Richie Barnett: Coaches take the flak for under-performing players

Jamal Idris. Photo / Getty Images

How come coaches are always in the gun but players aren't subject to the same sort of criticism? That's the main thought I had when I heard Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore stood down yesterday.

Every time a team struggles it seems the coach's job is on the line. But surely it's the players who are underperforming? Where's the accountability for players? Stats don't tell you everything but they can be pretty revealing and they are freely available these days.

I guess one reason is that coaches seldom criticise their players. Coaches tend to soak up whatever flak they have to and let the players get on with the job.

Sure, coaches can cop it on behalf of the team, but there have to be times when the players look in the mirror and ask "am I the problem?" Lack of accountability seems to be more of an issue with young players.

It wasn't Moore who coughed up eight errors against the Storm. It was the Bulldogs' back three. And yet Moore has paid the price.

You can guarantee the Warriors will be going to the air whenever they get a chance tonight.

There's a fair amount of similarity between the troubles Ben Barba has had with high kicks and Lance Hohaia's struggles this season. For starters, kickers have a heap of tricks these days. There're punt bombs, spiral bombs - fullback is a harder position to play these days. But part of the problem Barba and Hohaia have is they are smaller guys, which puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to contestable kicks. They are really under the pump.

The Dogs have now lost seven of their last nine but there are a couple of ways of looking at a stat like that. One is that they must be getting close to a win. They certainly have plenty of talent in their side.

Barba may be struggling to defuse kicks but he is an incredibly dangerous attacking player. He's scored the most tries this season and has also made the most linebreaks.

Jamal Idris is also a real handful. If the Dogs can sort out their act at the back, they have enough strike-power to win games.

With the massive Jamal Idris and Kiwis backrower Frank Pritchard sure to be rampaging out wide I think Ivan Cleary has done the right thing bringing Joel Moon back. Moon is a solid defender and should be able to cope with the big boys.

We're all wondering where Krisnan Inu is and why no one at the club will explain why he isn't in the team. Personally, I don't think you can play Inu at left centre when you've also got Shaun Johnson on that side. The fringe defence has been pretty shaky all season and I don't think Inu is a great defensive centre.

Sure, he could be brought back on the wing but he doesn't give the impression that he's trying hard enough. I'm pretty sure the coaches will be looking for much more commitment from him. Until they see that, he won't get back in the team.