The current drama between Jarryd Hayne and Neil Henry brings up the old question of whether coaches should be held responsible for their players’ abilities?
It is true that the coach is responsible for his players and generates structures and gameplans that best suit the team, but the coach cannot be responsible for his players’ actions.
So why does the coach take the fall for bad performances?
A recent interview with Titans captain Ryan James revealed that the Titans were gathering around Henry in support. This is in direct opposition to the general belief that there is a rift at the club.
If the players are happy with their coach and understand that it is themselves that need to improve, as James said, then the coach does not need to go.
Anyone who watched the Titans game against the Tigers will agree that Hayne’s actions were unacceptable. He constantly belittled his players for their mistakes and walked off the ground in front of his teammates. These actions can create tension and general bad feeling among the team, and this is a rift the coach cannot fix.
The fact that people then call for Heny’s head is bizarre. You can get rid of the coach, but the bad feeling among the team is sustained.
The alternative is to get rid of the player. However, the player in question is a former State of Origin winner who has won two Dally M awards. But when comparing this to having a team full of good blokes who train hard and put in 100 per cent every week, I know which one I would chose.
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Similarly, the Bulldogs have not had the best year, so there are calls for Des Hasler to be replaced as head coach.
The Bulldogs are not going to make finals this year, but that does not mean that the coach needs to be sacked. The Panthers have not been consistent at all this year, but if they make finals, no one will be concerned with the coach.
The Rabbitohs have not been consistent, occupying the bottom of the ladder for much of the season, yet talk of firing Michael Maguire has not come up, so it is not a matter of consistency.
Fans have to realise that coaches are not responsible for every action on the field, and the media should give the coaches some slack. Some responsibility needs to be taken up by the players for their own actions on the field.
Zedman
Roar Rookie
TB, this sounds like normal procedure in this day of not blaming the players. Remember the old days when you were having a bit of an off day and the coach has a quick word on the way out after half time, short and to the point.
AGordon
Guest
It is easy to make generalisations about situations that, on the surface, seem the same, but underneath are very different. Henry has an issue with one guy - but so does the rest of the team after his "performance" last weekend. This is clearly a case where the player needs to be held accountable. In the case of Canterbury, Hasler has not had success for more than 18 months and it is showing in the tired performances on the field. His players don't seem to have buy in any more, so it's time for a new coach. I'm not sure about " no talk of firing Maguire" at Souths. In saying that, the Board still have faith in him and so do the players. This is situation is different from the other two because Souths should be doing better but are using the Inglis injury as their reason for playing sub par footie. As others have suggested, switch Hasler with Maguire. In short, players get tired playing a style for a coach, move on and have a new lease of life. Coaches do likewise. The good sides know when to make each change without it becoming a battelfield
Albo
Guest
But being rich clubs with well established stars in one team cities with your marketing teams' wide choice of third party opportunities, sure helps in making a strong team and a successful coach. Handling a team of cast offs at a holiday resort or competing with half a dozen or more suburban neighbours for the resources of success, is another story.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I went to a breakfast seminar last year where Wayne Bennett was the speaker. The Broncos were coming off a poor late season loss (can't remember against who). Wayne said that his normal approach coming off a game like that was to shut himself in a cave (his words) for a few days and go over the team's preparation to see if there was anything he'd gotten wrong or could do better in preparing the team. He'd question everything he'd done during the week. He'd then work out how he was going to speak to the team, what needed to be addressed at training and work with his staff to ensure they had a consistent message. So when he got in front of the team for the first time on Tuesday he was calm, he was measured, knew what he wanted to address and was able to give the team clear direction for the week ahead.
BleakCity
Roar Rookie
I agree Des can obviously coach but he's also a roster gambler with his propensity for backended deals. It worked a treat at Manly (until he left) but the Bulldogs gave him too much rope. It's one thing to back the wrong horse in Mbye but when he didn't turn out to be the star they expected the crash was always going to be significant when you had so many older players all hitting significant back end payments at the same time. They gambled on Mbye, the salary cap and the older players still being stars. There's more pain ahead for this club than the Titans.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's part of a coaches job to find ways to ensure his players are performing at their optimal levels over the course of a long season. He's not entirely responsible but if the team is under performing for long periods then he certainly has questions to answer.
BleakCity
Roar Rookie
The best coaches these days have a range of skills which includes being good "man-manages". Those who aren't generally come a cropper after a few years of building because not all players fall in line with "it's my way or the highway" (Ricky, Jason Taylor, Brian Smith). It's all very well to say players have to fall in or get off the bus but people are all different and a good coach works out what motivates each player. Mind you the Titans board (NRL) set themselves up for failure by buying a superstar who likes to be pampered when they have a coach who refuses to play that game.
Big Daddy
Guest
Does will be hoping the limelight stays on gold coast and give him a break. The old coach sacking hype is well and alive. There will be heaps of carnage still ahead. If des and henry and also kearney get the chop there is really not a lot in the coaching ranks. Its testament to the way Bellamy and Bennett have operated over the last few years.
Chris
Roar Pro
Des is a coach who has led multiple successful teams to Grand Finals and minor premierships. He's a brilliant guy. We've seen what he can do with a successful squad. The difference is definitely the players. It's like giving Craig Bellamy the Blues' coaching job in 2009-10, I believe it was. He can do great things with good players. Neil Henry coached the Titans team to the finals last year, when no-one thought the Titans would do well. Ultimately, the board and senior Titans staff should look at the on-field performances of the side that did very well last year.
Raymond Schiller
Guest
I believe you question a fair point, but great coaches are the ones that make great players. Take for example a Michael Gordon who plays average at the Eels, but a transformation to the Roosters under the guise of Robinson improves his performance. So maybe there just aren't enough good coaches in the league
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Are players ever held responsible for their performances on the field? Individually yes, but when the team decides to not play nothing seems to happens except the coach gets sacked. In the end the players (most of who are pretty ordinary at the Titans) still get paid extraordinary amounts that you and I can only dream about even when losing. One day a footy club may back a coach and end up firing a number of under-performing players. But then it seems everyone, players and coaches, have a pay out cause that means they still get a big pay check even when sacked. Everyone wins except the fans.