A top flight coach is one that has had the top gig running a province, big Euro club or even international team.
Reds of 2010 get a top flight coach and win the comp in 2011
Brumbies get a top flight coach and get to the final in 2013
Tahs get a top flight coach and finish top of the log in 2014
What on earth made the Reds management of 2012 think they could bring in a non top flight coach, whose last gig was not going well, and possibly emulate the achievements above?
Even worse, they brought him in as understudy to the Link, making it very clear that he wasn't a top flight coach (could you ever imagine a Jake or Cheik accepting that role?)
The only way this could possibly have worked was if Graham had been instrumental as an assistant coach to what had happened in 2011, as Laurie Fisher and Larkham were for the Brumbies. But he wasn't.
Plenty have pointed out the shortcomings in the coaching above, but the top management has to take an at least equal dose of blame.
Reds of 2010 get a top flight coach and win the comp in 2011
Brumbies get a top flight coach and get to the final in 2013
Tahs get a top flight coach and finish top of the log in 2014
What on earth made the Reds management of 2012 think they could bring in a non top flight coach, whose last gig was not going well, and possibly emulate the achievements above?
Even worse, they brought him in as understudy to the Link, making it very clear that he wasn't a top flight coach (could you ever imagine a Jake or Cheik accepting that role?)
The only way this could possibly have worked was if Graham had been instrumental as an assistant coach to what had happened in 2011, as Laurie Fisher and Larkham were for the Brumbies. But he wasn't.
Plenty have pointed out the shortcomings in the coaching above, but the top management has to take an at least equal dose of blame.