True, it does. However in previous seasons we have either had other players coming through to replace them or at least had some signings in terms of first grade talent coming into the club.
This year is different in the fact that the club have maintained that they will focus on the juniors coming through as their main priority yet when a player they have earmarked as a long term prospect is let go to another club it raises the alarm bells to a new high.
I have maintained I don't care that Manly have offered him first grade money. However, as a player "Our coaches have recognised and nurtured [sic] his abilities over the past four years..." he should have been wrapped up on a decent deal long before this.
Since 2006 however we have lost or will lose - Ian Hindmarsh, Mark Riddell, Dean Widders, John Morris, Glenn Morrison, Wade McKinnon, Ash Graham, Luke O'Dwyer, Brett Delaney, Aaron Cannings, Ian Henderson, Daniel Wagon, Tim Smith, Chad Robinson, Michael Lett, Blake Green, Justin Tsoulos, Zeb Taia, PJ Marsh, John Williams, David Williams, Ben Farrar to name just half a dozen.
In that time our major signings have been Brett Finch, Todd Lowrie, Ian Hindmarsh and Joe Galuvao and only two of those players through design or form have played a decent amount of first grade football.
And while we have re-signed the likes of Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu, Feleti Mateo, Kris and Matt Keating, Cordoba, Ben Smith and Taulima to name a few we are gradually sliding down the scale of where we sit in terms of playing strength.
We have a part time squad that doesn't even get a look in on the first grade squad even in terms of injuries which seems to mean the club are banking on the Under 20's squad being the feeder side for the next lot of players coming through. Many of these players are a year or two away from the first grade squad however a few of them are already making up the twenty five players that make up our salary cap.
It is concerning that the recruitment and development of these kids is being rushed and the club will again be at the point where they were before Brian Smith arrived at the club in terms of good juniors leaving, journey men being signed to make up the numbers and a yearly position on the ladder that rivalled Souths and Wests.
