A Polite request : Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:53 pm  

As there are rumours McCormack may be heading to Barrow could you give an honest opinion on his coaching abilities and what he did for your club when he was coach.

Thanks

: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:04 pm  

He's a coach who will grind out results in the league no problem with a good side. His game plans are normally quite simple, most of the time this involves disciplined rugby and 5 drives and a kick. You get nothing flash with Steve's teams and the rugby can be boring. His ability to win crunch games ie finals is always questioned as he can never seem to get it right and opposition teams always seem to be more fired up. We found out a few home truths when steve left such as players texting in sick and he signed Wildbore on the agreement that he would only attend training once a week. He's a nice bloke and is very relaxed with the players which is his major downfall.

If you were getting Karl Harrison or Brian Noble i might have been worried but Steve im happy for you to accept.

: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:08 pm  

The debacle at the start of our season lost him a lot what was left of his credibility and ultimately led him to get fired. He signed an unbalanced squad and applied a bizarre training regime that saw no more than 12 players training together at a time due to work commitments of the part time players.

He never appeared to adapt his game plan to the opposition and was found out by teams like Castleford when it mattered.

Overall I think the team turned soft and it showed early last season. Whether that was all McCormack's fault or a symptom of the SL dream on offer last year is anybodies guess.

We did have patches of entertaining rugby, 2007 was probably his best season when he had a host of ex and current SL players at his disposal such as Moran, Wilkes, James and Grix and lifted the NR Cup.

Personally, I'd be worried if it was us signing him. He may get you near the top but has still yet to prove he's got what it takes to win when it really matters. Not someone to take the club forward long term imo. Paul Cullen's no nonsense attitude has been like a breath of fresh air.

: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:17 pm  

I've already posted on the Barrow forum but in summary

We had two seasons in which McCormack employed 5 drives and a kick rugby. It was dull but it worked to some extent. In 2007 we actually had some decent rugby and Steve Mac seemed prepared to let the team throw the ball around a bit.

The main criticism of the guy is that he has absolutely no plan B... he has no idea how to change things if they start going against him and his team and we all became accustomed to his face which appeared clueless and devoid of ideas at times when we all wanted him to get involved and turn things around.
He often seems to get out-thought in half time team talks and more often than not opposition teams come out and put his teams to the sword in the second half.

The most obvious criticism of him is that he doesn't seem to be able to cope under real pressure and his tactics were seriously under question in both of our GF appearances. Rather than employing tactics to try and beat Cas and Hull KR he seemed to stick his head in the sand and hope the same game-plan that had failed previously would carry him through which it obviously didn't.

He seems to be able to pick and recruit decent players but then the side he put together this year was way unbalanced and we were lucky to finish the way we did considering.

He is a decent guy and liked throughout RL but really lacks the charisma that most decent coaches seem to exude. I wish him well because he was a decent man but in summary every single Widnes fan was relieved when he was finally relieved of his position earlier this year. That is possibly the one thing that you should consider. He had every opportunity to do well at Widnes.. but he didn't achieve what he should have.

: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:20 pm  

GetThemScallyWags wrote:

The debacle at the start of our season lost him a lot what was left of his credibility and ultimately led him to get fired. He signed an unbalanced squad and applied a bizarre training regime that saw no more than 12 players training together at a time due to work commitments of the part time players.

He never appeared to adapt his game plan to the opposition and was found out by teams like Castleford when it mattered.

Overall I think the team turned soft and it showed early last season. Whether that was all McCormack's fault or a symptom of the SL dream on offer last year is anybodies guess.

We did have patches of entertaining rugby, 2007 was probably his best season when he had a host of ex and current SL players at his disposal such as Moran, Wilkes, James and Grix and lifted the NR Cup.

Personally, I'd be worried if it was us signing him. He may get you near the top but has still yet to prove he's got what it takes to win when it really matters. Not someone to take the club forward long term imo. Paul Cullen's no nonsense attitude has been like a breath of fresh air.

Is that why you cant sign anyone?

: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:23 pm  

wereutherein1987? wrote:

Is that why you cant sign anyone?

This has nothing to do with Halicrap, go away.

: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:25 pm  

wereutherein1987? wrote:

Is that why you cant sign anyone?

Nah.. we're just biding our time instead of spunking our load early on has beens or other teams rejects..

: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:29 pm  

wereutherein1987? wrote:

Is that why you cant sign anyone?

We have around 20 players signed already including a number of our own academy products.. We just don't feel the need to go buying any old super league codgers that come our way.

: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:29 pm  

In EnemyTerritory wrote:

Nah.. we're just biding our time instead of spunking our load early on has beens or other teams rejects..

I'll have great pleasure in watching our 'rejects' dominate at the Stobart

: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:31 pm  

wereutherein1987? wrote:

I'll have great pleasure in watching our 'rejects' dominate at the Stobart

Yeh just like you did this year huh?