Guys, as fans of the club we are all really hurting at the moment. Let me tell you that yesterday watching at the ground live it was the most I have ever been disengaged from a game, not even some of the really poor lean years in the early 2000 put me in such a blue funk. It was frankly embarrassing and the crowd reaction said it all. No noise when the Tits scored due to the few fans they had there and mostly silence throughout from supporters of our own club. The inkling of a team being booed from the field at half time but not really, mostly just a distinct lack of enthusiasm.
It was one that was there for the winning and the way we played the Tits should have put at least double the score they did on us. Heck let's be realistic ANY other side that is travelling well would have put considerably more on us.We were poor in all facets of the game and it was patently obvious that everything that is happening at the club at this point in time is having a very detrimental affect on the playing squad.Yes, the side really resembled something that should have been in Intrust but circumstances made that happen.
Went to the fan forum last night at the club after the game and I was absolutely fuming, ready to really rip in to the players, the board, the CEO even the ball boys....don't get me wrong I am still so upset by the efforts of yesterday at this point in time, but on reflection I realise fully that the deep, deep shit we are in will be with us for several more seasons to come and the really hard decisions will still be with us for a while yet. I listened to our new CEO Andrew Hill, who I believe was truly upset and disenchanted by what happened yesterday. In his words it was completely unacceptable on all levels with an absolute agreement from our coach on that one in particular. He put it to us that as fans we should expect more, we have the right to demand a better performance but also thanked us for our efforts in actually attending the meeting. Josh Jackson did well to front the crowd and unreservedly apologized for what happened. Yes, they are only words, but from all involved they were said in an absolute and heartfelt manner. They really do know they stuffed up, they really do know that we are not forgiving of their efforts yesterday and that they will have to work hard to regain our full support and trust. I felt marginally better at the end of proceedings but nonetheless still unhappy. The players did not dodge anyone and I could not help but say to them that although I was unhappy and pissed at them that it would be nice to know exactly how they were feeling about what has been happening. The overwhelming impression I got from their comments was that they are frustrated and perhaps a bit broken but genuinely wanting to do much better. All they can do is regroup, get back into training and try again. How successful they will be for the remainder of the year is anyone's guess but all I ask for as a fan is that they do the best they can and put in the hard yards. On a positive J MOz is looking to be back for our game against the Raiders at Belmore in three weeks time.
Although we have won only two games this year, with a little bit more luck ( honestly don't know if that is the correct word but the only one I can think of) we could have had at least another six wins this year. We have been very close but fallen short at the last minute, that in itself is frustrating.
Big Willie Mason put it succinctly yesterday when he said to all and sundry in the crowd that what is happening needs to be taken into context; all the issues we are having at the moment were the full responsibility of those in control over the last few years; the salary cap woes, the lopsided roster, the Aaron Woods crap ( his words) and the overriding one THE SHIT that Des left us in.... He used the word WE on all occasions and it seems that even though he left us he still has overriding feelings for the club and its fans. Genuine disgust at the direction this club has taken but hope and belief that we can return to the glory days sooner rather than later. Asked for belief and trust in the days ahead.
We all have our varied opinions in relation to the intelligence and success of our newest coach and I respect that, but I am one of those who believe Pay should be persisted with, given an adequate chance to prove his worth and his ability. He is not to blame for the squad he has to work with, that rests with the previous management and he is certainly not to blame for the knock ons and missed tackles on field.He does have control of team selections but only within the guidelines given him by the NRL. He rides the highs and lows with us and he is struggling with things at the moment and it is completely understandable, he has the best interests of all concerned at heart but outside influences have let him down. It is like a formula one driver who has a poor pit crew to work with or an inferior car, these things can be worked on and at the moment the club is working to try and fix things but it will not happen as I have said overnight. We are not going to be in a position to be able to offer deals to off contract stars unless they want unders to come to us. We need to be smart and look outside the box in contracting and selecting suitable players to see us through the next few years. It will be interesting to see exactly which development player will be called into the Top 30 for the rest of the year to replace Mbye.
Enough of club matters and something more about yesterday.
I inwardly groaned when the first try was scored. Absolute gem of a play ;they had it in mind to aim Proctor full bore at our weak side and then after all was said and done and he broke the line no effort from our departing fullback at all to stop him. That happened twice. Our departing fullback who at times wandered aimlessly at the back, no communication to his players in front of him ( in stark contrast to the two fullbacks who played earlier in the day, Blake Clayton in Jersey Flegg and Josh Bergamin in Intrust who were consistently barking orders and arranging their defensive lines with the look of a Roman general ordering his troops into battle). Yep, those two sides lost as well but not through lack of trying. Flegg held the Panthers to nil for around 45 minutes ( the club leading the comp too) and lost by two points ( much to our dismay could have been a draw as we missed a sitter within the first five or so minutes which proved costly). Intrust fell similarly short and due to a big reshuffle with players being moved in and out of the squad were a bit disjointed.
Honestly, I find it hard to bag out a player who wears the blue and white but here was a guy who was touted as something special, who has been at the club since 2011 and has never really been able to stake his claim in any position he has filled and as we all know they have been many ( centre, half, five eighth, hooker, fullback) in true meaning a jack of all trades but master of none.
Good luck to the Tigers who have felt that they can offer a contract to him exceeding the one we had given ......good luck in getting an effort commensurate with the level of pay.That is the disappointing thing about it all ;value for money. Might have been happy to entertain persisting with him for a while longer if he was not on so much money but I sort of am of the opinion that he has had five years in the top grade to prove himself in some way and it probably ain't gonna happen. As a front line player and supposedly a superstar in the making he has scored a total of 17 tries ( including 1 yesterday) in all his appearances for us. Will mean some shuffling for the coach but hopefully a younger pup can come up and fill the gap with a bit more enthusiasm and pizzazz.
