Wests Tigers fans have taken to social media to show their disapproval towards the appointment of their new head coach Jason Taylor.
His three-year deal has been met with a large degree skepticism – and for good reason.
It is no secret that the majority of Tigers fans hoped for Mick Potter to be given another season to lead the team free from distractions from the board. Instead Potter was sacked and the club found itself in a similar situation to the one they were in heading into the 2012 off-season.
Similarly that time saw an acrimonious departure of the head coach, back room issues, an endless rumour mill of potential new coaches and of course their on-field statistically average record.
Admittedly the club is in a better position with the roster than it was at the end of 2012. They have had some cases of addition by subtraction while key players have been secured long-term.
Unfortunately, the Tigers will approach the 2015 season with a coach who will attempt to enforce his stamp on the team. Taylor is still yet to truly establish himself in the NRL and to have questionable control over the squad will certainly not help.
If Potter lacked in his communication skills then surely a man who was punched in the face by one of his own players may endure the same difficulties in relating his messages.
I understand the club’s predicament of being strapped for cash while the pool of elite coaches are scarce. Though their CEO Grant Mayer is optimistic the appointment will lead to a premiership in Taylor’s third and final contract year while also predicting a finals berth the next two seasons.
Certainly a positive expectation but there is nothing to suggest that Taylor is a coach capable of guiding any side, particularly one with developmental players in need of stern discipline, to a premiership.
Taylor’s 46 per cent winning record during his four seasons as a head coach with both Parramatta and South Sydney makes for underwhelming reading. However, he was responsible for South Sydney’s first forage into finals football in 18 years after finishing the season inside the eight in 2007.
By the same token, the arrival of Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court in 2006 paved the way for some major signings. Internationals Nigel Vagana, Roy Asotasi, David Kidwell and Jeremy Smith were all added to the squad along with Dean Widders and late 2006 acquisition David Peachey. That season also marked the debut of Isaac Luke, joining John Sutton, Luke Stuart and Scott Geddes.
Inexplicably under the tutelage of Taylor and with largely the same squad – along with the additions of marquee signing Craig Wing and the arrival of Chris Sandow – the Rabbitohs finished the 2008 and 2009 seasons 14th and tenth respectively, which further highlights the former halfback’s questionable credentials as a head coach.
The Tigers in making this decision ultimately wedged themselves in a very difficult situation. After Potter’s dismissal, who exactly were they going to turn to? Anthony Griffin was a safe option but he is certainly not one to bring premiership glory as evidenced by his mediocre offerings at Brisbane over the past four seasons.
Clubs and their officials so often talk about key performance indicators but perhaps they should have considered this when discussing their next coach. There should be certain that the replacement is superior, after all this is how growth is achieved.
The club along with Taylor’s performance will come under close inspection by the new chief of football operations Phil Moss, an esteemed professional who has done a wonderful job with Penrith.
Apart from his history surely Wests Tigers fans will hope that their new head coach will be a success. Although given the souring relations between Potter and his troops due to the friction created by external media pressure, it is hard to see this appointment being an improvement for a club in desperate need of stability.
Parrafan
Guest
To be honest James I'm not familiar with Folkes so I couldn't give an opinion. Beyond that I agree with pretty much all you said. From a parra point of view, whilst Taylor was coach he gave us a great win percentage of 63%. I think a factor of his last two years at Souths was really the meager cattle he was working with. Tigers are bursting with talent and I think Taylor has shown with a fairly good roster he can be a successful coach. Best of luck for 2015, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Tigers are in the mix for the 8.
Blaze
Guest
LOL
James Preston
Roar Guru
Well said, completely agree Michael
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I don't think it's a bad hire, out of the names thrown around his name was one of the better ones. I'm sure he has learnt plenty from his previous two gigs particularly the Roosters. He will need to bring all his skills to the fore as the Tigers gig is a tough one. If I am Taylor I would be spending time with Geoff Toovey, regarding culture and getting the best out of the playing group with limited resources. The Tigers live off the smell of an oily rag and don't have modern training facilities. A coach must rise above this plus all the internal factions / issues that go on at Board / administration level. On the plus side, Taylor has a very good group of youngsters to work with, however his first assignment is getting the skipper to buy in. Secondly the conditioning and recovery of his players needs to be much better. They simply must not be the most injured team in the NRL anymore. They need the majority of the squad on the park every week.
Muzz
Guest
Farah will provide the KY - lather, rinse, repeat
Doug Graves
Guest
Taylor is a dismal selection for the Tigers. He's more likely to get knocked out by one of his own players than see out the season as head coach. I mean seriously, wtf was the new board thinking with this? They should be sacked for this decision. I'm at the point with the Tigers and Sharks that the NRL has to step in, take complete control and relocate these basket case clubs who tarnish the image of the NRL.
Michael Buggy
Roar Rookie
PS for what its worth I would've voted for Folkes and I still hope is involved in an assistant capacity. Kidwell and Payten will go far as coaches but they are associated with the current drama and therefore must be moved on. A fresh start will help them as much as it will the club
Michael Buggy
Roar Rookie
"there is nothing to suggest that Taylor is a coach capable of guiding any side, particularly one with developmental players in need of stern discipline, to a premiership." Mate you write well but you need to cheer up a bit with your objectivity. Ive watched some really terrible wests tigers sides in my time. I am sure you have as well. The current crop of youngsters is so promising in my opinion that if they stay injury-free blind freddy could coach them to a premiership. You can find flaws in any of the other coaching candidates, it wasn't exactly a Group 1 field. If they win matches to start the 2015 season, all the crap of this season will be forgotten.
James Preston
Roar Guru
@Parrafan, If you want to check out a previous article of mine namely - http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/08/20/i-love-michael-potter-but-he-has-to-go/ you will see I share your exact sentiments regarding Potter. I truly hope Taylor does well, but, looking at things objectively I'm merely highlighting that his appointment should come with a degree of scepticism given Mayer's assertions of a 4 year plan as of last season to win a premiership by 2017. I personally prefer Taylor to both Brown and as mentioned Anthony Griffin considering the goal is a premiership by the end of that 3 year deal, Griffin is the safest option but he isn't going to win you a premiership. I would of perhaps gone for Steve Folkes who has thrown around, his Bulldogs tenure didn't end well but he is a premiership winning coach and did wonders as the Tigers S/C coach during 2010, 2011 - IMO his resume for example is clearly superior to that of Potter's.
Peter
Guest
Griffin is proven bare adequacy.
Parrafan
Guest
Look who he was competing against. Stuart, Daley, Fittler and Johns who are all once in a generation players. He scored 2100 points in his career. Not something to be shrugged at.
chivasdude
Guest
As a Tigers fan, and knowing many more, I do believe that Potter had strong support from the fans. Let's not quibble about whether this was a majority view or not. Simply put, with the year the Tigers had, it was remarkable that there was more anger about the Captain's, the CEO's and the players' performance rather than the coach's. THAT is unusual. I don't doubt that JT is a reasonable choice for a coach. But why him versus, say, Griffin? Was it the money (i.e. is he cheaper)? What does he bring relative to Potter or Brown? I say nothing and he has less experience, but accept that politically Potter was always going to go. And what of Mayer? His performance was poor this year by any measure (bad communications, the mishandling of the Potter situation, not controlling Farah, etc.). When does he fall on his sword? These are troubled times for the Wests Tigers with a new inexperienced Board, ructions between the JV partners, an uneasy relationship between the CEO and the Captain and a poor financial position. I would have thought it called for an experienced hand as a coach and that's why I thought Griffin was the man. He is a proven Man Manager (look, his players at the Broncos liked him and he would still be coach except that Bennett wanted to come home). He has brought on a group of youngsters at the Broncos that Bennett can build on. And his record, while not great, is a decent 54% odd and I reckon he would have improved on that with the Broncos in the next few years. So why not him?
Dl2136
Guest
good.
mushi
Guest
How many 100+ game coaches are coaching in the NRL with winning records? 3? 4 maybe?
mushi
Guest
Cool story Hansel
Johnno
Guest
mushi Jason Taylor didn't do much in his career,he was only good enough to play 2 state of origin games,off the bench. He never started in a SOO match.
Johnno
Guest
Jason Taylor is an ex-West Magies player, a Campbelltown local junior. He is the perfect fit for the "Western Suburbs" side of this deeply fractured join-venture merger. So he will put the west magpies arm-interest first. Wonder if that was one of reasons why Jason Taylor was picked, he will not show any mercy to the Balmain side of the joint venture.
Parrafan
Guest
It is certainly on the negative side. Let's be honest if we didn't give out any second chances to league players/coaches we wouldn't have a very big league.
mushi
Guest
I just re read your article and if that isn't an attempt to discredit him as a choice then I hope you never right an article that does. I'd fear for his family....
Parrafan
Guest
But James as other people have mentioned Potter is out and it didn't matter how successful he was going to be in 2015, it was political. Reminds me of Daniel Anderson at the eels in 2009/2010. Took us to a gf then sacked by the board midway through the next year for political reasons. You should be comparing Taylor against the people who were vying for the job. The most prominent were, Brown and Griffin. Brown I would be 50/50 on. I think Griffin is in the same mould as Potter and I'm not sure if the club would back him. Taylor has had two good years as coach, and two not so good (albeit with a diminished roster). I reckon JT will do a stellar job. He comes with great raps from the Roosters and as I said above, me and most other Parra fans would have loved to have had him as coach this year, but obviously things went another way.