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
Fact is we are persisting with Kelma who isn't a footballer, he is talented but not a footballer. He'd struggle in penriths system and would need a few years like Alamoti and Blaze.
Iongi came from the penrith system and is a standout. Hopgood the same and was excellent before his injury.
BA ruined our pathways with his nepo babies. He purposely kept a dud fullback as a half in reserves for years pretending he was an on field experience trainer.
Just remember LB, because you spend your life on this site doesn't mean you know more than others.
Oh sorry i hurt your feelings Kurupt, god forbid someone has a different opinion to you. If you don't like that maybe this site is not for you considering you rebuffing my arguments would make it that you know more than me? Isn't that everyone here? Get a grip mate.
If you look at my wording i said a few not all would be nobodies in their system, Jenkins my prime example. Your Iongi's are definitely those who benefitted from Penrith system though there are a lot juniors who left to other clubs and done nothing either. Harrison Hassett, Niwhai Puru, Hohepa Puru, Maverik Geyer, David Fale, Francis Manuleleua are some examples of juniors who are nobodies from their system. But what they do better than any club is picking the right juniors to stay. The only one that got away was Isaiya Katoa. So yeah Iongi worked out, Hopgood was good til his back injury, fair but not all come out of the Penrith system automatic guns. Sorensen, Salmon, Cogger, Schneider. Nobodies going in, guns coming out and the latter 3 have not done much since leaving.
You say though Tuilagi would struggle in Penrith system but also would need a few years like Blaize and Alamoti. By few years you mean 1 year? So which is it? Tuilagi would never be good enough for Penrith or the system would fix him?
As for pathways. Head coaches are not in charge of pathways. They can have a say in terms the type of players they want, but it is then up to the head of pathways to get that type of player and provide the pathways with the best players to then present to the coach once they progress through Harold Matts to Jersey Flegg. Once they begin the steady rise to training with FG is when the head coach starts to dictate what is happening to that player. But the pathways themselves from 15's up had nothing to do with BA and neither Ryles.
Jake still made junior rep teams and lead Patrician Brothers to a title, though he is not good in top grade it was not like he had no resume coming into the pathways. Those honours had nothing to do with BA. So it is not like BA went around and signed this player and this player and this player. He can have a say on types of players but the head of pathways, Ben Rogers and MON are the ones who recruit these players.
As for Rankin, nothing to do with pathways at all. Thats a decision that effects FG not pathways. At the time we didn't even have a Halfback ready to play Cup once Jake left for Manly, Sanders was in Flegg developing.
Look at the pathways in 2023-24 when BA was still coach, here are some of the names that are in the pathways: Lincoln Fletcher, Lorenzo Talataina, Ryda Talagi, Samuel Polley, Michael Nauer, Jezaiah Funa-Iuta, Lachlan Coinakis, Sam Tuivaiti, Charlie Guymer, Blaize Talagi, Apa Twidle, Mohammad Alamaddine, Ethan Sanders to name a few. These are players Ryles has and is looking at for the future. BA was here when they were starting the pathways. So if he has control as you think he does then he is responsible for these players and how they turn out. If he ruined the pathways how are these players, a few turning into quality players, doing well?
I say MON is the one to look at with pathways as he, with the head of pathways, are the ones who signed and recruited these kids.
I wanted BA gone when he eventually went in 2024. I felt change was needed and he did some things that was not good for the FG team. But the constant bashing and finger pointing solely on him is getting tiring, not saying he ain't at fault but seriously people are blaming him for things he was not solely in charge of.
Hope this post of me arguing against your thoughts didn't hurt your feelings too much.
LB you must admit the club was using Reserve Grade for the wrong purpose under Brad Arthur and he had a severe reluctance to give young players a chance.
LB, TLDR. Just saying you don't need to put your opinion against everyone elses. Look at how many posts you make. You started the conversation with can we stop saying blahblahblah. I think you are a good guy, but guy, you are starting to be like Brissy, how long before you let this footy forum consume your whole life.
If you look at my comments not all are against what people are saying. Some of them i add what people are saying or simply agree or answer a question they pose.
I appreciate you calling me a good guy and i reciprecate by apologising my response to you but it is not consuming my life. I have a great job, a house, a wife and son who i spend so much time with. It seems i am on here a lot but i use my time well. So i understand what you are saying but i guess it is just me wanting to form conversations. Not wanting to be a sorry me thing but it's true as i have only this site to really talk footy with since my dad passed so this is my avenue to talk what i love haha.
So again, sorry for my condenscending comment.
I think they continue to do so John, i am old fashioned, I believe a strong reserve grade is essential for teams to go on a win premierships.
Mind you are talking to someone who went for years watching 3 grades of Parra every week.
I miss those days, where dad and i would rock up to the old Parra stadium before FG and watch what was then called Premier League. Early 2000's seeing Steve and Michael Witt, Ronald Prince, Pat Richards, Scott Donald, Daniel Irvine etc. running around we actually got to see the reserves every week play and see how everyone was going.
Has nothing to do with pathways and the players at his disposal. Pathways starts as young as 15. I can admit there were issues but BA had nothing to do with our pathways, MON had more to do with the set up of our pathways. Same as Ryles has nothing to do with pathways.
They could play kids or journey man in Cup but what is it to BA? Having Rankin in Cup does nothing for BA in FG as he wouldn't be picking him. Rankin was there to be that leader and older head, wouldn't you say that is to help kids come through? Plenty of kids came into Cup during BA years, doesn't mean he has to pick them in FG which is his job.
He gave Blaize a chance as a 19 year old? Mahoney, Niukore, Stone, Kaufusi, Salmon, Penisini all got debuts under BA. Did he rely too much on older heads majority of the time? Yes but he still played juniors and they were brought into cup at young ages, but again BA doesn't have to pick them if he feels they are not ready. That is not using Cup wrong.
If you are referring to not bringing in kids from Flegg to Cup, well why would BA be reluctant to not allow NSW Cup coach to bring pathway players through into Cup? Doesn't do anything to FG as he would have his top 30 anyway to choose from. Not all the 17 in Cup is made of top 30 players that BA just wanted playing so the kids didn't get a run. Certain juniors filled the gaps. If they are playing Cup then they using Cup for the purpose of having reserve players.
Look at our front office i doubt any of them would get a gig anywhere else.
Our Front Office made some very poor decisions back around 2022 when they re-signed Paulo, Campbell-Gillard, Matterson, Lane and Cartwright.
The future of the club should of been Papali'i, Kaufusi, Nuikore, Stone etc.
I understand Nuikore may have wanted to go home to New Zealand but money talks.
We have failed on the field since these players left.
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