2019 Top 30

[franklin2323]

I’m not guessing at all. I’m basing my opinions on what I know for sure. What I know for sure is, the club is in a much better place now, then it was before Gus.

We have a team full of players that I love to watch and hopefully we now have a coach that will get the best out of them.

No guessing.

The club 4 years ago was better imo. It has slowly fallen away slightly every year since

 

[Pomoz]

The club 4 years ago was better imo. It has slowly fallen away slightly every year since

That doesn't make sense. We have made the semi-finals every year for three years straight. Our junior grades are competitive at every level. We have junior rep players coming through our ranks. Memberships have increased.

Our halfback is approaching "regular first grader" status. A number of our juniors, "JFH, RCG, YEO, Blake, DWZ and Latu are also approaching "regular first grader" status. I think we underestimate how that extra experience will improve them next year. Whilst we are arguing about losing experience, a batch of players are slowly racking up games and experience. We should see a steady improvement in consistency next year.

I think the only lack of experience now is at hooker and fullback. Edwards is still a bit green, but at least DWZ is an experienced reliable back up. If our players can step up in those two positions, we should be top 4 (subject to injuries) this year.

It will be interesting to see how we go without Peachey. He was a bit of an "x" factor last year. We were toiling at times and he came on and gave us a boost with his unpredictable play. I think his loss has less of an impact if your game plan is better (or even just a 'game plan') and your halves are playing well. Let's hope that is the case in 2019.

I can't see how we are worse. The team and the club is evolving, as it needs to do to improve. If you are referring to the style of play, I agree the style four years ago was more exciting than "Griffin" ball, but since he has now left, I expect to see us change our style of play.

The winners over the last few years have had one thing in common. A grinding ruthless defence. The adlib days of Moylan and Cartwright were exciting to watch, but we would not take out the premiership playing that way.

 

[Luke Bowden]

The club 4 years ago was better imo. It has slowly fallen away slightly every year since

How so? What was better? I’m being serious, not antagonising. I personally don’t think we have been better.

 

[Abacus]

May being the key word. A knock out semi and we need a prop to come in. You are saying you'd rather someone on debut then an ex origin player with 150 odd games?

I want whoever is playing the better footy at the time coming in for the semi. What you did 5 years ago is hopefully not part of the assessment for the bench spot playing 15-20 minutes in a semi.

I understand from your arguments that you want the club to take a short term view of salary cap and roster management. Thats cool, I'd rather keep the best of our in-demand juniors and then supplement them to look for longer term success and continuity.

The danger in the short term approach is once the juniors are gone the good ones (e.g. Wade Graham) are hard to get back for anything less than full market price. And if the short term approach fails, there is a longer period of rebuilding required. It would be nice if recruitment and retention could be done in a vacuum, but it ain't.

 

[franklin2323]

How so? What was better? I’m being serious, not antagonising. I personally don’t think we have been better.

2014 we came we made the prelim. Still had flair in FG. Guys like Blake, Yeo etc had won their 2nd comp in 2 years.

 

[franklin2323]

That doesn't make sense. We have made the semi-finals every year for three years straight. Our junior grades are competitive at every level. We have junior rep players coming through our ranks. Memberships have increased.

Our halfback is approaching "regular first grader" status. A number of our juniors, "JFH, RCG, YEO, Blake, DWZ and Latu are also approaching "regular first grader" status. I think we underestimate how that extra experience will improve them next year. Whilst we are arguing about losing experience, a batch of players are slowly racking up games and experience. We should see a steady improvement in consistency next year.

I think the only lack of experience now is at hooker and fullback. Edwards is still a bit green, but at least DWZ is an experienced reliable back up. If our players can step up in those two positions, we should be top 4 (subject to injuries) this year.

It will be interesting to see how we go without Peachey. He was a bit of an "x" factor last year. We were toiling at times and he came on and gave us a boost with his unpredictable play. I think his loss has less of an impact if your game plan is better (or even just a 'game plan') and your halves are playing well. Let's hope that is the case in 2019.

I can't see how we are worse. The team and the club is evolving, as it needs to do to improve. If you are referring to the style of play, I agree the style four years ago was more exciting than "Griffin" ball, but since he has now left, I expect to see us change our style of play.

The winners over the last few years have had one thing in common. A grinding ruthless defence. The adlib days of Moylan and Cartwright were exciting to watch, but we would not take out the premiership playing that way.

DWZ has played 20 odd games at FB himself so hardly experienced. We were winning comps back then too and seemed to have a clear plan which we seem to lack now

 

[franklin2323]

I want whoever is playing the better footy at the time coming in for the semi. What you did 5 years ago is hopefully not part of the assessment for the bench spot playing 15-20 minutes in a semi.

I understand from your arguments that you want the club to take a short term view of salary cap and roster management. Thats cool, I'd rather keep the best of our in-demand juniors and then supplement them to look for longer term success and continuity.

The danger in the short term approach is once the juniors are gone the good ones (e.g. Wade Graham) are hard to get back for anything less than full market price. And if the short term approach fails, there is a longer period of rebuilding required. It would be nice if recruitment and retention could be done in a vacuum, but it ain't.

Assuming Luai is 5/8th. Say $300k wage? Maybe more. Cleary $1m both 22 in 2020. $1.3m combined for the halves is fine. Too pay overs for your next in line when in theory you have a 10 year halves pairing is just dumb.

The Roosters even lost their backup half. It happens when you have such a situation. So depends where you are spending overs for the juniors. ATM centre is weak

 

[Abacus]

Assuming Luai is 5/8th. Say $300k wage? Maybe more. Cleary $1m both 22 in 2020. $1.3m combined for the halves is fine. Too pay overs for your next in line when in theory you have a 10 year halves pairing is just dumb.

The Roosters even lost their backup half. It happens when you have such a situation. So depends where you are spending overs for the juniors. ATM centre is weak

Who is being paid overs in your scenario? Luai?

 

[franklin2323]

Who is being paid overs in your scenario? Luai?

Neither. If the backup half is getting over minimum wage then that is overs. That is our situation ATM set top 13 and guys outside getting overs so they stay despite not needing them to stay

 

[Luke Bowden]

2014 we came we made the prelim. Still had flair in FG. Guys like Blake, Yeo etc had won their 2nd comp in 2 years.

Really, Come on man, we now have the same coach, players like Blake, Yeo etc have a bunch more experience and are playing better.

You can’t honestly say you think our 2014 squad was better.

 

[Kilkenny]

Neither. If the backup half is getting over minimum wage then that is overs. That is our situation ATM set top 13 and guys outside getting overs so they stay despite not needing them to stay

Really hard to believe someone who claims to be a supporter can be as negative as you are.

It borders on embarrassing. Post after post of the same negative crap.

 

[Luke Bowden]

Neither. If the backup half is getting over minimum wage then that is overs. That is our situation ATM set top 13 and guys outside getting overs so they stay despite not needing them to stay

You really have no idea.

 

[franklin2323]

You really have no idea.

You don't exactly offer much insight yourself. Tell me how many teams that had established halves would of had back up on over minimum? The cap doesn't allow for such a thing

 

[franklin2323]

Really, Come on man, we now have the same coach, players like Blake, Yeo etc have a bunch more experience and are playing better.

You can’t honestly say you think our 2014 squad was better.

Comes down to depth really. That is the big difference

 

[Pomoz]

DWZ has played 20 odd games at FB himself so hardly experienced. We were winning comps back then too and seemed to have a clear plan which we seem to lack now

I think the plan couldn't be clearer if it was in day-go orange and mounted on a pedestal of Swarkovski crystals and illuminated by the bat signal.

 

[franklin2323]

Really hard to believe someone who claims to be a supporter can be as negative as you are.

It borders on embarrassing. Post after post of the same negative crap.

No one forces you to read it now do they

 

[franklin2323]

I think the plan couldn't be clearer if it was in day-go orange and mounted on a pedestal of Swarkovski crystals and illuminated by the bat signal.

That would help clear up confusion. Are we building for the future or trying to win it now...only the bat signal knows the answer

 

[TheEroticGamer]

Ffs, each of our players that have re-signed have talked about winning a premiership. Waqa Blake after he re-signed said us going close in 2018 is not good enough.

It's quite fvckin obvious they're going for a premiership now.

Also, to even insinuate we had a better team in 2014 is just complete madness. A left edge of Brown and Idris is not better than Kikau and Blake. A halves pairing of Soward and Smith is not better than Maloney and Cleary, a forward pack consisting of Kite and Manu is not better than Yeo and RCG. I could go on for ages.

We did well that year because of good coaching. End.

 

[franklin2323]

We made the PF with Taylor, Wallace, Bryce and others out.

NSW Cup that won the comp had Blake, RCG, Yeo etc in it after we won NYC in 2013.

No one on here can say who our hooker or even backup centre is. The 2 squads are miles apart

 

[Sime_11]

That doesn't make sense. We have made the semi-finals every year for three years straight. Our junior grades are competitive at every level. We have junior rep players coming through our ranks. Memberships have increased.

Our halfback is approaching "regular first grader" status. A number of our juniors, "JFH, RCG, YEO, Blake, DWZ and Latu are also approaching "regular first grader" status. I think we underestimate how that extra experience will improve them next year. Whilst we are arguing about losing experience, a batch of players are slowly racking up games and experience. We should see a steady improvement in consistency next year.

I think the only lack of experience now is at hooker and fullback. Edwards is still a bit green, but at least DWZ is an experienced reliable back up. If our players can step up in those two positions, we should be top 4 (subject to injuries) this year.

It will be interesting to see how we go without Peachey. He was a bit of an "x" factor last year. We were toiling at times and he came on and gave us a boost with his unpredictable play. I think his loss has less of an impact if your game plan is better (or even just a 'game plan') and your halves are playing well. Let's hope that is the case in 2019.

I can't see how we are worse. The team and the club is evolving, as it needs to do to improve. If you are referring to the style of play, I agree the style four years ago was more exciting than "Griffin" ball, but since he has now left, I expect to see us change our style of play.

The winners over the last few years have had one thing in common. A grinding ruthless defence. The adlib days of Moylan and Cartwright were exciting to watch, but we would not take out the premiership playing that way.

Have I missed something ? Latu come back? I have been in Adelaide so I am behind the times sorry