If an often spruiked reality television show has taught me anything, it’s that rebuilding a dilapidated old house is really hard work. But, eventually through good management, perseverance and that affable Scott Cam, it can be done.
Rebuilding a footy team however, forget it.
If the term ‘rebuilding’ hasn’t been struck off the footy admin maxim list along with such weasel words as ‘half time entertainment’ and ‘match day experience’ then it bloody well should be, for there is no phrase that manages to depress a season ticket holder quite like it.
A rebuilding phase in football is no different from a restructure at the office, being forced to redo an assignment or re-jigging the family budget. It is the footballing equivalent of a long in-depth discussion with your partner about the state of your relationship.
Quite simply, you’re in trouble.
The Penrith Panthers, for all intensive purposes, are going through a rebuilding phase.
In their defence those in power at the club have spared fans these actual inflammatory words, but with Phil Gould constantly droning on about ‘future steps’ and ‘positive pathways’ they’re a spirit level away from Jamie Durie presenting high-vis singlets to players out of a backhoe in the dressing sheds pre-match.
Problem is, as far as construction sites go, those responsible for working on the Panthers yesterday looked like they’ve just found out Michael Searle was bankrolling the whole thing.
On the request of the high profile construction manager, a newly appointed foreman has been flown in from New Zealand especially for the gig, with words to the effect of ‘while the boys on site are a good bunch of fellas, you to have to be firm with them’.
Even still you can imagine his shock when he’s rocked up to site clutching the master plans, only to find his tattooed and be-stubbled crew huddled around a Zoo mag smoking a bunger. His mood is not helped when his star electrician suddenly pulls up next to him in his hotted up ute and swaggers down to join the rest of the them, high–fiving his fellow slackers before falling asleep in an upturned wheelbarrow.
No, this simply will not do. So he makes some changes.
A couple of the senior tradesmen are put behind the barrow, while a few of the junior labourers are handed the expensive machinery and told to go nuts. True, some of the changes aren’t popular at first, but from afar things look like they’re slowly coming together.
But then it happens. A bad day. A couple of blokes ring in sick. Another manages to adhesive himself to a skill saw. Someone forgets the stereo.
The only bloke left at the temp agency is a bloke on parole who got booted from his last couple of jobs. Suddenly by the time the mildly attractive chick in the smoko van rocks up the whole day is a write off and the construction manager is on the blower demanding answers to which the only answer is “Umm, soon?”
And here’s the problem with rebuilding. In the NRL there is no tomorrow, only today. Planning for the future went out as soon as they got rid of the top five. If your team’s bad, you buy a whole bunch of good players until they start winning.
Because really, what is a reasonable building period? Is it ok to stink it up for five years to have one decent crack at the title? Ten years? Were North Sydney actually building up to a period of footballing domination of which the like the world has ever seen?
And even then how long do you get to stay at the top of the mountain before some other struggler comes and pays overs for your best players?
Don’t get me wrong, if the Panthers aim is to be create a legacy of continual success ala the Broncos, well good for them. But if getting destroyed by a Titans side containing more reserve graders than Surfers Paradise on mad Monday is part of the plan, then I think you can excuse the fans for looking elsewhere until this house is well and truly finished.
Unless of course that is they can get that wonderful Scott Cam involved somehow.
Follow Chris on Twitter: Vic_Arious@twitter.com
Bob Dobbo
Guest
As a Sharks supporter my 45 year pass to extended mediocrity has expired. Can we please win it this year??
Simply the Beets
Guest
Penrith have some good Jnrs coming through, but their on field success in the NRL - like most clubs - will depend on whether they can find a good halves combination. You just aren't going to challenge with the likes of Walsh and Burns running the team. If they can get that sorted then they will take a big step towards turning things around.Giving out a few more free Oaks couldn't hurt, either.
Arthur Fonzarelli
Guest
So Penrith have been rebuilding since when........ 2003 ???
Michael
Guest
I think Gus is doing the right thing. Been a Panther's fan my whole life. The inmates were running the asylum at Penrith under Elliot and they were content with mediocrity instead of striving to win. This year we have identified problem areas at the club: - Fringe backrowers capable of impacting the edge and creating second phase & quick play-the-ball. - Speed in the backs - Bench impact. All these areas have been addressed for 2013. Lewis Brown & Sika Manu have been brought in. James Segeyaro will be a bench player next year with a view to starting in 2014 when it will be likely that Kingston will be gone. Dean Whare was signed to play Centre and add speed to the team. In a year when people say the NRL side is not successful, and they are right, what they fail to acknowledge is improvements in every OTHER area. Our juniors are back in the finals in SG Ball & Harold Matthews. Our NYC team is thriving and top of the table along with our NSW Cup team top of the table. Gus has scouted some fantastic young players who will impact the team in the future in Josh Mansour, Mitch Achurch, Ryan Simpkins etc. On top of that we have potential rookie of the year in 2013 in Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi who is set to be a regular first grader off the bench next year. So while many, including the hacks at the Daily Telegraph *cough* Slothfield *cough* are sure to dig the boot into Penrith consistently, they fail to acknowledge the changes that have been made and the improvements that have occurred. In the past Penrith's management was guilty of only striving for 1-2 year cycles & 8 years of crap. Not any more. This build is to ensure long term success and with any culture change...it will involve some pain & some bleeding. At the moment the team next year is shaping up as: 1. Coote, 2. Uaisele, 3. Jennings, 4. Whare, 5. Mansour, 6. Seijka, 7. Walsh, 8. McKendry, 9. Kingston, 10. Grant, 11. Brown, 12. Manu, 13. Lewis RES: 14. Segeyaro, 15. Weston, 16. Tia-Kilifi, 17. Austin Great blend of youth...and impact. That is a potential finals team with for the first time in a while...significant quality depth to cover first grade injuries. So while the likes of Rothfield tries to destabilize the club due to his agenda against Gould and generally being a wanker...the proof will be in the pudding in the years to come.
Michael
Guest
Actually...yes they were. It is ok...you don't read much. All good. Penrith always said this year was a rebuilding year and if we do better...then good...but we'd be blooding alot of juniors.
Chris Chard
Expert
This is more embarrassing than the time I thought that Cold Chisel song was 'Cheap Wine and a 3 litre Coke' Consider myself suitably shamed CC
Arthur Fonzarelli
Guest
mmmmm.... nobody was talking about a "rebuilding" phase at the Knights, Eels or Penrith at the start of the season. "Rebuilding" and "changing the culture" can be translated as - "Oh dear, we are not performing as well as we expected and our much hyped recruits have not aimed up, so lets look 2 years down the track when we have some different players"
Dane Eldridge
Expert
I am envious of GWS and GC Suns supporters. They literally have a minimum of 10 years before they can can begin to place any reasonable expectation upon their side. It's like a generation-sized rebuild which entitles the barracker to a free pass to extended mediocrity and an official pardon from any scrutiny from pub-level analyst upwards. Bliss.
Victor the very unattractive man
Guest
Who's in charge of knocking up the Panther's veggie patch?
GC Tiger
Guest
I thought that when i wrote it, but gathered that it must have taken on a different meaning by now. I meant no one is talking about how they are rebuilding from last years culture.
Mike
Guest
Thanks Rob, was going to post exactly the same thing.
mushi
Guest
Souths have been rebuilding since 1990 You are right souths and rebuild havne't been mentioned once they've been mentioned more times together than than Greece and Basketcase
Rob
Guest
What's an intensive purpose? The phrase/saying/cliche is "for all intents and purposes". If you are to resort to cliches, please get them right. Signed, A. Pedant ;)
Dubble Bubble
Guest
I agree.It's a bit early to be judging them.This has always been something that was going to take a few years.
Gareth
Guest
The Panthers really missed Josh Mansour's involvement in attack, given he's like having a third front rower, and also really missed Luke Lewis to shore things up in defense. Jennings showed again why the club will be much better without him.
Recalcitrant
Guest
Gus is a good commentator, in the American mould. Obviously he watches a lot of Yank sports to get his scripts. Anyhow, he should stick to tv and keep away from running teams. The game has well and truely moved on since his era. Completely different sport.
GC Tiger
Guest
I find it funny how when a team with a new coach that doesn't actually click with his team and goes backwards that they call it a rebuild. Newcastle were near top 8 and so were Souths, both have new coachs but 1 in failing and 1 is thriving. Souths haven't been refered to as rebuilding there culture once. If any team has had an overhaul over the last 2 years it has been Brisbane and again it has never been referred to as rebuild of culture. Cleary is overated and has been a defensively deficent coach for 6 years. Bennet has been an attacking definent coach for 4 years. Kearney is an attacking and defensive definant coach. Culture isn't the problem, the coachs instructions are.
Rugby Realist
Guest
They should take a leaf out of Parramattas recruitment playbook and chuck the bank at seasoned professionals like Sandow.....oh wait. Cant believe Cleary favored Coote over Gordon at start of the year though. Now they have lost a genuine backline star, to go with the likely loss of their other star in Jennings. When Gordon wasnt injured (rare i admit) he was developing into one the premiere full backs in the nrl, no easy feat. Coote will never be more than a good solid player, excellent in support and chasing kicks etc.
Nate Hornblower
Guest
very amusing but taken on a serious level this has no basis in reality whatsoever. Of course re-builds are required, often its much more than just a new coat of paint over the playing roster. For it to be done right, often an important part of this "rebuild" is a real shake up of long entrenched cultural issues within a club that need changing. Just look at Parramatta. In the end, these things take time. It's ridiculous to judge Penrith or as another example, the Newcastle Knights on the basis of half a season's work. Give them a minimum of 2 seasons to see the fruits of their labour. Look at what Des Hasler did at Manly, it took 2 years to even get them back to the finals, 4 years for them to win a semi final but once they did, history speaks for itself.
Mals
Guest
Haha I like it CC! Having done my fair share of labouring on construction sites during uni holidays & breaks in employment I like the analogy to the building industry. I must be behind the times, do smoko vans turn up at sites now? It use to be the 1st year apprentice's job (in Penrith's case maybe Achurch) to take the food orders & drive to the local takeway. He's bound to cop a earful he arrives back with the wrong flavoured milk or hamburgers that didn't have egg added or beetroot not taken out...