Choc?
I'd have Choc back in a heartbeat. He embodied why we were so successful for so long despite what numbnuts here will tell you.
He downgraded his own contract to keep the roster together. That is 100% fact.
The group agreed to do that, and it was 99% agreed to, and adhered to.
Now that all the mercenaries rule the roost, you hear of cliques, disharmony, and we are a shadow of that old close knit group.
Watmough gave 100% for us, 100% of the time. He bled maroon and white, until it all became untenable, due to his opinion on how the group could / should all stay together.
Okay, maybe some of the actions from him wasn't great when all the **** hit the fan, but he was left devastated. Jesus, even Steve Matai won't even correspond with the club anymore now. Glenn Stewart the same. Jamie Lyon has dusted his hands of the club.
If you could bring back Mona's (who loved the club - not sure why given his treatment), and Ballin, who embodied that teamsmenship, professionalism, you do it.
Outside entities are mercenaries. Here for the biggest buck in the shortest amounts of time (players, staff and coaches). When the going gets tough, they want to get going. That's not Manly culture.
Cartwright is another one of those. He's applied for 3 outside jobs in 18 months. NSW Origin, Panthers and Titans, and he didn't even reach interview stage. If he's then given the coaching gig, we are a basket case.
Maguire. I don't want Maguire thinking he's doing us a favour by employing him. He should feel bloody privalleged. Our club helped create the careers of Arthur, Siebold, Hasler, Tooves, Barrett and others. We are a stepping stone onto bigger / better things. So don't treat us/it like rubbish. We are a Godsend, and these people should feel lucky for being given the opportunity.
Don't blame the desks on the fact our brand expects / sands the best. You work for Manly, if you don't achieve results, you'll be heavily critiqued. We don't accept mediocrity.
That being said, I don't feel Penn has given (not only Barrett) but Tooves and others the appropriate support to get there.
We need change. Change for the positive.
Gorman has now failed at the appeal. We haven't signed a marquee player under his tenure. We've had the lowest attendance in decades. We have the equally performed worst performance on the field (ever). I remember Mayer decades ago talking about upgrades and Centres of Excellence, so excuse me if I feel more talk is just a waste of time. Gorman has achieved 0 since being here (18 months).
He needed to sack Ferris if he sacked Peters. I wish Peters took the club for discrimination and unfair dismissal, but between you and I, I heard an agreement waset, and Peters signed a confidentiality agreement.
Now is the time for results. After a failed appeal, if it's more talk, and Cartwright as coach, good luck Lyall. Take your ear plugs, to help with shielding the abuse you'll cop. Spend less time talking ****, and start spending more time convincing the owners to invest in their own brand like Russell Crowe does without having to let everyone and sundry know about it.
