I agree with Cirque.
The thing is that we actually need to turn around the culture of the place, and so maybe the longtime vets need to be replaced by some "winning mentality" vets.
I feel bad for the likes of Burt, Cayless, Lowrie, Ben Smith, Grothe - but they are our veterans and need to be stepping up to say "let's go" - but for 2 or 3 years they've been trained not to care, and it's starting to sink in for them.
I excluded Hindmarsh from that list because he's a rare find in that he seems to be self-motivated to perform at his peak. But the culture has to have been rubbing off on him to an extent...
Monaghan would be great, a leader at the half position who can bring a fresh mentality.
I think Albert Kelly is a few years away yet - Mortimer is closer, but how hard is it to come in as a rookie and "lead in" a new culture? Massive ask IMO.
Somehow we need to get people with a "winning mentality" as our leaders - if that means sacking some of the old brigade to put the responsibility on the younger "vets" shoulders, then maybe it needs to be done.
I wonder how much it says if we put Mateo to lock, KK to 5/8, Hayne to FB and Mannah as our starting prop. Tell them they have the rest of the season to prove themselves as leaders - Robson at half for the short term while we see if there's anything that can be done for this season (in terms of replacements) and if there's not, throw Mortimer in to see how he goes the rest of the season with the assurance that he's got next season (alongside that same spine) to prove himself.
Too many "professional" vets at this club who don't make the impact play or who play with too much caution in their game.
