2013

[Panthercam]

With all our signings for next year it's gonna be a good year with up in coming youngsters having a shot at first grade and I think we can make the top 8

 

[umina panther]

I can see us finishing anywhere between 6th-12th.
Our problem is still our halves Walsh has had far too long and hasn't shown any improvement. I'm hoping Coote gets the first half of next year to show us if he has what it takes to be a long term 5/8.
We also have to hope Manu isn't another forward that can't play once he leaves the cap cheats

 

[franklin2323]

We certainly should score more then 3 tries a game. As bad as we were this year. I can think of 3 games we had won only to throw away. We win those we are on the cusp of the 8. No reason we can't get in. Alot depends on how quick the recruits settle in. I would still like 3-4 backrowers gone. Still time.

 

[Crazy Hazy]

I think a top eight finish is realistic goal - trial matches for the Panthers will be crucial to hit the ground running in Week 1. So many positions to nail down with the best contenders some of whom didn't even get to pull on NRL boots this year i.e. Moylan!!

 

[chrisD]

Not expecting to make the 8, I'm mainly hoping that we'll offer enough to make me enjoy watching.

 

[PinkPanther]

Anything below 11th would be a disappointment. We are very capable of making the 8 and I think that we should achieve that.

 

[Panthercam]

If we play well I don't see why we can't make top 8

 

[Doomednow]

Too many years of disappointing performances and selections have turned me into a pessimist. Hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

 

[franklin2323]

If we play well I don't see why we can't make top 8

I still think we will have Tighe, Simmons and Newton in the team. Still think Kingston will play long mins. So like said above I won;t get my hopes up but potentially the squad should make the 8

 

[Big Mick]

I don't think Simmons play's.

I think Tighe potentially plays until Roberts is up to speed. Or if Pangai can play centre right away.

But to me our centres will be 3. Jennings, 4. Whare. I asked him on twitter after he signed where he would play and he specifically said centre.

Given his performances at fullback, Centre and Wing it is very clear he is a far more competent player at centre than the other positions and that is our biggest weakness. He is also a good facilitator.

So 3. Jennings, 4. Whare. For the wings Mansour imo if Moylan is at fullback...is guaranteed one spot. The other will come down to Roberts, Morgan, Wes, Simmons, Robinson, Satini, Mackay, Pangai (even though he aint a winger), G.Jennings. So that's a LOT of competition for spots right there.

As far as Newton...unless Cleary plans on dropping Robinson , Weston or doesn't plan on bringing Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi along immediately, I don't see how he fits unless injuries occur.

8. McKendry, 9. Kingston, 10. Grant, 11. Manu, 12. Brown, 13. Austin/Smith
RES: 14. Weston, 15. O'Donnell, 16. Robinson, 16. Segeyaro

Either way....injuries aside, we should be a top 8 team next year.

If we stay healthy and our components gel we could be looking at a top 6 team.

We lost a number of games in the middle of the year this year that IMO if our stars had been available we would have won or come close.

Like with every year it will largely depend on our health and if that, like in 2003/2004, is contained and handled well with improved depth, I don't see a reason we can't be a top 8 team.

 

[franklin2323]

Big Mick I agree with your top 17 posted elsewhere. I want as many new players as possible in the team. I hope Whare is the centre he and Jennings will make a deadly combination. Moylan will help the halves out. I would start Robinson on the left to continue to develop with Jennings. Brown at lock

The problem is the older players we are keeping them for a reason. We signed most of the newbie's for 3 years. Meaning to me this is a development year so I doubt many will play regular 1st grade yet. 2014 will be the year and they are top 4 by 2015.

Say that pack you picked is Ivan's team round 1.

That would make Windsor:

Armit, Simpkins, Plum, Ciraldo, Newton, Smith: Galea

Doesn't allow room for the younger forwards.

Add a rookie fullback, New centre. I can see experience being somewhere in the team

I think it will go like this atleast early on:

Whare, Mansour, Jennings, Tighe, Simmons/Naiqama, Coote, Walsh, McKendry, Kingston, Grant, Manu, Brown, Smith/Plum/Newton.

Segeyaro, Weston, Austin, Robinson/VTK. the rookies to move around abit

That's my only concern. We have a great potential 17 in the squad. Just getting the best 17 is the goal

 

[franklin2323]

We lost a number of games in the middle of the year this year that IMO if our stars had been available we would have won or come close.

I counted in the 3 games we should of won as Cowboys, Eels, Tigers. I guess you can add the sharks game to that as well

All 3 we led late only to let them into it with stupid penalties and errors.

That was with our poor squad. It shows potential to win if we are hit by injuries.

Newcastle and Titans missed the 8 yet blew us off the park. Neither should of if we turned up. We need to beat the teams around us on the table to make it.

 

[age.s]

Newcastle and Titans missed the 8 yet blew us off the park. Neither should of if we turned up. We need to beat the teams around us on the table to make it.

Considering the injuries and lack of form we had before those matches and the fact that the Knights and Titans were (IMO) the comps biggest underachievers I wasn't that surprised by those losses.

 

[franklin2323]

Considering the injuries and lack of form we had before those matches and the fact that the Knights and Titans were (IMO) the comps biggest underachievers I wasn't that surprised by those losses.

True. Team structure should be able to cope with a few players out. In attack yes you will struggle but in defence you should still hold up well. That's more what I hope for next year. Plenty of teams played bad enough to lose against us. If we cut out the errors and penalties. we should be able to scrap some wins when injuries hit.

 

[betcats]

Anything below 11th would be a disappointment. We are very capable of making the 8 and I think that we should achieve that.

So coming 10th is not a dissapointment? Cmon now, we have to demand more. If we dont make the eight its a serious dissapointment.

 

[umina panther]

I 100% expect top 6 from 2014 but still not sure on next year

 

[franklin2323]

So coming 10th is not a dissapointment? Cmon now, we have to demand more. If we dont make the eight its a serious dissapointment.

The problem is there's still some rubbish around the squad. If Whare is centre. If Manu shows even half of his Storm form. Segeyaro gets decent game time.

You would think we would make it. I posted earlier what I think the team will be. That teams better then this year but may not be in the 8. 2014 no excuses

 

[penrithmob 65]

The only thing that could stop a top 8 appearance would be injuries There should be no excuses other than that.The club has bought well and bought a few players not just one.Throw in the fact a few young guys will be hovering about waiting for there chance.The safety net a lot of the senior guys had has been cut.
Times are changing in panther land getting close in no longer good enough and i believe the younger brigade will push that point

 

[maple_69]

I expect top 8 but I think we could end up anywhere between 5th and 12th. Main thing for me is getting the team ready for a serious run in 2014.

We should be able to jag bottom half of the top 8 if we make the right selections with players.

Obviously the halves are the question mark but they should get a little more space to work at least.

 

[richies]

im sure you guyes will have
Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi, and ethan cook in NRL soon and possibly O'Donnell
cooks a very good ballplaying lock/secondrower like Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi

I dont get you halfs combo's put harry seka in the half's

also I'd be putting Naiqama in the centres big solid and quick