It's a good discussion as WA is in quite a unique position - certainly in Australia.
WA has a long-standing rugby history but only a 17-year professional rugby experience which was totally disrupted by the events of 2017.
But there was a level of continuity provided by Andrew Forrest's rescue. Tim Sampson was a key element of maintaining that continuity.
What has also been happening is a redevelopment of the game in WA from the grassroots level.
The support staff recruitment over the past 18 months has had a Super Rugby focus - which I agree is very different from the GRR expansion into the Asia pacific region. GRR's focus was to grow the game in the region - it wasn't going to grow if the WF was winning every game.
IMO, the change of Head Coach is very much a part of that Super Rugby focus and was important to build not only a competitive team but a winning team.
It's hard to get a real feel for Andrew's vision, energy and level of support from afar.
But the players are certainly on board with it - and the reason why top U20 players such as Andrew Romano, George Poolman, Ned Slack-Smith, Jordan Williams, Josh Mongard, Bo Abra, other players such as Angus Wagner, Harry Lloyd, Jack Winchester, Campbell Parata, Daniel Ala and the young Brumbies players were attracted to the program. I doubt if any of these young players haved been disappointed since their arrival in the West.
Simon Cron will take this recruitment and game development to another level - with a desire to make a real difference over the next 2-3 years.
The fact that he is not a coach with a proven Super Rugby record or higher level, but a coach recognised to have high potential for growth, reflects how Forrest and Lewis prefer having a group that is growing together.
Time will tell........................
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