Easy to say sack the lot of them but where do the replacements come from? Jack Gibson isn't waiting in the wings, ready to be re-animated and handed a clipboard. The fact is the leadership holes left by Bennett and Lockyer are not being filled. The hole left by Cyril Connell will take a very long time to fill, too. Do not underestimate the effect this has, and will continue to have. The things that set Brisbane apart from the also-rans are gone.
So where's the next legendary leader?
Who was throwing fire and brimstone behind the goal posts when Cronulla hit 18 points? Hodges just goes into his shell and has a sook and rolls his eyes when things go wrong. He doesn't stand up and demand better. He acts like he's above the terrible play Brisbane produce at times. Hardly inspiring for the troops.
It's a douchebag thing to say "This never would have happened if Locky was still there," but it's true. And not because he's a future immortal. Not because he's a stunningly gifted playmaker who would have kicked to the corners and ran a game plan designed to strangle Cronulla out of the game; it's his leadership. No one wanted to be the one to let Lockyer down and so they didn't.
In the years before, it was Bennett, along with the likes of Langer, Lazarus and then Tallis whose steely gaze bolstered the resolve of even the Dane Carlaw-iest of players.
I'm all for sacking Griffin but the idea of Brisbane on the coaching merry-go-round is depressing. The only available coaches are has-beens and rookies. And Kearney, of course, who strangely sits somewhere in between.
The Bennett-Walters combination is a fantasy and would be far too costly for Brisbane's liking. They've spent a huge amount on the the Logan Broncos Junior Rugby League Academy so while Griffin has them in top eight, it would be easy to justify keeping him on costing alone.
So, yeah. Sack Griffin. I get the feeling the next guy will have a thread like this of his very own before long anyway.
Sorry for the wall of text. Haven't posted in a while so it's all backed up, like when you put your dog in a kennel for the holidays and he sees the couch cushions for the first time after you bring him home again.