Old Timer
Coach
- Messages
- 16,991
I hear what you are saying and on some points I agree.Penrith Leagues has always been a profitable, successful club. However, that wasn’t translating to a thriving footy club until Gould came in. Not sure if that’s coincidence, but considering that was one of his targets, it’s hard to believe he didn’t influence it.
As for their roster - not sure what you’re looking at because it’s brilliant. Any of their back 5 walk into our starting line, and 4/5 of them are local juniors. Their halves walk into our team, 1/2 local juniors. Their back row is one of the few in the comp who could compete with ours (and all significantly younger) 3/3 local juniors. The front row is the only place we are superior. But their depth kills ours.
And it’s not that youngsters ‘want to stay an be monitored by Gould, but he has put everything in place to keep them there, develop them and give them a path to first grade. He’s invested heavily in training and developing from junior level. He’s set up the coaching structure in the juniors and planned for development. And he’s provided the succession plan for all those kids to first grade.
From a roster/football management POV, he leaves Millward for dead.
Not hard for their players especially backs to walk into our team but how many other teams can they walk into as I certainly don't hold us in higher esteem than them especially in the backs?
Does he leave Millward for dead no doubt about that but again no recommendation for mine but no doubt their facilities are 1st class as will the Cowboys be and that has no Gould involvement albeit he probably did share some intel with them.
Penrith are no closer to a GF than we are so for all his work and considering our issues obviously there is something not quite right and maybe the Penrith management see it and are trying to do something about it and that stance by Penrith is what I see as being proactive and envy them for.
Re the depth of their juniors we can match that but we can't progress them and despite Penrith having so many juniors in their top side (obviously a positive effect re cap) they too struggle to get the marquee players that will make the difference between being good and winning the GF.