Former New Zealand Kiwis representative Matthew Ridge believes the Warriors must “put a broom” through the organisation.
The franchise has struggled in recent years, not only with middling form but also player and coach retention, which has had a detrimental impact on their playing ability.
While the signing of Penrith assistant Andrew Webster for 2023 and beyond may signal brighter days for the club, Ridge believes changing one person will not be enough to turn their form around.
“It starts at the top, so whoever their owner is or whatever … he’s got the wrong CEO in there,” Ridge said on SENZ Breakfast.
“I think if you’re going to do anything you have to put a broom through the whole place and that starts at the top … just get rid of everybody.
“That’s what I would do, I would just start again.”
Current CEO Cameron George has copped plenty of heat in recent months following the handling of former coach Nathan Brown and players Matt Lodge and Reece Walsh.
Ridge stands by his calls for an organisation-wide sweep, labelling the retention of unproven performers both in the playing group and wider staff as “a joke”.
“You have to put a broom through the place... you can’t keep little segments of the team, you have to get rid of everybody, you’ve got to start again,” Ridge continued.
“That’s what I would do. There’s just no way that they can go forward and keep making little changes, and it starts with all the guys that have been there for 10 years or 12 years or 13 years.
“It’s a joke, you can’t keep those guys there. They’ve had their time, they haven’t been able to do it, get rid of them.
“I know it’s people’s livelihoods and stuff but you’re there to win a premiership, you’re not there to stuff around.”
The franchise is currently sitting 13th on the ladder and with just six weeks remaining in the 2022 competition, it appears any further changes will take place in the off-season.
They will take on an equally struggling Melbourne Storm side at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night, where they will hope to avoid a repeat of their last encounter, which saw them taste defeat 70-10 in April.