Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Man, as with most things, it's probably a combination of wide and varying reasons some we can identify and some we can't.
My top picks are:
1. Cash - we have fuck all of the stuff and it makes the world turn.
2. Injuries - Pretty shitty run with injuries.
3. Grass roots - Our inability to nurture the base of the game is finally bearing its fruits on the national scene.
I think the smaller stuff is less to blame. The coaching staff at the moment are pretty slick if you ask me. The best we've had in a long time and they are making the most of a pretty shitty meal. Selections etc, are all so much easier to call out retrospectively.
An old boss of mine many years ago said to me (after I asked for a raise) that money is not a motivator. He said you would perform better initially but that you would revert to the way you were working before the raise (because you believed you were worth it).
Sure money is important, from grassroots to the top. I remember Deans got paid about a million bucks, so I can only imagine McKenzie and now Chek are enjoying a similar salary. (I not saying Chek does it for the money but its a nice feed anyway).
At Wallaby level, money is important but it's not the primary motivator of these players. We have to find a way to tap into the passion of being an Aussie (well most of them at least but that's another discussion point on it's own) playing on the world stage.
How do you do it ?
Easy question, very hard answer.
PS I said to my bastard of a boss that whilst money may not, to use your words, be a motivator, perceived lack of money of one's worth is a demotivator.