I wasn’t denying Gus impact on the club, he did some great stuff here. But the policy of deliberately rotating players back to NSW cup is a nonsense, if someone is good enough, they’re old enough.
Nonsense is a strong word and in my view, wrong. The fact that some people don't need to do it (drop back to NSW cup), doesn't mean it's not generally correct.
It's a medical fact that males don't reach their physical peak until 25, so for a start a youngster is likely to be physically weaker pound per pound. They also won't have had the benefit of as many off-seasons to build strength and muscle mass as the older players. Of course, some people are so physically strong it doesn't matter they aren't at their peak and their ability to cope will be about mental fatigue, not physical fatigue.
I think it would be fair to say the coaches at the Panthers have managed this quite well. The concept has been applied on a case by case basis and some players have moved up and got long stretches in first grade because they have coped and others have been moved back down and given a rest. The outcome is there for all to see. A GF in 2020 and in 2021, 11 local juniors as starting first graders, 3 local juniors on the bench and a 28 nil shutout in round 2. You don't get that by following the old Panthers way of chucking in players like Sjeika and hoping they crack the big time. Some swim, but far too many sink.
Nonsense? Nah, smart management that has helped set the Panther's apart from the likes of the Dogs and Manly et al. It's just a shame its taken 40 years for the penny to drop.