What is your reasoning?
For mine, I look at the new recruits and wonder what we can get out of them. A guy flopping about in England the past 4 years, an injury prone reserve grader from a club just as poor as us and an overhyped kid who hasn’t done anything yet. Don’t get me wrong, they may galvanise and form a kick arse halves combo. They may also form a combo no better than Wakeham/Brooks. Additionally, they will be feeding a backline, unchanged at the moment, who are inconsistent and often useless, certainly the squad’s weak link.
Most of our best players in this 2023 squad were all forward imports this year. They come from a variety of winning cultures where hard work and graft is rewarded. They busted their backsides this year for 3 wins. That has to affect you mentally. Will they back up next year? They’ve gotten older, will the injury gods hammer them? They will possibly lose depth as well. Can the young guns only just starting their grade careers step up?
Bula has been a revelation this year. Will second year syndrome develop in him? He has a lot to learn still, who is mentoring him? Are our new coaching appointments up to the task? Can we attract anymore marquee players and or staff? Will the departures this year of experienced players and staff negatively affect the squad? Will the continued media scrutiny negatively affect our retention strategies of identified pathways talent? Will the continued bad press and indecisive nature of our administration negatively affect our commercial arrangements, including free to air telecasting and new sponsorships? Back to back spoons are almost guaranteed, how will this affect the club?
You can state we’ll be better next year to your hearts content. I’ve heard it all before and watched it proven wrong so many times in this clubs history, that I will maintain a very healthy scepticism until some huge changes are made.