Aussie Pro Rugby
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Wow.
NSW Waratahs part ways with Rob Penney
The NSW Waratahs and Head Coach Rob Penney have parted ways, effective immediately, with the coach informed of the decision this morning.
The Board’s decision was taken after consultation with the CEO and the High-Performance Committee following five consecutive defeats with three of them record losses, and after last night’s 46 to 12 loss to the Queensland Reds.
The Waratahs acknowledge that Penney has been coaching an inexperienced roster of players relative to the other states, however following match reviews, the Board was not convinced there was enough significant improvement in the team to have him continue in the role.
NSW Waratahs CEO Paul Doorn thanked Penney for his contribution as head coach over the past two seasons.
“The decision to part ways with Penney was not taken lightly,” he said.
“Being the coach of the NSW Waratahs is one of the most high-profile and high-pressure roles in Australian rugby.
“Rob is extremely professional and has put a great deal of effort into the role. However, the on-field performances this season have not met expectations and we feel that, in the best interests of the Waratahs, now is the time to make a change.”
Doorn thanked Penney for his work in managing a new generation of players, many of whom will become household names for the Waratahs in the future.
“His commitment and concern for the players through a disruptive season and amid trying circumstances is testament to his character and we wish him and his family all the best for the future,” he said.
NSW Waratahs Assistant Coaches Jason Gilmore and Chris Whitaker have been named as interim Head Coaches for the remainder of the 2021 season, allowing for a smooth transition for the players and staff.
Gilmore has a long association with a host of the young talent at the Waratahs after coaching many of them at the Junior Wallabies in the team that made the Under 20s World Cup Final in 2019.
Whitaker, a former Wallaby and a 100 cap Waratah, has been an assistant coach with the team since 2019.
The Waratahs have also announced they will shortly commence the search for a new Head Coach for the 2022 season. -
@stargazer doubling down on administrative incompetence. What is a coach supposed to do when he inherits such a shit squad?
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@antipodean said in Aussie Rugby:
@stargazer doubling down on administrative incompetence. What is a coach supposed to do when he inherits such a shit squad?
Even so. The results were beyond bad and it will give the new temporary coaches a chance. But its almost unbelievably. Winners a few years back to this
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@kiwimurph said in Aussie Rugby:
Tahs had no choice.
They need to be seen to be doing something.
And firing the chairman who oversaw this clusterfuck is a bit too hard when he's only been there a decade.
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@winger said in Aussie Rugby:
@antipodean said in Aussie Rugby:
@stargazer doubling down on administrative incompetence. What is a coach supposed to do when he inherits such a shit squad?
Even so. The results were beyond bad and it will give the new temporary coaches a chance.
True. Appalling results. We shall see what happens next week when they host the Brumbies. There's either a coaching philosophy disagreement or NSWRU has expended cash to be seen as doing something.
If results don't improve, then what?
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@nta said in Aussie Rugby:
@kiwimurph said in Aussie Rugby:
Tahs had no choice.
They need to be seen to be doing something.
And firing the chairman who oversaw this clusterfuck is a bit too hard when he's only been there a decade.
He needs time to implement his change and culture. Give him a chance.
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BTW I would fucking LOVE to go off on this in other social media places with every scrap of foul-mouthed tirade I've got, but I'm not allowed due to holding a Board position at one of the member unions... The Chair had a word to me about some choice words I publicised about a higher divisions club's behaviour at a recent event.
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@antipodean said in Aussie Rugby:
If results don't improve, then what?
Find a new coach and cross their fingers. and pray. As people might start looking at the level above soon
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@stargazer said in Aussie Rugby:
@nta I think others are already doing it for you
Yeah I see a fair bit of vitriol. And so should it be.
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Penney's contract was apparently until the end of 2022 so he will be upset to a degree, but I'd be thankful to be the fuck out of there in a lot of ways. Gotta be thick skinned to be a head coach, but there are limits.
He seemed to have a genuine concern for the welfare of his players and developing a good squad. With the addition of a few experienced heads, 2022 could have been a far better year.
So now what? We just continue to get slaughtered and then Trans- Ta$man turns into annihiliation?
Or does Sack-The-Coach factor suddenly make us world beaters?
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@machpants said in Aussie Rugby:
Was it last week he had full confidence of the board?
Yeah so that was when we should have all set our watches ...
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Penney's take on the dumpster fire that is the Waratahs.
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i honestly thought they might have learnt from the Blues....just ditching coaches isn;t going to fix anything
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fuck i just love to laugh at NSW rugby
i read an article on the dumping, and some guy said that the state of the Waratahs is due to not enough attention paid to the Shute Shield.
In case you didn't know, when the Shute Shield was the main thing, the Wallabies won two world Cups. Wish i had a buck for every time some establishment piston wristed gibbon has come out with that.
All the players, all the resources, and it's fucked because the dumb fluffybunnies in charge can't get past private schools and Eastern Suburbs rugby clubs. I hope they suck forever.
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Penny says the right things and comes across as a good fella.
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@mariner4life said in Aussie Rugby:
All the players, all the resources, and it's fucked because the dumb fluffybunnies in charge can't get past private schools and Eastern Suburbs rugby clubs. I hope they suck forever.
The more people you have, the more dickheads you have to deal with.
@mariner4life said in Aussie Rugby:
some guy said that the state of the Waratahs is due to not enough attention paid to the Shute Shield.
Here's the funny thing: Shute Shield isn't run by NSWRU. It is run by Sydney Rugby Union (SRU) which is an affiliate union under NSWRU. They can choose to completely fucking ignore each other if they want, but they don't.
