After five straight ugly defeats, Rob Penney says he needs more than the backing of the NSW Rugby board to save the Waratahs from sinking to an unprecedented low.
He needs targeted recruiting.
The Waratahs face the grim – and increasingly likely – prospect of becoming the first Australian team in 25 years of Super Rugby to endure a winless season.
Saturday night’s 46-14 loss to the Queensland Reds again demonstrated the chasm in class between the cash-strapped and rookie Tahs and their rivals in Super Rugby AU, let alone the ruthless New Zealand opposition to follow.
“We need resources and we need to strategically recruit in a couple of areas so the organisation can move forward more quickly than just relying on the youthful guys to come through,” Penney said.
After opening with record defeats to the Brumbies and Queensland, and handing the Western Force their first Super win since 2017, the Waratahs fell to the Melbourne Rebels before conceding the most points to the Reds in a Super Rugby fixture.
“There’s a whole lot of issues that have culminated in what now is a very ugly looking run of games,” Penney said.
“If it wasn’t for the calibre of people in the organisation and the calibre of men that are in the group trying to do the jersey proud, then this would have blown up and disintegrated massively.
“No one likes it. No one is enjoying it, in terms of the results, but there’s a real resolve to try to get better every week.”
Despite the strain, the embattled coach reaffirmed his commitment to the job.
“I love what I’m doing,” the Kiwi said.
“With the initial stages when I was bought in, it was (a question of) could I bring a young group through?
“Of course I can. I would back my record against anyone to be able to do that.
“(But) you do need to have a combination of youth surrounded by experience.”
Then there’s the side’s injury crisis, which started when they lost captain Jake Gordon in the opening round.
Even Reds coach Brad Thorn felt for Penney when the Waratahs lost both their starting second-rowers inside 15 minutes on Saturday.
“It was brutal,” Thorn said, urging the NSW Rugby board to “play the long game” with Penney like the Reds did with him during their own rebuild.
Penney didn’t want to make excuses but he said after 20 minutes the Waratahs “basically (had) a colts pack out there”.
“The reality of that is the repercussions are on the whole team because our set-piece isn’t dominating and it’s never going to be able to dominate with the youthfulness and lack of experience,” he said.
“It doesn’t mean they’re bad footballers. It just means they’re not mature enough to compete yet at this level.
“But there’s enough quality in them that in the near future they will rise into those roles.”
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Typical bloody NSW...
piru
Roar Rookie
Was thinking this myself, Tahs trying to steal our record?
KiwiHaydn
Roar Rookie
‘Cash Strapped Tahs now Penneyless’
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Ironically, it may be the Crusaders who help with player development in NSW. I referenced the University of Wollongong website about that development program the Crusaders are running for their players and it looked ... impressive. Whereas it's been silence from the NSWRU on player development. Or did I miss something?
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
I'm surprised the Tele ran a rugby story, even this one. They've totally dumped rugby.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
I actually hope so. He's a good rep level coach who's done it before with the tahs
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Umm how in anyway is his position under threat…? No one else has had game time at 10 (or at least meaningful time). Of all people you pick Maddocks… Who hasn’t had a run there and who’s form has been utterly abysmal until last night. Don’t really understand your processing.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
'Loser Tahs now Penneyless' Honestly I should get a job at the Telegraph
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Well Tooly it seems we are wrong. The board has made a surprise decision
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
With the embarrassing 5 year collapse of the Waratahs under a board still in place it's pretty comical having them blame the team's performance over the last 19 games on the new Head Coach. In the end maybe Penney's face didn't fit, but he brought a superb almost unmatched background in rugby as a player and a coach to the table. Who would want the job under the existing board? Without decent Club management nothing will succeed.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He wasn’t a complete player at all. He was a very good player but he was like a league player playing rugby in many ways
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Well I am going to get a big bowl of popcorn and watch this saga all the way through. It will be a combo of Shakespearean tragedy* and finish as a rom-com (Clown & Hoops together again). This is better than Trump and elections! *Uncle Eric.
Brett McKay
Expert
They really are as mad as we feared....
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
I would not be surprised at all.
KiwiHaydn
Roar Rookie
It’ll be Cheika, just wait and see! :shocked:
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
“The Penney” has finally dropped. Hooper once again sends his best wishes to the boys as he counts his money. The Waratahs do have a reliable coach: The team bus. What about Phil Kearns as a replacement? He seems to think he has all the answers!
KiwiHaydn
Roar Rookie
Wow, sinking to new lows https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/nsw-waratahs-sacked-after-nightmare-start-to-2020-season/news-story/31a222e6b568fd1df538b7d4edece47d
Charlie Mackay
Guest
An absolutely disgusting cop out decision. Bet the admin and board aren't going anywhere though. They'll end up with no decent head coach as no-one wants to be there.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Penny has been sacked. When you think things are rock bottom. NSWRU finds a way to hit a new low..
cinque
Roar Rookie
I'm concerned about Harrison. He looks to have missed his chance at Wallaby selection , even his spot at the Waratahs is under threat, perhaps from Maddox, if Jack stays. The tight five is so weak that he will never get a chance to show what he can do, apart from kick goals. I think that he's finding it increasingly tough going in the modern power game. A side can only afford one half-back sized player these days, ideally a strong one like Faf!