: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:08 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

He's just passed his grade 3 coaching exams.

Sign him up!

: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:02 pm  

Am i the only one who's a bit miffed that Robinson signed to coach Sale and not Wigan? Could probably teach our backs a thing or two about attack and defence...

: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:17 pm  

Madderzahatter wrote:

Am i the only one who's a bit miffed that Robinson signed to coach Sale and not Wigan? Could probably teach our backs a thing or two about attack and defence...

That's what quite a few of the previous posts have been about.

: Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:23 pm  

D'oh.

: Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:42 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

There may be something in that, but you could hardly say that Chris Ashton didn't get first team action.

I suspect it's more to do with Wigan's reputation for producing quality youngsters, which goes back a long, long way. And with the average RU club's limited knowledge of RL in general.

Sale in particular rarely look beyond Wigan when trying to recruit from RL. Whether this is Jason Robinson's influence or not, I don't know. But those who are now concerned about Robinson's appointment as head coach at Sale have every reason to be. Robinson has been hanging around the Wigan camp for the last 8 or 9 months.

He's been right in our midst - so much so that folk were wondering if he was being lined up for a job at Wigan. More fool us. If there's one thing you can safely say about Jason Robinson, he knows where the grass is greener.

I seem to recall that Ashton's move to union was instigated not by scouts, but by his agent? Some players will go to union/NRL/NFL no matter what their club does. I don't personally see him as a loss to the game, and it seems he is now unsettled in union as well. Huge contracts can't buy happiness or satisfaction for some people.

On the flip side, let's suppose Robinson had been tempted to take over from Noble as head coach. Using his knowledge of union players, he brings in 3 or 4 of their untried young kids, at the expense of Wigan's home grown players. Would you be happy with that? I wouldn't, and I'm sure Sale supporters wouldnt be happy about him taking 3 or 4 RL youngsters at the expense of their own system.

As a new head coach, he has to get off to a good winning start, he won't do that by signing young RL players as long term projects.

: Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:45 pm  

SomersetSaint wrote:

I seem to recall that Ashton's move to union was instigated not by scouts, but by his agent? Some players will go to union/NRL/NFL no matter what their club does. I don't personally see him as a loss to the game, and it seems he is now unsettled in union as well. Huge contracts can't buy happiness or satisfaction for some people.

On the flip side, let's suppose Robinson had been tempted to take over from Noble as head coach. Using his knowledge of union players, he brings in 3 or 4 of their untried young kids, at the expense of Wigan's home grown players. Would you be happy with that? I wouldn't, and I'm sure Sale supporters wouldnt be happy about him taking 3 or 4 RL youngsters at the expense of their own system.

As a new head coach, he has to get off to a good winning start, he won't do that by signing young RL players as long term projects.

I hope you're right. I certainly wouldn't have wanted Robinson as head coach at Wigan, which maybe is what he was angling for - he's nowhere near experienced enough. But I think his personality and presence could have been used at some level.

Unfortunately, whether he's involved or not. Sale are again after several of Wigan's juniors. It's a recurring nightmare at present.

: Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:10 pm  

SomersetSaint wrote:

I seem to recall that Ashton's move to union was instigated not by scouts, but by his agent? Some players will go to union/NRL/NFL no matter what their club does. I don't personally see him as a loss to the game, and it seems he is now unsettled in union as well. Huge contracts can't buy happiness or satisfaction for some people.

On the flip side, let's suppose Robinson had been tempted to take over from Noble as head coach. Using his knowledge of union players, he brings in 3 or 4 of their untried young kids, at the expense of Wigan's home grown players. Would you be happy with that? I wouldn't, and I'm sure Sale supporters wouldnt be happy about him taking 3 or 4 RL youngsters at the expense of their own system.

As a new head coach, he has to get off to a good winning start, he won't do that by signing young RL players as long term projects.

I have seen a few people saying this on here and also saying the same about Gasnier, have i missed something in the press?

: Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:26 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

I hope you're right. I certainly wouldn't have wanted Robinson as head coach at Wigan, which maybe is what he was angling for - he's nowhere near experienced enough. But I think his personality and presence could have been used at some level.

Unfortunately, whether he's involved or not. Sale are again after several of Wigan's juniors. It's a recurring nightmare at present.

Sale will be looking at youngsters all over the North West, as will Wigan. as will Saints, as will every professional club in the north of England.

Why is it that they seem to think Wigans youngsters are easier to tempt? I'm discounting youngsters moving to be nearer to their families here, a la Ford and Farrell, before they get brought up, that kind of situation can be unavoidable.

On the coaches front, it's not an all things Australian is best attitude, in coaching that is a truism. British coaches are left behind in tactics, fitness, in pretty much every area of the game. Our best coach, Noble, is currently looking years behind his rivals at Saints and Leeds, even possibly Huddersfield now.

The reason that there aren't more British head coaches is that they simply aren't good enough.

: Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:30 pm  

Billinge_Lump wrote:

Sale will be looking at youngsters all over the North West, as will Wigan. as will Saints, as will every professional club in the north of England.

Why is it that they seem to think Wigans youngsters are easier to tempt? I'm discounting youngsters moving to be nearer to their families here, a la Ford and Farrell, before they get brought up, that kind of situation can be unavoidable.

On the coaches front, it's not an all things Australian is best attitude, in coaching that is a truism. British coaches are left behind in tactics, fitness, in pretty much every area of the game. Our best coach, Noble, is currently looking years behind his rivals at Saints and Leeds, even possibly Huddersfield now.

The reason that there aren't more British head coaches is that they simply aren't good enough.

I think British coaches fail to do a propper apprentiship, and i also think that in SL once they are sacked there is an ethos that they are not worth a second chance, i personally think the best learning experience is getting the sack.

: Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:42 pm  

jonh wrote:

I have seen a few people saying this on here and also saying the same about Gasnier, have i missed something in the press?

I hear these sorts of rumours about many who've gone to Union. It makes you wonder whether these guys really are unsettled or whether they're just angling for a new contract - in effect creating an auction for their services.

I don't suppose you can blame them. It's a short career. But League will always be outbid under the current circs. Surely only those who've failed in Union - Harris, Pryce, Walker - will come back. Or those like Henry Paul, who are veterans.