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Well, the dust has settled on another rugby league season and while the autopsy has already been well and truly completed on the Storm’s capitulation, it also didn’t take long on Sunday for people to ask whether the Sea Eagles could do it all again.
The nature of their victory coupled with the dominance during the regular season for the past two years has certainly given the club a look of one with a dynasty in mind and they look ready to take Melbourne’s crown as the team to beat just as the Storm deposed the Roosters before that.
Of course the Sea Eagles will now face stiff competition from other clubs both on and off the field.
On the field everyone will lift when playing them, everyone does whenever they play the premiers, but it is off the field that some of the greater challenges lie when it comes to building a dynasty.
Much has been made of the fact that Manly have rebuilt themselves in five years, but the forces that helped them rebuild may just start to tear them apart.
During their dark years the Sea Eagles were able to stay close to competitive because the big guns of the competition were reigned in by the salary cap and the talent remained more evenly spread.
Once they had money in the bank again the former silvertails were again able to get into the market because there were always plenty of players being shopped about and the Northern Beaches lifestyle is always a good selling point.
Of course, credit should go to Des Hasler and Noel Cleal for many of the shrewd decisions in their recruitment and retention, they have spent their money well. The big money has gone on players that have earned it, Matt Orford, and they have also got plenty of value out of others on smaller contracts, Glen Stewart.
But this is where things will start to get tricky.
Bearded winger David Williams was probably close to the find of the season and may well end up in the Australian squad, but that will mean that come next contract he maybe able to command more than double his current salary.
The salary caps eats at your depth.
The Sea Eagles had excellent cohesion around the rucks through Matt Ballin and Heath L’Estrange but they may soon find they can only afford to have one instead of the other.
And will one be as effective without his foil?
Brent Kite and Josh Perry, who arrived on big money, may soon be due even more and this may force out the likes of Glenn Hall and Adam Cuthbertson.
And of course when you trim your side, injuries and suspensions bite even harder.
Just ask the defeated Grand Finalists.
Of course, this has happened to most sides that have won the competition and it is nothing new, it is also well known that players will often be happy to stay at clubs for less if they think they can win a comp or play rep footy and the prospects of both look good at Brooky.
But in reality some players will always leave for more money or maybe more game time.
You just can’t keep everyone.
There is no coincidence that no side has won competitions back to back since Brisbane in 1997-1998, Manly will start from pole position in 09 but it is a long, long race.
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