Supernintendo Chalmers
Bencher
I wouldn't say 'blew it'
See modern Manly has never been like other clubs in their 'spending big', notice how all those clubs constantly grabbing marquee players on ridiculous amounts may only spend 2-3-4 years around the top, and their slides have been dramatic. That's because you just can't work the cap to have long reigns of success (say ten years top 8 in a row) if you are trying to buy that title.
Yes Manly has had a lot of luck, but also great talent scouting to bring so many great players through while also having a decent eye for the 'journeyman' type buys. Now this method causes a lot of stress to the fans because when you produce a lot of talent, you obviously can't keep it all, so its really about how you manage that, and keeping the players that want to build that bond that Manly had in that recent 'golden period'. Sometimes that is going to backfire too as we are seeing now. The younger generation is 'now now now money money money' so there's going to be those clashes in personality and you have to be clued on and really looking to the future to build that right squad.
In two years time we'll know if the powers that be made the right or wrong calls, as will the players themselves, they might both win premierships, they also might win spoons. At the end of the day the past ten years we've done well as a 'squad' we haven't had that massive money gap between sections of the playing group, and i really think that is what the club is hoping to replicate. We look to have a decent crop of SG Ball, Harold Matts, U20's players coming through, we have a number of 'almost there' potential stars in the ranks and we also have a core group of first graders that are looking like settling long term.
As fans we want that win every week, and we've been blessed with being the most dominant team of the modern era, we all know that is something that is not easy to maintain, now we could have thrown everything at two and possibly created a more fractured playing group with limited opportunities due to cap restrictions, that might have worked for another premiership, or it may not have due to not having cash to spend in other positions.. we'll never know, but through all the doom and gloom i think we're now in a position to really identify that junior talent, start locking it up long term, rewarding those current players who do put in week in week out, securing their futures and identifying external options to bring in that can continue that 'squad over individual' mentality and hopefully continue to be strong across the whole field.
The money i think was too much to have tied up in two positions, imagine having that much on the sidelines if a season ending injury or two hit, it'd derail any clubs season. We need to continue to have a 'squad', not 'two stars and some ring ins', as good as both players are on the field and off, long term, we may just come out on top... we may not too, but lets just wait and see.
See modern Manly has never been like other clubs in their 'spending big', notice how all those clubs constantly grabbing marquee players on ridiculous amounts may only spend 2-3-4 years around the top, and their slides have been dramatic. That's because you just can't work the cap to have long reigns of success (say ten years top 8 in a row) if you are trying to buy that title.
Yes Manly has had a lot of luck, but also great talent scouting to bring so many great players through while also having a decent eye for the 'journeyman' type buys. Now this method causes a lot of stress to the fans because when you produce a lot of talent, you obviously can't keep it all, so its really about how you manage that, and keeping the players that want to build that bond that Manly had in that recent 'golden period'. Sometimes that is going to backfire too as we are seeing now. The younger generation is 'now now now money money money' so there's going to be those clashes in personality and you have to be clued on and really looking to the future to build that right squad.
In two years time we'll know if the powers that be made the right or wrong calls, as will the players themselves, they might both win premierships, they also might win spoons. At the end of the day the past ten years we've done well as a 'squad' we haven't had that massive money gap between sections of the playing group, and i really think that is what the club is hoping to replicate. We look to have a decent crop of SG Ball, Harold Matts, U20's players coming through, we have a number of 'almost there' potential stars in the ranks and we also have a core group of first graders that are looking like settling long term.
As fans we want that win every week, and we've been blessed with being the most dominant team of the modern era, we all know that is something that is not easy to maintain, now we could have thrown everything at two and possibly created a more fractured playing group with limited opportunities due to cap restrictions, that might have worked for another premiership, or it may not have due to not having cash to spend in other positions.. we'll never know, but through all the doom and gloom i think we're now in a position to really identify that junior talent, start locking it up long term, rewarding those current players who do put in week in week out, securing their futures and identifying external options to bring in that can continue that 'squad over individual' mentality and hopefully continue to be strong across the whole field.
The money i think was too much to have tied up in two positions, imagine having that much on the sidelines if a season ending injury or two hit, it'd derail any clubs season. We need to continue to have a 'squad', not 'two stars and some ring ins', as good as both players are on the field and off, long term, we may just come out on top... we may not too, but lets just wait and see.
