Putting Bellamy's signing aside, i think you're being a bit hard on Waldron. We've been the most successful side over the last couple of years and could very well have more over the next couple at least, but with that success comes the issue of player retention which is ineviatble. It's not just the Storm it's every team it happens to, just ask the Bulldogs a few years ago and the Bronco's as well.
Waldron has an obligation to every single player on the list to pay them exactly what they're worth and not a cent more. What are we meant to do if a player wants a certain amount and we haven't got it or they're just not worth it? Pay them anyway? We just couldn't match what Matt King was getting offered, same with Ben Cross, as for Newton we just didn't have the money to keep him unfortunately. I'm sure none of those players wanted to leave, but if the cupboard is bare then they have no choice. That's hardly Waldron's fault.
You've also got to remember the stars we have on our list and who we have to re-sign over the next few years. Of course we won't be able to keep all of them due to the salary cap but again that's not Waldron's fault. We could very well lose Lima or Blair which would be big losses but by losing one of them it could be the difference between losing or re-signing someone like Cameron Smith or Cooper Cronk down the track. We'll need money for them and we have to find it somewhere.
We also have to factor in the amount of rep players we have which makes it all the more harder to keep players because those appearances for NSW, QLD, Aust, NZ etc fall under our cap as well. It's a delicate balancing act trying to work with the money you've got to spend but unfortunately it's just a fact of life that you can't keep them all and players will move on from every team.
Given the fact we've been such a strong side and we have the team this year, next year and even beyond to make a serious challenge for more premierships i think is a testament to the work that Brian Waldron does and IMO he's played a massive part along with Bellamy to get us to where we are today.
The days of players like Kimmorley and Orford holding us over a barrel trying to weed every cent out of us are long gone and i for one am very happy about that.
