Interesting thread.
@1967 &
@Flanagun both make some good points.
As a lifetime Panthers supporter that went through our "5 year plan" The Dogs approach has given me quite a bit of amusement.
One of the problems is our clubs are structured differently. When Gus arrived at Penrith we were all but fucked, the board pretty much just gave him free reign to do whatever and let the chips fall where they may. With our history instant results weren't really a requirement, being somewhat competitive was seen as a step in the right direction. At the Dogs my understanding is your board can be shafted pretty regularly, so there is more pressure for a quick fix.
When Gus arrived he went after Sika Manu, Brent Kite, Ciraldo & Newton. Kite was well past his prime, but bought the attitude and professionalism. The other 3 while never really world beaters also knew what it took to be pro league players and had been at successful clubs. He took a punt on young players like Whare, Hiku & Seggy. None were what you would call even close to glamour players at the time. Maybe Segs because of his haircut. We then got rid of Luke Lewis, Tim Grant and Mick Jennings, our 3 best players by a mile. It was very underwhelming as a fan I can assure you all.
What it did was not a lot at all in 1st grade, but started to set the standard for the kids coming through. Additions of Elijah Taylor and Lewis Brown added more starch. Then in 14 we added Soward and got Wallace back. The lower grades were flying and started hitting 1st grade, DWZ, Waqa, Cartwright, Peachey, Seggy coming of age etc. You guys knocked us out in the prelim, but things were looking up. 15 was a stupid injury toll and we faded out at the end of the season.
Since then we were competitive, but never really looked a premiership threat. (19 aside) Fast forward to 2020 and it all comes together. A team full of developed players and you know the rest. In the whole time we never signed what you would call a top liner. The closest would be Soward and Maloney who were both at the back end of their careers. Sowie was a beast in 14, but what both did teaching Cleary and Luai when they were kids is what is paying dividends now.
You guys have gone the other way, Kikau, JAC, Critta, Burton, The Broncos Kid, Mahoney, TPJ. None of them are toilers. Mahoney could be, but he cant do it on his own and doesn't have the experience. You have way too much icing and no cake. I would guess it's a board issue and Gus has been told to get results now. It clearly wont work and you have wasted the last 3 years.
It's funny reading the dream hit lists on here the past few years, you got the some of them and then the others, Hass, Tino, Fafita, Hunt and so on, all big dollar players that aren't what you need. None of them have been the catalyst to drag a side into the 8.
Hindsight makes things easier, but players that have moved clubs that would have been better imo would be Mansour, Bromwich bros, Kafusi, Reynolds, Api. Mansour may seem an odd choice, but he was the ultimate professional, him showing the way to your young blokes would have been better value at probably a third of the price of what JAC brings to the table. Reynolds gets the extra money saved on JAC on top if what you are paying Burton. Api is similar coin to Mahoney. and TPJ and Kiks money would get you close to the other 3. Broncos kid still comes and go after some promising young hard heads like Lyndsay Smith. Neither option wins you the comp this year or next, but after that whoever is there knows the standard required to be competitive.
