Re: How long in 2023 does Powell have... : Sat Aug 27, 2022 9:12 pm
I think I'll slit my wrists after reading this lot!A tough read.
Dont know where to start.
Recruiting players that had long term injuries was questionable and I wasn't over convinced by Holmes and Ma'atutia although the latter for me has been decent (albeit he seems to rely more and more on his strength as opposed to a more classic centre who can beat the opposition with footwork and at least passes to his wing).
I think he looks better at 6 than Ratch.
So when we started losing, confidence lowered. Maybe the players didn't buy into the style of play or weren't able to put in to practice what was requested. Clearly Powells relationship with some of the senior players got worse through the season and Im sure that made things worse.
This all created the biggest issue for me - a lack of mental toughness.
We won the first few games but didnt play well in any of them.
Price couldn't come up with countermeasures for our frailties in previous seasons and came out with the same mantra week after week. (And I really hated how we played under him - with a couple of exceptions).
Powell is in danger of doing the same (some will say he's there already).
This year has gone worse than anyone could have imagjned.
The board have backed him to the hilt this year and for next.
Again though I have real concerns about our recruitment. IMO we didn't need 4 new pack members, and Ratch at 6 is wrong. Arguably we're light on centres but I can see Currie filling in if necessary (and at a push Holmes).
Powell has probably got 2 games at most to 'bed the team in' and at least show the board/fans some structure/organization/heart, and then another 4 before his fate is decided.
In ALL of those games I want to see mental toughness and a real togetherness above all else. (And I dont really mean the back slapping when things go right/wrong - I find that really irritating. Anyone can do that)
Given how he has been backed, the board will want progression to and in the play offs plus a decent cup run.
IMO they wont judge before the first 6 games aee over.