DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
ComeAllWithin (Harlequins Rugby)
HTML https://comeallwithin.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: ComeAllWithin Board
*****************************************************
#Post#: 143835--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teams Up!
DIR By: SiB
Date: October 20, 2025, 5:31 am
---------------------------------------------------------
All will carry on regardless
Don’t forget it’s Big games soon, and if we win that at we beat
Sarries all will be fine
Actually enjoyed the day at Sandy park ( Aside from result) the
Chiefs supporters bar, just excellent, had the feel of a real
rugby club, not a corporate machine
The focus appears to be “ It’s OK we are making money” we’ve
lost players because we can’t compete with other clubs offers,
we are” Making do” with the coaching structure
Oh and let’s not forget we have a DJ and fireworks
#Post#: 143836--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teams Up!
DIR By: mrpj1985
Date: October 20, 2025, 5:50 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Archquin link ---
>
> I know we are all experts on this Board, but all seem to agree
that something needs changing - it's just how and when this can
be done as we are only 3 games into the season......
> This season could end up being a write-off with any meaningful
changes only being made for next season ........
>
--- End Quote ---
I think the season was probably a write off for any number of
reasons:
1) Coaching - Wilson not being let go and then leaving so close
to the season anyway, speaks to the kind of man he is and the
operation we are running. Couple that with just leveling up the
coaching staff we have already got in place, shows that we
weren't diagnosing any problems.
2) Culture - Millard replaced by Sanger. Not that there's
anything wrong with Sanger as an employee (clearly loved and
respected) but does speak to an overly comfy culture.
3) Recruitment/retention - The Argentines (Isgro excepted) have
had somewhere around 2 games, so I'll hold off a view until the
end of the season, although I think they're all promising. But
this theme of how we recruit, retain or develop players has been
maybe even pre-Gustard? So if there was a natural head on the
block for me, it would be Ed Spokes. As Maidstone mentioned, we
really needed to get a real body into replace Andre E, rather
than pigeon hole Northmore and pray Waghorn develops. As well as
that, look at how our own developed talent is doing well
elsewhere - Jibulu is impressing at Sale, Tizard continues to
impress at Saracens, even Will Joseph has gone on a tear at
Gloucester and Ibitoye continues to impress (a more unusual
case, I'll grant people.) Feeding this into the noises around
CCS leaving... Not great for me.
4) Injuries - We aren't alone in this, but I think for
yesterday, we'd probably be looking at missing from the 1st
choice 23 -
Launchbury (yes, I'm aware he's not been what he was, but I
think he's better than Lewies at this stage)
Dombrandt
Chisholm
Waghorn
Beard
Hard to see where the optimism can come from at the moment,
there's no point sugarcoating it.
#Post#: 143838--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teams Up!
DIR By: mrpj1985
Date: October 20, 2025, 6:00 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: mrpj1985 link ---
>
> I think the season was probably a write off for any number of
reasons:
> 1) Coaching - Wilson not being let go and then leaving so
close to the season anyway, speaks to the kind of man he is and
the operation we are running. Couple that with just leveling up
the coaching staff we have already got in place, shows that we
weren't diagnosing any problems.
>
> 2) Culture - Millard replaced by Sanger. Not that there's
anything wrong with Sanger as an employee (clearly loved and
respected) but does speak to an overly comfy culture.
>
> 3) Recruitment/retention - The Argentines (Isgro excepted)
have had somewhere around 2 games, so I'll hold off a view until
the end of the season, although I think they're all promising.
But this theme of how we recruit, retain or develop players has
been maybe even pre-Gustard? So if there was a natural head on
the block for me, it would be Ed Spokes. As Maidstone mentioned,
we really needed to get a real body into replace Andre E, rather
than pigeon hole Northmore and pray Waghorn develops. As well as
that, look at how our own developed talent is doing well
elsewhere - Jibulu is impressing at Sale, Tizard continues to
impress at Saracens, even Will Joseph has gone on a tear at
Gloucester and Ibitoye continues to impress (a more unusual
case, I'll grant people.) Feeding this into the noises around
CCS leaving... Not great for me.
>
> 4) Injuries - We aren't alone in this, but I think for
yesterday, we'd probably be looking at missing from the 1st
choice 23 -
> Launchbury (yes, I'm aware he's not been what he was, but I
think he's better than Lewies at this stage)
> Dombrandt
> Chisholm
> Waghorn
> Beard
>
> Hard to see where the optimism can come from at the moment,
there's no point sugarcoating it.
>
--- End Quote ---
HTML https://archive.is/sojhn
*Harlequins finished sixth last term, seven points shy of the
play-offs. That frustrated them, and a backroom reshuffle
resulted. A fortnight ago, Tabai Matson was shifted from senior
coach to director of performance development, with Billy Millard
becoming director of rugby in a set-up involving the incoming
Danny Wilson. “We did not achieve our ambitions on the pitch,”
said Laurie Dalrymple, the club’s chief executive, leaving no
room for misinterpretation. To his credit, wheels were already
in motion.*
Reading this: Moving Tabai for not reaching standards and then
not achieving those standards for the entire time of his
successor's time. [emoji25]
#Post#: 143840--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teams Up!
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: October 20, 2025, 6:17 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: SiB link ---
>
> ...
> The focus appears to be “ It’s OK we are making money”
> ...
>
--- End Quote ---
Absolutely. Our success will be judged on home attendances,
including Big Games obviously.
#Post#: 143841--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teams Up!
DIR By: Rocker
Date: October 20, 2025, 7:28 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Brown Bottle link ---
>
> Absolutely. Our success will be judged on home attendances,
including Big Games obviously.
>
--- End Quote ---
That isn't the measure of success long term, I can't imagine
that if Quins keep getting left behind by the other teams that
the crowds will keep coming.
#Post#: 143845--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teams Up!
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: October 20, 2025, 7:47 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Rocker link ---
>
> That isn't the measure of success long term, I can't imagine
that if Quins keep getting left behind by the other teams that
the crowds will keep coming.
>
--- End Quote ---
Quins have been coming about 6-7th most seasons in the last 30
years; attendances have gone up and we are one of the most
expensive clubs to watch in the league.
Ok, if we end up losing nearly all our home games and staying up
through ring-fencing then that might change but we don't appear
to have, or need, a very high bar.
#Post#: 143847--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teams Up!
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: October 20, 2025, 8:35 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Brown Bottle link ---
>
> Quins have been coming about 6-7th most seasons in the last 30
years; attendances have gone up and we are one of the most
expensive clubs to watch in the league.
>
> Ok, if we end up losing nearly all our home games and staying
up through ring-fencing then that might change but we don't
appear to have, or need, a very high bar.
>
--- End Quote ---
We've always been fairly consistent on the whole with our end of
season places, but i think as you reference with cost we
probably don't get value for money in terms of cost of product
for output so to speak. In general it feels whilst other clubs
have had a structured plan being put into place, we've stood
fairly still.
I do get a slight feeling the suits have taken the fanbase for
granted a bit. I mean in the sense of a continued loyal support,
selling matches out rain or shine, and buying into the TGB and
subsequently BSKO. However I think the focus shifted off the on
field product too much, instead seemingly looking to be with the
in social media crowd and all that entails (I recall we were one
of the most interacted with RU sides on socials, or at least
were the more marketable s ides). We had that disastrous crypto
thing for one, and the match day village probably isn't as good
as it used to be, all whilst launching new cash cow ideas
appealing to the hospitality crowd. They have their place of
course to generate revenue, and its good we are trying to avoid
living beyond our means, but its time for someone to come in
with a proper vision.
How things are now remind me of when David Ellis was here, who I
met in a meeting to slag him off to his face (ok, not quite but
I did say where we were going wrong with JK and i came away
thinking DE was living in cloud cuckoo land - and he was). The
emphasis back then was turning the stoop into some gig venue and
we seemed to steer too far away from what we actually go to the
ground for - the team on the pitch.
#Post#: 143848--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teams Up!
DIR By: Quinky
Date: October 20, 2025, 8:41 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: MaidstoneQuin link ---
>
> we probably don't get value for money in terms of cost of
product for output so to speak.
>
--- End Quote ---
How do you measure value from rugby? A win? A good, entertaining
performance regardless of result? A nice day out?
Most Quins fans seem (thankfully) not to be a "winning is
everything" type. Sure, it's always better than losing, but at
the expense of entertainment?
#Post#: 143849--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teams Up!
DIR By: mrpj1985
Date: October 20, 2025, 8:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Quinky link ---
>
> How do you measure value from rugby? A win? A good,
entertaining performance regardless of result? A nice day out?
>
> Most Quins fans seem (thankfully) not to be a "winning is
everything" type. Sure, it's always better than losing, but at
the expense of entertainment?
>
--- End Quote ---
It's a fair question.
I think you need to be achieving 2/3 against the 3 questions -
Did you have a good day out? (At The Stoop it's 90% Yes,
Twickenham a bit more hit and miss)
Were you entertained? (Been less than 50% in the Wilson and
post-Wilson eras)
Did you win? (Been around 50% at home in the Wilson and
post-Wilson eras, the away form considerably worse)
#Post#: 143850--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teams Up!
DIR By: Quinto
Date: October 20, 2025, 9:09 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Mike Brown on Linkedin
''Leadership, Culture and Consistency: Lessons from Harlequins
I watched my old team, Harlequins beat Saracens 20–14 on Sunday.
What a win. That fixture was always one of my favourites,
especially at a packed Stoop, with the emotion, the edge.
But I’ve seen this before. It happened plenty of times across my
18 years at the club. Quins can rise for the big occasions, but
the real challenge has always been doing it every week.
It’s never been about talent. The club’s full of quality
players. The culture is unique, fun, expressive, full of
character. But that same freedom and flair can slip into
inconsistency if it’s not backed by discipline, detail, and
standards.
I think the next step for this team isn’t to lose who they are,
but to evolve, turn that freedom into something that delivers
every week.
If I were leading that environment, I’d focus on:
1-Define “our best.” Everyone should know what top performance
looks like daily, not just on game day.
2- Make accountability cultural. Teammates holding each other to
the same standards, no matter who they are.
3- Take ‘enjoyment’ from the hard stuff daily. The graft, the
grind, the detail that wins games. The defence set, the repeat
effort, the work rate, being unbelievable physical.
4- Drive competition. Push everyone daily when it’s time for
work. Comfort kills consistency.
5- Create emotional connection weekly. Don’t just find the
Saracens-level motivation for the big ones, build it into every
fixture.
The last few seasons (6th, 6th, 7th) show the pattern. The Quins
identity is powerful, but I believe it needs structure,
accountability, and alignment to turn that energy into
consistent performance.
You don’t change the Quins DNA, but refine it. Flair with
ruthlessness. Joy with discipline. Expression with execution.
That’s how you turn ‘turning up for Sarries’ into ‘turning up
every week’.
Interested to hear, what do you think Quins need to do to take
that next step towards consistent performance?''
*****************************************************
Page 16 of 20
DIR Previous Page
DIR Next Page