The Manly Sea Eagles are struggling, in fact, you could argue that the club has never been in so much trouble both on and off the field.
Manly sit 14th on the NRL ladder and have won just five out of their 19 games in 2018. Last Saturday's capitulation at the hands of the Penrith Panthers says a lot about the club. In front of home fans on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the Sea Eagles played well to build a 24-6 lead with 14 minutes remaining in the match.
No one could bomb that lead when playing at home, surely? No one but Manly apparently.
If the Sea Eagles fail to win two more matches in the season, it will be their worst year for wins recorded since the club reverted back to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in 2003.
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Their results on the field don't hold a candle to the issues of it. Salary cap dramas, Gladstone curfew breaches, bickering among the playing group and coaching staff, the list goes on.
Peter Peters, a former Sea Eagles player and current media consultant for the club, was distressed when discussing the future of his beloved club.
"They're in a deep hole whichever way you look at it," Peters told
Sporting News.
"The club has been in holes before and have come out of it, but, I've got to say, that's the third home game virtually in succession and the fans just ignored it. 6000 is a terrible crowd, particularly when you get charged $45,000 from the council to rent the horrible old place.
"It's a major concern at the moment. How long do the owners keep putting money into the club when there doesn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel?
"If something happens with Brookvale, I think they can fight their way back. But, if not, they've got to seriously look at where they play."
Dean Ritchie asked the question that no Sea Eagles fans will want to hear asked.
"Are you suggesting relocation?" Ritchie inquired.
While Zorba didn't necessarily believe the club was in that much strife, he was honest about the facilities at Manly's disposal.
"I'm not suggesting it, but I'm saying that if they keep getting 6000 fans, and they pay an exorbitant amount for a dump with goalposts, do the sums," Peters replied.
"How long can the Penn family keep putting money into the club?"
The Penn family has been in charge at Brookie since 2007, and despite the club's success in the initial period of their tenure, generally, the family isn't well received by the public.
"I can't believe the bagging they get for the money that the family puts in. They saved that goddamn club many times, and these ignorant punters want to keep bagging them," Ritchie said.
"But Zorba, if they move to Allianz, ANZ or Gosford, Manly as we know it would cease to exist."
Peters was adamant that the club would continue its downward trend if Brookvale Oval continues to sit there and rot. There has been speculation that renovations will take place at the ground for years, but nothing has happened.
"Bulldog, look, it's the club I love, I would bleed for Manly, it breaks my heart, but I'm sick and tired of hearing that something is going to happen at Brookvale," Peters said.
"We've had prime ministers and premiers from the area that have promised it, but nothing has ever happened.
"I've got serious concerns about its immediate future, that's what I'm more concerned about. 6000 in the crowd isn't going to cut it.
There is always chatter among NRL pundits that Manly fans don't travel to support their team. Among the Sea Eagles' faithful, they'll tell you that there is nothing better on god's green earth than a Sunday afternoon game at Brookvale Oval, but the last two games have seen shocking crowds venture to the ground.
"I'm sick of Manly fans saying, 'give us afternoon football, we don't want night football," Ritchie said.
"The last two matches have been afternoon games against two Sydney clubs, the Roosters and Penrith, and you've got a combined total of 15,000.
"6000 on the weekend and I looked at the paper the next day, and Richmond played at the MCG with 88,000. I know it's apples and oranges, but the comparison has never been further apart when you look at those figures."
Peters believes the NRL has to get involved in order for Manly to stabilise.
"What does the NRL do about trying to look at a way through for the most successful club of the modern era?" Peters asked.
"We're not talking about a club that doesn't have a history of success. The NRL doesn't seem to want to do anything.
"They need to sit down with the club and work their way through it. Don't let a great club wither on the vine and die."
Ritchie is confident the league won't step in and help the club, despite their history.
"The NRL has already stated numerous times that they will not come in and financially help clubs now, they've done it previously but everyone needs to stand on their own two feet," Ritchie explained.
"If you can't, then they'll drop out and an expansion club will be brought in.
"It would be a tragic day if Manly ever left, but there are some signs there that if they did fall over, the NRL wouldn't bail them out."
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