Yep. And that is the problem. Everyone knows we are.
I think that is why lockie and TDS left.
Fans see us as the battlers. But why would you play for a team seen as that. Not the 1980's anymore. Everyone wants the big next thing.
Sorry bit random reply
Not at all random. Our finances will attract certain kind of coaches.
Every team is given $20m by the NRL and $14m in the cap. We won't be broke because of the NRL grant, but we will always be scraping the bottom for coaches, support staff, facilities, rehab, head of performance etc and since we have a big Junior base, the talent will keep coming, but the amount spent on training them per player will be nowhere near what other clubs spend.
We need a head coach who is willing to take all this on. Guys like Hannay, Ciraldo, Ryles etc are the next big thing but they come from big systems with lots of funding and very good support network.
We need someone who can run a one man show and has nothing to lose. Even if we had Ciraldo here this year, we may have gotten a win or two more, but he won't be able to set us up for the future because he'd get no support.
I don't think Benji is a good coach, but with what we have, he is probably one of the better options available. We aren't going to attract a Bennett or Bellamy etc and out of the inexperienced coaches, I don't mind Justin Holbrook. He's from a big system but he's worked in dire circumstances at Titans but did well enough. He's got a soft, caring personality that resonates with players more.