Rumours and Stuff

[Avenger]

try being a moderator

Can I have a crack?

 

[Zoso]

2015 - 573 points conceded
2016 - 324 points conceded!

You are the one being silly.
I agree there were specific improvements last season. But we also had tries scored under the posts by props brushing off our defence and we still got out stripped on edges.

If we’re being honest, BAs biggest shortfall was his inability to adapt. Yet we want to compare Ryles after one season? The only thing he’s had to adapt to is disruptors being a rule introduced and forgotten in same season.

It was right move to make but Ryles still has to prove himself

Things felt like they improved during season, because we won more games.

It’s a bit arbitrary splitting the season down the middle but not much of that improvement seemed to be down to defense, based on numbers alone.

Maybe 2nd half of season success all came down to Mitch playing more games?

Rounds 1-12 (12 games):
Scored: 208
Conceded: 288
Differential: -79
Games won: 3
Moses: 3 games

Rounds 13-27 (12games)
Scored: 286
Conceded: 282
Differential: +4
Games won: 7
Moses games: 9

In summary, yeah Ryles still has to show he can improve our defense and get players that defend better!

 

[85 Baby]

If you guys can’t see the improvements in our defensive movements, systems and work rate I don’t know what to tell you . 94 of our points conceded came in the first 2 weeks I think the 2nd half of the season will paint a different picture.

We were atrocious in 2025. Of course we were going to improve massively in 2026. Just like we improved massively in 2014 and 2019 compared to the years before. I know you want to be excited about the future, but you don't have to shit on the past to do so.

My original point wasn’t even about shitting on the past, it was the risk that we’re overrating what Ryles implemented off one season

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Maybe 2nd half of season success all came down to Mitch playing more games?

Just like 2017.

And as I've said, half a season is a very small sample. People complain about clubs having unfair draws over 24 games, but for just one club, the disparity between opponents from one half of a season to the other can be even greater. In 2024 we played easier opponents in the second half of the year. This year we actually played harder opponents in the second half, so our improvement is more impressive. Though as you say, we had more of Moses in the second half of the year. Bottom line is that 12 games is an insufficient sample to draw any conclusions. There are too many other variables.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

My original point wasn’t even about shitting on the past, it was the risk that we’re overrating what Ryles implemented off one season

Small sample ffs

 

[eels_fan]

BA was the king of making bog-average players into capable first graders. Unfortunately he also had the ability to make elite players regress to just capable first graders. All about balance i guess...

 

[hindy111]

You think he didn't get the best out of players? Mate, so many rejects had their best seasons under Brad Arthur. You're a troll to claim otherwise.

He certainly took guys like Lussick and Murchie to the next level.

 

[hindy111]

BA was the king of making bog-average players into capable first graders. Unfortunately he also had the ability to make elite players regress to just capable first graders. All about balance i guess...

Throw enough darts and one will hit. I looked at the list. 70% of signings were rubbish

 

[RealdEel]

Most of that 2018 squad disappeared from the NRL within a couple of years. The real mystery is how we did so well in 2017.

Good coaching

 

[DaveMc]

Mate where have I ever said anything about our management? Our front office was totally and unbelievably incompetent and we deserved every spoon we got and every spoon was directly the result of incompetent management. Then we sacked our board and the new board sacked Pascoe and Lee and appointed Richo. Every step since has been a win.

But when old mate starts counting ben Gardner as first grade coach of the Tigers, that level of stupidity/trolling has to be called out.

But his comment was in response to your comment that “Tigers have sacked one coach in 9 years but other than that, its a really cool story.”

Which is factually incorrect, unless you’re talking about some other nine year period. Because Jason Taylor and Michael Maguire were both axed in the last nine years, and Tim Sheens was let go early too.

 

[hineyrulz]

We shouldn't compare BAs best ever squads that took like 8yrs to build against Ryles operating approx 4mill under cap and a bunch of BA duds or guys wanting out like JOE 0, LaneRCG,Guth,Matto,Dunster etc.....
Plus our defense improved under Ryles as the season went on. It just got better and better.
Silly comparrison



And 2014 squad was a top 8 squad. The cap was cleared and Ricky had signed a bunch of gun players whilst Semi and Jnr exploded onto the scene with Manu and KE
. 2025 was a full rebuild and we even lost teen prodigy Booods ffs

Booooooooooooods!!!

 

[hineyrulz]

If you guys can’t see the improvements in our defensive movements, systems and work rate I don’t know what to tell you . 94 of our points conceded came in the first 2 weeks I think the 2nd half of the season will paint a different picture.

Bit hard to see anything with Bea Arthur’s Nutsack in the way.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He certainly took guys like Lussick and Murchie to the next level.

Because they were so good at other clubs ffs

 

[Pazza]

god i hope we get a signing announcement soon, we are arguing over jack murchie....

 

[Avenger]

I think it’s a good thing we have passed on Garrick (allegedly). He isn’t the type of winger we need. I want either Murray Tuilagi or a Paul Alamoti type. Isaako would also be ideal. Simonsson cannot be relied upon. He is injured again FFS.

 

[RealdEel]

I'm sure he did, but by the time we built a top four defensive side the NRL changed the ruck, and we were left behind with a leadership group that didn't suit the new rules.

Think about it for a second. You, a nobody sitting at home, knows the secrets of rugby league success, while an experienced head coach doesn't?

Probably why I am holding the same amount of premiership rings aswell

 

[RealdEel]

god i hope we get a signing announcement soon, we are arguing over jack murchie....

Remember when we signed him thinking he was going to be the next Ice

 

[RealdEel]

Things felt like they improved during season, because we won more games.

It’s a bit arbitrary splitting the season down the middle but not much of that improvement seemed to be down to defense, based on numbers alone.

Maybe 2nd half of season success all came down to Mitch playing more games?

Rounds 1-12 (12 games):
Scored: 208
Conceded: 288
Differential: -79
Games won: 3
Moses: 3 games

Rounds 13-27 (12games)
Scored: 286
Conceded: 282
Differential: +4
Games won: 7
Moses games: 9

In summary, yeah Ryles still has to show he can improve our defense and get players that defend better!

Your numbers are wrong

After 12 games (Round 13) we had 306 against
We also had 4 wins

 

[RealdEel]

Yeah I agree and it is good to see that he was able to implement those improvements with the squad he largely has for next year.
And I agree with improving the mobility in middle and patience on edges. But let’s not take this all as guaranteed fix from prior years (I believe philosophically Ryles doesn’t)

100% it was Ryles coming in with a clean slate and not having anything in comparison to the previous coaching staff.Ryles would be pretty disappointed if we didn't continue to improve

 

[Noise]

Remember when we signed him thinking he was going to be the next Ice

I think it was just a certain fan website