I’m not as critical of the list. It’s attitude.
We were the best team in terms of pressure and tackling getting into the heads of the opposition by the second quarter.
We’ve never had a super talented team. Look at our premiership stars ie. Castagna, Caddy, Townsend, Ellis, McIntosh etc. some players better than others and solid contributors in a well oiled machine of pressure and forward movement and a defence that was stable and consistent.
First of all we have let the defence be a fluid concept instead of making it an absolute consistent solution.
Secondly we have become the worst tackling team in league and our pressure has suffered.
We haven’t recovered from the stand rule either.
I may be wrong but It seems our youngsters aren’t being taught the pressure that made us successful.
Thirdly, our aging stars are playing like they are old. It was bound to happen but we would’ve thought we might have got some players in to replace them. We have still have some good players like Bolton Baker Gibcus so our recruiting is ok.
Development has been the big issue for me. We haven’t invested in the future and it has shown in the development of players. Covid-19 hasn’t helped either. But we have used the soft cap as an excuse despite other clubs proving that is not a good excuse in reality.
