History tells us the Dragons need a rebuild

The Dragons have improved from last season but still fall way short of the top seven teams IMO. Saturday's loss to the Raiders was their heaviest this season, and at a time when stand-in coach Dean Young is trying to leave his mark on the team. I think the appointment of Anthony Griffin is what the team needs to snap them out of their physical & mental lethargy. The forwards have to aim up and lift their standards if the they are going to challenge the top sides, starting with Tariq Sims and Paul Vaughan (who has let the team down big time twice this season due to stupidity, selfishness and a lack of discipline). It all takes time and I don't expect Anthony Griffin to achieve what Wayne Bennett did in only 2 seasons. To start with, Griffin doesn't have the talent available which Bennett had, and there are no big name signings on the horizon. They have two players in crucial positions who haven't performed on a consistent basis (Hunt & Norman). If Griffin can get them to perform consistently the team will perform much better, but it's a big "if". You would think that after 3 seasons at the club Ben Hunt would know what his role is, but to me he looks lost at times. It's fair to say that the club have had some rotten luck over the past couple of years and it's obvious that some new voices & ideas are needed to move past a period of time that has put the Dragons in a rut. The other problem is recruitment - or lack of it. The club have gone after some big name players and come up empty handed. I don't know how this can be fixed unless they become a more formidable team. I know Griffin will do his best for them, and at the end of the day this is what the players need to do as well. If that happens I think there will better on field results and a more optimistic outlook for the future. It's going to take time.

All good. I get your point. :thumbup:

The team needs adjustments, not an overhaul

I completely agree with everything you've said. But I think we might be refering to different things when we say rebuild. I think theres a distinct difference between clubs building over a period of time as they look to improve and clubs that try and sell multiple lean seasons as part of some grand plan. As I said in my comment, I believe that success comes down to the decision making of clubs , I should have added that i think "rebuild" is thrown around by clubs as an excuse for situations resulting from poor decisions. "Rebuilding " periods in league tend to be characterised by bad decision making in my view and they tend to end after good decisions start getting made. Signing aging and injury prone players in key positions (on big money) doesn't strike me as a good strategy long or short term, yet it seems to be the go to strat in a rebuild. But i wasn't applying this to the current Dragons situation, just the concept of developement focused coaches.

It was more then Barba- 1,6 and 7 at the time was a lucky dip beween Barba, Prince, Hunt, Wallace, Norman and Hoffman in every combination under the sun. I think overseeing the Lockyer transition cut him some slack rather then earned him praise. And the 2012 team he inherited post Lockyer was far from rubbish, given the chance I'd swap our current squad for it in a heartbeat, the side had 11 rep players and 7 future rep players (and that's after dumping Gagai)! That's the side he inherited and after three years of development the spine of 2015 featured two imports, McCullough who preceeded Hook by 2 seasons (three including his debut season) and Hunt who'd only spent one season as a regular half. I should probably stop now, the way I process information and present it can give the wrong impression. I'm not saying that there are massive red flags over Hooks coaching or anything, just that I can't see how he's earned the reputation he's cultivated.

Yeah it's a long time ago now for my old memory. I just knew he coached the 20's but not when or for how long.

I'm sure you're the same Andrew, I've never had a say in who should be selected for any role like coach, supervisor, boss etc. As you say, they badly need some tough love.

Can't believe Alex Glenn wants a say in who coaches the Broncos. Alex, your job is to play football, and in your words, it's not your job to select the coach. This is half the problem at the Broncos, players think they are entitled, to even think about wanting a say in who the coach will be,Alex, you're on thin ice anyway. The Broncos need some tough love and I'd sooner see Paul Green in charge, someone who's not afraid to make tough decisions.

I've never seen it - true story. Don't worry, the Broncos fans will be dragging these same terms out, once Alex Glenn decides who that person will be. :happy:

Couldn't disagree more emcie on the rebuild myth. Watched it across too many different sports and the same in businesses. Long term success comes down planning and strategy. Short term success is about tactical use of resources. Often they can be mutually exclusive decisions. Been a more than a few papers on this at the Sloan sports conference over the years I believe. It's a big issue for coaches "under pressure" you effectively force them to unwind or shelve the broader plan. If they "succeed" then they've likely just made the future worse.

He was the under 20's coach for 2 years, and those guys debuted in either his first or second year. He certainly played a part but i dunno if that's enough time to give him all the credit.

Well he's been in commentary for a few years now so I'm sure he knows it all by now. I don't disagree with the 2nd part, I have my doubts about his Premiership qualities. Obviously 'development' coach is my opinion but I'm sure the Saints nor Hook considers himself that but no doubt that's what Gould employed him for, to replicate the pathways I'll give you Barba as the poor signing/utilised. He did oversee the Lockyer transition. I'd argue he delivered a better performing team than he inherited, post Locky. Bennett brought in (of note) Milford and Boyd. Resurected Blair I suppose. A team in such a mess doesn't go top 2 and a GF in the following year.

But wasn't Hook previously their under 20's coach so brought a lot of the guys through there before they even got to first grade? Guys like Hunt and McCulough, Glenn, etc?

"Rebuild" "Knockdown" "Partial" I think you Drags have been watching too much of The Block

I think a rebuild is a coach having an each way bet. He's got an excuse if he fails and he's a genius if he succeeds. It's a B.S term in my opinion,as far as using it as an analogy.

I can't agree with your analysis Andrew. Mary's two greatest flaws were his inability to fix the late season fadeouts, and his inability to properly develop young talent. That young talent is there. Dufty, Ravalawa, Lomax, Sailor, Clune, Kerr, Host etc. etc. Griffin has been given a simple task. A short term contract to develop these players into top tier footballers. The crux of a very good side is there if these players develop into what a lot of experts believe they can.

Every coach develops players, its part of the job. Bennett developed generations of players at Brisbane, the difference between the two is what they did with those players. If your only notable quality as a coach is developing players you're not a complete package, it's not a selling point (unless that's reflected in asking price).

That's an interesting insight, thanks for that. :thumbup: