Penrith’s five-year plan to become a major rugby league force is not working.

In 2010, the year before Gus Gould became general manager, the team finished second on the premiership table and had an average home crowd of more than 13,000.

Five years later and nothing, performance wise, has improved.

Their average home crowd has fallen from 13,000 to 11,479 since Gus started.

Their average finishing position on the premiership table has been 10th over the same period.

You cannot argue with these key performance indicators. They are black and white.

BUZZ: Highlights, lowlights

SEGEYARO: Panthers’ injury woes mount

DOMINANT: Physical Dogs down Panthers

The old injury excuse is a myth and a convenient way to cover up real issues. Yes, the Panthers have injuries but so do most other clubs.

The Warriors have been forced to use 29 players this year, Manly 28, Penrith 28, Brisbane 28, Titans 28, Parramatta 27, North Qld 26, Canterbury 26 and Melbourne Storm 26.

On Saturday night at ANZ Stadium the Bulldogs were without James Graham, Brett Morris, Trent Hodkinson and Tony Williams. The Panthers were without Matt Moylan, Jamal Idris, Josh Mansour and Brent Kite. So it balanced out yet they got flogged.

Also, the Panthers get a massive advantage for eight weeks during State of Origin.

Only the Panthers and the Canberra Raiders don’t lose any players to NSW or QLD.

The Broncos lose six, the Bulldogs and Roosters five each. They are not only absent from their clubs for the three games but often return in a fatigued state.

It appears some off-field issues are now starting to have an effect on Penrith’s season.

Think about the Trent Barrett situation and the fact he has done a deal to coach Manly next year. He’s probably on $200,000 as an assistant coach under Ivan Cleary.

Manly will not announce his appointment as head coach until the end of the season, even though the deal was done at least two weeks ago. That means he will be on fully paid gardening leave for the remainder of the season.

And at the same time planning on how to turn a rival club into a premiership force next in 2016.

You’d think his salary might be better spent in other areas. Maybe local juniors. Members campaigns. Even a marketing push to lift home crowds.

This club is really struggling at the moment. If there is drama in the coaching staff it can spill into the player ranks. Discipline become a problem as evidenced by the fact injured stars Jamal Idris and Robert Jennings are out on the town until all hours.

That shouldn’t be happening. Not with leaders like Gould, Cleary and Warren Wilson. But even they appear to be on different pages of Barrett’s immediate future.

In fairness, the Panthers do have the best kids in the game emerging from their juniors. Matt Moylan and Bryce Cartwright will play for Australia in the next few years.

The trouble is fans can get impatient. They’ve waited five years for the Gus magic to deliver a title. Last year they went close. This year they are going backwards.

INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY

The biggest mistake David Gallop made in more than a decade as NRL boss was his handling of Brett Stewart’s sexual assault case.

In 2009 Gallop banned Stewart for four weeks despite the champion Manly fullback pleading his innocence. It caused him enormous reputational damage. He was later found not guilty. Case dismissed.

I hope the NRL does not make the same mistake with NSW Origin centre Michael Jennings.

He will plead not guilty to charges of offensive behaviour and hindering police. He deserves to have his day in court before a decision is made to take away a Blues jersey.

ROOSTERS: Jennings gets one-match ban

BUZZ: Origin ban too much

TOOVES FOR THE ROOS

Geoff Toovey should be Australia’s next Kangaroos coach when he finishes up at Manly at the end of the season.

We have lost out last two games against the Kiwis — the Four Nations final and the ANZAC Test — which will probably mean the end for coach Tim Sheens.

The Kangaroos are at a stage where the playing roster needs a rebuild. We need a succession plan for the likes of Cam Smith, Billy Slater, Paul Gallen and Johnathan Thurston.

We need to make and mentor Greg Inglis as our next Test captain.

Toovey is respected on both sides of the border. He would do a great job. For all his dramas at Manly he has handled the situation with real class.