What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

In Fitzy We Trust

Messages
16,100
I'm living in hope that an actual plan is going on.
Hope has replaced trust.

The plan?
To get the defence exactly right before the finals start.
This would mean dour footy that comes away with wins.
When it comes to playing in the the finals, for and against goes out the window. The best defensive sides always make it through.

I'm hoping this is true.
Am I an idiot?
Always have been, always will be.
#86 reporting for duty.
 

Since 73

First Grade
Messages
7,710
Im no Fitz hater.
But bloke isn't as good as we all thought was.
Just find him dull.

Changes only comes when forced through injury.
The Atko selection each week is beyond the pale.
The persistence with the 6 and 7.
The bench rotation.
Sifa coming on for 1 stint of 10 minutes.

There were 3 next big things: Fitz. Ciraldo. Rules.
2 have their fans excited.
The other bloke is going backwards year by year.

I have zero confidence we can win it this year.
In fact I know we dont.
When he took over the team was ready to springboard to the next level. I believe we've
 

Special K

Coach
Messages
19,741
There were 3 next big things: Fitz. Ciraldo. Rules.
2 have their fans excited.
The other bloke is going backwards year by year.
I'd argue there was 4 - Payton. He even won coach of the year over Fitz in 2022 in his first real year as a HC. The buzz on him was high. Now nobody would touch him.

I don't think we have gone backwards year on year. 2024 was an improvement on 2023 and 2022. I expected a lot from us this year and we have f**ken flopped. Have we gone backwards vs last year? Yes. But the 2024 Sharkies smack the 2022.

The lack of changes in the period was a direct link to a lot of the best back up guys going down and needing match fitness when returning when we needed them. I keep going back to the Gabriel example. On all 4's and gassed in NSW cup after 60 minutes when people were screaming pick him in first grade.

BTW - Benji has more wins vs top 8 teams than Ciraldo this season go and look it up. Ryles is showing some good signs but so did Fitz year one. I am annoyed as f**k but not throwing the toys out. I can't stand the DA in 14 bullshit. I hate how we use our bench - we aren't perfect and need to improve. The roster is about to get a shake up based on reports. I want to be clear I don't think we will do shit this year. HOWEVER we have a real chance to ambush Canberra if we can jag 4th. Anything less than us heading into the finals is a fail and the fault of the multiple f**k ups and winnable games we threw away.

Make the top 4.
 
Messages
16,100
I'd argue there was 4 - Payton
5- Woolf?

Dolphins playing the best attacking footy.
Remember our attack in Fitz's first year, the slingshots etc. Media were talking of us revolutionising the attack force of rugby league.
Sound familiar with how the Dolphins are being talked of?
That type of play does not win finals. Fitz has learnt this.

This is why I have some hope, our defence is the focus. Score enough points to win, don't let the opposition score more.
 

Craigshark

First Grade
Messages
7,175
I don’t get any goss or info, but I was told from a very reliable person, that Fitzy pretty much put it on the halves the week of the dolphins game to sort their shit out, that he had been taking all the heat for them by trying to remain calm in the public eye and backing them in public, but they needed to aim up and produce results or he’d change things up. Who knows what would have happened, but we’ve gone 4/4 since.

also was frustrated about the injuries to Iro and Hazelton, Rudolf etc and said how much that has affected them.

His bench use is weird. Atkinson is a strange pick, but I guess we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes and if he thinks he needs him there as cover for someone more-so than the 10 minute bench forward role he plays.
 

Since 73

First Grade
Messages
7,710
I'd argue there was 4 - Payton. He even won coach of the year over Fitz in 2022 in his first real year as a HC. The buzz on him was high. Now nobody would touch him.

I don't think we have gone backwards year on year. 2024 was an improvement on 2023 and 2022. I expected a lot from us this year and we have f**ken flopped. Have we gone backwards vs last year? Yes. But the 2024 Sharkies smack the 2022.

The lack of changes in the period was a direct link to a lot of the best back up guys going down and needing match fitness when returning when we needed them. I keep going back to the Gabriel example. On all 4's and gassed in NSW cup after 60 minutes when people were screaming pick him in first grade.

BTW - Benji has more wins vs top 8 teams than Ciraldo this season go and look it up. Ryles is showing some good signs but so did Fitz year one. I am annoyed as f**k but not throwing the toys out. I can't stand the DA in 14 bullshit. I hate how we use our bench - we aren't perfect and need to improve. The roster is about to get a shake up based on reports. I want to be clear I don't think we will do shit this year. HOWEVER we have a real chance to ambush Canberra if we can jag 4th. Anything less than us heading into the finals is a fail and the fault of the multiple f**k ups and winnable games we threw away.

Make the top 4.
By 'next big thing' I meant 2IC's who had been gaining gaining raps under Bellyache, Cleary and Robbo.
The RL world were waiting for these 3 ugly ducks to leave the nest and step out on their own.

Without going into games won over top 8 teams or other specifics, taking a broader view from afar, I look at where we are now - and more importantly - individual performances from when he took the reins, and I see us getting futher and further away from doing something.

Using the same broad view on Ciraldo - what hes achieved in a small time with a inferior roster is outstanding.

Ryles? Too easy to tell but he has certainly ticked some boxes that Fitz hasn't:
- Cleaned the joint out. Gutho. Brown. Cartwright, Lane, Matterson.
- Has most of the squad playing to their potential

I would argue many individuals in our side are - if not most - are in a dip in form this year...a slide that is the result of Fitzs stubbornness in regard to poor selections.

I haven't been impressed with a win since the Storm, which in itself is a bit of an outlier.
We beat a shit side yesterday. Cows have given up on payten and guys like ramien, BHU and nikora found their running game again against tackle shy opposition. I dont want to look for negatives...I like Fitz.
The guy is only in his first years of a cut-throat job.

My biggest issue with Fitz is the 7.
 
Messages
16,100
Ryles? Too easy to tell but he has certainly ticked some boxes that Fitz hasn't:
- Cleaned the joint out. Gutho. Brown. Cartwright, Lane, Matterson.
Before Ryles started he let Gutho and RCG go. The others have come later, and he wanted to keep Brown.
Before Fitz started he let Woods, SJ and Chad go.
Last year he let Hunt and Williams go. Metcalfe somewhere in the middle too (heard a tale as to why, the Club isn't to blame on that one despite the Sloths ramblings)
So far besides regular firsts- Hynes and AFB, and the lesser scale, Atko, and now H.Puru, all promotions have come from within the clubs systems and pathways.
Other clubs get applauded for working this way.

The Dogs have 4 of our Juniors in their firsts team, Tracey, Xerri, Hughes and Salmon. Gould is constantly at our Junior comps looking for players to take away, he's been doing it for years. They've bought ex Penrith players. Not too many from within their own ranks.

some things get lost in the wash.
 

Since 73

First Grade
Messages
7,710
Don't watch 100% Footy tonight, he's on it hahaha
Nothing against the bloke. I've seen him interviewed and hes more than a decent bloke. And good luck to him...so, wont go off on the negatives.
It's just an opinion.
Good old Frenz shared it and he knew his shit.
So someone said.
I'd love to see him running the ball up the park like he did at the Storm.
He's just not a 7.
 
Messages
16,100
He's just not a 7.
Funnily enough he just said he would have loved to have played No.6 for NSW outside Cleary.

For us I've said it many times that I would have liked to see Tricky playing a the traditional 7 role with Hynes chiming in when needed at No.6.
I do wonder if Tricky is up to the constant grind of that position, but right now we just don't know.
 

Since 73

First Grade
Messages
7,710
Spot on.
Makes perfect sense. Tricky is a half.
Hynes a manufactured one who does not revel in pressure games, so hand the reins over.

A positive he actually voiced that because I believe a big problem with our side is his refusal to relinquish the 7 jumper. Every kid wants that gig. And I think he would see it as a failure to step back

He knows he is done in the SOO selectors minds as halfback, so wisely is saying Im available at 6.

The smart move now is to move there at clubland and start to run the bloody ball with some oomph, because Luiei wont get selected next year and Moses is a tad injury prone around that time.

Although Ethan strange has his hand up. And Burton. But if Hynes wants to wear the blue shirt thats his only chance. Won't happen this year this close to finals, but Ima say over preseason....
 

Weaponhead

Coach
Messages
11,472
Trindall needs to grow up and realise that he has the opportunity to set himself up for life. If he wants it.

He has the tools to be a good 7. Does he have the mindset? That has always been the question.
 

2012....Sharks Year

First Grade
Messages
6,044
I think people are getting too wrapped up in the 6 and 7 jersey and who wears what. Traditionally the 7 fed the scrums and Tricky seems to do the majority of that. As long as between the two of them there is an organiser and a decent long kicking game it means sfa what jumper they’re wearing. For the record atm I’d rate Nicho’s season as about a 6/10 and Tricky’s as about a 5/10. If we want to go deep into the semi’s they’re both going to have to raise the bar.
 

PJ

First Grade
Messages
6,281
I had high hopes for Trindall after watching Newtown games where his management was great.

For mine he has failed to take the step up.

Like to see both of them play a bit straighter occassionally.
 

Since 73

First Grade
Messages
7,710
I think people are getting too wrapped up in the 6 and 7 jersey and who wears what. Traditionally the 7 fed the scrums and Tricky seems to do the majority of that. As long as between the two of them there is an organiser and a decent long kicking game it means sfa what jumper they’re wearing. For the record atm I’d rate Nicho’s season as about a 6/10 and Tricky’s as about a 5/10. If we want to go deep into the semi’s they’re both going to have to raise the bar.
Mortimer / Lamb
Sterling / Kenny
Johns bros

Cronk / Keary
Cronk / munster
Cleary / Luiei

Historically and modern day RL, most often than not successful team have an organiser and a runner.

Our halves are arse-about. Trindall is not a runner. He's come through the grades as a 7.
Hynes is a runner. Made his name in the backs at Melbourne.

Fitz keeps saying they're working it out.
They cant work it out. The guy most disadvantaged is Trindall. He cops a bagging but he does not know his role. Not long ago he was MOM in the indigenous all stars as halfback, now hes not the organiser and hes not a noted runner...what's his role. Coach cant explain it.

Storm players, when asked why Bellamy is such a good coach and why they're in career best form, say it's because bellyache just gives them one or two things to do each game.
They know their role.
No confusion.
They go and do it.

I reckon a simple switch of jumpers for these two and some clear instructions would ripple through the whole side in positive manner.
 
Messages
630
They cant work it out. The guy most disadvantaged is Trindall. He cops a bagging but he does not know his role. Not long ago he was MOM in the indigenous all stars as halfback, now hes not the organiser and hes not a noted runner...what's his role. Coach cant explain it.
are you talking about 2024 where he played 5/8 with nicho at 7?
 
Messages
22,188
I am annoyed as f**k but not throwing the toys out. I can't stand the DA in 14 bullshit. I hate how we use our bench - we aren't perfect and need to improve. The roster is about to get a shake up based on reports. I want to be clear I don't think we will do shit this year. HOWEVER we have a real chance to ambush Canberra if we can jag 4th. Anything less than us heading into the finals is a fail and the fault of the multiple f**k ups and winnable games we threw away.

Make the top 4.

Atkinson thing is actively trolling the fanbase.

im all for a shake up but like, are people using their eyes down there? is there a stable of horses booting the brains trust in the head as they walk past the construction zone?

talakai as a potential out whilst oregon kaufusi and katoa (who has a replacement ready to go) exists?
 

Latest posts

Top