Damning statistics tell the story

The expressions paint a picture as Steelform Wanganui coach Karl Hoskin makes his way down to the field near fulltime of the Lochore Cup semifinal on Saturday. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

New visions and concepts are abstract, open to all kinds of interpretations, but the statistics don't lie. In fact, they can damn.

Twelve months ago, under considerable scrutiny, the Wanganui Rugby Union board, minus their chairman because of a conflict of interest, set aside the accomplishments of coach Jason Caskey to usher in Karl Hoskin under the banner of change.

Well, there was change all right.

A 4-5 losing record, the end of the Cooks Gardens 30-game winning streak, three defeats to the South Island coastal teams and zero Pink Batts Heartland trophies is what was delivered and now the inquisition begins.

Key to what the WRFU board must decide is: Do these abysmal results reflect the man at the helm, or the circumstances of the ship's crew, and, most importantly which is more likely to sail them back out of rough waters.

Many had feared one day the necessary reliance on a small group of experienced but aging players from a local competition dominated by one power club or another would expose the lack of a wider-ranging development for future stars coming through.

Hoskin knew the gaps were there and set his agenda to begin to rectify it - no reliance on imports, the breech will be filled by locals who must step up.

Full commitment was required - no pre-season training sessions, no play.

It ruffled feathers and it has to be asked if it unified the locker room, or lost it.

Wanganui's key individuals are now all entering their early to mid-30s - veterans who knew what worked for them under Caskey, Guy Lennox and Milton Haig.

When a newcomer takes over, how do they tell players with multiple Meads Cup titles that what they know is no longer effective? Can you change their ingrained methods?

In 2013 there was this new school of thought versus the tried-and-true and instead of putting out some combination, or even the best option, of each style on any given Saturday, it all collapsed to nothing.

Emails received from southern media after September's 27-15 loss to North Otago in Oamaru said the former Wanganui powerhouse machine now looked far too one-dimensional.

They would know - North Otago swallowed their pride after dropping two games and put themselves back together on the way to another Meads Cup final.

Hoskin said every week after losses that his players needed "honest reflection".

Captain Peter Rowe would then say he could not put his finger on why they had no cohesion.

Clearly people were talking and hearing, but not listening.

So, back to the WRFU board's impending decision.

The core of this team are still the go-to men to put Wanganui back on top but to do that requires a gameplan which reflects their ability and is drilled intently to see it prospers - three of the losses this season could have easily been pulled out even after things went wrong.

But among those veterans has to be some dynamic new blood - players brought into a stable environment where they can evolve quickly.

Both the next tier of Wanganui teams - the Development XV and the Under 20s - won their championships this year.

There is no doubting the ability of Hoskin to recognise that talent and bring them into the frame.

Picture a 2014 Meads Cup final where a young Tyler Rogers-Holden puts fellow 20-year-old Robert Lavin through the gap to score, with Zyon Hekenui coolly adding the winning conversion.

Hoskin's vision in that regard would then be proven correct.

But he may not be in the coach's box to see it.