D'Arcy Waldegrave: I want what the Melbourne Storm are having

I want what you’re having.

The Melbourne Storm that is. Penrith Panthers too. Regardless of the result in next week's NRL final, which in all likelihood will be a barnburner versus Penrith, we've been shown that the idea of a rebuilding phase in high end professional sport is a tired and broken concept.

The best teams in the world don’t spend a couple of seasons rebuilding. They do it on the run. They make difficult selection calls, they understand why moving people on before their talent drops off a cliff, maybe brutal, but in the wider and more important picture is essential.

No hanging onto players out of sentiment. Knowing how to handle talent transition. Repaying long-time hardworking juniors when they have served their apprenticeship, not waiting until the elder statesmen is dribbling into a cup.

This starts at the top.

Consistency at a boardroom level with coaching appointments. Almost the antithesis of playing staff, coaches and their philosophies shouldn’t be discarded on a whim, their positions need longevity and ultimate trust.  Their ability to identify talent and work it into the team from a junior level needs time to breathe. Faith in their process from the head office needs solidity.

The Panthers, regardless of tonight’s result as they attempt to make a liquid dorsal delicacy out of Cronulla, has shown the importance of consistency of coaching values and growth, which is essential for a team to rebuild as they go. It’s the same for one of the great NRL dynasties, the Melbourne Storm.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Wildegrave from NEWSTALKSB and.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
I want what you're having, the Melbourne storm that is
at the Penrith Panthers as well. Regardless of the results
in next week's NRL Final, which is not likely, it
will be a barn Burner versus Penrith. We've been shown
that the idea of a rebuilding phase in high end
professional sport is a tired and broken concept. Right the

(00:36):
best teams in the world don't spend a couple of
seasons rebuilding. They do it on the run. They make
difficult selections, calls, they understand why moving people on before
their talent drops off a cliff may be brutal, but
in the wider and more important picture, it is essential.
No hanging on to players out of sentiment, knowing how

(00:57):
to handle talent transition, repaying long time, hard working juniors
when they've served their apprentice ship, not just waiting till
the elder statesman is dribbling into a cup. This all
starts at the top consistency at a boardroom level, with
coaching appointments. It's almost the antithesis of playing staff. Coaches

(01:20):
in their philosophies shouldn't be discarded on a whim. Their
positions need longevity and an ultimate trust that their ability
to identify talent and work it into the team from
a junior level needs time to breathe. Faith in their process.
The coaching process from their head office needs solidity. The Panthers,

(01:44):
regardless of tonight's result, as they attempt to make a
liquid dorsal delicacy out of Crenella, has shown the importance
of consistency of coaching values and growth, which is essential
for a team to rebuild as they go. It's the
same for one of the great NRL dynasties. The Melbourne
Storm team's desire for sugar hits will invariably pay poor dividends,

(02:10):
whereas trust in the turtle over their hair has shown
to be the best way to secure long term club success.
Andrew Webster's Warriors were rotten this season. Hopefully lessons around
knowing when to hold senior players or fold them will
be taken on board and the Wars too, can build

(02:31):
a club in the image Storm or the Panthers. Imagine
if the Penrose Fisheads had have shown that required faith
in Ivan Cleary all those years ago.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
Imagine For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
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