The trajectory of this team is clear. We did our usual early season sprint and now have begun our slide to regular position on the table. So a fan looks to what positives there are to look forward to keep their sanity.
I do not currently see any vision from our coach in terms of playing squad. Molo will be part of our future and De Belin will add much needed starch but that's where the plusses end. For mine the squad is looking as weak as it has in ages.
Some teams are running around with 2 or 3 players in reserve grade who could walk right in and improve our team. That is damning.
The enigmatic Dufty has been told to go. Not a popular one but certainly untimely as we haven't established sure-fire solutions coming through the junior ranks. It is STUPID to lose what we have in player quality and say the young guys will make up for it.
I've broken the squad into 5 general groups so you can see how we rely too much on depth players and juniors.
1. The big group - juniors yet unproven as regular first graders
Amone
Max Feagai
Matt Feagai
Ramsey
J Hunt
Sullivan
Sloan
2. For the scrap heap - unworthy of putting the jersey on again
Norman
Kerr
Alvaro
Ellis
3. Depth players - will not win you a game but can fill in with injuries
Beale
McGuire
Burns
Faamasili
Pereira
Williame
Clune
Ford
McCullogh
Lawrie
4. First picked every week setting a standard for our club
Hunt
Bird
De Belin*
Ravalawa
Sims
5. Regular worthy first graders who we need to lift
Lomax
Fuimaono
Vaughan
re 2.
Disagree with Kerr, has had an ordinary year with his hands but a keeper ATM as does run hard
re 3.
I thought Faam was the only one last night that dented the line..keeper and am not convinced he cant be more than depth
Burns will be a good player..keeper
Lawrie a bit down on form past few weeks but he was one of our best early on
re 4
Sims..yes and no lately, having trouble busting the line..needs to run better lines and like Kerr his hands are letting him down, Norman put him away last night with a good pass. Was disappointed last night with the charge down no one was around to help him. It could of been 18-12 if they had.
re 5.
Fui has lifted this year, he is about to get a new contract
Lomax has been solid for us in both attack and defence
Vaughan agree lately his form has dropped a bit in tune and time with Lawrie
The coach inherited this damming squad you speak of, how can you tell what his vision is. We needed bandaids to get us going. It will take years to develop the squad you so much expect that will make a coach. (e.g) Cleary look good. Compare Cleary at the Tigers and Panthers. Now what is the difference.
