When was last time we made top 4?....2012. In the last 20 years we have waxed...under a cheating salary cap waned waxed again and waned since 2012. Given 16 Clubs, we should finish top 4, on average once every 4 years. Even with our much improved roster next year are we better than Storm, Penrith, Souths, Eels, Roosters? I don't think so. We are aiming 5 to 8 next year. Storm, Roosters, Penrith and Souths have been regulars in the top 4 for some time now, turning over many players. Our roster management is a work in progress in comparison to these sides.
There’s no guarantee that Bellamy will be coaching Melbourne next year and the last 2 best of their assistant coaches are coaching elsewhere. There is no natural successor in house and to compound that they lost their long time GM of football this year (the position we got Gould for).
Bennett is absolutely leaving the Wabbits and his replacement is untested at NRL level. How have previous teams gone when Bennett leaves, Newcastle, StGeorge, Donkeys twice, they’ve all been basket cases when he left them. How will Mitchell go without Bennett?
The Chooks need a huge overhaul in their roster, Cordner‘s gone, so‘s Friend, Mozzies will both be retired, Tupou is 31 next year and JWH at 33 is another year older and that gets shown up with the new rules. They have a young half in Walker with zero NRL finals experience and Keary will be 30 next year and seems to be more injury prone. They have some big shoes to fill and far as I know they have signed no one for next year, a few resignings but no one new.
Penrith are really the only top 4 team with player, coach and management stability, but their cap pressure come November is going to be immense. Undoubtedly there will be a long queue of clubs lining up to sign their plethora of what will undoubtedly be underpaid players, cap pressure is their issue to be over come.
Logically at least one of them will suffer the inevitable slide, next year will be interesting.
Always a Bulldog