Penn fires back at Sea Eagles critics

[SeaEagleRock8]

It doesn't help members for both sides to argue via the media.

Exactly.

Though as to 'both sides'...

Barrett's only comment in the media (at least that I have noticed) was to say he can't comment.

The other stuff has come from journalists' so-called 'sources' (presumably leaks by agents?)(with or without Barrett's knowledge??) and, significantly, from the articles in the MD from P Peters openly criticising the coach - which necessarily resulted in intense speculation here and elsewhere that the club was trying to force Barrett out.

From my far distance it looks like the Penns (via Zorba) began a not-so-subtle leaking campaign (OK, a shade more subtle, but not by much, than the one they used to white-ant Tooves a few years ago) but are now pissed off that the public response has been to criticise them rather than Barrett!!

All rather amusing but HM is 100% correct, playing this out via the media does not help us at all.

 

[HappilyManly]

Exactly.

Though as to 'both sides'...

Barrett's only comment in the media (at least that I have noticed) was to say he can't comment.

The other stuff has come from journalists' so-called 'sources' (presumably leaks by agents?)(with or without Barrett's knowledge??) and, significantly, from the articles in the MD from P Peters openly criticising the coach - which necessarily resulted in intense speculation here and elsewhere that the club was trying to force Barrett out.

From my far distance it looks like the Penns (via Zorba) began a not-so-subtle leaking campaign (OK, a shade more subtle, but not by much, than the one they used to white-ant Tooves a few years ago) but are now pissed off that the public response has been to criticise them rather than Barrett!!

All rather amusing but HM is 100% correct, playing this out via the media does not help us at all.

None of us knew of Baz's July Breach notice submission till last week.
Who leaked that and caused this new round of headlines

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Who leaked that and caused this new round of headlines

That is the $64 question!

 

[Shoe1]

None of us knew of Baz's July Breach notice submission till last week.
Who leaked that and caused this new round of headlines

Surely it was his manager.

 

[lurker]

Exactly.

Though as to 'both sides'...

Barrett's only comment in the media (at least that I have noticed) was to say he can't comment.

The other stuff has come from journalists' so-called 'sources' (presumably leaks by agents?)(with or without Barrett's knowledge??) and, significantly, from the articles in the MD from P Peters openly criticising the coach - which necessarily resulted in intense speculation here and elsewhere that the club was trying to force Barrett out.

From my far distance it looks like the Penns (via Zorba) began a not-so-subtle leaking campaign (OK, a shade more subtle, but not by much, than the one they used to white-ant Tooves a few years ago) but are now pissed off that the public response has been to criticise them rather than Barrett!!

All rather amusing but HM is 100% correct, playing this out via the media does not help us at all.

I actually think it’s Barrett’s manager who also manages Gus, griffin, Flanagan, cartwright and I think Maguire. Look at what the uncertainty has done. He’s got a massive payout for hook. He got Cartwright resigned and apparently facilities were ok for him. He’s got Flanagan offered an extension because the sharks are uncomfortable with the merry go round. He’s trying to manoeuvre Barrett for a payout and a new job.

This all stinks. A non accredited manager has way too much power over clubs. Meanwhile all this leaking that’s occurring helps his clients positions. This is all from a man that said the super league war was fantastic. What a ****wit

 

[MissKate]

Looks like barrett will have the last laugh as well. Forcing the club to re-sign useless tools like cartwrong and ferris knowing he was out of here. Did his new club (wherever that may be) ask for that as a guarantee they wouldn't be part of his sign on package. Thanks for that barrett

 

[Snake]

There is some truth from both sides if you ask me.

The media (not Barrett) has mentioned the facilities. Barrett doesn't care about the gym or the demountables....we were coming 3rd at the pointy end of last year using those facilities. He knows that.

But...

Last year was smooth sailing. Minimal injuries, no cap crisis to speak of and a harmonious playing roster.

This year has been different. Injuries and the cap mess has meant that Barrett has been put under the pump and the resources (meaning a recruitment officer and up until recently, a head of football, a well established CEO with a strong media presence and other support staff) have been lacking. It's people that Barrett wants, not facilities. In a time of crisis, the strong foundations and structures haven't been in place to survive each obstacle. Barrett has shouldered so much of the load and ultimately the blame and wrath of entire supporter base. He has been trying to coach and do all the other stuff as well. It's too much.

Where he falls down though, is that it looks like he is just not cut out for the stress and grind of the situation (it's not for everyone). When the going has gotten tough, he has kinda bailed out and that is probably what has upset the Penn family. They are probably doing their best with the money they have to play with and Barrett has had a melt down under the weight of all the pressure and as he has unravelled, so too have the players. if he was just left to coach, he probably would do a fair job but the way he had to front the media after the Hastings debacle indicated that there was a huge lack of professional advice happening behind closed doors at the club. Other clubs would be on the front foot hosing everything down, whilst we stand completely transparent in front of the media pirañhas.

I feel for all concerned. They are just people doing their best in a difficult situation. With unlimited funds (like the Roosters), we wouldn't be talking about this at all.

 

[Fluffy]

So Penn has confirmed Barrett's story is correct. Asked for the positions to be filled and management agreed. Gave them ample time of 8 months and still not filled so put in his notice.

 

[The Who]

If Penn is correct his family has done nothing wrong.
The question then must be: so why has Manly fallen apart?
What is obvious is that the Penn ownership model hasn't worked and there is nothing to suggest it will ever work.
So, my suggestion to the Penns is: give yourselves a collective pat on the back because, in their eyes they have done everything right, and move on with their lives.
Sell up. Give someone, or some different entity, a go.
Focusing on the 'blame game' rather than a football game will never succeed.

 

[manly al]

The blame game has been in full swing now for a while after a disappointing season for Manly and the Penns have every right to counter any unwarranted criticism in their direction . No doubt a few areas that they could improve on and done differently for an over all better club environment but they have still continued to play the important role of providing the cash to keep the show on the road . and that can never be down played . Salary cap and injury factors aside , really should let the proper attention and criticism for the season's poor results be directed where it should be and specifically at the coaching methods and team structures and player mindsets for this year at least . Anyway better to try and look forward with a bit of positivity , hopefully Gorman can get a better functioning front office , Zorba looks like he will be having less influence which should appeal to many supporters and a tougher and more professional player orientated coaching approach which can ideally result in better times ahead , [ And after still hopefully avoiding the spoon this season ]

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Always hard to guess who leaked, but look to who gains.

Club :
1. If they want Baz to stay and see out his contract, they have no motive to leak news of his letter of demand. It simply destabilises the joint to the point where him remaining becomes untenable
2. If they want him to go, they have every motivation to have that occur via his own voluntary resignation or by his breach of contract (because in either of those cases they don't have to pay out his contract). Making his position untenable increases the pressure on Barrett to quit, or to accept a much reduced payout so he can make a clean quick break.

Barrett
1. If he wants to stay then leaking his letter of demand makes little sense, as it simply destabilises the joint to the point where him remaining becomes untenable
2. If he wants to get out, it helps him to have it known that the team's failures may in part be not all his own fault. But does it really help him for that to be public? Insiders in NRL clubland looking for a new coach could easily get all that info in assessing whether they want Baz. Leaking it may help him only in one way - by bringing it all to a head, thus speeding up a resolution with Manly so he can quickly become available for other jobs eg Panthers. But it is a messy way to do that and damages his own credibility as well. Besides which, the Panthers job seems a stretch at this point - a premiership contender signs a coach whose team is battling for the spoon? Seriously?

Ethically there is no doubt Barrett's manager could be behind the leak, but personally I doubt that is with Barrett's own knowledge or blessing. Doesn't really add up, as it harms his reputation, though it does potentially speed up his Manly exit

Ethically there is no doubt Manly (Penns/Zorba) could be behind the leak, as they've pulled this kind of low stunt in the past (with Toovey). It forces things to a head, makes Barrett's position untenable, and increases that chance that he won't get a payout or only a reduced payout.

So if I was a detective the club would be my chief suspect!!

 

[Nice Beaver]

Always hard to guess who leaked, but look to who gains.

Club :
1. If they want Baz to stay and see out his contract, they have no motive to leak news of his letter of demand. It simply destabilises the joint to the point where him remaining becomes untenable
2. If they want him to go, they have every motivation to have that occur via his own voluntary resignation or by his breach of contract (because in either of those cases they don't have to pay out his contract). Making his position untenable increases the pressure on Barrett to quit, or to accept a much reduced payout so he can make a clean quick break.

Barrett
1. If he wants to stay then leaking his letter of demand makes little sense, as it simply destabilises the joint to the point where him remaining becomes untenable
2. If he wants to get out, it helps him to have it known that the team's failures may in part be not all his own fault. But does it really help him for that to be public? Insiders in NRL clubland looking for a new coach could easily get all that info in assessing whether they want Baz. Leaking it may help him only in one way - by bringing it all to a head, thus speeding up a resolution with Manly so he can quickly become available for other jobs eg Panthers. But it is a messy way to do that and damages his own credibility as well. Besides which, the Panthers job seems a stretch at this point - a premiership contender signs a coach whose team is battling for the spoon? Seriously?

Ethically there is no doubt Barrett's manager could be behind the leak, but personally I doubt that is with Barrett's own knowledge or blessing. Doesn't really add up, as it harms his reputation, though it does potentially speed up his Manly exit

Ethically there is no doubt Manly (Penns/Zorba) could be behind the leak, as they've pulled this kind of low stunt in the past (with Toovey). It forces things to a head, makes Barrett's position untenable, and increases that chance that he won't get a payout or only a reduced payout.

So if I was a detective the club would be my chief suspect!!

Well rather than the club....perhaps one, vindictive, none too intelligent fool who has outstayed his welcome......

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Always hard to guess who leaked, but look to who gains.

Club :
1. If they want Baz to stay and see out his contract, they have no motive to leak news of his letter of demand. It simply destabilises the joint to the point where him remaining becomes untenable
2. If they want him to go, they have every motivation to have that occur via his own voluntary resignation or by his breach of contract (because in either of those cases they don't have to pay out his contract). Making his position untenable increases the pressure on Barrett to quit, or to accept a much reduced payout so he can make a clean quick break.

Barrett
1. If he wants to stay then leaking his letter of demand makes little sense, as it simply destabilises the joint to the point where him remaining becomes untenable
2. If he wants to get out, it helps him to have it known that the team's failures may in part be not all his own fault. But does it really help him for that to be public? Insiders in NRL clubland looking for a new coach could easily get all that info in assessing whether they want Baz. Leaking it may help him only in one way - by bringing it all to a head, thus speeding up a resolution with Manly so he can quickly become available for other jobs eg Panthers. But it is a messy way to do that and damages his own credibility as well. Besides which, the Panthers job seems a stretch at this point - a premiership contender signs a coach whose team is battling for the spoon? Seriously?

Ethically there is no doubt Barrett's manager could be behind the leak, but personally I doubt that is with Barrett's own knowledge or blessing. Doesn't really add up, as it harms his reputation, though it does potentially speed up his Manly exit

Ethically there is no doubt Manly (Penns/Zorba) could be behind the leak, as they've pulled this kind of low stunt in the past (with Toovey). It forces things to a head, makes Barrett's position untenable, and increases that chance that he won't get a payout or only a reduced payout.

So if I was a detective the club would be my chief suspect!!

Don’t you just love the corporate world where back stabbing is common place and customers are just sausage roll eating nufties who are meaningless other than providing a cash flow?

 

[The Indian]

Seems perfectly obvious that Barrett is trying to get as much cash out of us as he can before he walks on to his next job and he's decided to move now cause he knows every week he stays here his reputation ( don't laugh ) is being damaged so badly he'll never get another NRL job again unless he moves now. The rest of it is just posturing from both sides.

Barrett and his manager are trying to change the media narrative from "Barrett failed at Manly" to " Manly's lack of resources is to blame not Trent".

Up until the past few weeks I was in Trent's corner and have posted many messages to that effect to give him a chance...... but I have turned and now think what he is doing ( off field ) is a disgrace and want him out ASAP.

 

[Mrs D]

Wow a bit of karma! I remember reading so many articles written falsely about myself and Max which were instigated by the Penn family to bag and tarnish the names and reputations of all involved at the Sea Eagles so as they looked good to the fans.
Now he is sitting asking why are people bagging his family? Maybe because people got sick of them bagging others.

No sympathy at all from me. Deserves all he gets.

I also remember when I met Max they suggested I was just a fling and it wouldn’t last. 9 years later we are still very happy and now happily married so all the undue stress you caused me during the early years of meeting Max were absolutely unnecessary. I wonder if his extra marital affairs with an American lady will last? Or if all his money will go to his wife in the divorce? I hope it does as she so rightly deserves it.

What is happening to the club is an absolute disgrace. From the management down to the players. They have been through multiple staffing, CEO’s, coaches, player movement all because they can’t get along with people as ego gets in the way. They are not sporting people, NOR NRL people for that matter. Their best interests don’t lie with the club more so what they can get out of it. They sold the leagues club that a profit on its own. Don’t they think it’s time to leave? Of course not because they would hate to be known as the ones that were in charge when Manly failed.

While I don’t believe Trent Barrett was a good coach for Manly I do believe he didn’t have the resources around him. In past years when Manly were doing well it was set up properly. Maybe the Penns should look at that structure and see it worked. Rather then ridding of all things to do with Delmege- including Eagles angels. It’s what worked! Swallow your pride Penn family and realise what your doing is not working. Your ruining the club

 

[manly al]

Seems perfectly obvious that Barrett is trying to get as much cash out of us as he can before he walks on to his next job and he's decided to move now cause he knows every week he stays here his reputation ( don't laugh ) is being damaged so badly he'll never get another NRL job again unless he moves now. The rest of it is just posturing from both sides.

Barrett and his manager are trying to change the media narrative from "Barrett failed at Manly" to " Manly's lack of resources is to blame not Trent".

Up until the past few weeks I was in Trent's corner and have posted many messages to that effect to give him a chance...... but I have turned and now think what he is doing ( off field ) is a disgrace and want him out ASAP.

Had a very similar view concerning Barret up until a few weeks ago also but subsequent disclosures since then and on balance really haven"t placed him in in a good light at all . Could certainly sympathize with him on the Hastings issue but just can not accept that areas like recruiting activities or whatever should have impacted or had that much adverse effect on his coaching role , especially with having the normal support coaching staff [ regardless of their general value , they were still there ] Whatever the rights or wrong of the situation now , something will have to be resolved soon as his coaching presence for too much longer [ and it does seem more of his own making ], is simply getting untenable .

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Had a very similar view concerning Barret up until a few weeks ago also but subsequent disclosures since then and on balance really haven"t placed him in in a good light at all . Could certainly sympathize with him on the Hastings issue but just can not accept that areas like recruiting activities or whatever should have impacted or had that much adverse effect on his coaching role , especially with having the normal support coaching staff [ regardless of their general value , they were still there ] Whatever the rights or wrong of the situation now , something will have to be resolved soon as his coaching presence for too much longer [ and it does seem more of his own making ], is simply getting untenable .

Not too dissimilar to myself.

I’ve supported him pretty much as he was “ our coach “ and allowed him due time to settle in BUT I think what’s transpired in the last two weeks is an absolute circus, instigated I believe by his Manager and then perpetuated by “ the leak” to make him look bad and them good!!

Both are at fault here however his position is untenable now and the sooner it’s over the sooner we can move on.

 

[The Wheel]

I actually think it’s Barrett’s manager who also manages Gus, griffin, Flanagan, cartwright and I think Maguire. Look at what the uncertainty has done. He’s got a massive payout for hook. He got Cartwright resigned and apparently facilities were ok for him. He’s got Flanagan offered an extension because the sharks are uncomfortable with the merry go round. He’s trying to manoeuvre Barrett for a payout and a new job.

This all stinks. A non accredited manager has way too much power over clubs. Meanwhile all this leaking that’s occurring helps his clients positions. This is all from a man that said the super league war was fantastic. What a ****wit

Guess who is Greenturds Manager??

And why he gave back his accreditation??

 

[Loobs]

Who is responsible for the team letting in 6 tries in 10 minutes twice in a few weeks..? Think Scott can wipe his hands of that one.

 

[Shoe1]

I think those statements from Scott Penn are fantastic. I’m glad he has spoken out.