Cheerios Johnnay!
Wrong signing for the wrong job at the wrong time. We need leaders in senior positions. Even with Api who has been a wonderful signing doesn't seem that much of a leader to me. Definitely one of the best leaders we have had for a while but I don't know how much he pushes the boys to get the best out of them.
In terms of players coming here and not performing as well as before or players leaving and getting better at other teams, I am again putting down to not having good leaders. Of all the people that have left us and improved Aloiai, Matterson, Woods, Papenhuyzen, Papali'i, JAC, Brooks etc, I can't think of even one of them who has shown good leadership at their clubs. Tedesco is a clear exception and possibly up until this SOO, even Moses wasn't considered a good leader at Parra.
We need to hire senior players who aren't afraid of getting on the younger players' bad sides. Those who are relentless with their taining even if they don't perform that well in the games.
Tamou to me was a great signing but it just never worked out.
I'd give Luai co-captaincy and see if he can get the best out of these guys.
I think you make a very good point here tig. Leadership, particularly on field, is severely lacking and has been for many years. Players that show the way and drag the rest with them - it’s a quality of the elite players and perhaps Api is our only one. These are the guys that drive standards in training as well as in games. They enforce the coaches message and are uncompromising in the way it must be carried out. Culture is carried by them as well because any player coming in to the group becomes too afraid to let the leaders and teammates down. It’s why the top clubs have that next player up mentality.
It is essential that the next players we bring to the club add to this characteristic- Luai will be a good start with this.