The tail has been wagging the dog at this club for a long time now. I read an article where Tony Smith explains Mickey Highams move to Leigh as the most bizarre transfer he has dealt with in May 2015. Just before the start of that season we accept Paul Woods transfer request and then we end up in the middle 8's.
I know woody and Higham were good mates but I do think that for a number of years players have felt comfortable in challenging the coaches decisions and if they dont like what is going on then not quite putting the required effort in.. I am sure there were players that were disappointed that Wood and Higham left but you are professional players.
I also read an article where Brian McDermott explained that Tony Smith had told him why he would never be a coach which led to Brian Mac changing his outlook so clear that TS was straight talking and honest to provide an opinion on where people were going wrong. Not everybody can handle that (you won't hear Barrie McDermott say a lot about TS on sky).
I suspect that some current players are not happy that we didn't retain Chris Hill or that Powell has brought a couple of Cas players and backroom staff with him and it might have started to upset the player power that has existed at Warrington since Morley and Monaghan left.
We had the same thing when Price put Ryan Atkins on the naughty step (although I do think that was a mistake).
I dont think established senior players are above criticism here. Yes they appear to give their all but you dont know what goes on behind closed doors.
I am happy that Powell is the right man for the job and time to break that cycle of player power. You dont see saints players sulking because they didn't keep Coote on for another year. You dont see them chuck their toys out of the pram because Wolfe has brought his mate Hurrell over to Saints. They get on with it because they know that they are not bigger than the club and if they did sulk they would be on their way out.
In just hope that Fitzpatrick, Middleton and Moran are able to provide the same message because if there is an inkling that they are not aligned with Powell then he is into loser from day one and the cycle will continue.