With all the speculation that we are expected to shed multiple players to be cap compliant and play for points this year, in the vain hope of salvaging any opportunity to play semi final footy, it seems borderline suicide to the efforts BA has built over his tenure as coach.
There has been a plethora of suggestions in how we respond, and who we should release. Watmoughs injury / retirement seems likely, however the NRL still needs to approve the request and given their form with the Eels i believe it is highly unlikely.
Players like Semi, Corey and even Junior are being touted as early release or off load options to maximise our chances of becoming cap compliant, yet this simply sets our current rebuild efforts over the last few seasons as for nought.
Well I have kept quiet over this diabolical saga, digested the NRL sanctions and refuse outright the media vomit they call journalism - to put it plainly we are still not acutely aware of what exactly has transpired - no concrete evidence has been uncovered / exposed. The directors if evidence suggests are guilty of mismanagement should simply walk, but in all fairness in any corporate environment, those charges must be clear and supported beyond reasonable doubt - to date it has not.
The directors must receive the entire investigation evidence and then given enough time to respond in kind - not allow a witch hunt by media and endorsed by the NRL.
It's time to draw your line in the sand and have your say on whether we simply accept the NRL sanctions and shed players for points this year or tell the NRL we are are not going to play their game and remain tight and together as a playing group.
My say is simple ......... Fck the points - stay together and keep our team.
Draw your line
Replies
And if we must play for no points, id like to see us try to play a few games in the style of the Ipswich Jets, just to see if it translates to the top level..
Possibly Drag it through the courts , ( without checking the draw as to who we have left )!beat all the NRL run clubs , Beat Brisbane , Beat Melbourne , beat Canberra and rest our stars through the others . By 2017 their penalties are null and void and we are back in business with the core of this years team still together . NRL want us to cave to the pressure of the fans and dismantle our team . Where will that leave us this year anyway ? We ain't playing semi finals footy .
Even playing field my ass
My opinion;
The NRL has given us an unreachable carrot in an unreasonable time frame and to try and reach it we have to off load good players who are big money for very little money off the Cap.
So, if letting Watmough go doesnt instantly fix the problem, I say we play for no points and use the time to organise the pieces of our 2017 puzzle and also wade through the NRL findings to see if their punishment is fair and just.
To accept the NRL verdict is 100% correct on face value is like accepting that the bunker is always right.
Lets watch this play out and give those affected the support and chance to sort out their futures. That includes players who are off contract at the end of the year.
At the end of the day we are not any closer to unearthing the cold hard facts, as an Eels member i want full disclosure. I don't want NRL sanctions imposed based on innuendo, previous board members spite and countless other factions with there own agendas.
I was sickened to watch Fitzy gloat so openly - this is the same clown who chased outside board positions (union, Soccer etc) pushed for mergers and claimed our mighty Eels would be bankrupt in the next 5 years or so.
Tell me if this sounds fair?
Let's tell Sharp and co to stand down without questioning the umpires decision, lets try to release a few of our better players before the 10 day deadline and then let's try to make the semis this year with only 15 games to go - without a guarantee that if we make a run towards the semis that the witch hunt stops now.
Ridiculous.
In all honesty, if we tear down the side that BA has built, to appease the dictatorial NRL, we may as well forget about being competitive for a few more years to come.
Frank spot on mate.
It's actually gaulling to think that there has been no hearing, no evidence forth coming, no one being show cased as to who provided the finger pointing. seriously are we that stupid to believe that the NRL state that we have rorted the system for years and then cop the punishment as is.
Surely if we ourselves were charged by say "the police' and sanctions and penalties imposed, would we not want proof evidence to justify their actions - i know the fck i would.
Another thing that irks me - Whom the fek leaked all the damage? As poppa stated earlier in his blog - was there embellishment involved?, tall stories and other spiteful bullshit.
I say this to the NRL - come forward with your evidence and reveal your sources, so we may see the real extent.
If the board is found to be guilty, hangem from the highest tree, but dont smear there efforts because of revenge from previous factions.
One last point that really pissed me off - did anyone notice the slimy grin on Bulldog ritches face as Fitzy waffled on about his fekn darkest days crap. I just wanted to slap it off his face - could you enjoy anymore ritchie.