NewsBite

Blog with Buzz Rothfield: How coaching drama kills a club

FOUR of the five NRL clubs facing coaching uncertainty lost their respective matches over the weekend. Do off-field coaching issues really affect the playing group? You bet they do, writes Buzz Rothfield.

Buzz Rothfield blog round 23.
Buzz Rothfield blog round 23.

THE biggest NRL flops over the weekend were clubs with coaching dramas.

The Manly Sea Eagles were absolutely woeful against the Gold Coast Titans after a week of speculation about Trent Barrett’s future.

BLOG WITH BUZZ: COMMENT BELOW AND JOIN BUZZ LIVE FROM 1PM

Penrith got rolled by the Knights two weeks after sacking Anthony Griffin.

The Wests Tigers’ finals campaign petered out after suggestions Ivan Cleary wanted out.

Buzz Rothfield blog round 23.
Buzz Rothfield blog round 23.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs were ordinary after all the rumours that Anthony Seibold was off to the Brisbane.

Only Wayne Bennett’s Broncos handled the madness of the coaching merry-go-round.

BLOG WITH BUZZ: COMMENT BELOW AND JOIN BUZZ LIVE FROM 1PM

Surely this is a message for all clubs in the NRL. All the doubt and uncertainty has a negative effect on the playing group.

Look at the Panthers since Gus Gould sacked Griffin. The luckiest win of the year over the struggling Titans in golden point and then a terrible loss to the Knights.

There is no question they were playing better football while Griffin was in charge.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/opinion/phil-rothfield/blog-with-buzz-rothfield-how-coaching-drama-kills-a-club/news-story/c4aabae3e5d0091437d5870f3407eb32