Yep i was right. Most here are not fans. Most here don't go to games. Most here wouldn't have any idea how hard it is to be a FG footballer whose success in life is measured in what they achieve over 80 minutes each week. Armchair critics who have never played sport at the highest level but love to criticise.
Here's some questions....Have Knights and Sharks and Raiders and Titans had successful seasons? All are negative on for and against. But 2 of them will make the finals. 1 of them winning less than half their games. Is that success?
Is the talent in the NRL evenly distributed? Do some teams appear to have a ridiculously good roster compared to most other sides? How can the Roosters still be competitive with $5m of their cap sitting on the sidelines injured, suspended or retired? Given we fucked up our salary cap....so have most of the NRL. Are there enough talented players to make all teams competitive? So given that we supposedly had a better side this year than the last 3 years, why did we go backwards? How much was it the players and how much was it the coach?
Then we look at some of the players gone to other teams....R Smith, Montoya, Foran and Sue have played in winning teams this year.
How many different spine combinations did we have this year? How many games did key players miss from unfair suspensions or injury?
I agree we've had a wretched year. But no criticism directed at the coach for that? Why could we defend under Pay but not Barrett?
I'm not asking us to put our arm around the departing players, but rather to understand and sympathise with them that due to the roster of players assembled around them, none of them were able to shine. Hetherington, Cotric and Allen had good seasons in 2020 with their respective teams but all went backwards in 2021. Gus on 100% Footy has even said Hetho is one of the best young forwards he's ever seen...but something has gone drastically wrong with his development and lack of progress this year.
Yes I'm glad we have a number of established players who have performed at their respective teams coming to us next year, and I look forward to that and happy we've been fortunate to get some quite cheaply.
But unlike the knockers I will attend the games and cheer on our team whether they win or lose. I wont just be a fair weather supporter. I will respect all the players that pull on the Blue and White. That's what true believers do. Just ask Blaxlands former MHR PM Paul Keating.
