Yep totally agree with you HK. I'm 45 now and don't believe in blind faith any more. I want to know the club is striving to create those values that identify what is Manly.
The sad reality is, Manly are a victim of their own success and the star players had too much power resulting in a poor development system and lack of investment in junior teams. Without a feeder system the dips between successful periods is far more dramatic (think 1980, 1989, 1999 and now 2016). The club is forced to hurriedly buy up players who are leftover unwanted players of high value who are either over the hill (Myles), or made available due to their lack of commitment and effectiveness (Walker, Brown) in their current teams. Not to mention our now Penrith coaching staff with 45% win records.
I don't want to support these players and coaches until they buy into the Manly culture. The Manly culture is one of intimidation, fire, integrity and pride. Other than maybe Barrett (who is still questionable with his ability), I don't see it. The club is not involving us fans or care about us either. they just want our money and put out slogans, but have no blueprint to weed out the mediocre unmotivated players who stain the Manly team. There should be a standard to live up to,
So I'll stay on here, have a good whinge, and enjoy the comraderie with you blokes and ladies who feel just like me, and let them play. Unless they win the next two, the rest of the season is going through the motions. That team has a hell of a lot to answer for. There is more Manly identity in the Catalans maybe I'll watch them.
NYEagle