Can Dave Furner turn it around?

[sully the finest ever]

OK Timbo then I'm blind.

Ask your average StG/Ill supporter (my brother-in-law) being one and they'll support my opinion.

All I can remember about Barrett playing at Bruce is him dropping the ball cold over the tryline without a hand being on him not once, but two years in a row. Even Matthew Head got closer to scoring with his infamous bounced put down. The way the Raiders have played for the last two weeks, "Basketball" Barret will fit right into the team! I'm waiting for Furner to pull former Canberra Cannons hero Herb McCeachin out of retirement and put him at fullback!!!

 

[schnitzel]

Wooops, I meant I'm not a Dragons Fan.... now I feel dirty

 

[Chachi]

You obviously live in a world where mediocrity is easy to accept schnitz .. quite frankly I'd refer to you as a nego.

And yes Jason Smith was a flop ... hence the position we find ourselves now ... as I said he was a short term fix ... had we run with Carney and Zillman I'm quite sure we would be looking better in the halves ... Barrett will spend 50% of his time on the bench injured and the remainder hindering the chance of one of our juniors making the step to FG (much like J.Smith did).

You can support management, coach and whoever else you wish to ... I'll call it as I see it and the future imo looks bleak for this football club.

Mate, I agree with you that Smith was a bad move (especially in his second year) and Barrett would be along the same lines - although there's no real chance he'd come here anyways.

One thing Furner has in his corner is some of the best juniors in the country. I know we say that every year, but sooner or later it has to pay off for us with the addition of a few astute purchases.

Flanagan and Shillington would be a good start. Promoting Dugan, Carney and Thompson won't go astray either.

If this club starts to play with some confidence and consistency we can compete at the highest levels IMO. Nobody will convince me that the Titans have that much of a better roster than us yet they occupy the top of the table.

Losing Zillman will hurt though.

 

[Raider Azz]

i don't get you bay, you say we should be chasing big names and marquee signings, and when we finally do, you say it's a mistake? make up your mind old man

 

[Bay56]

i don't get you bay, you say we should be chasing big names and marquee signings, and when we finally do, you say it's a mistake? make up your mind old man

No worries Azz ... the reason being that I dont consider Barrett to be a marquee player that will solve our problems ... I'd rather spend the reported $400K (plus a bit if required) on M.Monas who will def have the fortunes of this club a heart.

Barrett will be a two year option at most and he'll spend a good part of that on the sidelines.

 

[Raider_69]

Heres a theory bay
Barrett for 2 years for 400k... at the end of 2010, we let barrett go and have 400k to spend... would you believe me if i told you monaghan started a 3 year deal this year, meaning he'll be looking for a new contract at the end of 2010?

Of course this is wild specualation, but considering there is good mail that monnas was keen to come back to canberra after we inquired about his avalability. Word is his ESL club wouldnt grant a release.

 

[Bay56]

Sounds like a great theory.

But as I said before, I dont rate Barrett ... other than some good performances at rep level his form at club level in the NRL rarely got to any heights.

There is no doubt that TC needs someone with class alongside him ... but he and Barrett are very similar players. I would rather have kept Dobson ... imo he was not given a decent go by Henry.

 

[GC_Gladiator]

Barrett played in a grand final, played for Australia and New South Wales and has more experience than anyone on our books. We don't have a class player with the rep jerseys to his name- Barrett will be our first top player since Wiki was wearing the green.

Most of all- Barrett has played in winning teams all his career. He never won a grand final at St George, but they got very very close.

Your always talking about getting a player that will attract other players to the squad Bay- Barrett is the guy who will do that better than kimmorley, Monoghan, anyone elses name you throw up.

I dont think Dave Furner has much of a chance, because our team has alot of filler and not much killer. He will have to do what we've talked about for the last 6 years and continue rebuilding. He'll need to come up with a couple of decent front rowers, keep a brittle back row on the field, produce a halfback from somewhere, get a young hooker performing, help our star five eight gain consistency, maybe even get a consistent fullback. Really, his up against it and i certainly wont be calling for his head until some time has passed. Atleast we know to expect a loyal coach with a heap of passion.

 

[Raider_69]

I dont think Dave Furner has much of a chance, because our team has alot of filler and not much killer. He will have to do what we've talked about for the last 6 years and continue rebuilding. He'll need to come up with a couple of decent front rowers, keep a brittle back row on the field, produce a halfback from somewhere, get a young hooker performing, help our star five eight gain consistency, maybe even get a consistent fullback. Really, his up against it and i certainly wont be calling for his head until some time has passed. Atleast we know to expect a loyal coach with a heap of passion.

all that sounds surprisingly easy IMO
Shillington is all but over the line. And with Paea rumoured. That could take care of our decent front rowers... aided by TLL, Thurling, Thompson and yes, Tilse.

The backrow isnt that brittle, plum has starch, tongue will go all day and Picker is a deadset machine. Add to them J.Thompson, Nate Smith and possibly Chris Heinington (who's chances of coming increase if barrett signs on)

Herbert im confident of in the halfback role, he's a very good young talent. And Picker-Smith looks ok in U20's too. Put a quality halfback outside him and Carney will show his wears, at present he is trying to do it all because campo cant, nor could dobson. Bronx has been good so far in fullback, and he'll only get better and more consistant.

All in there is alot to look forward too... add to that Dave coached most these guys to success in PL... i know its not much but the fact he has coached them before and knows how to achieve results with this team is important.

 

[Cryptic]

Anyway this isn't the Barrett thread so I'll say something on topic... Why did the person listing the last few winning coaches drop Stuart? I mean personally I think he is a useless coach who has had star line-ups but still... He did have ZERO FG experience and go on to win the premiership so it CAN happen.

 

[GC_Gladiator]

See- when i say brittle back row i'm referring to TLL and Costigan. I guess i shouldn't discriminate the backrow- three quarters of the squad will be out injured by the end of the season.

Your talking Mickey Paea obviously if your talking front row? and Shillington. Both good young players, but Mickey Paea and Shillington are only the side kicks in there current pack. Not quite the corner stone of a dominant pack- yet.

No doubt about the potential quality of the back row as well- Heighington has played a great couple of seasons and Picker has been one of our juniors to impress. Although TLL is being primed for a role running closer into the middle, his athletic ability should see him remain in the back row.

And i have no doubt about the quality of Carney as a five eight. His best games have been in the position.

So i still think the building is a 3-4 season process. I'd love to be proven wrong. Reality is our farm hasn't produced like we thought it would in the past. Didn't Dobson, Zillman and Carney all pledge to play together for years to come? I hope Dugan, Carney, Herbert are the ones we've been waiting for. I really like the look of that Dugan.. lol.

 

[Cryptic]

I agree Dugan rocks... Most exciting player in the TC easy... Even if he isn't leading the try count... But he should have his own thread not just tag onto this one....

 

[GC_Gladiator]

Why did the person listing the last few winning coaches drop Stuart? I mean personally I think he is a useless coach who has had star line-ups but still... He did have ZERO FG experience and go on to win the premiership so it CAN happen.

Yeah, he had a nice squad to work with. But he had to get them up to each match week after week, and made 3 grand finals in his time. He had to be doing something right, despite the presence of fittler, fitzgibbon, ricketson etc.

He also had a natural leader in his squad though in Fittler. The same way Michael Hagan newcastle sides had Joey Johns. Quality players.

 

[Macko8]

with the signing of flanagan and speculation we have signed shillington and paea, and rumoured to be also after hannant or heighington our forward pack might be something special in 2009, also talks costigan wants to now stay for at least another year.

 

[ak47]

raiders have snared shillington accord to fox sports now
i am positive about it, atleast he isnt injured all the time

 

[Brimmer]

with the signing of flanagan and speculation we have signed shillington and paea, and rumoured to be also after hannant or heighington our forward pack might be something special in 2009, also talks costigan wants to now stay for at least another year.

If Costigan only wants a one year contract.. piss him off as well. We aren't a half-way house.

 

[Sydney_Raider]

If Costigan only wants a one year contract.. piss him off as well. We aren't a half-way house.

Costigan is contracted for next year he was just looking at a get out clause option.

 

[Macko8]

now that we've secured shilly for 4 seasons it might persuade costigan to stay another couple of seasons....i hope we sign another 2 forwards.

 

[Bay56]

Matters are starting to look better.

 

[Chachi]

Now we just need Herbert to get on the park.

The key to any success will be a half decent halfback to push Carney back to 5/8.

Oh, and for guys like Purtell and Costigan to stop reading in the press how good they are and focus on playing decent football (or just get on the park).