RedsHappy
Tony Shaw (54)
This puts things in abit of perspective from a players point of view
That whole input from Hodgson confirms a prior analysis but with 100X the validity of any of us here:
The Force is strategically failing. It's been doing that for some time.
It's no fault of the fans, no fault of any player, no fault of WA Inc.
It's in the vortex of an unimaginative and negligent ARU and a poorly constructed Force board all propelling forward a notion that poor coaches and many 'stars' is the required mix, when just the opposite is the only proven Australian S15 model that works.
The ARU is led by highly paid executives that have since 2003 achieved little or no true competitive growth for the code in this country. They initiated and promoted the great idea of a Force in WA. They thus bear long-term moral and code-health responsibility. Now they permit Rugby WA no academy of its own, cut Rugby WA's funding, yet stand by adding no value to Rugby WA, but seeking no change either. High intrusion, yet no responsible action. Rugby WA protects a broken model and the two argue at best, at worst contribute equally to mutually assured destruction over time.
Meanwhile, in the very words of one of the Force's most successful and truly loyal players: "There is support for rugby in Perth to make it viable but membership numbers drop each year, as do the crowd numbers. How long will the loyalty of the Sea of Blue be sustained without success?"
Good question. Where are the leaders? Where is the accountability? Where are the intelligent answers?
WA Inc has spawned some outstanding and successful sporting teams, typically from scratch. Why is rugby the exception?