v Waikato
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@taniwharugby I am unsure mate. Northland need to seriously look at who can coach this team and lead the way for future coaches. there needs to be a strategic move to plant these coaches around the club rugby scene and start working towards a shared goal. Development of our players for the next level needs to be looked at in club rugby and this can only start with Northland and the clubs ensuring that the coaches they accept to run the teams are in it for Northland not for them selves. Along with these coaches being utalised then Northland needs to educate its NPC players on how to best fit into their club team and mentor players that are coming through. over the last few years I have seen young players playing club rugby that are excited to play along side a contracted player in club rugby but not once were they ever shown any tricks or tips on how to improve their game they were just there to make up the numbers. these are the young players we are loosing. I believe that we have enough coaches to pick from that can unite all the club coaches and get the ball rolling.
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It's a shame Whitcombe left when he did, another 2 seasons under him I reckon could been just what was needed to set us on a path for the coming years. Alas I understand the money on offer meant it wasn't really a decision, more about when to leave...
Woodward seems to still have some involvement at the moment, but I am not sure how much.
He is someone we need to keep involved, if only to just mentor some of the upcoming coaches.
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I am not sure about Whitcombe - we had one ok season but from what I remember the scrum and lineout were average and our points came from general play. Was Cam Eyre still playing - he really made a difference as a leader. So I don't think we built any lasting systems on or off the field while he was in charge, player development was poor, and then he left us in the lurch. We can't afford to have those types of coaches.
On the other hand, you always felt that Bryce Woodwards teams had a pattern, were well coached and he recruited well.
I do think the board missed a trick when they went outside the region for both coaches. Without continuity between seasons and a late start RIchie was well truely rooted last year e.g. The contracting of those Argie props was a disaster and not his decision. On the other hand the use of the centre/ wing from Auckland was his mistake.
From my observation he works well with the team, knows his stuff and is approachable. I think he should be persevered with but we should aim to build a team of Northland support staff with the aim that one of those takes over some time in the future.
But I can't remember when we had so much young talent of real ability. Retention with some off season development, and a few tweaks will see us well placed in 2017!
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More I just thought Whitcombe seemed to make a significant move and change with the team in that last year, and just when he seemed to be making progress, he left, suddenly leaving Harris to step in....which is why, despite only 1 win so far I and I still question a lot of his calls, I think he deserves his third year...
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I was happy for Matt Moulds on the weekend, it was the best Ive seen him throw in a long time, the basic line outs were won so the pressure was off the throw. I always feel that the Northland team never let their throwers get into the game by calling low percentage calls early on. Basic is good.
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D Duluth moved this topic from Taniwha Rugby on
