jbb - sorry if my comments hurt your feelings. That wasn't my intention. I didn't think anyone would be offended by that hoary old '1 hour and 50 years' chestnut in this day and age. It's like that other old one - Q: How do you find your way through Brisbane?
A: Follow the sealed road.
Now clearly that is an outdated notion, but it still winds some people from north of the border up!
My intent was to illustrate that behind all the media psturing and boasting that the Mixamatohs make, none of it, as Harry Truman might say, 'is worth a hill of beans' until they translate it into onfield success. One semi-final appearance since 1989 does not look very impressive. Manly on the other hand, after suffering one of the worst 2 year periods in its history, has still made the semis in both those years and has now extended its run to six finals berths in a row. That is the best finals run of any club at the moment.
Now that we have some clear air, i.e. Stewart in the clear and hopefully injury free, ditto D. Williams, plus the boardroom dramas resolved in favour of the Penns, I am quietly confident that we will move forward again. Also don't underestimate the impact of the change in government at state level next year. I think you will see the pace of improvement (at Brookvale) pick up. There are still more improvements planned with the current funding over the next two off-seasons. Brookvale is (or will be) a better facility than Leichhardt - but no one is seriously suggesting the Tigers should move away from there. And the inner west has a host of good stadiums close at hand, unlike the geographically isolated northern beaches. I also expect that Tony Abbott will eventually win federally and make good on his promises of the last two federal campaigns.
As for management, it appears that Penn is taking on some of the hands on stuff re: sponsorship. Lowe has served his purpose of smoothing the waters and I think he will move on when his contract expires. He should go with our best wishes when the time comes.
A: Follow the sealed road.
Now clearly that is an outdated notion, but it still winds some people from north of the border up!
My intent was to illustrate that behind all the media psturing and boasting that the Mixamatohs make, none of it, as Harry Truman might say, 'is worth a hill of beans' until they translate it into onfield success. One semi-final appearance since 1989 does not look very impressive. Manly on the other hand, after suffering one of the worst 2 year periods in its history, has still made the semis in both those years and has now extended its run to six finals berths in a row. That is the best finals run of any club at the moment.
Now that we have some clear air, i.e. Stewart in the clear and hopefully injury free, ditto D. Williams, plus the boardroom dramas resolved in favour of the Penns, I am quietly confident that we will move forward again. Also don't underestimate the impact of the change in government at state level next year. I think you will see the pace of improvement (at Brookvale) pick up. There are still more improvements planned with the current funding over the next two off-seasons. Brookvale is (or will be) a better facility than Leichhardt - but no one is seriously suggesting the Tigers should move away from there. And the inner west has a host of good stadiums close at hand, unlike the geographically isolated northern beaches. I also expect that Tony Abbott will eventually win federally and make good on his promises of the last two federal campaigns.
As for management, it appears that Penn is taking on some of the hands on stuff re: sponsorship. Lowe has served his purpose of smoothing the waters and I think he will move on when his contract expires. He should go with our best wishes when the time comes.