Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Aug 15, 2017 12:34 am  

Ablett just seems a shadow of his former self. He was never a blockbusting forward, but rather a quick second row who ran good lines and was strong in defence. If anything his highlights came as stand in centre in GFs. He just features far too often in the crucial missed tackle/poor read in giving opponents tries nowadays for my liking.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Aug 15, 2017 6:43 am  

At one stage Ablett's record in big games was great. Tries in the 2011 CCF, playoff semi and GF, then 2012 WCC and GF. That's a hot spell that even most prolific wingers would love to copy let alone a 2nd row/centre.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Aug 15, 2017 7:32 am  

But for now Ablett has gone soft, does not run good lines and is missing tackles.
He is a shadow of his former self and has been dropping form for at least 2 years now.
Why the coach cannot see it beggars belief.
JJB on the other hand has the enthusiasm and energy for about 20 minutes and starts to miss tackles.
At this point of the game he should be subbed to add value to the team.
Again why the coach cannot see it beggars belief when you have a pretty decent player in JK waiting to come on.
I am not saying for one minute JK will have turned the game but it might have helped both the team and JJB in the long run.
No doubt we will see the same 17 trundle out again leaving at least one player on the bench again on Friday.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Aug 15, 2017 9:09 am  

The constant niggling injuries haven't helped him in recent times but i would agree with what others have put above.

Most forwards can go on to a very good level until mid 30's these days, but that doesn't apply to everybody. Ablett has been a great player for the club, and i certainly wouldn't be writing him off as done just yet, but the signs are suggesting he is on the slide and at a pace right now.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Aug 15, 2017 9:26 am  

Just saw Jerome Kaino (an All Black) on sky sports say they have a saying 'Success is a bad teacher'. It seems to sum things up for the club at the moment. Those arguing for McDermott seem to base it on past success, the fact we're 2nd in the table and got to the cup semis. But past success is biting us a bit with the stars aging but still being flogged in the hope they'll produce. We're 2nd because we've been a bit less poop than others (we've benefited from the poor quality of the league) and our cup run was like a preseason fixture list up to playing Hull.

I'm as proud of the success we've had as anyone but it doesn't look like there's much planning for the future and it seems to me that McD is out of ideas now. I hope the 'success' of this season doesn't stop the club having a thorough and subjective review of where we are and where we're going. My worry is that a GF appearance would see the coach remain. If he does, I expect more youngsters to leave and players not sign for us like Bentley.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Aug 15, 2017 10:03 am  

Resting on your laurels is another quote I would throw into the mix.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Aug 15, 2017 10:14 am  

Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino wrote:

Resting on your laurels is another quote I would throw into the mix.

Aye, once upon a time this didn't happen under this CEO - see 2010 and the ruthless moving aside of champion coach Bluey for confirmation.

And before people come having a go saying we are doing well, whinger etc... yes we are exceeding most people's expectations, i'm happy with the year so far and Mac has done a great job over his tenure, i have always been a supporter and defender when fools have come on here after a bad loss abusing him with the Mcdonut etc..jibes, but it's crying out for a shake up and a line drawing under the Mac regime on a good note at the end of the year. with the moving on of the last of the great players it's a perfect time for a new man and fresh ideas. Back in the day we all know a new man would have been lined up by now.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Aug 15, 2017 10:30 am  

Someone on here nailed it the other day that the club has become "happy and fat"

We do seem to have lost that ruthless streak that propelled us to the top, though I guess its ridiculously hard to maintain that for a sustained period of success....

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Aug 15, 2017 10:40 am  

Biff Tannen wrote:

Aye, once upon a time this didn't happen under this CEO - see 2010 and the ruthless moving aside of champion coach Bluey for confirmation.

And before people come having a go saying we are doing well, whinger etc... yes we are exceeding most people's expectations, i'm happy with the year so far and Mac has done a great job over his tenure, i have always been a supporter and defender when fools have come on here after a bad loss abusing him with the Mcdonut etc..jibes, but it's crying out for a shake up and a line drawing under the Mac regime on a good note at the end of the year. with the moving on of the last of the great players it's a perfect time for a new man and fresh ideas. Back in the day we all know a new man would have been lined up by now.

I actually wouldn't be against a new coach, but it has to be the right one. Just getting someone new for the sake of it would be pointless if we're looking again in 12/24 months time.

Wrt the club getting happy and fat I suspect that it's more a case that they've had this building two new stands hanging around like an elephant in the room for several seasons now and it's impacted their thoughts wrt regarding spending money elsewhere. Now they know the whole where/what/when/how of the stadium build hopefully they'll be able to plan better. For all the criticism of planning for the future, it can't have been easy with the ongoing problems and question marks over the stadium work and what would happen with it.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:12 am  

No, not at all.

Its like the perfect storm of events, all coming within the space of 3 years or so.

Stadium, team, and off field, its not an envious position to be in and certainly a thankless one coming of the back of a decade of success.