17 May 2006

Laurie Fisher Signed On For Another 2 Years

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Brumbies Rugby has just put out the below media release on Laurie Fisher being signed on as coach for another 2 years (coups withstanding)

I’ve also included the list of players on contract and off contract at the end.

The CA Brumbies have today re-signed Head Coach Laurie Fisher for a further two seasons.
Fisher’s new deal will see him through until the end of the 2008 Super 14 season, making him the
equal longest serving Brumbies Coach alongside Eddie Jones, who was Coach between 1998
and 2001.

The 48-year-old Canberra born and raised Coach was appointed Head Coach of the CA
Brumbies for the 2005 Tooheys New Super 12 season after progressing through the coaching
ranks, where he started in 2000 as Coach of the Brumbies Academy.

Despite failing to reach the finals in each of his first two seasons at the helm, Fisher believes that
the Brumbies are well positioned leading into the next two years.

“Not withstanding the fact that we haven’t been in the finals the last two years, I think we’ve really
taken our game forward this year,” said Fisher.
“We’re going to lose a number of key senior players over the next two years, so it’s a very
important period for us.
That said, I think fundamentally we’re in a good healthy position. We’ve got a good playing roster
and a fantastic coaching staff. There are areas of our game that we can continue to improve on
but we’ve got a pretty good foundation to take us forward,” he said.

Brumbies Rugby CEO Andrew Fagan said that the organisation had moved quickly to secure
Fisher’s future.
“Laurie’s and great Coach and he has managed to take the team forward again this year,” he
said. “We were obviously disappointed not to make the finals but there were certainly a number of pleasing aspects about the team and the performance of a number of individuals, so we’re
delighted to have (his new contract) locked away. “Both Laurie and (Brumbies management) had set some goals and we’ve been very happy with what he’s been able to achieve over the past two years,” said Fagan.

Fagan is confident that Fisher will continue to build on the Brumbies legacy of success. “The Brumbies has been built around success. We’ve won two championships in the past and
we’re confident that Laurie has the capacity, experience and skills to get us there again,” he said.

Fisher, who boasts a 54% success rate as Brumbies Coach despite not yet reaching the finals,
acknowledged that there is pressure on himself and the team over the next two seasons. “There is pressure but you have to have to have faith in the people you’re working with and in your own ability to do the job. If you’ve got that then you can only produce your best,” he said.
“I’m not going to be thinking about where I’ll be in two years or one year, I’ve just got to knuckle
down and do the work and focus on improving the team’s performance to get us back to the top.”

Lawrence Neil Fisher
Born 25 April 1958, Canberra
Head Coaching Appointments
2000-2003 Brumbies Academy Coach
2000-2002 Australian Universities
2002-2003 Canberra Vikings
2003 Brumby Runners
2003-2004 Australian Under 21s
2005-2006 CA Brumbies Head Coach
Win/Loss record as CA Brumbies Head Coach: 24 matches, 13 wins, 9 losses, 2 drawn.

Brumbies Players

Gone
Matt Giteau Western Force
Joel Wilson Kobe Steel

Staying
George Smith
Stirling Mortlock (c)
Guy Sheperdson
Mark Chisholm
Adam Wallace-Harrison
Adam Ashley-Cooper
Julian Salvi
Stephen Larkham (vc)
Jeremy Paul (vc)
George Gregan
Bill Young
Daniel Heenan
Mark Gerrard
Clyde Rathbone
Patrick Phibbs
David Palavi
Luke Burgess
Salesi Ma’afu

Off Contract
Gene Fairbanks
Nic Henderson
Jone Tawake
Alister Campbell
James McCormack
Radike Samo
Ben Batger
Peter Owens
Ben White

Rookies
Tim Curran
John Ulugia
Anthony Faingaa
Saia Faingaa
Richard Stanford

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I reckon fitness could have been an issue this season. In the big games (such as the pansies & the Crusaders), they matched it for 60 or 70 minutes & then imploded.

Like the Raiders the Brumbies reward failure with a new contract. Not only is he a poor coach he also looks weird.

I wish he’d teach his players how to pass and catch the ball properly: that’d be a good start.

Maybe they should take a leaf out of the early-1980s All Black training manual: practice passing with housebricks?

I’m no strong fan of Fisher, but lets keep some perspective about the Brumbies performances under him.

He’s in charge of a team with key players that are aging and/or injury prone. His challenge now is to transition that team from relying on these players to deveoping new stars. I emphasise the ‘developing’ bit because the days of buying an established star, or borderline star from another union appear to be gone.

Why do they like Fisher? He’s part of the family. been there for yonks and fits into the player-power model that has made the Brumbies successful.

Give us an alternative? Kafer? Bring back Nucifora after his troubles with the Blues?

I’m baffled by this, so much so I’ve just had 3 bottles of Hahn Premium while I mull it over and I’m still baffled. Why is Fisher so ‘loved’ by the Brumbies Organisation?

“I think we’ve really
taken our game forward this year,” said Fisher.

What? by heading further down the ladder?

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t advocate changing coaches at every turn but putting a sprig of parsly on a shit sandwich doesn’t change the fact it’s still a shit sandwich.

Slinky the Shocker3:22 pm 17 May 06

Never change a losing team *he he he*

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