Cherry_Warrior wrote:
I know this isn't the general consensus and i am an outsider looking in but i feel sorry for Carter and Applegarth. Has the appointment worked? Clearly not but he hardly had a great squad to have a go at it with. After trying so many coaches, Applegarth was highly rated in British Rugby League circles and obvioulsy thought it was worth a shot. Carter probably looked at our (Wigan's) model of nourishing and then appointing coaches from within (O'Loughlin next) and thought 'We can do that' As i say though, it hasn't worked (not this season anyway) and the relegation has happened. I think Wakefield have to be lauded for punching above their weight for so long and having a little period of having a right good crack at it when you had Toupou etc. You have been that little plucky club for so long and now you are investing into the infrastructure of the stadium etc to join the bigger clubs. To be relegated now after making so many strides off the field seems unfair but obviously performances on the field are key. As disappointing as it is for you now i think you probably need to drop a level to re-set the club and will hopefully be back within a year replacing Castleford who just sit on their hands with absolutely no intention of improving anything. Year after i want to see York up there in an expanded league. Cas can stay where they (potentially) are until they do something about their crumbling stadium. Chin up Wakey fans, the battle is lost but the war rages on. You will be back and it will be better next time.
From the outside looking in that’s a fair enough assessment but IMO, and the facts bear it out, Carter isn’t qualified or experienced enough to make that kind of judgement and Applegarth wasn’t ready and might never be!
I get the comparisons but Sean Wane and Matt Peet had served a full, varied and long apprenticeship before being offered the big chair. Even then they had a mentor at the club who they could consult with and bounce off. They also had resources at the club in terms of infrastructure and personnel as well as an established quality squad of players.
The comparison is fatally flawed for all those reasons but most crucially the coaches ability to coach at that level. Those who have enough experience to make an informed judgement and knew Applegarths limits knew it was doomed to fail.
