sportingFACTIONS :: Code XIII

Whatever has gone wrong with the Salford City Reds this season, it’s left coach Karl Harrison in a precarious position.

The clearly shell-shocked Harrison pulled no punches in slamming his players’ defensive abilities in Friday night’s post-game press-conference.

The only thing he didn’t do was point the big foam finger and drop the names in the frames: “it’s not a team thing, it’s individual players missing one on one tackles ; that’s disappointing because the ones missing tackles are good players”.

Salford’s defensive system and commitment were the platform for their success in 2006, so it’s hard to understand why they should appear so woeful this time around. But when a coach of Harrison’s character questions the commitment of his players and at least implicitly distances himself from their performance, then bad things look likely to happen.

With Hull KR pulling the Paul Cooke rabbit out of the hat and seemingly capable of further signings then the Reds face a real relegation dog fight this season. Do these players have the stomach for it?

Well with the Warriors already circling over top-performer, Andy Coley (rumoured to be on their shopping list for 2008) and no date yet set for the return of influential and seemingly indispensable skipper, Malcolm Alker, then there are real doubts about the character of this outfit.

Looking good with the ball doesn’t cut it in this Super League; you have to mix that with a real hunger to ‘get down and dirty’ when you need to. And I’m not sure that’s a trait you can coach into a player.

Luke Robinson has buckets of talent but goes MIA to easily for mine and he’s not the only one to drift without Alker’s on field barbs to whip them into shape.

Harrison was on the money with his “It’s not good enough … It’s a disgrace” comments. The Reds fans deserve better and with big off field plans in the offing the club demands better.

Time to stand and deliver.

>Paul Cooke is no longer a Hull FC player, forget what the spin doctors and lawyers will tell you, his days in back and white are done.

Whilst Hull FC may stubbornly insist that by the letter of the law he is theirs, despite ink never touching paper on the contract renewal (according to Cooke), the player’s heart is already home on the East-side again.

The posturing from the RFL and FC may serve to delay the move. But the fact that Rovers coach Justin Morgan, announced a 19-man squad for the Giants game, with that extra spot designated for a ‘player to be named’ indicates the bullish attitude of the Super League new boys. Other than prising some compensatory payment from their neighbours the Hull FC stance will serve no purpose.

What this episode does do though is add extra spice to the forthcoming Millennium Magic matchup between the two clubs. It’s my guess that the legal eagles from FC will be trying to delay Cooke’s move until after that game. If they fail it would make for an explosive confrontation on-and-off field.

The bigger question is whether Cooke can make the difference and keep the Robins in Super League; vital with the imminent arrival of the franchise era.

In harness with skipper James Webster he would form a potent organisational unit at half back and could provide the creativity in attack that has been so lacking in the Robins’ displays this season. For all their effort they’ve found it hard to break down defences. Cooke could unlock those closed doors.

So, his arrival could be bad news for the struggling Salford City Reds who need a revival of (Huddersfield) Giants proportions to escape a potentially disastrous descent into National League rugby.

Despite winning in East Hull last weekend the City Reds have been massively disappointing this season; looking disorganised, unfit and clueless on occasions.

That whole club needs to stand-up and be counted this Friday when they host Wigan. There’s usually no shortage of grunt in these games … and maybe that’s what Salford need to kick start their season (to use Stevo’s words ) “it’s getting tasty out there”. Watch out for “the claret”.

>Sean McGuire’s four year tenure as Chief Executive of St Helens rugby football club was nothing if not eventful.

On the field the Saints have accumulated a steady stream of silverware, including a Grand Slam in 2006. Off the field the club has ridden salary cap, drugs, gambling and weakened-team storms in addition to the acrimonious and high profile parting of the ways with Aussie coach, Ian Millward.

Through it all the charismatic McGuire maintained a straight bat, compiling a healthy media profile as he transformed the cash-leaking club into a more professional, hard-nosed, business operation.

Did he make waves along the way? Inevitably he did and the disgruntled were left in his wake. Yet, whilst his tactics may have rankled with some, the club is undeniably better organised and structured as a result of his strategic vision.

The massive inherited debt that was strangling the loss-making behemoth has been addressed, thanks in large part to the financial support of chairman Eamonn McManus; whilst the commercial initiatives instigated by McGuire have assured a steady external income.

Most intriguing of those commercial initiatives is the ‘Saints and the City‘ campaign that has insinuated the RL club deeper into the sporting psyche of Liverpool and – as importantly – opened further revenue streams.

Ironically, Tony Colquitt, the CEO designate, was involved in the first Saints and the City event at Radio City in Liverpool’s St George’s tower. To him now falls the role of building upon the successful foundations built by McGuire and McManus.

A former marketing director for Gillette, Colquitt brings undoubted commercial acumen and he will need that and energy in abundance if he is to steer Saints in the next phase of their journey. That journey must surely include a move to a new stadium facility, whether on the current Knowsley Road site or elsewhere in the Borough.

Without that move the good work done is in danger of unravelling, with it the McManus era will leave a lasting legacy; although as Warrington have found out, it’s no substitute for class on-field talent.

Great news for HKR fans and indeed ‘engage Super League’ fans as Head Coach Justin Morgan agrees to sign a 2-year contract extension that will take him up to the end of the 2010 Super League season.

HKR Chairman Neil Hudgell was thrilled by the news, saying: “We have secured what we believe to be the brightest young coach around, for the next three and a half years.

“For us to make progress, continuity is essential, and the deal we have done with Justin will enable him to continue to develop the side at senior level and equally, and possibly more importantly, to re-establish and develop the junior academy.”

A confident Morgan was looking forward to the challenge of extending the club’s reign in Super League, saying: “This is a huge step forward for me as a coach. I have an excellent working relationship with both the Chairman and the Chief Executive, who continually support me along with the board of directors in the role I undertake at Hull KR.

“My original contract went up until the end of 2008, but this opportunity gives me the chance to help improve the capabilities of the talented squad that I have; the club’s future prospects are extremely bright and, along with the devoted support from our fans, I am very confident the club will succeed in our bid for continued Super League status.” 

My son and I were watching the Newcastle Knights vs. Melbourne Storm game on (Setanta) TV over the weekend.

The Knights were doing it tough and the camera cut to the grandstand and a shot of the injured Andrew Johns whose anguished look showed he was living every second of the game along with his mates out on the paddock.

I spent a couple of minutes explaining to my son who he was; what a great player, the Beckham of rugby and all the usual trite stuff.

Two days later I’ve just finished telling him that the greatest player of his time has been forced to retire from the game.

What made Johns great went beyond the physical attributes, it went to the heart of the man; the vision and character to lead from the front coupled with the ruthlessness and incisiveness to spot and exploit his opponent’s slightest weakness.

The chink in the line exposed by his the inch perfect pass; the show and go; the terrible teasing kicks. Johns could kill you in any number of ways – all of them garnished with class and delivered with an assassin’s touch.

No more.

Johns has taken the decision to retire after receiving medical advice that his neck injury is such it may not survive another major collision without causing catastrophic spinal damage.

What a shame to end it this way.