In recent weeks, the media has ravaged the Wests Tigers and in particular their coach. While the scandal has now receded back into some form of serendipity, it is not without leaving sands of catastrophic damage.
As a pro-Potter activist, I can tell you now he is as good as gone. Unfortunately has been placed in a position where he quite simply needs to go. This isn’t really any doing of his own – the blame can be squarely put on the media.
Whether Potter did in fact have the support or still does have the support of his players has become irrelevant. I am not going to sit here and tell you that the Tigers abysmal performances over the last few weeks have been because the coach has zero support from his group, for all we know he could still be quite popular with the majority, if not all, of the playing group.
But the damage has been done. The implications that he struggles to communicate with players, motivate them or command respect can be understood to have done just as much damage as this being the truth.
This is the only reasonable explanation for how a team could be proclaimed as finals dark horses a month ago and within the space of a fortnight receiving the second-biggest losing margin in the club’s history.
They then followed this up with an equally appalling 44-point loss to the Roosters.
Since the media attack began in Round 20, the Tigers have conceded a staggering 168 points and managed only 30 in attack. The Tigers sit on a negative points differential of -192, 138 of which has been amassed in the space of a month.
Michael Potter has done a good job in extremely difficult circumstances this year and is certainly deserving of a contract extension.
However, what’s done is done and the club requires a drastic overhaul. This will see Potter become a casualty, along with CEO Grant Mayer and the entirety of the board.
Potter’s tenure was an incredible necessary one, but so is his demise. He has been responsible for introducing an almost entirely new playing roster with infinite potential. Martin Taupau and Tim Simona have graduated to the ranks of international players for New Zealand. Adam Blair has regained his form and subsequent place in the aforementioned team.
Aaron Woods has become a starting Origin prop and the likes of Luke Brooks, Mitch Moses, James Tedesco, James Gavet, Curtis Sironen and Sauaso Sue have gained invaluable experience and developed rapidly.
The Potter era will be praised for the dismantling of a toxic playing roster and the introduction of fresh talent, but sadly the next introduction will have to be a new coach.
It will need to be a man whose hands are not red with the blood of the current administration. Here’s looking at you, Todd Payten and David Kidwell.
Greg Rand
Guest
Potter should stay just get rid of the Board and the weak CEO. I have followed the Tigers since 1969 and I must say it is a sickness one you chose this team you cant seem to even look at another. I just keep saying next year. Farah should also be sensored and not be allowed to talk to media unless it is monitored by the club. Farah is not the club he will be gone and another will take his place he has way too much to say. Tallis has inflicted damage on the club and perhaps legal advice should be sought, and then the truth may come out. Only time will tell but all of this could be avoided our injuries are sustained from unprepared players we need to have better conditioning so that this does not happen. I am not a sports human movement specialists but maybe this should be incorporated inot the management plan. Studies of sports medicine should also be undertaken in the USA to try and improve injury recovery times. We have young talent we need to develop them. If there is communication issues perhaps a role of club liasion director should be adopted to open up lines of communication between coaching staff and players. We all need to seek answers to these on going problems and this may be an ideal format to discuss these.
Doug Graves
Guest
Do'h! Fair enough James I miss interpreted it, sorry. I thought you were indicating their hands were clean and they'd be legitimate alternatives. Otherwise I agree with the rest of your article and I think the Tigers should get Neil Henry in, it was only last year they considered him for an assistant coach role
Rick
Guest
No doubt written with the best of intentions but it is appalling to think that a man who has done brave and much needed things with the playing roster - as you point out - has to be sacrificed. For whom? Surely not Kidwell or Payten. Both have been linked as having undermined Potter for their own advancement. If that is true than rewarding gross disloyalty with promotion is unconscionable. Griffin may be a possibility but personally I believe that a club that allows this situation to develop is rotten to the core and not really worthy of the support I have given and paid good money to watch their games through membership.
James Preston
Roar Guru
Big red - Tbh given the injuries im not sure what more can be done. There was two second rowers playing on the wing tonight, akoula and paterson. Im not sure why kurtis rowe was not retained at least he has enough pace to cover for example the second lafai try. Hytchcox is a good young prospect though, plays with heart id like to see him retained. Tonights side given injuries and suspensions IMO should have lined up as Austin/Moses Hytchcox Akoula Lawrence Rowe Austin/Moses Brooks Woods Farah Seumanufagnai Sue Thompson Blair Sironen (utility) Taupau Gavet Lodge
James Preston
Roar Guru
Doug where on earth did you get that from, the very last sentence says that Kidwell and Payten are NOT appropriate alternatives...
Big red
Guest
Not sure if potter has to go, but playing Patterson out wide was another disaster tonight. Lawrence has to be moved into the pack or let go. If potter out take Patterson, Galloway, lulia. Thoughts?
Doug Graves
Guest
You've gotta be having a laugh if you think Payten and Kidwell are legitimate alternatives. I don't know how you can claim the club is a shambles, call for a complete overhaul and then turn around and recommend 2 people who are intricately involved in said shambles! The club needs a complete break from the past and those two don't offer it.
simmo green
Guest
Roach, Kidwell, Payten, Sironen and any other residual player somehow deemed worthy of a job in this organisation. Nepotism has to end. Roach and Payten have been the principal white ants all year
lindsay curry
Guest
i believe we need to ask why we have had such an horrific injury toll the last three years.it is from that toll pressure has mounted from different quarters with different agendas.the conditioner need to answer that hard question and then resign. i have come to respect coach potter for his ability to bring the young player to the top grade but i think for future success he has to go along with mayer.....the damage is irreperable. mick resign this weekend you deserve that privilidge. i reckon steve folkes is the answer. i have followed the tigers since 1966 and cant believe the golden opportunity squandered in the last month.....unbelievable
Zedman
Guest
+1 Barry, Farah could and should have nipped it in the bud,ego got in the way. Farah is the divisive element.
James Preston
Roar Guru
@chiva... Two words. Steve Folkes. As an assistant from 2010-2011 the Tigers were exceptional, his record with the Bulldogs was also terrific until he reached a Tim Sheens like stagnant state where he needed to be moved on despite his talent (Benji Marshall anyone?)
James Preston
Roar Guru
@Western, I actually agree with you completely. If it were up to me I would keep Potter there but seriously his position has become untenable the only solution is to continue with a clean slate, CEO, administrators and unfortunately coaching staff - though I do believe if the entirety of the assistant coaching staff were replaced you could potentially save Potter. On Skandalis I could not agree more, I made comment of this back in 2012 when he took over, ever since the Tigers have endured a dreadful injury rate and have had the "soft up the middle" label run rampant. Whilst he is a club legend he should be the first assistant staffer sacked
chivasdude
Guest
I think Mick Potter has done as well as he could with the circumstances he has (injuries, a dysfunctional Board, senior player agitation, etc.). He has handled himself very classily in recent weeks, showing loyalty to his players and captain and composure. He has been let down. No way he deserves to go. And, incredibly, anecdotally most of the Tigers fans I talk to seem to think this as well. BUT, I accept that something has to be done. I don't think the present situation can continue unchanged. Ideally, the NRL finally gets its Board representatives in place and the CEO goes. The coaching staff need to be looked at. There has reportedly been disloyalty shown to the coach by the assistant coaches and otherwise jobs for the boys. Agree that the strength and conditioning needs to be looked at in light of the dreadful injury run we have had. Payten looks like he will go. When you think about all that needs to happen, it is not hard to imagine that they will just let Potter go. Undeserved and sad but that is the reality in sport. Why sack many when one will do. Let's keep Brian Smith out of the joint. This young team needs discipline but it is also time to move to the next generation of coaches. I am not sure Kidwell is ready yet. I wouldn't mind Anthony Griffin. He seems a good bloke and has done well in re-building the Broncos. Any other suggestions if Potter goes?
Western Fuglie
Guest
Stability is the key in my opinion Dave,Potter 2 more years on a contract extension, would like to see if Steve Folkes would consider coming back as a defence coach and head hunt an Errol Allcot for strength and conditioning.... They were on a winner for the first 14 rounds and it was always going to be hard to keep a young side up a full season and as for anyone who wants Potter gone please suggest a coach who would have handled himself better aswell a building for the future...I've got no better proven option. One more thing if potter has had minimal input into recriutment as was stated on nrl 360 3 weeks ago then who made the decision to release taquile naguvia( sorry for spelling) and Marika korobite? The board is a mess Mayer is not a man I want as my CEO and the Nrls inability to grow a pair and re configure our board has made us the laughing stock of professional sport and provided papers and talk back radio enough ammo to resemble a feast for crows.
tigerdave
Guest
good pick up Western. Injuries have been a bad poain in the backside over many years there. They have more than their market share of injuries. I've called for a ereview in the past. Watching the sissies in the pack though, I fully understand how the backs can be regularly injured.
tigerdave
Guest
Both are wriong in my view. Tallis should never betray confidences and will suffer for that with further information from players. Farah handled it extremely badly, he should have put his hand up straight away. His footy show interview with Gus Gould explained it all and Tallis was proven to be correct. There are plenty of people complain to other workers about their boss among other things but don't expect that to go straight to the boss. Gordon was pushed into a corner by Farah's management but he should have had the smarts to get out. I would think if both men were honest with themselves, they would say they would have done it differently if given the cahnce.
Western Fuglie
Guest
Why Potter he has been the only one to handle himself with class dignity and a spine. Why does strength and conditioning coach John Skandalis always remain un touched?the last 3 years we have had injury crisis after injury crisis. This is probley a key example of why the club will flounder with the talent improperly managed by the jobs for the boys mantality that a great player is made of Teflon once they get a role coaching and or on the staff. When will the Nrl take some responsibility for the circus, they have interveined in January and then sat on their hands and appointed no one for the board. Not Potters Fault this club deserved Ricky Stuart
James Preston
Roar Guru
Curaeus - I can't agree, the role your suggesting Smith is both adept at and would fill at the Tigers is the exact same role that Potter has now inadvertently fulfilled. He has made a number of tough but correct calls (e.g Benji) and despite their fall away at seasons end the club at the base level are in the best position since 2011.
The Barry
Roar Guru
"the blame can be squarely put on the media." Come off it. Anything that happens these days and the media is the big, bad bogey-man. Tallis' comments could have been hosed down in 5 minutes if Farah or the board had acted quickly. Instead they fanned the flames and turned it into a frenzy. Of the coaches sacked this year that Potter is most likely to get another gig. Shame that his start in the NRL was in that club at that time.
tigerdave
Guest
We had Tim Sheens and we may still be paying him (depending on his case against the Tigers). We need a Gus Gould type to clean out the crap from the club and start again, around the youngsters we have. If I were Luke Brooks or Miotchell Moses, I'd be looking for another club. One where the forwards man up and give you a reasonable chance to ply your trade. The Tiger pack get bullied every time they run on the field, apart from the great spell they had in the first part of the season. Oh, hat a long lost memory. It;d be nice if they actually had a go from now until the end of the season, but I expect they won't bother.