Official Craig Fitzgibbon

[Proud Shark]

I agree, I don't see how we've grown up. If he honestly believes that, not sure where we go from here.

Nicho overplaying his hand is a massive issue for mine. We are terrible in tight games against half decent opposition, we have no idea how to close a game out.

I love Nicho but if the coach believes he isn't overplaying his hand, nothing will change.

I know he's only been playing HB at NRL level for two years but the fact is he's on huge coin. If the mindset doesn't change, we're in trouble.

I don't think he believes this. He has been critical of him all year for it, so I'd doubt that he stopped noticing.

Nicho feels very much like Mitch Moses from 3-4 years ago. Capable of brilliance but often erratic and unable to go for the percentage plays over the big ones. He needs to chill a bit, but he also needs someone next to him who will be another dominant voice and overcall him when it's on. Hopefully Tricky can deliver this next year.

I'd like to see us defend consistently, cut the **** errors and show some resilience before I'd consider saying we've grown up.

 

[Wiz]

Not sure if this has been said, but in the presser he and Wade kept referring to how we've 'grown up' as a footy side. Also mentioned how we'd fixed the things the media was reporting on...

I'm not sure we've grown up at all, or what that really even means. He was commenting all year on Nicho overplaying his hand and needing to settle down. He didn't.

Sure our defence seemed better in the cows and raiders games, but the Knights ran through us and the roosters made heaps of errors in our red zone.

I'm not convinced anything major really changed.

Agreed

 

[Purple Shark]

So you want Fitz gone mate, is that it?

Ok, fair enough. Who do you sign instead?

I don't profess to declare that Fitz is perfect - he is still learning how to be a first grade coach.

He has made mistakes, he would certainly admit that, but making the finals two years in a row says he deserves more time in my book.

John Morris made the finals 2 years in a row, so it's hardly the achievement of the century

What exactly is he learning? We made the exact same mistakes all year, and topped it off by losing to a Roosters team without any wingers on the field. A Roosters team that limped into the top 8

What really can he change?

 

[Tatus]

The jury is still out on this guy. It all comes down to if he can get the guys to buckle down and play to his vision. I don’t think we have the troops or the mentality to meet his vision yet so the last 2 years have been just trying to get to that point.

If they don’t put in and we continue to pump out season after season of what we did this year, I reckon that’s on him for re-signing who he did because they 1) don’t have the skills to play how he wants or 2) they don’t have the guts.

The energy that we played with against Penrith and what we pumped out against the roosters was night and day compared to the rest of the year, if he can’t get them doing that every week, then again, that’s on him.

Still think we are two years away. Need our players to mature a bit and to add just a couple of key signings… time will tell if he can do that.

 

[Mr Ryan]

Last year we thought we were playing under 8s - so no keeping track of the score or semis.

We now know there is a score board and what sudden death means.

That’s what Fitzy meant by “growing up”

 

[Wiz]

John Morris made the finals 2 years in a row, so it's hardly the achievement of the century

What exactly is he learning? We made the exact same mistakes all year, and topped it off by losing to a Roosters team without any wingers on the field. A Roosters team that limped into the top 8

What really can he change?

Good call

I think the grace period is over.. he’s had 2 years of pretty much the squad he wants and training them the way he wants

He’s been blessed with a position in a club that has a healthy roster, healthy board, good junior systems already in place and no major infighting issues. That’s a privilege he’s been given that few new coaches don’t get

Next year has to be a step forward otherwise the return on investment will start to be In the negative

 

[Shortfin Mako]

I don't think he believes this. He has been critical of him all year for it, so I'd doubt that he stopped noticing.

Nicho feels very much like Mitch Moses from 3-4 years ago. Capable of brilliance but often erratic and unable to go for the percentage plays over the big ones. He needs to chill a bit, but he also needs someone next to him who will be another dominant voice and overcall him when it's on. Hopefully Tricky can deliver this next year.

I'd like to see us defend consistently, cut the **** errors and show some resilience before I'd consider saying we've grown up.

I think Nicho needs to be clear on what a leader is.

A leader is not someone who does everything but trust his team and steer them especially during tough times.

He needs to realise that we have other talented people on the team and if he lets them do what they do best then he will be fresh and ready when the time comes for him to make a difference.

 

[Shortfin Mako]

John Morris made the finals 2 years in a row, so it's hardly the achievement of the century

What exactly is he learning? We made the exact same mistakes all year, and topped it off by losing to a Roosters team without any wingers on the field. A Roosters team that limped into the top 8

What really can he change?

It feels like our issue is not physical but rather mental.

We seem to choke when it matters - especially if we have back to back important games. Some games we do not even put up a fight.

 

[Sir Chadley]

John Morris made the finals 2 years in a row, so it's hardly the achievement of the century

What exactly is he learning? We made the exact same mistakes all year, and topped it off by losing to a Roosters team without any wingers on the field. A Roosters team that limped into the top 8

What really can he change?

Good call

I think the grace period is over.. he’s had 2 years of pretty much the squad he wants and training them the way he wants

He’s been blessed with a position in a club that has a healthy roster, healthy board, good junior systems already in place and no major infighting issues. That’s a privilege he’s been given that few new coaches don’t get

Next year has to be a step forward otherwise the return on investment will start to be In the negative

OK guys, good points and I don't horribly disagree with you both. But seriously, who are we replacing him with? Who should Dino and Steve Mace go out to find?

 

[CrazyMatt]

It feels like our issue is not physical but rather mental.

We seem to choke when it matters - especially if we have back to back important games. Some games we do not even put up a fight.

Thats ingrained in our clubs DNA though. Cronulla has always been associated with choking and bottling, its just who we are. We dropped it for a very brief period in 2016, but it inevitably came back very quickly, throughout our history, stuffing up big games is what we do. No coach apart from Flanno briefly has been able to change that.

I mean are we seriously expecting to win a premiership at the moment? With Penrith in their golden era? A resurgent Brisbane? Thats unrealistic no matter who the coach is at the moment. If Fitz can get us back into the top 4 next year I’ll call that a major success, if we finish worse then 6th? Yeah even I’ll start asking questions.

For now, he has my total backing into 2024.

 

[bort]

It sucks and we should want to do better

But we still did better than 9 other teams (and equal to another). Two more will go just one week further.

Not sure that’s sack the coach territory

 

[slide rule]

Thats ingrained in our clubs DNA though. Cronulla has always been associated with choking and bottling, its just who we are. We dropped it for a very brief period in 2016, but it inevitably came back very quickly, throughout our history, stuffing up big games is what we do. No coach apart from Flanno briefly has been able to change that.

I mean are we seriously expecting to win a premiership at the moment? With Penrith in their golden era? A resurgent Brisbane? Thats unrealistic no matter who the coach is at the moment. If Fitz can get us back into the top 4 next year I’ll call that a major success, if we finish worse then 6th? Yeah even I’ll start asking questions.

For now, he has my total backing into 2024.

We had no right to believe in 2016 given the years that preceded it.

This team has talent. They should have done better.

 

[Milkshark]

OK guys, good points and I don't horribly disagree with you both. But seriously, who are we replacing him with? Who should Dino and Steve Mace go out to find?

Flano.

But honestly, the club probably overreacted signing him until the end of 2027. The team did well with a soft draw but then went out in straight sets last year. And then again this year.

 

[bort]

Flano.

But honestly, the club probably overreacted signing him until the end of 2027. The team did well with a soft draw but then went out in straight sets last year. And then again this year.

Rabbitohs, Eels and Cowboys all failed to return to finals this year. It’s not supposed to be easy to get repeat finals efforts.

Plenty of coaches putting up more disappointing results than us.

As before, yes we strive to get better, but you can’t chop and change to another coach every year you don’t win a final

 

[Milkshark]

Rabbitohs, Eels and Cowboys all failed to return to finals this year. It’s not supposed to be easy to get repeat finals efforts.

Plenty of coaches putting up more disappointing results than us.

As before, yes we strive to get better, but you can’t chop and change to another coach every year you don’t win a final

I’m not saying change the coach yet, but he probably has another year to put a stamp on the competition before people start asking whether or not he can take the team to a premiership.

 

[Sparkles]

The team did look like they were showing more grit and determination near the end of the season. I do credit a good amount of that to one Cam McInnes, but Fitz seems to be pulling the squad together in the same direction.

Our halves have a lot of work to do in game management. Our forwards need to know when to wrap up the pill and stop the silly errors. Our spine needs some time together... it's been a rocky ride.

 

[bort]

The team did look like they were showing more grit and determination near the end of the season. I do credit a good amount of that to one Cam McInnes, but Fitz seems to be pulling the squad together in the same direction.

Our halves have a lot of work to do in game management. Our forwards need to know when to wrap up the pill and stop the silly errors. Our spine needs some time together... it's been a rocky ride.

We sit equal for most errors made, that is definitely an area we can clean up a bit.
Our defence already saw some improvement but we need Teig to step up when he returns.

 

[Jaz]

Our halves have a lot of work to do in game management.

Assuming they've been following the game plan, I'd like the game plan to incorporate some kicks that at least are a chance of forcing an error.

 

[Wiz]

I’m not saying change the coach yet, but he probably has another year to put a stamp on the competition before people start asking whether or not he can take the team to a premiership.

Agreed

We can’t say we won’t win if broncos or panthers exist

They grew into what they’ve arrived as and now they are here they are doing well, same needs to go for this squad and coach

Sky should be the limit not top 6 or top 4

 

[Purple Shark]

They quit against the Knights only a couple of weeks ago, so I don’t know how much grit this team has actually developed. The close score also had a lot to do with how bang average the Roosters were

I know it’s a bit early to sack the guy, but his post match comments really wound me up. “We are starting to improve” That’s great Craig, you’ve only had 27 weeks to do that