I'm starting to think this whole mess is because Gus wanted Barrett, and Barrett wanted Gus, and it's still happening, and everyone else is being taken for a ride , INCLUDING Cleary from The Tigers.
If that's the case, then what Trent has done is actually worse than that of Des Hasler (who both left after winning a Grand Final, AND after Penn and his cronies instituted those famous K.P.I.'s).
It will speak mountains about Trent Barrett's true character (and hopefully the players hate him for it). I just feel the mercenary nature of rugby league is both tolerated and accepted as the norm though now, and it will mean nothing to the playing group.
While I DO agree that Trent deserves better facilities and staff, I'm starting to believe guys, this is all an act to get him in Panthers colours and the rest of the world is being fed proverbial sausage rolls as Peter Peters would say.
We'll see this off season. If Trent ends up at Penrith, we've all to a tee (owners, front office, playing group, fans, sponsors, the club) have been made suckers of by Gus and Barrett, and are probably very stupid to have bought it.