Wombat Legacy
Bencher
I stay out of faction politics as much as I can. Just a dyed in the wool supporter of the Mighty Manly Sea Eagles.
Ever since we re-emerged as a powerhouse in the modern NRL, we have hit hurdle after hurdle when trying to establish a professionally run club administration. Some of those close to the scenes have nominated several protagonists, not least one of the club's great patriarchs, Peter Peters. Zorba went from being a positive to a negative about the time that Mr Penn and his fiscal giants stepped up to the plate with cash to re-invigorate our mighty club. Power corrupts as they say...
So what really happened. 2011 saw the club glide to a premiership win under Des Hasler, and we were truly soaring. The envy of the league "The Benchmark"
But it quickly unraveled in the back rooms, where dodgy negotiations were taking place amongst the power brokers of the club.
Fact is, the Penn's emerged when all the hard work was done. They eyed off the club as a commercial proposition and have treated it like one ever since. Whilst they may have marvelous business acumen, they fail substantially in recognition of the heartbeat of it's fanbase and past loyal servants. The cultural and tribal jingoism that drives the club forward trying to emulate those great sides of the 70's, 80's &90's.
So here we are now, a club spiralling back to where most fan supporter bases love us being...also rans.
This thread is not about uncovering the truth of exactly what happened. I don't really care who is to blame, because the fruits of all that mis management are now bearing down upon us. Am I being too negative?...perhaps. But when I see a trend festering in, my first reaction is to address the core ingredients for the failure of the model.
There are too many Penn clan snouts in the trough. The results they have achieved since 2013 are mediocre. My belief is they were still surfing a successful legacy Des, Max and co created back in 2005-6. The playing squad were united and happy. Unfortunately success can breed major ego's in sport, and it seems Des's departure fuelled a grab for power by the playing group. Who would really know.
It is not working, and the lethargy displayed by the players from about 2014 surely franks my comments.
Sell up Penn, and put the club back in the hands of someone who can stop the rot and re-float this sinking ship. It has been spectacularly unsuccessful, the infighting and leaking have surely been testament to that fact.
Keen for you fans to make a balanced comment. Forget about the nitty gritty details here, we will probably never understand what brought us to this time and place.
But is it time for Penn to fall on his sword?...or is the Penn truly mightier than the sword!
Ever since we re-emerged as a powerhouse in the modern NRL, we have hit hurdle after hurdle when trying to establish a professionally run club administration. Some of those close to the scenes have nominated several protagonists, not least one of the club's great patriarchs, Peter Peters. Zorba went from being a positive to a negative about the time that Mr Penn and his fiscal giants stepped up to the plate with cash to re-invigorate our mighty club. Power corrupts as they say...
So what really happened. 2011 saw the club glide to a premiership win under Des Hasler, and we were truly soaring. The envy of the league "The Benchmark"
But it quickly unraveled in the back rooms, where dodgy negotiations were taking place amongst the power brokers of the club.
Fact is, the Penn's emerged when all the hard work was done. They eyed off the club as a commercial proposition and have treated it like one ever since. Whilst they may have marvelous business acumen, they fail substantially in recognition of the heartbeat of it's fanbase and past loyal servants. The cultural and tribal jingoism that drives the club forward trying to emulate those great sides of the 70's, 80's &90's.
So here we are now, a club spiralling back to where most fan supporter bases love us being...also rans.
This thread is not about uncovering the truth of exactly what happened. I don't really care who is to blame, because the fruits of all that mis management are now bearing down upon us. Am I being too negative?...perhaps. But when I see a trend festering in, my first reaction is to address the core ingredients for the failure of the model.
There are too many Penn clan snouts in the trough. The results they have achieved since 2013 are mediocre. My belief is they were still surfing a successful legacy Des, Max and co created back in 2005-6. The playing squad were united and happy. Unfortunately success can breed major ego's in sport, and it seems Des's departure fuelled a grab for power by the playing group. Who would really know.
It is not working, and the lethargy displayed by the players from about 2014 surely franks my comments.
Sell up Penn, and put the club back in the hands of someone who can stop the rot and re-float this sinking ship. It has been spectacularly unsuccessful, the infighting and leaking have surely been testament to that fact.
Keen for you fans to make a balanced comment. Forget about the nitty gritty details here, we will probably never understand what brought us to this time and place.
But is it time for Penn to fall on his sword?...or is the Penn truly mightier than the sword!
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