How Are We So Far Behind?
Another season outside the top 8—and honestly, it feels like we’re further away than ever.
It’s not just that we’re losing games. It’s the gap. The difference between us and the top teams feels like light years. What’s worse is that being “competitive” now gets talked about like it’s some sort of achievement. Since when did that become the standard?
As a fan, there’s no confidence week to week. You go into games not knowing what version of the team is going to show up. Defence is a constant question mark. Goal kicking feels like a lottery. And when you look at recruitment and retention, it’s hard to say we’ve got it right—the decision-making around signings (like Pezet) raises more questions than answers.
Even the junior pipeline, which should be a source of hope, doesn’t exactly look stacked with standout talent ready to change the club’s direction.
Yes, there are some signs for the future. You can see glimpses here and there, and there are moments where things look like they might be heading somewhere. But let’s be honest—it still feels like a long, long road before we’re genuinely competing with the top sides, not just hanging in games.
Right now, it doesn’t feel like we’re building toward success—it feels like we’re trying to catch up to a standard that keeps moving further away.
And that’s the most frustrating part.
Replies
JB, Niukore's wife was extremely ill till the end of his contract, effectively his kids were being looked after by Brad Arthur's wife and he had to return to NZ where actual family could look after his wife and kids,
PS Nuikure has hardly set the world on fire since he has been home, was no 18 I think on the Warriors list the other day.
Papillii is basically a mercenary and yes he was a loss. Kaufusi has been a failure at Cronulla and Ray Stone god love him is a walking injury ward.
Campbell_Gillard did a good job untill off loaded last year (good timing by Ryles) Paulo will go down as a Parra great, Matterson is the enigma he is, but a victim in my mind over his 4k fine and Lane is a very intelligent young man who realised that getting your self knocked around every week was not for him!
So we can agree to disagree I don't believe that sits on the front office, that's GM Football, the coach and lets say the CEO in the final salary costs making decisions.
The thing about 2022 wasn't so much who we lost, it was a little bit, but how much we lost. We lost so much at once and it was hard to cover with quality.
There is upside since Ryles came on board, I like that he won't pander to the Matterson and Guthos of the world. I like the backbone the club showed recently against Melbourne and the NRL. We just need better people in recruitment. Cheify copped a lot of slack when he was calling for BAs head, but people have to admit he gets it right most of the time and right now we should be going after Shane Richardson like he said, the man delivers.
Just need a prick. Need someone in their who doesn't give a damn what people think and just gets things done. Richardson as the example.
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