I thought the TCT interview was really good. It was a question and answer session, not a 7.30 report grilling some was expecting. The CEO was never going to answer why Hopgood is being picked, who are we signing, etc etc.
However it gave a good overview of our strategy moving forward (whether you agree or not). Some key points:
- Ryles wants to create a learning organisation. It’s a management approach, read up on it. Mentions pathway coaches have been on the sideline with NSW cup and in the box with Ryles.
- CEO mentions, Ryles is implementing the plan he presented at his interview and has stuck to the process
- Recruiting players that suit the style Ryles wants to play
- 21min mark. Interesting discussion on our pathways. Long term approach taken by Ryles lets us develop pathway players to suit our style. We have identified 17 pathway players between the ages of 17 to 19, which are critical to our future. Most have been locked up until end of 2027 and some until 2028. Contract approach, is year 1 – Junior rep contract, Year 2 - Train and trial, Year 3 – Development contract Year 4 – Top 30. If a player develops at a faster rate, we can upgrade. LL/Polley locked up lock term
- NRL bench marks shows on average NRL clubs have 5-6% of cap, used on players no longer at the club, playing elsewhere.
- Needs to be plan on how to spend cap, how much on top 5 players, top 17, strategy for managing bottom third of cap.
- Can be aggressive in signing players, but cannot make to many mistakes as creates cap/salary management issues
- We have cap space available, however need to manage that with a young squad where players values will increase. We won’t necessarily have 100% of Drown’s contract available because of this
- Looking at forwards/hooker. May look at internal options for 5/8, however if suitable target becomes available, they will consider. Moses is our marque player and side built around him
- Culture is what will help build us into destination club
So it looks like, we are not going to try and get an instant/sugar kick, improvement by signing anyone. There is a more planned approach for on-going improvement/performance, with focus on pathway players, some external signings and nothing stupid to put cap out of place. Who knows if it will work, but in Ryles we trust.