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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.
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