One great thing Gus changed was this clubs habit of opening the chequebook to the dregs of the market in November. I really hope we get some decisive moves well before the best cuts are all gone.
Yeah, he just found another way to handicap us, by gambling on signing silly long terms deals on players who are unproven and/or had bad attitudes. We are dead lucky that he was able to offload Cartwright scot free, but in doing so he basically poisoned the well for Brennan.
Again, who are we going to throw money at given we will be paying out 500K to 1 Million to other clubs next year?
Which Elite player wants to come to our club given we chop and change coaches, we are in constant rebuild mode, and our coach is essentially a proven failure who has a habit of being a dick to players who are underperforming rather than motivating them?
The Griffin, Cleary, Gus, O'Neil, Fletcher saga (probably starting with the Moylan exit) as well as the sex tapes have also trashed our brand generally in the NRL. The Panthers were the most liked team for neutrals (non-supporters), the so called most popular 'second team'. I very much doubt that is the case now, we are now either openly despised or at the very least ridiculed.
Any Elite signing we would have to pay overs to lure them, just like we did before Gus. Oh and we no longer have the pulling power in terms of players or sponsors now that he has left.
Other than the Rugby League Academy we are essentially no better of then before we started. Yes, he made moves to 'save the club' (I maintain that somebody else would have also been capable) but our brand is now damaged goods. It will only be repaired with the passing of time, combined with success.