2012 Side

[mxlegend99]

Same here. Signing a bunch of blokes in their late 20's to 2 year deals despite the fact they haven't shown any real signs of being anything more then fringe first graders, ahead of blokes who are younger and have shown potential to be more is f*cking ridiculous.

IMO it's the exact same quality of recruitment and retention we've always had. The only exception is the signing of Ivan Cleary, which is absolutely huge for us.

 

[franklin2323]

Same here. Signing a bunch of blokes in their late 20's to 2 year deals despite the fact they haven't shown any real signs of being anything more then fringe first graders, ahead of blokes who are younger and have shown potential to be more is f*cking ridiculous.

IMO it's the exact same quality of recruitment and retention we've always had. The only exception is the signing of Ivan Cleary, which is absolutely huge for us.

We have kept more juniors then previously other then that it's the same. The 3 backrowers signed will cover Waterhouse's style more then effectively. Prob be more advantage due to the less penalties and are cheaper. However it was the lack of impact from our backrow that hurt us against top teams these signings won't change that.

We re-signed Horton and Grace from NYC great stuff. Both are that same style player so we have 5 players all doing virtually the same role. None are the explosiveness we need.

Backs we weren't to bad full-strength. If no positional changes happen we have:

NRL
Coote
Gordon
Jennings
Tighe
Simmons

Windsor:
Moylan
Pelasio
Vaivai
Watene-Zelenaik
Earl

Now you add Daniela, JTK, Mansour. Plenty of depth without Uaisele and moving Coote to 6. Even if minimum it's wasted

 

[Big Mick]

I'm not that upset to losing Masada. He's a bit of a knob tbh. Lets not forget his form off the field and who Jennings was drinking with....

Ryan Walker is Daine Laurie's cousin. Heard stories about him the last few months which make me less worried about losing him.

The only one I didn't really want to lose was Jesse Sene-Lafao. But its not as though he is irreplacable and IMO Vaipuna Tia Kilifi is already as talented, perhaps if not moreso by the beginning of the year. Factor in Blake Austin and his utility value off the bench...Jesse probably wouldn't have got a shot anyway.

And given our recruitment, I'd rate the two young backrowers (Robinson & Simpkins) we've signed over him. So I'm not really upset.

As for Gordon & Worrincy...meh.

 

[Big Mick]

Franklin. You would have said that this year but we had a shitload of injuries in the backs.

We've brought back Daniella and signed some good young players to go with the experienced guys we've recruited.

If we can get that young Knights prop along with bringing across a couple of junior Kiwi's...who really gives a rats..

How many spots are we realistically having up for grabs next year 4-5 max....and there will be intense competition for those spots.

 

[franklin2323]

Franklin. You would have said that this year but we had a shitload of injuries in the backs.

We've brought back Daniella and signed some good young players to go with the experienced guys we've recruited.

If we can get that young Knights prop along with bringing across a couple of junior Kiwi's...who really gives a rats..

How many spots are we realistically having up for grabs next year 4-5 max....and there will be intense competition for those spots.

We had no 'cap space' yet sign 2 outside backs since that comment. I agree we need to keep a few spaces for injuries but squad balance is just as important.

ATM we have 4 specialist props,
Depending on Coote and Austin 3 1/2's.
Counting Austin 13 backrowers
and 12 outside backs.

If we are full we should of carryed 10 or so outside backs. Given we have Smith & Galea that can fill in ala Lewis Brown if a few fall down.

We need prop and 1/2 depth as well yet are being told we are full. It makes no sense to me. The squad balance is all out

 

[Big Mick]

1. Lachlan Coote / Matthew Moylan / Josh Mansour
2. Michael Gordon / Geoff Daniella / Pelasio
3. Michael Jennings / Brad Tighe / JTK
4. Junior Vai Vai / Etu Uasale / Watene-Zelenik
5. Sandor Earl / David Simmons / Michael Mate
6. Travis Burns / Blake Austin / Matthew Moylan
7. Luke Walsh / Harry Seijka
8. Tim Grant
9. Kevin Kingston
10. Chris Armit
11. Nigel Plum
12. Nathan Smith
13. Luke Lewis

RES:
14. Nafe Seluini
15. Sam McKendry / Dayne Weston
16. Clint Newton / Ryan Simpkins / Cameron Ciraldo / Danny Galea
17. Blake Austin / Vaipuna Tia Kilifi / Everett Vaurasii

I think depth looking ok. Need 1-2 more props (Hopefully Sam Anderson)...but looking pretty good with a lot of competition for spots.

Lets see what else shakes out to who we pick up.

 

[Vic Mackey]

daniela was absolutely fantastic for us on every single occassion, last year many tigers fans were calling for him to replace blake ayshford when we had a fully fit team. in fact it was only after daniela put a few strong performances in that ayshford finally pulled his finger out and started playing to his potential. if daniela didnt get injured in round 6 he would have played 20 first grade games this year.

brillant defender, very quick and steppy. doesnt really create much himself but if you put him in a gap he generally takes the chance.

i thought very little of him when we signed him but he surprised me and i wish him all the best. he is definitely a first grader.

 

[Panther67]

Well, good luck getting Iosefa into the team. Currently off contract and won't be resigned.

 

[Fibroman]

daniela was absolutely fantastic for us on every single occassion, last year many tigers fans were calling for him to replace blake ayshford when we had a fully fit team. in fact it was only after daniela put a few strong performances in that ayshford finally pulled his finger out and started playing to his potential. if daniela didnt get injured in round 6 he would have played 20 first grade games this year.

brillant defender, very quick and steppy. doesnt really create much himself but if you put him in a gap he generally takes the chance.

i thought very little of him when we signed him but he surprised me and i wish him all the best. he is definitely a first grader.

Av co

 

[Panther67]

We shouldn't be letting Sene Lafeo or Walker go.
Sene Lafeo was Windsor's player of the year.
Walker played very few games and what he did play, he did what he had to.
Neither of these players are worth letting go.

 

[Panther67]

1. Lachlan Coote / Matthew Moylan / Josh Mansour
2. Michael Gordon / Geoff Daniella / Pelasio
3. Michael Jennings / Brad Tighe / JTK
4. Junior Vai Vai / Etu Uasale / Watene-Zelenik
5. Sandor Earl / David Simmons / Michael Mate
6. Travis Burns / Blake Austin / Matthew Moylan
7. Luke Walsh / Harry Seijka
8. Tim Grant
9. Kevin Kingston
10. Chris Armit
11. Nigel Plum
12. Nathan Smith
13. Luke Lewis

RES:
14. Nafe Seluini
15. Sam McKendry / Dayne Weston
16. Clint Newton / Ryan Simpkins / Cameron Ciraldo / Danny Galea
17. Blake Austin / Vaipuna Tia Kilifi / Everett Vaurasii

I think depth looking ok. Need 1-2 more props (Hopefully Sam Anderson)...but looking pretty good with a lot of competition for spots.

Lets see what else shakes out to who we pick up.

Flash must play fullback next year. But Coote also needs to be in our team so he should be moved to five-eighth. Drop Burns and we're good.

 

[Big Mick]

I really don't get the wanting to do that.

Everyone says it but how do we know that Coote can play that position.

I mean bloody hell our whole problem has been playing guys out of position and them being shit there.

Coote I don't think can really handle the defensive work up in the line.

I think you lose MORE playing Coote at Five-eight, Gordon FB & Simmons on the wing than you do playing Coote at FB, Gordon on Wing & Burns/Seijka/Austin at five-eight.

You are weakening the defensive line as a whole to accommodate what some think is a benefit but the benefit is only marginal at one position at the detriment to two others. It doesn't make sense on a team basis and just stinks of something like "oh well flash has to play FB so Coote has to find another position".

Flash can have impact on the wing, He'll touch the ball there more than he would in the centres so why not just leave him there and let him roam in the infield on attack to play as a second fullback like the Warriors do with Bill Tupou and Kevin Locke?

That makes more sense on a team basis than rotating every single person around to accommodate one position.

 

[Kilkenny]

Has Coote ever played five eighth? God knows we destroyed Jarrod Sammut's NRL career in an experiment trying to convert him into a half/five eighth when blind Freddie could have told you his best position was fullback.

He probably could play five eighth, whether he would be any better than those established in the position such as Burns would be highly questionable.

 

[umina panther]

If he can pass he's better then burns? Yes he can
If he can kick he's better then burns? Yes he can, way better longer kicker then Walsh as well

 

[stretcher]

If he can pass he's better then burns? Yes he can
If he can kick he's better then burns? Yes he can, way better longer kicker then Walsh as well

Can he tackle like burns um A BIG NO!!give me burns anyday of the week just need a better halfback bottom line..

 

[franklin2323]

After watching the junior roos against NZ imo Pelasio must play on 1 wing. Given Gordon wouldn't be fully fit next year he should stay on the wing atleast early on. I would go:

Coote, Gordon, Jennings, Daniela, Pelasio, Seijka, Walsh, Grant, Kingston, McKendry, Smith, Austin, Lewis: Seluini, Weston, Plum, Newton

 

[franklin2323]

Can he tackle like burns um A BIG NO!!give me burns anyday of the week just need a better halfback bottom line..

:lol: so we should keep a 6 because he can defend. We have a defensive forward pack we need creativity from our halves

 

[abpanther]

If Gordon is healthy he has to play fullback

 

[roofromoz]

It's going to be intriguing to see where Cleary wants to play Gordon in 2012 - he made the NSW side in 2010 playing on the wing, but was one of the form players of the competition both at the end of last year and beginning of this season with the #1 on his back. Either way, he offers a lot.

We have signed a number of players who have played a lot of first grade (Newton, Ciraldo, Armit, Galea and Daniela), so the team for round 1 next year compared to that team who played against the Dragons in round 26 this year could be remarkably different.

As for Iosefa, if he goes I won't be shedding a tear. He's 3rd in the pecking order at the moment behind Kingston and Seluini IMO.

 

[franklin2323]

If Gordon is healthy he has to play fullback

That's a big if. Lets look at recent returns from ACL's. Tate, Moltzen weren't back to form at any stage last year. Stewart, Campese struggled with other injuries due to the other muscles tensing up. Stewart was so bad Dessie said no to SOO. So he may not be 100% at any stage next year. Even at 80% he should play just not in an important position as fullback. Given we have Coote