite all the off field issues they still get it done on the field. They'll be very tough to beat.
NQ Cowboy
Guest
Who would want to be a coach? The players get the credit when the team is playing well and the coach gets the blame when the team is playing poorly. The Newcastle supporters have already forgotten that the Knights played above expectations last season. They have one bad season and all of a sudden, Wayne Bennett is the worst coach in the world. Mick Potter was forced to blood a lot of young players ahead of time and as a result they lost a lot of games last season. Now that the Tigers are reaping the benefits of those decisions with a promising young side, they look to dump him. It seems that the Tigers decision about their coach once again seems more to do with a personality clash between the coach and the leadership group and has nothing to do with coaching ability. The fact that the Tigers Board consulted with Brian Smith is just the cherry on top.
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
As you say, the so called "dramas in the boardroom" really come down to disgruntled former employees and some rugby league journalists beating it up. This has been egged on a bit with the Glen Stewart piece, but there is really not that much to see here.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Damn Hargreaves... he's in my Fantasy team. Can give away a penalty, that bloke.
The Doctor
Guest
Manly are such a conundrum. Over the last decade they have been the most dysfunctional club off the field, yet on the field they have been consistently one of the strongest. Go figure.
Alex deLarge
Guest
Coaches are like jockeys. Put a good jockey on a real bad horse and he'll lose, just like a good coach will lose with a bad team. Bennett had upwards of 12 internationals in each of his premiership winning teams at Brisbane. Kingston Town didn't win three Cox Plates because he had a good jockey on board. He won because he was by far the best horse. Same with the Bronco's premierships under Newcastle's worst ever coach (Bennett).
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Not really. I'm from the Illawarra and WIN Stadium was initially upgraded when John Fahey was the NSW premier. Fahey was liberal premier and the Illawarra was always a strong Labor area.
Parrafan
Guest
The issue is that the Roosters deliberately hold in the ruck to make sure they get their line set (so do a lot of other teams) This tactic worked last year as the Roosters could back their defence even if they conceded the penalty. This year they haven't been up to the same defensive standard and thus are conceding more points. In regards to injuries Roosters aren't travelling too badly. They have less than a lot of other teams.
Elma Dudd
Guest
I do see some things that bewilder me at times but you have to take other factors into account . Such as result less last tackle options and pushing stupid passes. Poor completion rates etc . The fact that Robbo blames the refs for what was a overall poor performance is part of the problem and to me is the biggest worry of all .
Renegade
Roar Guru
The penalty count stats are the same as last year.... a change of tactic from the coach might be a better approach. Telling Hargreaves to pull his head in would be a good start!
paul
Guest
The penalty count stats dont lie wake up elma we are jaded because we hav been penalised into submission .why the club puts up with it is beyond me
mick
Guest
You mean like your coach has been the past month. You are kidding yourself.
Parrafan
Guest
Yeah I think Jack disproved that quote himself. He warred with Easts board and still won 2 premierships with them.
eagleJack
Guest
I think you mean Cowboys fan :)
Pickett
Guest
True that
Elma Dudd
Guest
The only obvious thing I see is below par performances leading to losses against lesser teams . If I was to start blaming the muppets in the middle after every loss I may as well call myself a Manly fan .
Pickett
Guest
Can't see it happening this year. Too much going against Chooks this year - some controllable, a lot outside our control: injuries and you and I know the most obvious.