Robbo imported Teddy and Cronk into an already pretty stacked team to do it. Once Cronk went so did the premiership chances. Cleary has done it shedding players and replacing them with nobodies.
I'd still go Webster though, then Kevvie.
Oh yes, he imported them in 2018 and then again in 2019. Fair dunkum. You just don't get what I'm saying do you?
Have a look at the history of the award, and see who won it when they had a 3 peat or even just a repeat.
In 1981-83, when Parramatta won 3 straight Premierships under Jack Gibson's coaching, Bob Fulton won it for 1981 and 1983. Gibson only won it in 1982.
When Canterbury won it in 1984 and 1985, Tim Sheens got the gong in 1984 and Roy Masters in 1985.
1989 and 1990? 1989 it went to George Piggins, whilst Sheens won it in 1990 with Canberra repeating that year as Premiers.
1992 and 1993 when the Broncos went back to back? Did Wayne Bennett win it? Nope. 1992 it went to Grahm Murray (who was at the Steelers) whilst 1993 it went to Chris Anderson (who was aty the Bulldogs).
Heck even in 1994, did Sheens win it after the rebuild of the Raiders post salary cap scandal? Nope went to Peter Louis at Norths.
Ricky Stuart took the Roosters to 3 straight grand finals from 2002 to 2004. Who won those years? 2002 was Daniel Anderson, 2003 (no award due to the strike) and 2004 was Steve Folkes.
The one who has gone closest was Craig Bellamy. He won it back to back in 2006 (when the Strom lost to Brisbane) and in 2007 (when the Storm beat Manly).
So if you look at that, its a very clear pattern. You can think Cleary is the "ants pants" but my point is that based on historical trends, they will go with the "big turn around" from the year before when giving out this award as opposed to the team that makes consecutive grand finals and/or wins consecutivce grand finals.
