I could write an essay, but lets make it very simple.
The successful clubs do what it takes to be successful.
The Broncos, Dogs, Storm, Roosters, Manly (despite the hiccup) and Souths (in ancient and again very recent history) have a culture of demanding the best and being ruthless in achieving it.
They might not win it every year, but they are usually in there with a chance.
Everything about their very being is geared towards success. They are arrogant about it. They make no excuses for it.
They don't care about being nice guys. They expect to win every game.
They sack favourite sons, they recruit from every corner of the globe, and they are ruthless in cutting players and signing new ones. Their fans love them for it, and success begets success, and on they roll.
On the other hand, the also-rans use excuses to justify their irrelevancy.
They rely on "magic" (i.e. lucking into the best player ever, getting hot at finals time) and have no answers when it doesn't occur.
Without a cultural change, and the money to effect it, we will only ever be an also-ran. Lightening isn't going to strike twice - and even if the next GOAT grows up in the hunter, he won't play for us given the successful clubs pick the eyes out of our region. Hell, add Inglis, Cordner and Jackson into our team and it looks much better....
And I got half way to an essay. It really pisses me off how this is all so obvious to everyone except our club.
Some will say these successful clubs have less substance than us - but they evidently have more. They defend their line like the world depends on it. They are disciplined, they don't drop their bundle. That indicates they care more - that indicates they have more soul.
Our club would say to be like these successful clubs would be selling our soul. If mediocrity is at the core of our soul, I would agree.
