@taniwharugby thanks mate agree to disagree, been around a while just not active on this platform very often, was reminded of it earlier this week by a mate. Here is hoping 2020 is happier for us as Northland supporters.
SmokeyT
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@taniwharugby have you seen the books? I disagree wholeheartedly he was a disaster you have to remember he employed Alistair as commercial manager. For the team that sells more merchandise than any other, we have zero to show for it. Jeremy and Alistair left hundreds of thousands of dollars of sponsorship money on the table. I know personally of two sponsors/funders who walked both due to unsavoury comments about community and dismissiveness with complaints made to board chair on one of those occasions.
The Taniwha website itself shows how uncommercial both where to try to buy merchandise or anything is like looking for a needle in a haystack. You literally had to go to the union office to buy anything. Rugby is much more than the four-month playing window and much more than what happens on the field.
If either was any good commercially, the development team would not have had to pay to play and we would be far more financially sound than we are not running around cap in hand to build training facilities on Pohi Island spouting a false story of multi-sport that is not true as soon as you scratch the surface.
We are in exactly the same place we were 4 years ago, a dream with no actionable's to show for it. Jeremy did heaps in Kamo where his kids played and nothing past there a small example is the union banned Whangaruru rather than using the game to transform the community. Knee jerk reactions made out of fear not informed by how to build community and harness talent. You only have to look at how many Northlanders slip though the Taniwha's grasp and end up playing in the NRL and around the world to realise the union is not reaching its targets.
Rugby is meant to be a game for everyone not your elite farming and boarding school types.
If we don't do something soon who knows where we will end up. You only have to look at the circumstances of the last head coaches behaviour throughout the season and at seasons close to knowing something has to change and fast. None of this behaviour was pulled up by the board or CEO. It was let slide and we endured a season from hell. Whoa be told the Taniwha and Warriors supporter in 2019. Here is hoping 2020 is better.
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@Gunner I think you will find that Adrian opposed the majority of those signings which the then CEO Jeremy made despite the head coach saying no, think selections of Argentinian players from youtube and Aucklanders from external recommendations despite coach protestations.
Adrian's policy was if you don't play in club rugby Northland you were not eligible for selection. Jeremy as CEO had a different policy. This for me is the risk of employing Coach before CEO.
Adrian had a real focus on the sub unions which is exactly what we needed and needed. No one is perfect by any means we all have things we need to work on.
You need a cohesive working relationship not a fractured one working against each other and unnecessary power plays.
Jeremy and Alistair were the two lest commercial and community-engaged/minded people I have ever seen lead an organisation. The bigotry and rudeness were staggering yet they were blind to see any of it or acknowledge it after the fact. Alistair's comments and work, in particular, made it very hard to be a Taniwha supporter.
Northland deserves better, we should be a shining beacon of hope that puts northland on the global map. We represent the birthplace of a unified nation where a nation of two peoples was forged between Maori and European yet we only seem to acknowledge one side of it which seems typical of an ageing population terrified of change.
If we activate this true deep history the union would never struggle for revenue again. We can build a brand that is known worldwide. Think Manchester United, Manchester City, Detroit Pistons, New York Nicks teams the latter have not performed strongly yet regularly lead the merchandise sales and are known worldwide.
We use the name Taniwha but seem oblivious of how to activate or live up to what the name means or what the strength of the Kauri means. We live off the fumes of 275 years of history, not the thousand-year strength of culture and identity. The blue jersey is filled with pride and the lands and ocean we play for and on are filled with Mana we just need to act like it and take the time to remember who we are.
Finally, Adrian is a proud Northland with deep whanau roots in the north.
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Sorry @Gunner wrong their mate, I am born and breed Taniwha who bleeds blue. I would suggest the PTSD is more to do with the undermining bullies of Jeremy Parkinson, Alistair McGin and Derrin Whitcomb.
The successful programs we have running in Northland are largely due to the hand of Adrian.
The three mentioned earlier have destroyed Northland Rugby and created nepotonistic structure that goes as high as the board.
Northland Rugby for decades been an old boys club who have been happy to sit at the bar with a beer in one hand and wire strainers in the other happy with their small corner of the world. If we want to survive as a union we need leadership that can see the future and willingness to engage. I have had some good talks with @Steven-Harris over the years and agree.
One thing is we will not get the coach we deserve if we are only giving the coach a one year contract.
Employing the CEO after the appointment of the coach is also a mistake.
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Jonty Rae was a standout this season and Roberts Te Nana would have started every game. We need Jonty's speed and aggression in the contact. It is puzzling to have some many players contracted.
James Cherrington would at be the top of my list of contracted along with Derek Carpenter, they would form a hard and uncompromising midfield that has the ability to set the back three free young enough to bring years of stability in the midfield and mentor the next generation. What we need is a first five and halfback that clears the ball fast so our backline has time and control and direct the forwards.
We need to go back to the sub unions and build academy programs around key positions. Looking for playmakers in touch is a good idea, we have programs in this space but they are nothing more than lip service. We have let gems like Noel Edmonds slip through our hands over the years. Men who bleed blue and would have been superstars anywhere else. Northland selectors often need binoculars to see outside Whangarei urban teams of drafties from outside the region.
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Bring Adrian Ferris home, he has unfinished business.
New Coach - Northland
New Coach - Northland
New Coach - Northland
New Coach - Northland
Northland 2020
New Coach - Northland