The worst thing about Petero was that he ended up becoming an agitator. He was a big part of the toxic 'player power' culture at the time and was a big Matthew Elliot supporter.
At one of the post game fan gatherings we used to have out the back of the western stand Petero literally lobbied the crowd to vote against the club leadership of the time and he was no fan of Gus and the accountability and professionalism he wanted to bring to the team.
I remember being astounded by just how brazen Petero was that day.
IDK if Petero would have averaged 200 metres and 35 tackles with no misses a game. He would have still been AWFUL for the club just based on how toxic he was to the culture at the time.
P.S - even though it was a dark period in Panther history and Elliot was a shocking coach - I miss how fan friendly and accessible the club was back then. Those post game fan gatherings for the die hard fans were great and there was a real sense of community and camaraderie that IMO has been lost in the last decade or so which is a real shame.
I still have some Big League annuls from that period. Lets have a look.
08: 23 avg Tackles, 90% effective 142 metres gained. Highest at the club that year.
09: 26 avg Tackles, 89 effective tackles 139 MG. Highest at the club that year. 12 games.
10: 22 avg Tackles, 90 effective tackles 139 MG. Highest at the club that year.
I never bothered with 2011 magazine. I was disillusioned with the club that year.
His numbers aren't too bad for a starting prop @ $370k. Particularly given his age, and who our idiot coach was. As Bred says it wasn't his fault our management let go Gower and wasted a HB's money on an aging prop.
Leary proclaimed him our greatest signing at the time. This is the same man that promised we would be signing a high-quality centre. In return we got Mark O'Halloran.
8 years later Gould would trumpet Merrin as our greatest signing, at double Civo's price! Neither were our greatest signings. I was glad to see the back of both at the end.
I always think a club proclaiming a great signing, should be done at the end of the players time at the club. Not before they start.
We never had the Ben Kennedy effect Manly got. Signing an experienced tough inspirational leader that set high standards on and off the field.
As you correctly said, his off-field toxic 'player power' culture at the time, and being a staunch Elliott defender probably sums up his time here. In that regard it leaves a sour taste for many Panther supporters, and our memories of him here.
