You have made me contemplate this. I hear and feel the pain and initially thought it is what it is and there is bugger all we can do about it.
But I think that is wrong. We can continue to whine about shit and trot down the centre of the park with the same mentality and kick it to the winger on the 5th and hope for a lucky catch or bounce. Or we (the royal we) can try to do something about it.
So what do we do? We can establish a solid platform to work from. We can experiment. We can develop a strategy for how to unhinge the Penrith/Storm model. OR We can keep doing the same old WT thing.
This is a huge opportunity to look at WT in a strategic sense and identify who we want to be and how we want to play going forward. Despite what many think I believe we have a solid foundation to build from. The club is not in a financial mess, we have some football leadership in pace (love Sheens or hate him) and a clean out is happening. Players having too much of a say seems to have been dealt with and, if we believe the players, morale is good despite the lack of success. So the players have taken the plan on board (we just don't know what it is)
What do we need as supporters - a bit of communication would be nice. How about us understanding the direction the club is planning to take - maybe a vision that we could buy into. How about Sheens telling us what direction our football will take. I know they have networking events for the sponsors - but what about those of us that don't have few $K to kick in? Doesn't mean we are less of a supporter to our club or the players. Can't say I ever played footy for sponsors - I played for my mates, my family, the jumper and the fan (my girlfriend and now wife - wasn't that good of a player to have fans)
I personally would like to club to have a hard look at our values. I think they should be simple and if the players or staff don't live up to them they get punted. They probably should look something like:
- Mateship. Put your mates needs and wants before your own each and every time. That is both on the field and off the field. There is no need to look after yourself because your mates will do that for you.
- Courage. Not the type of courage to storm a machine gun pit (although that would be good too); but the courage to make the hard right decision, the courage to push through adversity and the courage to own your mistakes.
- Loyalty. Loyalty to your mates, first and foremost, the team and the club.
It's not about everything being rosy, far from it, but we have an opportunity to plan, experiment and develop.
End of rant
Cheers n Beers
Jolls