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ROBIN SHAKESPEARE |
Half Term Report - Selling Ourselves Short!
2009.Too many players are living off their past achievements and status. Shaun Briscoe has all of a sudden turned from the form As we have reached the mid point of a really topsy turvy season, we seem just to go from extremes of class (Warrington at Home, Leeds away), to abject surrender (take your pick from any of the last humiliating defeats.) It leaves any supporter shaking their heads trying to fathom out the reasons in our downturn in consistency from fullback in the country to a rabbit under headlights. We all know, as things start going awry in your profession, you are suddenly making errors previously you didn't. You suffer a crisis in confidence, and the more you try, the worse it just gets.Last season it was highlighted by many the yardage and go forward our fullback and two wingers gave us. Considering what I have said about Briscoe, the fact that Liam Colbon has been injured for a sizeable part of the season, and also Foxy's form has been equally inconsistent, this big plus-point in our game last season isn't there.
Personally , I was disappointed by the clubs decision to off load 'Cookie', which meant everything would go through Dobson, creating a bit of a one dimensional, easy to read attack. It can't have been a tactical, football decision so I guess it must have been a personality one. When you're in the business of winning games, and you haven't got a 'like for like' or similar quality replacement, to ship a proven match winner out the building is ludicrous.In the forwards, of our top performers Ben Galea, due to injuries, has only hit form in patches, unfortunately he's got that year older and looks a shadow of the player of last year. That said, he is a great leader and is obviously well respected by his colleagues and we do look more of an inspired team with Ben in it. Christ only knows whats happened to Newton! Great player, almost reaching legendary status, but he's a pale imitation of his former self, the rampaging blockbusting forward that made the 'Dream Team'Again this is indicative of the engine not running smoothly because of the mal-function of too many of its major components.There seems to be an obsession with playing people out of their natural position! Fisher to my mind has done very little wrong in our tenure in Super League, yet Scott Murrell got the hooking role, a pivitol position. In my opinion Scotty Murrell is able to play one position at this level and that's loose man. He's not a hooker and he ain't a off half. Very good, committed player, but I don't think he has the speed, guile and craft to operate in such a key, role. The form of Joel Clinton and the emergence of Liam Watts have been two positives in a season of transition. Watts is a big powerful lad with great distribution skills and off-load in the tackle. His stint for Gateshead in the Championship last season seems to have sorted him out both professionally and emotionally. The kid has the physique and talent to go as far as he wants too. And under the wing of Clinton and Vella he has the ideal role models. So all in all, I expected as season of transition, and probably while we didn't anticipate the maulings handed out by the likes of St Helens, Bradford and Huddersfield, we certainly can make the top 8. It is been a season where everybody has been inconsistent and have endured some heavy and surprising losses. I think next season we will kick on again, and we can use this season as part of the learning curve. We still have nearly half the 2010 season to go as yet, and the way things have panned out this season nothing would surprise me.
Rally Round!
Robin Shakespeare
Grounds for Optimism
Having started this article two days after a bad day at the office in Wigan, people must question my sanity in cobbling together a positive spin. Joel Clinton's visa and the lack of forward power, Briscoe's injury, Hudgell's impending resignation, spiralling debts, worries over our Super League licence, ticketing and merchandising issues, the lack of a dedicated Chief Executive - the list of gloom is apparently endless!
While this may have all the eternal pessimists crying into their half empty glasses in their temples of doom, many of these stories are just non stories, with facts embelished in a way to create unwarranted worry. The story on Christmas Eve regarding Hull KR's debt showed me just one thing. The local rag had absolutely nothing else to print. The article was not only irresponsible, it was irrelevant and banal. It wasn't worth wrapping your soggy chips in. Just scare mongering out of boredom! Ok 3 million quid is a fair bit to me and thee, but to the calibre of business men in our board room who immediately said we will underwrite it - No Problem.
Fact is we have 'splashed the cash' to get where we have. We needed to get in top class performers to ensure our survival and subsequent progression. The importance of staying up and the steady move up the league was imperative to our sustainability. We couldn't take the risk of being a Leigh or a Widnes. We needed the likes of Vella, Cooke, Briscoe, Fox, Gelea and Newton to survive.
We have an ambitious group of Directors who are old enough to have seen Rovers great name in dire straits under some pretty bad stewardship in the 1990's and early noughties to allow a similar fall from grace. If we had have got promoted and just recruited top Championship players, lower echelon Super League players and local league Antipodeans, we would have been way under the salary cap but we'd have done a fantastic impersonation of Derby County.
Getting into this so called debt was not an option. 'Speculate to Accumulate' as they say. Of course as we all know, just as we were getting into our stride with our 'Big League' life the global recession kicked in and as a consequence our plans to construct the North Stand were postponed, corporate backing was less liberal as both organisations and individuals practiced their belt tightening.
As a result of this, the worst economic downturn in decades we may have to wait a while 'til people have a little more disposable income to buy the extras, we have to be patient on sponsorship, maybe be a little bit more frugal with our salary cap, and maybe step back a little to move forward.
Is this bad? Is this doom and gloom? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Despite all this an all the money spent we only 'owe' people who love the club and can afford to sustain or underwrite it. I owe my Dad loads but would he let me go under? I'd be more worried about 'Jedward' managing our security.
So while there are causes for concern, and issues that need addressing, some of the pessimism has been quiet unfounded and laughable. Yes the club is not beyond criticism or debate, and there always is room for improvement. Personally I think due to a lack of a full time Chief Executive we have become complacent and haphazard in some of our business practices. But that's for another article.
I would call this season 'Work in Progress' a development season, and Hull might have a better season in 2010. So what, let the retards crow, buying Long, O'Meley and Fitzgibbon is not exactly forward planning, its short term appeasement. They'll be all playing 'whist' in the canteen next season as we move forward again.
The Suited and Booted Robin
It is not often you get to experience the corporate side of things unless you are either a reasonably successful businessman or a well heeled executive in the world of commerce and trade. However, I was lucky enough to be asked along to the table of a local electrical company who were sponsoring the Match Ball in the recent Hull KR versus Huddersfield Giants Challenge Cup tie.
We, (that don't get to do the corporate experience that often) were all very much impressed by the professionalism and presentation of the Hull KR staff and the finishing touches the club stamps on its Corporate Package. Paul Lakin and staff have certainly put down a polished template to entice any potential sponsor. I know Hull Kingston Rovers have been criticised in the past for their lack of imagination in utilising and maximising facilities but they are learning fast - with a friendly but slick package presented in a snappy, entertaining way.
First of all we were met by our Craven Park tour guide, Kris Welham, who showed us the press area where the BBC where setting up for the live broadcast. With no Eddie Palace in sight, and Claire Balding enjoying a sugar lump, it was time to walk on to the hallowed turf. We had a quick walk onto the pitch and a group photograph taken for posterity near the dugout. Like stupid little boys we all imagined we were the Hull KR coaching staff! Aw Bless. Well, I've got the shoes, if not the rugby acumen!
We were then taken into the dressing room where the main business was going on. This was interesting, the dressing room order of pegs are laid out as on the field on play were numbers 2, 3 and 11 all sit next to each other as did 5, 4 and 12 to they can easily communicate with each other on issues happening on their side of the pitch. I think if I remember correctly - the four main play makers 6, 7, 13 and 9 were all seated together.
Energy Drinks, Glucose Drinks, Banana's and Oranges were there in abundance, nothing seemed to be left to chance to help the players in the quest to win the match, jerseys, boots and strapping were meticulously laid out. Thorough and meticulous seemed to be the order of the day.
Back to the hospitality area, to our table for lunch and drinks! Whilst I don't want to sound like Egon Ronay! The tables were impressive, apart from being well decorated (obviously in Red & White) each guest got a corporate gift, either a Hull KR keyring or a pair of cuff-links. Matching programmes and team-sheets were placed on each table, and there were general rugby league trinkets too.
Paul Lakin and the Match Day MC welcomed everybody to the game, and Kris Welham did an interview regarding the Reserves game the day before. The fact that Hull City were on the TV and were already winning 1-0 by the time we tucked into our melon meant the feel good atmosphere was bubbling up!! And by the time the brunch was been polished off City were well in command and peoples spirits were already high!!
There was a short rugby league quiz before the game, and just time for the next round of drinks to be order. We decided to watch the game from the bar window - you know how it is!!
After the game I was asked by the company sponsor to collect the match ball for his firm. I was honoured to do this and went up to collect the ball off Man of the Match Clint Newton. I nearly dropped the bloody ball as he presented it to me, and one of my 'wag' mates, who shall remain nameless, shouts 'knock on' much to peoples amusement. I think Clint was a little bewildered! I actually got to keep the match ball, which obviously was something I was very grateful for and indeed a brilliant memento for the day
There were then interesting speeches and interviews with the sponsors from Carnegie College, Clint Newton himself, James Webster (on duty for the first time involved in the corporate side), Neil Hudgell and Justin Morgan with their views on the game which, as always were enlightening.
So all in all it was an excellent day and a little bit of an insight in to what occurs on a Match Day apart from the obvious game. The catering side of it alone is a massive operation, along with the management of 10 or 12 bars, independent food outlets, merchandise sales, transport and security issues, publicity, photography (photographs were developed within the hour) and the accommodation for television to name the more obvious ones. And that's with out mentioning the players!
So while we all tend to have a pop at the 'Prawn Sandwich' brigade - it does bring a great deal of money into the club, it is the way sport is going, and while I prefer being on the terraces with my friends - it is nice to live like a king once in a while!
SIGNINGS
I have noticed over the years I have supported Rovers and rugby league upon how recruitment and the timing of recruitment have changed over the years. Particularly in the last three seasons when we have batched signed the bulk of players ostensibly in a three period after the season's end, after contracts have expired. Years ago a player essentially was employed by his club and usually the main business was done in the off season - Summer, yes, summer, when June, July and August was reserved for leather on willow, tea and cucumber sandwiches. The other period of recruitment was around the end of January - Challenge Cup Deadline Day - where major trading went ahead. To be eligible you had to be signed before the First Round Proper, in which all clubs competed. In 1982 the exception happened, when Featherstone had beaten York in the preliminary round, Hull came in and signed Steve 'Handbag' Evans, a fair haired, limp handed wingman or centre, who became the first man two appear for two clubs in the competition in one season. However, I digress. January became a great month for speculation after the Christmas festivities, the Boxing Day derbies and the New Years Day blow-outs. We sometimes had a John Player Trophy Final to look forward to as well. That year we signed Bruce Miller to boost our team. A couple of years earlier, 1982 we were contemplating signing David Stephenson, a centre from Salford who instead signed for Wigan who were just beginning their renaissance. Hard to believe a summer earlier we had enticed George Fairbairn for £72.500 away from the second division side. Never mind Andy Kelly was shortly to join us for £60.000 from the Dreadnoughts. Off the top of my head (and its 25-30 years) in this period of deadline day we were linked with a lot of world wide stars, John Carleton (England rugby union), Ray Mordt and Danie Herber (South African RU), David Redfearn (Bradford Northern), John Joyner (Castleford), Carl Gibson (Batley), Graham Steadman (York) and David Hobbs (Featherstone Rovers) - those a few I remember. 1981 did we sign Peter Muscroft (New Hunslet), a winger and from Huddersfield, Chris Burton, to bolster our second row. We only had Phil Lowe, Paul Rose, Colin Dixon and Len Casey - so we were definitely short!!! Around this time we signed Jamie Walsh as cover for Paul Harkin at scrum half, after missing out on another Castleford half-back Ian Orum. Back to today we seem to get all our presents at once as Hull KR Supporters, although we did hatched a great little Easter present to enthuse our spirits. The recruitment for the last three seasons has all been completed within a three week time period. With the contract system, player movement is much different to the not too distant past.
Further on from my article on Challenge Cup deadline day, it reminds me of all the speculation, anticipation and conjecture regarding potential players to don the great red and white colours.
I for one remember two or three South African Springboks been linked to us in the mid eighty's. Ray Mordt (a winger) and Rob Louw (a second rower or flanker - well he was for not signing for Rovers!) were eventually signed up for Wigan, who were signing everybody in the world then that had caught an egg. It was Megalomaniac Maurice's loadsa money years, where Thatcher's capitalistic influences were going to far. In the years of gazumping Wigan certainly were the kings in the law of the jungle. A third, Danie Herber, decided to stay at centre in kick and clap. South Africa was a warm climate and he could certainly get a leisurely tan watching his team mates grunt and punt.
In the late 80's when the Welsh Rugby Union was almost dieing we had 'talented taffs' (and some not so!) lined up by the bus load. History says we got David Bishop, a combative and colourful scrum half, but many more were linked to help our campaign against relegation in our last season at the proper Craven Park - and Hull hadn't any decent players to nick then!! And I don't think Gary Pearce's tab at Bun in Oven was worth paying off for his services.
Household Welshman such as Mark Ring, Glen Webbe, Scott Gibbs, Gerald Cordle, Colin Laity, Mike Hall and Roger Bidgood were according to the rumour mills in the hostelry's of Hull were all destined to become the next Rah Rah's to sign from the Valleys at some point or another. But indeed the rugby union bread of heaven filled their boots enough to keep these boys in the principality. Although both Cordle and Gibbs joined the 'league club' at a later date.
England pin up boy Jeremy Guscott and newly capped England Centre John Bentley were fleetingly mentioned. Fees like a hundred grand here and two hundred grand there were been bandied about. Although a few years later when Jerry Pussycat made feeble excuses to opt out the Wigan v Bath challenge it proved he didn't have the stomach to cut it in league.
We did a year or so later sign a pacey winger in Bright Sodje (minus bandana!) from Blackheath RU. The brother of five much travelled footballing brothers, Bright preferred the handling code and scored some good tries for Hull KR, who will ever forget signing 'knees up mother brown!' when we beat the Dreadnoughts at Belle Vue! He played alongside another local rugby union recruit in Julian Barkworth, a very capable centre on his day - and two ideal companions for Bish in LA's or Waterfront!
Other union men to come and ply their trade at Hull KR were John 'Tin Lid' Lydiat, a great player who was unfortunate to be behind another quite decent ex-union fullback called George Fairbairn! David Laws was a great winger from Old Hymerians and played a vital role in our glory years. And when you think the great Steve Hubbard cost £500 from Hull & East Riding we have had value for money. He cost us a 'monkey' and scored that famous try off that 'top banana' pass from Cocky Locky!
There are many others we have missed out on over the years but time is against me, and actually I am glad I am not writing this on all the players our inferior neighbours have missed out on - I'd still be here at Christmas!