2015 was the disaster year when the shit hit the fan, we lost points, million dollar fines, unloading of players for salary cap bungles.
It was said it will be years before Parra can catch up and adjust into being a competitive force.
Well it was addressed with the appoinment of Brad Arthur and within the confines of the resources, nobody expected us to come out so quickly from those doldrums. 2018 was a hiccup and the coaching and resources were adequate up to that stage. This was probably the step back we had to have, but it also involved change and BA misread this change. Subsequent events shows these type of changes in rules and strategies were his achillies heal.
Subsequent success basically pinacled in 2021 when the window was supposedly open, but essentially we weren't good enough. The worst thing that happened was the miracle of 2022 and a grand final and the delusion of success. It was really that 22 season where we were starting to falter inclusive of the destabilisation of the Jake Arthur scenario. At this time we were all seeing what we are saying now, we saw the signs last year and this year is shaping as a disaster. Shit happens, no need to crucify anyone, which is the mentality of a lot on here. I am sure everyone was/is doing their best. Just not good enough.
Its time now to look at that in reflection and move on. I have never thought that we had a roster that would win us a competetion, I looked at the positives and was optimistic, the pros and cons were always subjective.
The club has faltered now and lets see and give it the chance to rebalance. Taking positive steps rather than fantasy games of selections, recruitment and wishing wells.
We have done too much blaming and handwringing. We have plenty of company amongst other clubs. Penrith are now on a slight decline and powerhouses like Roosters and Melbourne whilst still out there and threatening are not what they were. Broncos are the new kid on the block and they have/are coming off the back of a horror period. They should have won it last year and the talent they have is exceptional but that came from a period not that much different to ourselves. We are not the laughing stock we accuse ourselves of being, we are no different to any other team which gets beaton by 30/40 points.
It seems to me that the asylum of fans, especially 1EE's have got a lot of confusion confronting them and a huge problem in understanding this is a professional business and not a case of sitting in the corner, putting in your thumb and pulling out a "plumb"..
There is a huge drive by fans on this site to think that with a wish the board will sign Wayne Bennett as the saviour.
Mutts has outlined as much with what he would do. Everything is fine except we have no idea if Bennett would be interested?
Lets go back to Mutts programme, he finishes BA next week (good timing the bye week) and simultanously rings (the board that is) Bennett to confirm his interest, appoints Barrett to finish the season.. Lets assume Bennett has given some consideration in the "dry laconic style he has" but is not prepared to commit untill his season with Phins is finished, why would he stop mid season and plan anything that is not in his head already. He would need to meet the board, discuss the aspects and autonomy and then decide. He then would offer an informal commitment with an undertaking that if any leaks take place he is out! Mutts wants to simulataneously advertsie for assistants, NO Bennett will get who he wants, he knows who he can work with.
Finally someone can remind me that Bennett was all ready to coach a side (I think it may have been the Roosters) and it got leaked and he closed everything down. He doesn't like big mouths and god knows that this board to date can keep its mouth shut, a positive and a negative with regard to communication when I blogged specifically about this.
Now if Bennett does not want the job 50/50 for mine, you can all start speculating over the new coach for the hundredth time. There is no doubt we need to change but we have the essence of a good side, with the exception of "speed" a fully fit side with Lomax included, a decent hooker (Matt Arthur looks the goods) a classie utility player like a Connor Watson and a running forward like Angus Chricton. Maybe a winger like Toupu from Roosters (immediate experience and say two years off retirement) and a build up back load of recruiting speed and athleticism, Coryn has been talking about grabbing 7's players for ages.
We get rid of Sivo, Harper, and half a dozen of our reserve forwards and anyone else in reserve grade that is not capable of filling into first grade when required i.e. Hands and Lussick as pure back ups but the nucleus of a good 2nd Grade side, ..........last thing a dedicated sprint coach!!!!
The board also has look at functional issues like TPA's which will allow us to fill our roster with next level players in back up and also finding a board memeber with football experience, I said the other day Sterlo would be perfect or someone like Beau Scott and finally go make an offer to Matt Cameron too good to refuse to be our new head of football. It maybe impractical to sack BA and MON at the same time but MON is also to finish this year. Once some one like Cameron was appointed then he will look after Bennett's need's and be the link back to the board.
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The club , its supporters and sponsors need to beleive in something.
Wether that's a player, coach an idea or a promise of success.
At the moment for many reasons, supporters have lost faith, the coaching staff have lost their ability to inspire and sponsors are losing interest.
The board as it stands need to look at what happens from here.
1: The board sit on there hands and the players and coaching staff get there season back on track.
2: The board sit on there hands , the season lurches from one disaster to the next with a supporter and media pile resulting in loss of revenue, respectability which hinders recruitment and retention .
3:The board get proactive and begin forcing change within the football department moving forward identifying the best coaching staff , recruitment officers , medical and administrative staff available to ensure the clubs long term success while the current players and coaching staff get there season back on track.
4:The board get proactive and begin forcing change within the football department moving forward identifying the best coaching staff, recruitment officers , medical and administrative staff available to ensure the clubs long term success . While our season lurches from one disaster to the next with a supporter and media pile on.
Which one of those 4 positions the club takes will dictate our next decade .
As it is with most organisations if you want success you have to sometimes sacrifice yourself.
Everyone involved in the clubs administration should be looking to improve the calibre of people at the organisation in every role even theirs
You don't improve by keeping the status quo , We won't become the best club in NRL land unless we hire the best .
It seems there are too many people who want to stay involved with club for selfish reasons rather then improve the success of the club.
Everyone involved in the club needs to see a pathway to success and the club is going to have to go to market.
A proven premiership Coach, administrator and football manager would galvanise the club immediately and ensure we stop haemorrhaging and move towards success.
Club always comes first.
Brilliant post Bups......I love your unselfish quote.... it is exactly what needs to be done, options 1 & 2 are out the door.
You know it is not hard to imagine why anyone wants to stay Bup's. I think that is why is is imperative that we get an experienced coach like a Bennett and after that maybe Madge......I'm sure there are some good young aspiring coaches but this club needs a senior coach to provide a platform to prevent such exits.
All said but I am not overly optimistic about getting Bennett.....hope I'm wrong!
NB If keary retires, I would love to get him as an assistant coach?
Warriors won't be far behind them with Shaun Johnson's future up in the air I could see DB following JFH and heading home.DBs been at Parra for nie on 8 yrs.
Pops, as an aside, seeing you're big on our "need for speed": Armstrong that young Knights' fullback might be a watch. He's impressive. Plenty of pizzaz. And apparently they have another young fullback who is a few weeks from returning from injury who they rate even higher.
Yes Phil, I don't know where the clubs find them but it seems we have big problems in coming up with AGILITY AND SPEED.
I wonder with Canberra entering this period of doldrums vis a vis losing their half, that we cannot create some more leverage with Sanders ......Moses should be back no later than 3 matches.
3 more matches with FG experience gives us some sway in a player swap, whereas previously they would not have known what they were getting with Sanders in terms of readiness. If we could get some pace off them with a winger they would not previously have dared swap..... we could provide a mutual option to the winger/centre kid to go back to Canberra at seasons end but start by offering a larger financial deal for the remainder of this season and/or a choice of staying at Parra at a price to be determined. Savage is who I am thinking of, we cannot keep going with Harper in the centres, Bailey could come in there and with Savage outside of him we would have at least a backline of speed. The agility component we can sit back and pray? lol
Not a bad shout, Poppa. A win-win. Sanders for Savage (once Moses returns) plus some extra considering high quality halfbacks are high in demand & the most highly valued. Would have also loved Schiller but he's already snapped up elsewhere from next year.
Imagine the additions of Moses and Savage. Suddenly we're adding 200% more speed and potency to the current team lol. Dylan being the other one with decent speed.
I'd need to study them more, but on first impressions I actually feel Armstrong has more potential than Savage as wing/fullback cover. He just looks like he puts more in and magic seems to happen around him. He needs to grow into his young frame a bit more, though, and develop obviously. But, incredible potential.
Don't know Armstrong, its just we don't have that half leverage we do with Canberra, assuming it is a leverage. for any reason we did or did not get Savage or an equal, we should not let someone like Armstrong, given what you have said, slip away without having a crack.
I'd sign Armstrong tomorrow if we could but if Newcastle let him go they've got rocks in there head.He's going to be a special player that guy.That's the xfactor your looking for and completely agree he can cover all back 5 positions and has speed to burn.
The season is Moses or bust there's too many self saboteurs amongst our roster they aren't leaders performance wise from what I've seen the last month.The worst thing in that last sentence is the guys that needed to lead by actions by word of mouth are our senior players.They really needed to circle the wagons but for the most part they've done very little.
Even your road cones like Harper Matto Lussick Lane and alike all they've had to do is give us 6,7,8 out of 10 every week instead we've gotten a range of 2-6/10 from them and the teams suffered the worst for it.
Canberra or anyone else aren't going to help us.We won't get a player that's going to shift the needle enough to make a difference unless somehow they pry Lomax out of the Dragons.Whoever is responsible for not restocking the outside backs and seeing that it's not crucial is the first person out the door.
People are commenting our style of play is outdated when in all essence the only reason why that is really is because our club hasn't identified the areas that they need to be best at it.
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