What makes a Premiership Winning Team?

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EaglesDontTweet

Bencher
Premium Member
Obviously the Coach and backs play a significant role but it's obvious having the right pack is critical.
Looking at Manly's previous year's forwards compared to this year showed up the following....

to 2014
Brent Kite 2005-2013
Anthony Watmough 2002-2014
Jason King 2001-2014
Glen Stewart 2003-2014
Jamie Buhrer 2010-

2015
Willie Mason 2015 6 clubs - Leaving
Feleti Mateo 2015 - 5 clubs
Blake Leary 2015 - 2 clubs
Ligi Sao 2013-2015 1 club 22 y.o. - Leaving
Jake Trbojevic 2015 - 1 club 21 y.o.
Justin Horo 2013-2015 2 clubs - Leaving

Our team had a bit of a 'journeyman" look about it.

Not being critical of this year's players but for our club to be successful, I think our pack needs a blend of local juniors, long term solid players, and the quality experienced import (e.g. Gillespie, Kennedy, Myles).

It has been this way historically , in the 60's 70's bringing in English imports, South's premiership winning players etc. I took a look at our 78 team below......(we also added Ray Higgs - but that didn't play out).

1978 Premiership Winning Team
Bruce Walker 1978 1 year - from North Sydney
Terry Randall 1969- 9 years - North Curl Curl - junior
John Harvey 1974- 4 years - Harbord United - junior
John Gray 1978 1 year - from North Sydney and England rep
Max Krilich 1969- 9 years - Harbord United - junior
Ian Thompson 1977- 2 years - from Queanbeyan United

I see juniors such as Jake being an integral part of maintaining our (future) winning culture, and I can see getting a junior back such as Lussick could add to this. Hopefully players like Demetriou, Knight and others step up.

Playing rugby league is a profession but it is also a head game (as we've seen this year@:rolleyes:), especially in tough games when the chips are down. We want people who have grown up here or who never want to leave, not players who are just looking for a job and a different jersey to add to the collection.

Thoughts?
 
Well look - you'd have to say that the stability we have enjoyed over the past decade is almost unprecedented. We have been very very lucky that the players have bonded so much and wanted to bleed maroon and white the way us fans do. It had to end sometime...and now what? We build again, and try to get some of our young locals to start another dynasty! Yes, with a few wise, older heads. it is a shame that G Stewart and Brent Kite couldn't be around to mentor the Liam Knights and the Demetrious, but Myles has massive credentials too, albeit with other clubs. Start a dynasty, get the players to bond and want to fight for each other, the fans will get onto it, and our club will have another decade of power for us to boast about. Bring it...
 
It's a good question. To me there is

1) an element of luck (especially considering injuries)
2) being good enough to take advantage of your luck
3) a sense of destiny (like us in 2008 after the 07 loss)
4) limited involvement with origin
5) an X factor (Brett Stewart)
6) a good pack, but one really good prop. (Brent Kite was awesome in 08 and 11)

Just my thoughts anyway
 

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