They might see that as a positive!!
If I'm a Manly player, who 99% of the time go out on the darts, Indian bongs, grog, and laugh it up (with the coach) after each loss upon loss, I'd be over the moon, too.
What employee wants a hard arse that will make and keep you accountable, when you could have laid back , cheap as chips Carty, who'll meet you down at the Harbord Hilton, and share a laugh, dart and 26 schooners after Parra (wooden spooners) put almost 50 past you?
What amazes me, is Cartwright's attitude at The Panthers game a year and a half ago laughing at Trent. You ever seen Bellamy's box when The Storm are getting done over (the rare times). His assistant is just as pissed off and intense.
It's about benchmarks and standards. Cartwright (and this is fact) has applied for many roles unsuccessfully here in his tenure the past few years, so he doesn't REALLY want to be here.
X Titans job (knocked back - didn't even get an interview)
X NSW role (knocked back) - not even in the picture according to NRL of Fox
X Spoke to Panthers - was not in the picture.
I completely get why The Players want him and Ferris. Life is, and will be easy. I get why Penn wants him. Cheapest option, then won't have to buy his assistant role out. Chad would continue as his assistant (again, no loss of coin).
Makes sense...but for all the wrong reasons. It will show they aren't bothered about culture and winning. It'll show its all about bottom line, nothing else. In that instance, if they don't care (despite the lip service Gorman's going to bleat on Wednesday that everyone will lap up, like he's a hero), why should fans care?
That's where I stand right now.