2023 Team

[Mr_Knightside]

If you get your wish the footy gods will be exhausted, big job

Well the footy gods have spent the last 20 years either completely ignoring us or sadistically torturing us so how about a little help for a change.

 

[Jono078]

Can anyone pinpoint where our fortunes changed?

For me it is the 2004 game against the Eels where Joey and Seage both did their ACL.

Or maybe it was a season or two prior where Johns had the neck injury against the Dragons in what I think was a finals game?

 

[slotmachine]

When we didn't have enough money to keep Brian Smith.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Can anyone pinpoint where our fortunes changed?

For me it is the 2004 game against the Eels where Joey and Seage both did their ACL.

Or maybe it was a season or two prior where Johns had the neck injury against the Dragons in what I think was a finals game?

I remember that game well, we started the year with back to back wins over the Panthers (who were defending premiers) and the Storm and we had a star studded team that was pretty much at the peak of its powers. That 2004 game v the Eels was the first game I ever attended, and things have been generally very poor since then. So you can thank me for somehow cursing the team for the last 20 years.

 

[Knight Tales]

When we didn't have enough money to keep Brian Smith.

So much this. Not one word ever mentioned about it. Simply because the media did not like him. But it is ok for Wayne to behave similarly and get columns dedicated to it. It is just Wayne apparently.

 

[mozza91]

So much this. Not one word ever mentioned about it. Simply because the media did not like him. But it is ok for Wayne to behave similarly and get columns dedicated to it. It is just Wayne apparently.

They both coached us for 2 and half years and I rate Smith much, much higher than Wayne.

 

[Jono078]

I’ve been vocal in my support of Smith and what he was able to achieve in a short time here with some relatively crap resources.

He did the job that needed to be done and actually got some good results along the way, oh and we were exciting to watch.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Smith was an X's and Os coach but an awful man manager. His success rate getting to GFs and his failure rate in those GFs is staggering

The perfect assist coach imo.

 

[Jono078]

It’s funny I remember there used to be uproars about his communication and how he’d text players. He was almost ahead of his times.

I could picture him texting Ponga every day, asking to catch up over a strawberry shake.

 

[Knight Tales]

It’s funny I remember there used to be uproars about his communication and how he’d text players. He was almost ahead of his times.

I could picture him texting Ponga every day, asking to catch up over a strawberry shake.

Imagine the attack he would have formed around KP though!

 

[perverse]

They both coached us for 2 and half years and I rate Smith much, much higher than Wayne.

If you could merge them you'd have the perfect coach. They are polar opposites, but both have their strengths.

 

[Jono078]

solid discussion about our team's chances. Actually got me more hopeful..

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

solid discussion about our team's chances. Actually got me more hopeful..

I'm sure that'll diminish in less than 24 hours lol

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Question is how we'll go with inevitable injuries.

 

[Yosh]

When Ponga comes back and we get back to full strength, our full squad looks like:

1. Miller
2. Young
3. Gagai
4. Best
5. Marzhew
6. Ponga
7. Hastings
8. Saifiti
9. Brailey
10. Saifiti
11. Fitzgibbon
12. Frizzell
13. Gamble

14. Elliot
15. Croker
16. Hetherington
17. Thompson

18. Jones
19. Mann
20. Johns
21. Lucas
22. Cant
23. Rivett

Something like this? Wish we had more attacking edge forwards...

 

[Burwood]

He may not be popular, but Mann is absolutely #14. No way you can have 4 forwards sitting on the bench.

 

[ryan.a87]

When Ponga comes back and we get back to full strength, our full squad looks like:

1. Miller
2. Young
3. Gagai
4. Best
5. Marzhew
6. Ponga
7. Hastings
8. Saifiti
9. Brailey
10. Saifiti
11. Fitzgibbon
12. Frizzell
13. Gamble

14. Elliot
15. Croker
16. Hetherington
17. Thompson

18. Jones
19. Mann
20. Johns
21. Lucas
22. Cant
23. Rivett

Something like this? Wish we had more attacking edge forwards...

Obviously you don’t watch them train, otherwise you’d know Crossland is one of the hardest trainers and deserves a spot.

 

[mozza91]

Yeah I feel for Gamble because he’s been so much better than I thought he’d be. That cut out for the 2nd Marzhew try was brilliant, I didn’t think he was capable of that.

But once Ponga is back he probably goes back to Cup with Mann going to 14.

 

[perverse]

You just can't drop Gamble with the way he's playing and effect he's having on the team. There needs to be a spot for him.

 

[Yosh]

I believe Elliot can play 13 or fill in at hooker. Crossland does work hard but he doesn't offer anything from hooker. If he isn't going to offer anything, I'd rather rest Brailey 10 minutes a game and have Elliot fill in.

Start with 9. Brailey and 13. Gamble and then bring on Elliot for Gamble first, being Gamble back on and give Brailey a short rest and then Elliot can go off for Brailey again.

Mann can be 18th man. I want Crossland to succeed but he really isn't good enough for a team trying to make the 8. Crossland has played 10 more NRL games than Gamble. One looks like he belongs while one still fumbles around.