That's not entirely correct.... It is more complex...in a nutshell we no longer pay overs....Player managers have had a field day in the past.
The other factor is we have been a rabble since Wayne left....ship is starting to be corrected....just look at the dogs...Gould originally said 5 year plan and everybody laughed after 5 years ....but look at them now...
We are still probably 3 years away from being Top 8 side....I have more faith in Flanno than any other coach we recruited after Wayne.
Getsmarty
We have went hard out for a number of top players both prior but also during Shane's time as coach. It's been a mess since Wayne left but I think we all hoped Shane could be the connected guy to bring us the players we need. He seems to have brought the coaching know-how, I am satisfied with that as I think most are. The recruitment has been a major fail, whether you subscribe to his cheap philosophy or not. Teams like Broncos, Bulldogs and soon Roosters will have two half backs far exceeding any of ours, to give some contrast to how far off we are.
Flanagan himself may not like to be too generous with salaries he is willing to throw their way, and I can respect that, but I just get the feeling it's not for money reasons they are, one after one, turning us down. Players don't yet respect us or take us seriously, hence why Anderson has been brought in at long last.
It feels we are about to face another season in limbo, without that gun prop and controlling half back we crucially need, and while it will be fantastic to see the young guns get some more games under their belt, 2027 is going to be doubly hard to gain the signature we need without going big monetary wise or without asserting ourselves as the real deal in prospective players' eyes.
I am happy to accept the extension, but I think, unfortunately you can't deny he is blameless in not getting use the cattle by this stage. Anyway, there's nothing left to do but back them in now and do that 'hoping' thing we have become so accustomed to. Some clubs hope, some clubs seem to get it done instead.