its the Penns management style and philosophy that i disagree with....the hands off approach , lets hold everyone accountable but ourselves, and we will only spend whats necessary to get a bottom line verse the old school win at all costs , get involved and make sure everything is running smoothly and get onto to fixing any issues early. Our best years were with Arko at the helm because he got his hands dirty and that earns respect amongst all involved. You can still make a profit have no issue with that but its how you get there. Rainbow gate is the perfect example of the Penns not understanding their own business. Can we improve sure i agree with you we can but it will need a greater commitment from our owners.
The way forward
- Thread starter Mark from Brisbane
- Start date
I think we all know the absentee owner , who only occasionally has anything to do with the club is the real issue , it starts right at the top which is always the case.
However , given that for him it’s a plaything , as long as it’s not costing any money very probably nothing will change.
Supposition only but I’d suggest he’s making an excellent ROI currently.
That said , there’s still a way to be successful, and that’s using the salary cap we have to better fit the business.
We aren’t getting superstar signings , possibly ever , as we just don’t have the luxury of the rich benefactors to accommodate that.
So if we aren’t getting superstar incomings then that means , going to have to build from within.
I can’t see any other way through it
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Brookie1973
Previously TerryRandall
At the risk of being labelled a Penn fan (which I am not, just a realist), the start of that period (2015-2025) also coincided with the retirement/loss of our 2007-2013 era champions (Watmo, Stewart’s, Foran, Lyon, etc). Replacing those types of players overnight is not easy. It also coincided with the DCE mega-deal and the appointment of 2 very average coaches [Barrett and Seibold) and one champion coach (Hasler). The Hasler period saw finals appearances in 2019 and 2021, before pride gate happened and we got Seibold.
I would argue that our limited success in the period 2015-2025 is more to do with the DCE mega deal and the associated cap constraints, and poor coaching appointments. I don’t think it’s due to Penn not being a billionaire, though he does bear responsibility for poor coaching appointments and the pride jersey fiasco.
I would also add that the modern game is vastly different to what it was when we were the dominant club back in the 1970s. We will never get back to that position again, regardless of who the owner is. The demographics just don’t support it.
As for club ownership in rugby league - there appears to be two basic types. The businessman who is looking to make a buck and/or is conscious of spend (eg Penn) or the mega-rich patron who looks at it as a side hobby (Uncle Nick, Laundy, Kerry Packer). We would all love someone from the second group, but I don’t see a lot of those types sniffing around the club.
Penns hands off style can still work if the club appointments are first rate. I had high hopes for Mestrov when he joined, but have to say at this point the jury is still very much out. He was saying all the right things initially, but he needs to start kicking some goals in terms of junior development, sponsorships etc.
Ultimately, I am less fixated on the owner and more a believer that the right CEO and coach appointments are far more important determinants of success.
An outsider's opinion: my girlfriend from Thailand has been here for 2 years, and is already a staunch Manly supporter. She said our coach looks like a polite, soft, and easygoing kind of man. Maybe that's why I've been happy to stand back and give him a go, but maybe that's why I've started to lose confidence in his ability to take us where we need to go.
The Way Forward: If we are no longer one of the bigger clubs, I think we have to change our approach. Forget about million-dollar Marquee players and work towards a balanced squad that is happy to compete for the full eighty. I know this is easier said than done, but I don't see much other choice considering our ownership model. I understand some want a coach with Manly DNA, but if we get the right coach, we can re-create our own Manly DNA. With all that's available, I'd probably go with Mick Eniss because, love or hate him as a player, he hated to lose, and he kept his teammates accountable, and he's someone that Penn already seems receptive to bringing in. And at the end of the day, we get no say in the matter.
The Way Forward: If we are no longer one of the bigger clubs, I think we have to change our approach. Forget about million-dollar Marquee players and work towards a balanced squad that is happy to compete for the full eighty. I know this is easier said than done, but I don't see much other choice considering our ownership model. I understand some want a coach with Manly DNA, but if we get the right coach, we can re-create our own Manly DNA. With all that's available, I'd probably go with Mick Eniss because, love or hate him as a player, he hated to lose, and he kept his teammates accountable, and he's someone that Penn already seems receptive to bringing in. And at the end of the day, we get no say in the matter.
TheSoaringEagle2023
Bencher
Mark from Brisbane thinks its all about money when it comes to winning an NRL title. This isn't soccer where it is a sport played on a global scale and there is a relegation and tier system that exists. Delmege proved that smart decision making coincides with a smart investment of capital.
We don’t get a say in, you are right , but don’t think the club don’t read this forum because I’m sure they do.
I realise there's bugger all we can do, but I've just passed my mid-sixties and I'm starting to worry that I'll never see the boys win another grand final...lol
I realise there's bugger all we can do, but I've just passed my mid-sixties and I'm starting to worry that I'll never see the boys win another grand final...lol
I’m 70 in a few months , ditto
ManlyTragic
Bencher
.. you know you can still watch reruns of the 2008 and 2011 grand finals!😉
Just sayin’
Brookie1973
Previously TerryRandall
And why hasn’t AI yet created a version of the 2013 GF where the roosters forward passes are called and we win? Shouldn’t be too hard.
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