Chiefs 2019
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Seriously though, here are the 2012 and 2013 squads, and I think the biggest part of those squads was getting role players (Taumalolo, Robinson, Tikoirototuma) to complement genuine stars (Retallick, Cane, Cruden). I don't think either of these teams was in the same class - on a player by player basis (excluding Brodie perhaps) - as the Saders in 2012 or 2013, but they all knew their role and had a game-plan with two or more playmakers, strong midfield runners, and pace out wide, with a forward pack full of workers. Furthermore, they had a fucking good coaching team.
Head Coach Dave Rennie
Assistant Coach Wayne Smith
Assistant Coach Tom Coventry
Assistant Coach Andrew StrawbridgeForwards
Toby Smith Prop
Sona Taumalolo Prop
Ben Afeaki Prop
Shane Cleaver Prop
Ben Tameifuna Prop
Hika Elliot Hooker
Mahonri Schwalger Hooker
Romana Graham Lock
Craig Clarke Lock
Mike Fitzgerald Lock
Brodie Retallick Lock
Kane Thompson Lock
Liam Messam Loose Forward
Scott Waldrom Loose Forward
Tanerau Latimer Loose Forward
Sam Cane Loose Forward
Fritz Lee No 8
Alex Bradley No 8Backs
Brendon Leonard Halfback
Tawera Kerr-Barlow Halfback
Aaron Cruden First five-eighth
Andrew Horrell First five-eighth
Jackson Willison Midfield
Sonny Bill Williams Midfield
Richard Kahui Midfield
Aseli Tikoirototuma Midfield
Lelia Masaga Winger
Maritino Nemani Winger
Declan O’Donnell Winger
Tim Nanai-Williams Fullback
Robbie Robinson FullbackHead Coach Dave Rennie
Assistant Coach Wayne Smith
Assistant Coach Tom CoventryForwards
Ben Afeaki Prop
Josh Hohneck Prop
Toby Smith Prop
Solomona Sakalia Prop
Ben Tameifuna Prop
Hikawera Elliot Hooker
Mahonri Schwalger Hooker
Rhys Marshall Hooker
Craig Clarke Lock
Ross Filipo Lock
Mike Fitzgerald Lock
Romana Graham Lock
Brodie Retallick Lock
Sam Cane Loose Forward
Nick Crosswell Loose Forward
Tanerau Latimer Loose Forward
Fritz Lee Loose Forward
Liam Messam Loose ForwardBacks
Tawera Kerr-Barlow Halfback
Brendon Leonard Halfback
Augustine Pulu Halfback
Gareth Anscombe First Five-eighth
Aaron Cruden First Five-eighth
Andrew Horrell First Five-eighth
Bundee Aki Midfield
Richard Kahui Midfield
Charlie Ngatai Midfield
Lelia Masaga Wing
Patrick Osborne Wing
Asaeli Tikoirotuma Wing
Tim Nanai-Williams Fullback
Robbie Robinson Fullback -
Andrew Horrell stands out for me as the guy who played way above himself and was a pretty solid contributor.
Craig Clarke was perfect in the middle as well
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The dangers of looking ahead at the draw. Looks like being an official Hide Behind the Couch fortnight for Chiefs fans...
@Donsteppa would not have picked a 0-5 start, but yeah the next two weeks will be tough going. Mind you the Canes usually struggle in Waikato for some reason.
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Interesting tidbit from Mils on the shortball podcast:
Colin Cooper doesn't coach, he operates as an overall manager. Two of the other coaches are covering two roles each.
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@gt12 said in Chiefs 2019:
@Tim Christ, no wonder they are so poor. Why are we paying him? He's no Eddie Jones.
Coaching/training/managing ..... doesn’t really matter. I wouldn’t read too much into it.
Ever watch an ABs session? It’s not like Shag is packing down with the boys.
Much of the work is in the classroom these days. -
@gt12 said in Chiefs 2019:
@Tim Christ, no wonder they are so poor. Why are we paying him? He's no Eddie Jones.
Coaching/training/managing ..... doesn’t really matter. I wouldn’t read too much into it.
Ever watch an ABs session? It’s not like Shag is packing down with the boys.
Much of the work is in the classroom these days. -
All good points, except the team clearly needs coaching, training, and managing - none of which Cooper seems capable of. Selecting too, something else he sucks at.
@gt12 said in Chiefs 2019:
All good points, except the team clearly needs coaching, training, and managing - none of which Cooper seems capable of. Selecting too, something else he sucks at.
Tbf he has had one hand tied behind his back with injuries and rest requirements. I’ll give him a little latitude in that area.
The bit I don’t get is them playing with fuck all attitude even to celebrate BBBRs 100.
It’s like they have been calmed down too much -
@gt12 said in Chiefs 2019:
@Tim Christ, no wonder they are so poor. Why are we paying him? He's no Eddie Jones.
Coaching/training/managing ..... doesn’t really matter. I wouldn’t read too much into it.
Ever watch an ABs session? It’s not like Shag is packing down with the boys.
Much of the work is in the classroom these days.@Crucial said in Chiefs 2019:
@gt12 said in Chiefs 2019:
@Tim Christ, no wonder they are so poor. Why are we paying him? He's no Eddie Jones.
Coaching/training/managing ..... doesn’t really matter. I wouldn’t read too much into it.
Ever watch an ABs session? It’s not like Shag is packing down with the boys.
Much of the work is in the classroom these days.Is that the Steve that requested we see Ioane play left wing against the Lions?
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Tyler Ardron has re-signed with the Chiefs for 2 more years (2021).
@Stargazer Stoked about this signing. Great player. Met him last weekend at the game, pretty wholesome dude.
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@gt12 said in Chiefs 2019:
All good points, except the team clearly needs coaching, training, and managing - none of which Cooper seems capable of. Selecting too, something else he sucks at.
Tbf he has had one hand tied behind his back with injuries and rest requirements. I’ll give him a little latitude in that area.
The bit I don’t get is them playing with fuck all attitude even to celebrate BBBRs 100.
It’s like they have been calmed down too much@Crucial said in Chiefs 2019:
@gt12 said in Chiefs 2019:
All good points, except the team clearly needs coaching, training, and managing - none of which Cooper seems capable of. Selecting too, something else he sucks at.
Tbf he has had one hand tied behind his back with injuries and rest requirements. I’ll give him a little latitude in that area.
The bit I don’t get is them playing with fuck all attitude even to celebrate BBBRs 100.
It’s like they have been calmed down too muchCompared to the injury list this time last year he's practically got a full squad to pick from.
Agreed on the attitude - it's like they honoured BBBR's 100th by taking a nap for 80 minutes.
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@Donsteppa Booooooooooooooooooooo Get him off the stage!! Booooooooooooooooooooooooo
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I feel your frustration, he was Canes coach for far too long and always looked like a deer in headlights - similar to how the Chiefs are playing atm.
He really needs to find his inner "Scott Robertson" and find a way to re-energise his team, otherwise, we may see him being cut before the season is out.
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FROM THE ARTICLE:
With that, the Chiefs have now coughed up a whopping 23 tries (six more than anyone else) and 171 points (48 more than anyone else) this season, which puts the blowtorch on defence coach Neil Barnes, following a change in coaching structure at the club for this year.
With Cooper this year in a more overseeing-type role, Barnes' previous job as forwards coach is now handled by Nick White - who replaced Carl Hoeft as scrum coach midway through last season. Tabai Matson is the attack coach, Roger Randle has this year been brought in as an assistant backs coach, and Andrew Strawbridge remains a skills coach.
Of those, White is probably the only one who shouldn't be worried about their job: Barnes is clearly not up to standard, Matson should be living on borrowed time, and what the fuck is Strawbridge spending his time doing? It's clearly not working. Plus, of course Cooper, who oversees this mess.
