After a long hard think, I think the most important element missing from the club is a figurehead. Someone that's been there, done it, has the respect of the fans and the NRL and is a champion. Someone whose personality brings positiveness and will bring back the fans giving them hope and the sponsors who will see dollar signs associated with the club. We will catch the imagination and the feel good factor will come back to Parra. For now we are just wallowing in our our tears, anger and frustration because nothing and NO ONE can excite us making Parra a club players want to be at.
3 people fit that bill for me. Feel free to add your own.
1) Brad Fittler. He managed to wrestle the SOO Shield off a much more experience QLD team. The NSW players love him. He's from the Panthers who have the best juniour set up, but he's also from the Roosters who are a champion club and are challenging for the premiership pretty much ever year.
2) Cameron Smith. He's not getting any younger. We should offer him the position if not for 2019 taking him into playing retirement but from 2020 onwards when BA's contract expires.
3) Wayne Bennett. Been there and done it 6 times. One of the top 5 coaches of all time. He knows what winning is all about and what it takes. He maybe 68 but he still has the hunger. Parra could be his crowning acheivement as it was for Jack Gibson.
What am I getting too? We need a successful person from a successful club and none are more than the 3 I mentioned in the last 20 years.
I will to stick my head in the guillotine that if we pull a coup and sign one of these champions, membership will explode to 30K+ and the sponsors will come begging to join the good ship Parra.
The good times will come back sooner than later.
Replies
John Quayle as a figure head/head of football.
Agree mate, been saying it for years, we need people from outside the club to bring the right culture here.
No more jobs for the golden boys like Cayless, look where thats got us.
We had Quayle offer support and didn't take him , what's wrong with them , he is the best administrator the game ever had .. look at his patience once he was appointed to the knights , there was no panic how they travelled as knew Bennett left them a mess and got the ready for the west's buyout
To be fair Fongy hes a bit past it now.