Some ppl need to check out the similarities with Pay and Nathan Brown (and the Knights and Dogs teams). Brown came to knights in 2016 after knights got the spoon in 15. He started his coaching there with 2 spoons in 16 and 17.
Brown started the rebuild by getting in a decent fullback in Ponga. (we did so with DWZ). Then after Brown's 2nd year (its Pay's 2nd year now) they got in a few key players like SKD and Pearce, and Klemmer more recently. At the time ppl were probably saying who would want to go to the spooners of the last few years and play? Who would go and play for that nuffie Brown? Just like we are seeing with the dogs and Pay right now.
It's Brown's 4th year and Knights are only now threatening finals and will probably improve next year. They arent there yet, but going in a better direction after 3 spoons in the last 5 years.
So there is evidence, that a club who u would think couldn't attract players, with a spoon winning coach, could improve without changing coach, just by getting in a few key players. Pay inherited a team with no cap space at first, with most of the experienced players stripped out of it, and people are expecting us to be top 8 already, the second year in a rebuild.
Technically it's the first year of the rebuild, coz we had no money at all to recruit in the first year, and had to shed experience like the Mozzes to get cash for year 2. So we were actually a weaker side after year one with Pay, due to shedding players mid and at the end of last year to fund raise for the rebuild.
People have unrealistic expectations of the timeframe it should trake to go from where Des left us to a top 8 team
I would expect us to be where Knights are this year, next year to be happy. So, on the up, top 8 or fringe top 8, but not yet a premiership threat. Even that is expecting us to get to that level a year faster than Knights did. But many here have expected it to have already happened. Its not supercoach, and we cant as easily trade players in and out at will.
I am certain Pay will be coach next year as well, and that how we go next year will have a bigger impact on his future as coach.
Also, i do blame Des for a lot of the shit we are in now, so not supporting him, but think about this....If our squad is much better than we are playing like now, if its all the coach, then why has Des gone back to Manly and they are top 8 certainties this year? Better team is the answer btw.