Sorry it’s a long one, after mulling things over
Its a mystery how the club has seemingly drifted, (with a sudden plunge this season), from becoming relatively successful in the Tony Smith era to where we find ourselves now. After discussions I’ve had, (with no inside knowledge, just guess work), I wonder if its something like this.
Paul Cullen era the sport was different and he worked on galvanising the squad together lots of “team building” party hard/play hard which did its job, got us out of trouble and into the HJ. But the sport as a whole was becoming more and more professional and so a different approach was needed enter Tony Smith.
Tony Smith brought a new more professional approach, the squad were suddenly all wearing suits, waiting as a group to leave the pitch at half time, non conformists made an example of, Gleeson gone, Briers dropped and on the bench. Also it was easier to get star players then and build a strong squad. As a club we were using any, (legal), loophole available on the salary cap, such as paying overseas players mid air on flights back home for tax reasons etc. Then it became harder to get the star players and loopholes were getting closed. I wonder if this is where the problems started, (again only guess work). Perhaps in contract negotiations to keep the better players other perks were offered, ie we will help you set up a business, give you time and advice to make it successful, we’ll put you on a course for your career once you retire etc. Perhaps this is where TS started to become disillusioned, the ethics he wanted to instil were no longer there.
Enter Steve Price, maybe he was better than we gave him credit for and he managed the squad very well and worked with what he had in terms of the perks players were given and attitude, I watch all the NRL and he is on the field pre every Cronulla game putting the players through their paces, obviously well respected. But the squad was too comfortable and lacking in hunger for success they lacked the grit to be successful, we were soft.
Enter Daryl Powell, right from the start he has mentioned the soft underbelly, we have seen it in the previous play offs. He comes in and starts removing the perks only wanting players who are fully focussed on the team and not outside interests etc, give the team a set of doodahs and be driven to win. Understandably if half the squad have been enticed to stay or offered sweeteners in the past they are not going to like it, its almost like a pay cut. If that’s the case really there is no fault on either side at present, the squad needs overhauling and remove the players on an easy ride, (probably through no fault of their own)

Utterly CEO, could have saved your RSI.

A lot of people comment on the link between our fortunes and Andy Gatcliffe as CEO who left end of 2014.

A seasoned C-level operator who is now holding other director and non-exec positions.

100% Agree that Andy Gatcliffe was an escellent CEO and we no doubt miss his expertise.
A genuine question as I have absolutly no idea what his R&Rs are. What is it that Karl Fitzpatrick is or isn't doing that has such a negative impact on the club that it overrides any influence the coaching staff or anyone else can have on the playing group and leads to the situation we have now.
At a guess he is involved in recruitment which has left a lot to be desired of the last few years, but surely he is not solely responsible for it and others also have a say in who we sign? But what other things are there?