Rumoured and Confirmed signings - Part 4

[Zampaa]

Daily reminder that after Blake and DWZ left, we were producing top 8 numbers, and a collapse against Cronulla with DWZ and Blake in the squad was single handedly responsible for us missing the 8, and Cronulla making it.

And our team has improved on the team we had in the back end of last year, you're all massively underestimating how solid our team actually is.

 

[mxlegend99]

DWZ and Blake in the squad was single handedly responsible for us missing the 8, and Cronulla making it.

We lost 13 games... but those 2 players in one game single handedly cost us a spot in the top 8.

As if no other players had shockers. Naden bombed tries losing us games. Edwards started the season off in career worst form all but single handedly destroying chances at wins. Jimmyhad brain snapstoo. But you want to blame an entire season on 2 players in a single game. f**k theother 12 losses.

Forget the 8 tackles Jimmy missed. Or the 6 tackles Kikau missed. Or Ivan putting Yeo against Xerri etc. It was all on the former panthers players.they costus the top 8.

 

[franklin2323]

Reports have Jai Arrow to Souths. That Storm rookie to Titans as his replacement.

Mitchell supposedly to Souths by new years. Burgess money has got them 2x better players IMO. If those signibgs happen.

If we make decent signings I will re-evaluate my opinion of our roster accordingly. But a 2021 signing doesn't help us for next season. Are we happy to write off another season? At the end of 2018 we had made 4 of our last 5 Finals series.

If we miss out on 2020 we have missed 3 of our last 6... with all 3 being under Ivan and our 3 successes being under Hook. We then have 3 more years under Ivan.

If we cracked the top 8 though it atleast goes a short way to fixing our direction.

Storm rookie is for 2021. Arrow to Souths probably is the same year. Broncs trying to offload Boyd and re-sign Fifita could be problems we have no such issues

We may not need any signings if guys improve but we have the options if needed instead of getting rid of guys and wasting cap space paying them.

We don’t make the 8. Edwards goes in comes a ballplayer improves the team. Either way Luai/Burton has the extra year to develop. Get more of a look at Crichton etc.

Is it better to make the 8 with Yeo/Capewell centres playing it safe or miss it while playing Naden/Crichton?

The 8 should be the aim and is realistic but getting the young guys gametime is better long term. Assuming you keep them that is

 

[franklin2323]

I’m good with it, it can be fun and were all pretty much resigned to no further signings so have to talk about something.

I am of the belief that any traffic on here is good. Off season so any footy chat is good

 

[franklin2323]

If it was the intention of Pomoz to kick start this thread a few pages back with what I though was a pretty intelligent well crafted post it certainly had the desired effect.

On a serious note, rightly or wrongly, depending on whose camp your in the Gus Gould era is over and we probably all need to move on.

Time will tell if the new brains trust can deliver decent results on the field and get us into the top eight on a regular basis. Didn't start at all well in 2019 but heh 2020 is a new season and we should all be full of optimism and looking forward to our season opener on March 14.

Personally I think being 2-8 was better long term then if we started 8-2. It allowed the tough calls to get made sooner. Say we made the 8 it would of papered over the cracks like it did with hook

 

[Kilkenny]

Personally I think being 2-8 was better long term then if we started 8-2. It allowed the tough calls to get made sooner. Say we made the 8 it would of papered over the cracks like it did with hook

Whatever flaws Hook may or may not have had it's in the history books he got us to the top 8 on three consecutive occasions during which we also enjoyed wins during the semi finals. During his reign we won more games than we lost, including some stirring victories, and compared to 2019 give me more of 2016-2018 any time. We were never going to make the 8 last season despite the run of consecutive wins after the 2-8 start, during which we were awful in most of those wins. 2019 is behind us now so let's see how the dream team in Ivan, Ivan's mate and Fletch perform in 2020.

 

[MugaB]

In regarding Hook and his past 3 finals,
Which players did he blood that made us improve, from what i can see Ivan had that core squad of players, and they carried into all those finals berths
Soward, Segeyaro, Moylan, Mansour, Yeo, RCG, DWZ, Whare, Peach, Latu, Bryce, Blake.
All these guys were in most of the finals for us, it was hook that had most of these guys stood down or turffed.
And the newer younger guys in our current squad that were part of the winning NSWcup side, Nathan, Edwards, Egan, Luai, May, etc,
The Backbone of our Squad started with Ivan as coach, once they developed into 1st graders, Ivan had already been punted, and hook had all these final records off of that.
Im of the belief, had Ivan stayed we'd be talking about the finals under Ivan.
But as far as hook, i don't think he improved our squad in regards to getting us to the finals

 

[betcats]

Gus, Hook and Ivan. Has there been a more polarising triumvirate at Penrith in terms of coaches/administrators? Everyone has a strong opinion about each of them one way or the other. They’ve all done good and bad things, overall they have all contributed a lot to the the clubs growth since 2011, while I think we could’ve enjoyed some more first grade success we have still come a long way from the broke club we were in 2011,What was it two finals appearances since 03 in that time? Not even our junior squads were winning back then. I’m not trying to give the club a free pass to be mediocre by any means but it’s been a solid progression for us imo, one that will be back on track next season I believe. All this talk of holes in the squad, we are one good centre away from having no holes. Most teams have issues like that or worse. If Ivan can get these guys to buy in and work together then we will make the 8, I’m looking forward to the next video from the club actually, looks the guys did a camp of some sort. Hopefully one of those military type ones teams do that really focus on teamwork and mental toughness.

 

[franklin2323]

Good post. Gus did some great things early on but seem to lose his way pretty much from the time the NYC guys started to win. Too much emotion in it from then on and the team couldn’t make that next step.

Hook got the team nice and fit. Was good with discpline no matter the player’s skill level. The big flaw though he didn’t play well with others including Gus and again the team suffered.

Ivan has many tactical flaws as a coach. Probably why he asked for more help which became him being ‘tired’. Has 3 assistant coaches. Including a former head coach doing the attack fulltime. Is one of 10 that decides recruitment and retention. Which frees him up to do what he does best man management

 

[betcats]

Good post. Gus did some great things early on but seem to lose his way pretty much from the time the NYC guys started to win. Too much emotion in it from then on and the team couldn’t make that next step.

Hook got the team nice and fit. Was good with discpline no matter the player’s skill level. The big flaw though he didn’t play well with others including Gus and again the team suffered.

Ivan has many tactical flaws as a coach. Probably why he asked for more help which became him being ‘tired’. Has 3 assistant coaches. Including a former head coach doing the attack fulltime. Is one of 10 that decides recruitment and retention. Which frees him up to do what he does best man management

Ivan has flaws but he seems to recognising them at least. His two big flaws that everyone calls out are his attacking footy and his recruitment, as you’ve mentioned we have addressed both by bringing an attacking coach and have a committee in charge of recruitment.

I think in the squad we have the makings of a great forward pack. We have very good starting options at every forward position and good back ups. Throw in a couple young unestablished guys with high potential in Leniu, Burns, heathro and even Shawn Blore was on track for a debut before getting hurt this year, if a coupe of them kick on we are spoilt for options. That alone will go a long way into getting us into the 8.

 

[TheFrog]

Granted we carried a player who wouldnt come close to this years top 17 in the form of Smith.

Smith has always been unfairly maligned, in my view. Makes errors, no doubt about it, but can also make a line break. He's a useful backup.

 

[Dave's mate]

Smith is truly awful, dark times for the club.

 

[betcats]

Smith has always been unfairly maligned, in my view. Makes errors, no doubt about it, but can also make a line break. He's a useful backup.

He has talent for sure, just to many errors.

 

[franklin2323]

Ivan has flaws but he seems to recognising them at least. His two big flaws that everyone calls out are his attacking footy and his recruitment, as you’ve mentioned we have addressed both by bringing an attacking coach and have a committee in charge of recruitment.

I think in the squad we have the makings of a great forward pack. We have very good starting options at every forward position and good back ups. Throw in a couple young unestablished guys with high potential in Leniu, Burns, heathro and even Shawn Blore was on track for a debut before getting hurt this year, if a coupe of them kick on we are spoilt for options. That alone will go a long way into getting us into the 8.

I have our pack as

Tamou
Api
JFH
Kikau
Martin
Yeo

Kenny
Tetevano
Capewell
Leinu

That pack will match most in the comp. If Hetherington and that get a good run in NSW Cup then who knows how good the side will be.

Certainly better off then plenty of other teams.

 

[betcats]

I have our pack as

Tamou
Api
JFH
Kikau
Martin
Yeo

Kenny
Tetevano
Capewell
Leinu

That pack will match most in the comp. If Hetherington and that get a good run in NSW Cup then who knows how good the side will be.

Certainly better off then plenty of other teams.

I’d have Leota over Leniu for now. Moses is a good player now he has earned his spot. There will be plenty of chances for Leniu next year to move up the order.

In one of the videos recently there was a clip of the team doing sprints, they touch the line and turn and take off and over the first ten metres Heathro just smokes them. He is an impressive athlete if he can get his discipline right he is on for a good year.

 

[franklin2323]

I’d have Leota over Leniu for now. Moses is a good player now he has earned his spot. There will be plenty of chances for Leniu next year to move up the order.

In one of the videos recently there was a clip of the team doing sprints, they touch the line and turn and take off and over the first ten metres Heathro just smokes them. He is an impressive athlete if he can get his discipline right he is on for a good year.

Leinu is better at the explosiveness but the good thing is Leota and Hetherington will do a job for us

 

[Dave's mate]

Surely Herthington doesn't see first grade until he can prove he won't be sent off or binned every second game. The man has been nothing but a total liability so far

 

[betcats]

Surely Herthington doesn't see first grade until he can prove he won't be sent off or binned every second game. The man has been nothing but a total liability so far

He played a fair bit of nsw cup last year. If his attitude is right I’d be giving him a chance, make him earn it for sure but dint hold him back.

 

[betcats]

Leinu is better at the explosiveness but the good thing is Leota and Hetherington will do a job for us

They will get their chances. I think they are both very talented besides Jacks discipline issues.

 

[Kilkenny]

I’d have Leota over Leniu for now. Moses is a good player now he has earned his spot. There will be plenty of chances for Leniu next year to move up the order.

In one of the videos recently there was a clip of the team doing sprints, they touch the line and turn and take off and over the first ten metres Heathro just smokes them. He is an impressive athlete if he can get his discipline right he is on for a good year.

I like Jack he has great potential maintain his aggression but in a disciplined manner. Had a terrible 2019 with injury and other issue so he must be champing at the bit to get his career back on track.