The new u20's coach is Damien Gibson. www.therhinos.co.uk/news/15444.php

The new u20's coach is Damien Gibson. www.therhinos.co.uk/news/15444.php

Oh.

Not a bad choice. he has been the assistant with Wales so hopefully has the nouce. Also might have his eye on a few up and coming sheep and daffy lovers

He coached a team to a 76 point defeat the other week. GH has made a mockery of rhinos fans over last few weeks saying they were doing their homework and scouting the globe.

Good luck to Gibson, but i can not see how he would be a better appointment than the ex Bramley lad now coaching Fevs academy. More so how is he a better appointment than Adamson who many moaned about.

For a start he's done well assisting at international level and proved his worth with the u18's whilst Adamson has'nt been doing any coaching recently has he?
How does this make a mockery of Rhinos fans if the eventual candidate to get the job is someone the club know well enough already?
Whilst i would'nt of minded someone like the Bramley lad ,Stuart Wilkinson or Gary Thornton that's not to say that Gibson hasn't rightly got the job following teh recruitment process.

A few years ago no one would have thought of touching Sheridan or Powell but you'd have them in the fold again now wouldnt you? So Gibson might be a good bet. Instead of blaming them already lets give them a chance. We have a new fresh line up with new ideas, lets see what they can do

Heatherington goes on a scouting trip every year. He also stated before this one that it was mainly to have a look at 2012 and beyond. He did meet up with Dunneman and no doubt would have had chats about the future. Just because he failed to bring someone over this year doesn't mean to say it was a wasted journey.

So this means that if you search a certain site, you can find our ENTIRE COACHING STAFF discussing tactics during a 1997 semi-final.

Quality observation, were they all on the field at the same time?

They're all in the same frame. Lowes acting half, Brian Mc playing the ball, Gibson getting punched, and Barrie Mac next in.

Just wondered why if Barrie was on the field (he was a sub that day) someone didn't get seriously hurt.
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Oh and ms, it's Damian not Damien. I once made the same mistake and it took me weeks to sort out.

I wonder how the Under 20's boss will feel working for a bloke that chinned him a few years ago?

Interesting appointment, if a little left field.

Just searched for the incident in the 1997 semi. Brian Mac lands one squarely in Newton's face (who hardly bats an eyelid) then starts on Gibson. Barrie Mac runs in fists flying and Morley casually walks up. Great memories from that match, even though we lost.

It's an interesting progression from being Under 18s coach to Under 20s - like something you would see at an amateur club with a coach following a cohort of players through the age groups.

As for the statement he coached a side to a 76 point defeat therefore he must be rubbish - point me in the direction of one high profile coach who hasn't at some point coached a team that got a flogging.

How is he a better appointment than Adamson? Well he's not been shown the door by two clubs for managing to screw up the dressing room, will that do for starters?

Indeed.

IIRC Gibson deserved his award for Leeds player of the year in 1997, it was a shame he wasn't retained, although admittedly he didn't quite hit the same heights for the clubs he moved on to.

Gibson took Brian's big hand well.

As for Newton......

Mark Butterill (the ex-Bramley lad) was a hard working forward who hardly ever passed the ball. Unfortunately, he used very similar tactics at Bramley, especially last season. Their attacking play was very poor and their discipline even worse. They should have qualified for their Grand Final but due to terrible discipline in the semi (3 sent off + 1 or 2 binned) they lost. Definitely not the sort of coach we want at Headingley at any level.

I don't see how it's making a mockery of leeds fans? Hetherington went to Australia and was obviously talking to several people over there about coaching positions at Leeds. He obviously wanted Dunemann, he wasn't available, what's he supposed to do then? Pass up potential coaches in England simply because he's been to Australia?

The only thing that should be mocked is your overreaction.

Damien must already have had some links with the club-he was on the pitch last year (with me and a few others) clearing the pitch of snow for the boxing Day game.

He was really good for us in 97, one of the high points of a very dissapointing season. Seems to have the right attitude towards the game as well.

Think he's being coaching some of the u18's IIRC, as I've seen him around at Kirkstall a few times.

Been.

Bo!!ocks! I even looked at it, thought it looked odd but couldn't work out what it should be so just clicked submit anyway.

Mate, you seriously wouldn't want to let Gary Thornton anywhere near any promising young players. During his time at Batley he didn't 'develop' one single player, and ruined many a promising career with his awful coaching (or lack of coaching). If you want someone to take your youngsters backwards by about 5 or 6 years, then he'd be ideal. Castleford will wise up to his inept standards sooner or later, hopefully before its too late.