With speculation growing that St Benny is to make a triumphant return, what are we all hoping from this?
This should be a minimum four year plan.
Focus shouldn't just be on trying to win another premiership. A huge focus needs to be put on trying to make us a formidable force moving into the future. First part of the long-term plan should be to get our junior system flourishing again. Second part of the plan should be to identify who the next long term coach is once he retires (this will no doubt be his last contract) and if possible work with that person whilst they transition into the job.
We don't need to do much recruiting for 2015 other than a couple of mongrel forwards & maybe a hooker to get us through this initial period while we wait to see what the junior system produces and decide on who of the current crop we want to keep.
If Boyd is coming back (rumors strong that he is set to sign for the Bulldogs before June 30 though - thus breaking the umbilical chord with Benny), then who gets squeezed out to accommodate? Don't get me wrong, Boyd is still young and the thought of him being the right to left link with Widdop and Morris is salivating. But you'd have to think that two of either Quinlan, Beale or Runciman would have to go if this were to happen. Squeezing out Runciman would be a HUGE error in judgement on behalf of the club. If Boyd isn't coming, and Dugan is deemed to be a long term right centre, and if the club truly doesn't rate Quinlan (he will be given every opportunity to prove himself for the rest of this year though), then the only other logical solution is Beale to play full back and Runciman to play left centre.
Would we accept perhaps Mary being assistant coach with "extra responsibilities" with the view that he may take the top job once Benny retires in four years? I'm not sure? Too early to be making such speculation I suppose. Guess this will be up to Bennett provided his return does come to fruition. In Wayne We Trust... to help us avoid another Steve Price fiasco from occurring.
