Yeah, it comes down to perspective I guess... even the 4th felt like we were a million miles away to me because there was only maybe 6 actually competitive teams that year... the fadeouts at the end of 2020 and 2022 are unforgivably weak and, even considering injuries, point to a squad that lacks fitness AND resolve...
I am not going to defend Penn but Des has frustrated me constantly with his selection policy and we have had one too many capitulations for me... time for new thinking, and a turnover of 'talent'... imo...
I agree i wasn’t “happy” with how we were.
I also agree we didn’t have enough resolve. But I blame the players for that because Des teams historically are very, very resilient. That’s why i’m disappointed we let go of Foran, the toughest of the tough, for a young player that threw a tantrum because he couldn’t earn his place in the team.
Overall, this was a season where, in hindsight, making the top 8 would’ve been considered a decent achievement w/ no Trbo and a lot of players having iffy second-year syndromes
One thing many people percieve to not like with Des is that he waits very patiently to introduce young talent (or neglects them). But again, in hindsight was he often wrong over the last few years? Suli proved to be an inconsistent myth (sorry suli), Hopoate wasn’t ready and suffered when he was brought into the side through injury and Schuster is not professional or (importantly) experienced enough to take more ownership of the side.
Plus at the end of the day Des has learned a lot from the dogs experience where he was probably guilty of planning for short-term success. Here he has overseen a large proportion of the first grade team develop through the grades and make a name for themselves. That probably was possible because they were weened into first grade. We also have no Greg Eastwood stories and the Api release was totally logical w/ Fainu here (another factor that prevented Des’ success alot)
That’s why I find it unforgivable that the 7 players and Penn betrayed him at various points this season. A lot of these players owe the club and Des. Penn owes Des for reversing the tide after 2018 when literally no other coach wanted us.
Now we are throwing away years of trending player development and (at the end of the day) success for a new coach that was here with Barrett and will need urgent success to be liked. Des was playing the long game, like Gus at Penrith. I said this in another thread but when coaches like Bellamy, Des and Bennett come to clubs, unless that team is in a premiership window, it takes years to get real success. We were literally one of the weakest teams (mentally and physically) at the end of 2018. Des rallied them together for 2019 and we have trended up (with obvious fluctuations, usually from major injury lists).
We had all the signs that for 2023 w/ Trbo back and some tweaking of the squad that we’d be better than 2022; a season where in hindsight (had pride jersey fiasco not happened) we potentially overachieved. The playing squad needs some more resilient characters and luck with injury.
I am genuinly hurt that it has come to this. As a club, legends have to be more respected here. Probably spells the end of Brett Stewart helping out too.