The whole Ben Hunt thing can be attributed to paying overs to get him here. Many on here argue that the club paid too much for him. I don't believe he is getting the money quoted in the media, however I do believe that a club with a better coach would have been able to secure his services for a lower price. In this case money talked. Latrell is a great example of this - knocked back a huge offer (some would say overs) from the Tigers to play for the Rabbits under a better coach. That's what players are looking for.
This then leads to your statement about cap mismanagement. The only way to get quality players here at the moment is to pay significant overs - as a result of the coach AND the fact the club doesn't look anywhere near ready to challenge for the title. So Millward is on a hiding to none. In order to attract good players, he's got to pay more for them, therefore restricting his ability to secure quality across the paddock. Don't get me started on third party...
Lastly, the issue with the youngsters is that they aren't getting a shot in first grade. They are looking for that step up but Mary isn't giving them that let alone a starting spot. Not only that, for some of them, we've already got quality players in their preferred position so that opportunity to break into the big time is still likely years away if they stay with us. Like I said, it's a no win situation for Millward at the moment.[/QUOTE
Yes- I sound like a broken record here- Mary is lead in the saddle when trying to recruit good players- no argument about that.
However, that doesn't exempt Millward from criticism from recruitment decisions that have nothing to do with Mary. Exhibit A- the fhird year option in Graham's favour- which of course he has exercised- he's not stupid-not when it comes to money anyway- but he will be 35 when the contract expires at years end and his best years are now well behind him . Also, after recent concussions, we all know he's only one significant knock away from a CTE induced medical retirement and with the way he throws his body around that could happen anytime. We could well be another player down on top of De Belin.
Exhibit B- last year's recruitment of Lachlan Maranta. No one can tell me Mary would have been banging Millward's door down demanding he recruit Maranta. He was buried so deep in Queensland Rugby no one would have known of his existence- apart from Millward and the player's agent who probably contacted him. If Millward had done his homework, he would have learnt that Greg Martin - a former Wallaby and current Fox Rugby commentator- publicly stated that he was the worst recruit the Reds had ever made. Discarded by Wayne Bennett and the Broncos, he was a squad player for two years 2017-2018 and never played a match for the Reds.
'But we recruited him for 2019 - and the outcome- he lasted one year and we released him to go back to Queensland Rugby League.
Possm some time ago made the observation that Millward is lazy and goes for the easy signing- and I tend to agree with him. There would have been promising backs in CC that would have been available and offered much more than that bloke- but no, It's hard to avoid the conclusion that Millward is just another example of the cronyism and nepotism that this club is famous for.
