Re: James Ford appointed : Tue Oct 11, 2022 3:47 pm  

Sacred Cow wrote:

It doesn't matter at all, i was literally just pointing that he has previous history with us. I reconised the name, whether its a positive or negative only time will tell that. Personally I doubt Mash would employ someone to what is probably the most important job on the staff after his who he doesn't think is up to it though otherwise it's his you know whats on the block.

Anyway from his Linkedin

Experience

Coach
CrossFit Crosshills Jan 2022 - Oct 2022 · 10 mos

First Team Strength And Conditioning Coach
Bradford BullsBradford Bulls Oct 2021 - Oct 2022 · 1 yr 1 moOct 2021 - Oct 2022 ·

Wakefield Trinity 7 yrs 4 mos
Lead First Team Strength and Conditioning Coach
Nov 2018 - Oct 2021 · 3 yrsNov 2018 - Oct 2021 · 3 yrs

Head of Academy & Assistant First Team Strength and Conditioning Coach
Nov 2015 - Oct 2018 · 3 yrsNov 2015 - Oct 2018 · 3 yrs

Sports Science & Strength and Conditioning Intern
Jul 2014 - Oct 2015 · 1 yr 4 mos

No denying he was with us for a good stint. TBH I've never believed that our S&C was any worse or better than anyone else. I think a lot of this come from 2004 when Evans?? was in charge and we went up a fair few notches, However what people forget is before 2004 I don't think we had the cash for specialist anythings after the Pearman collapse so we were bound to improve dramatically. IMO we don't look as fit as some teams for the simple reason that they are better than us and run rings around us using skill rather than brawn.

Re: James Ford appointed : Tue Oct 11, 2022 4:18 pm  

vastman wrote:

No denying he was with us for a good stint. TBH I've never believed that our S&C was any worse or better than anyone else. I think a lot of this come from 2004 when Evans?? was in charge and we went up a fair few notches, However what people forget is before 2004 I don't think we had the cash for specialist anythings after the Pearman collapse so we were bound to improve dramatically. IMO we don't look as fit as some teams for the simple reason that they are better than us and run rings around us using skill rather than brawn.

I seem to recall when Brian Smith was coach we was the fittest I’d ever seen also. I’m not sure his methods went down particularly well as memory serves (rumours only).

Re: James Ford appointed : Tue Oct 11, 2022 5:14 pm  

Trojan Horse wrote:

I seem to recall when Brian Smith was coach we was the fittest I’d ever seen also. I’m not sure his methods went down particularly well as memory serves (rumours only).

He brought his son over to sort them out in pre-season. Think he was the Roosters S&C at the time.

Re: James Ford appointed : Tue Oct 11, 2022 5:17 pm  

Was certainly the fittest I’ve seen Wakefield trinity but also Evans did a good job too.

Re: James Ford appointed : Wed Oct 12, 2022 6:05 pm  

Trojan Horse wrote:

Was certainly the fittest I’ve seen Wakefield trinity but also Evans did a good job too.

Yes he did, the memory has faded but I seem to remember we were a real good second half team. No matter the score at half time we always felt we could win.

Re: James Ford appointed : Wed Oct 12, 2022 7:54 pm  

charlie wrote:

Yes he did, the memory has faded but I seem to remember we were a real good second half team. No matter the score at half time we always felt we could win.

We were a good 2nd half team when Topliss was coach. Just brought on Billy Conway at half time. Halifax away being the classic example.

Re: James Ford appointed : Thu Oct 13, 2022 8:48 am  

What I like about the appointments of both Applegarth and Ford is this.

Too many players go into coaching as a way of staying in the game and having something to do until they retire.They tend to trade on their reputation as a player but that doesn't make them a great coach. They do a bit in the lower leagues, then have a pop at SL if they are half successful.

Not a terrible thing, but for me it's not the way it should be in a pro sport, and I think those days are slowly disappearing. In all sports not just RL.

For people like Mash and Ford, coaching is their thing, it's their chosen career. They have little kudos as players as neither were what you'd call big names. Both recognised that and started on the the coaching ladder whilst still playing I believe.

They are career coaches, it's not an after thought with these two, it's what they want to be for the rest of their working lives. Seeing as neither made big money out of playing they need to work to have a future, and they need to be a success.

I just feel people like this go the extra yard, are that little bit more open minded and a touch more ruthless.

There is to be fair a long history of this, some of the best coaches from the past were similar in some ways, though it wasn't so much of a full time career then.

Peter Fox was the forgotten brother as a player, but a fantastic coach in his day. Kear, a limited player but possibly the first to be what you'd call a career coach.

Applegarth and Ford are the next evolution along with people like Peet at Wigan. I think these people are as much sports scientists as coaches. I suspect it's all preparation and organisation. I'm sure at HT Mash can get angry and will hand out the odd speech, but I doubt that's his primary response. If we play bad he'll probably be more annoyed with himself for missing something than the players. But he and his team will rectify it without fuss.

That's my hope, and I do feel good about what we have now, it just seems a big step up in professionalism.

Of course I could be wrong and we could implode, but let's be honest we needed to do something fairly radical, we couldn't carry on as we were.

Re: James Ford appointed : Thu Oct 13, 2022 8:56 am  

Agree