Early predictions for season 2017!

[betcats]

Oh I'm not arguing against or for what you are saying Kilkenny. Just saying what I think will happen this year, I see Yeo as our 80 minute guy with Merrin and Carty playing big minutes and the rest doing stints.

Personally I think the bench should be horses for courses assuming we have the depth to make it work.

 

[franklin2323]

At the same time why does or should he have too? Our bench will be stacked with quality, particularly at the start of the season, before any potential injuries kick in, so yes he can play 80 minutes but why does he have too. I don't get it, I simply don't get it.

Are they better then Cartwright, Merrin and Yeo though? Unless we need to why change them?

 

[maple_69]

Are they better no. Are they better completely fresh than those guys fairly knacked, i think so.

If we are in control of a game then sure keep those guys on for huge minutes. When we come across games like Canberra last year when we are behind and chasing points, why not try and change the conversation with some different players? Get the starters back on for the last 10 as they are the guys you back to close out a game.

 

[roofromoz]

Read today that the Panthers are currently second favourites with the TAB for the premiership, only behind Melbourne. Wa-hey.

 

[TheEroticGamer]

How has JFH been blamed for our loss more than Cummins?

Is our fanbase allergic to rightfully criticising officials?

Or as individuals, are we all just worried about the image we potray to other club's supporters?

You wonder things like why one of our players was the first to be suspended for touching an official, or why we get no calls go our way when playing the likes of Canberra and Melbourne.Why not make an example of the one club that is reluctant to look outside of how their own players perform?We're a get out of jail free card for referees and the NRL trying to avoid scrutiny with their polarising decision making, as they can direct the negative consequences to a club that worries more about how a 20 year old performed in a final than how disgraceful an official we have a 27% win rate with and won our last away game under in 2009 performed.

The fact that JFH has been under this much scrutiny and we've let a complete cheat get away with a seemingly sparkling reputation in this code for the majority of watchers makes me sick.

 

[TheFrog]

Is our fanbase allergic to rightfully criticising officials?

If you do a bit of digging in this forum regarding the Canberra match, you'll see that the answer is no, but most of us have gotten over it by now. In the end, we were probably more or less the 5th/6th best team last year, and that is where we finished.

It's not like we can go back and re-run last year's finals series so it's probably a better bet to concentrate on the season to come, which has every chance of being a good one for us.

 

[TheFrog]

Edwards is built like a tax accountant

He did turn, chase and bring down Radradra the other day, something I'm sure did not go unnoticed.

 

[Pomoz]

I never said he couldn't tackle, he just can't ruck the ball up Mansour style with four players hanging off him and still pop an offload.

 

[umina panther]

Cummins is a cheat plain and simple

 

[umina panther]

He did turn, chase and bring down Radradra the other day, something I'm sure did not go unnoticed.

He has that little bit of desperation and aggression that Moylan has never shown

 

[TheFrog]

He's a prospect all right. Pity he was behind Will Smith this time last year. He could have had half a dozen games under his belt.

 

[betcats]

RCG has been good coming off that injury.

 

[betcats]

Gus just said Peach has trained in the centres all offseason

 

[soc123_au]

Latu was very impressive tonight. RCG went well too.

 

[umina panther]

Latu was very impressive tonight. RCG went well too.

Was just about to write the same. Our pack is looking VERY good if Tamou delivers

 

[TheEroticGamer]

I know they wouldn't be as knowledgable of his playstyle as Penrith players, but the majority of AllStars players were hopeless at reading when Cartwright was going to offload.

Moeroa in particular was in dreamland when he got his hand free several times.

 

[mxlegend99]

I know they wouldn't be as knowledgable of his playstyle as Penrith players, but the majority of AllStars players were hopeless at reading when Cartwright was going to offload.

Moeroa in particular was in dreamland when he got his hand free several times.

Usually the backs and halves would be the ones supporting... but the world all stars team had the worst 1-7 possible.

No one paid attention to each other... Probably a result of Meninga not having any coaching ability.

 

[Copperhead]

Mansour seems to be on track with his recovery. Video of him running.

https://twitter.com/Josh_Mansour

 

[Kilkenny]

How has JFH been blamed for our loss more than Cummins?

Is our fanbase allergic to rightfully criticising officials?

Or as individuals, are we all just worried about the image we potray to other club's supporters?

You wonder things like why one of our players was the first to be suspended for touching an official, or why we get no calls go our way when playing the likes of Canberra and Melbourne.Why not make an example of the one club that is reluctant to look outside of how their own players perform?We're a get out of jail free card for referees and the NRL trying to avoid scrutiny with their polarising decision making, as they can direct the negative consequences to a club that worries more about how a 20 year old performed in a final than how disgraceful an official we have a 27% win rate with and won our last away game under in 2009 performed.

The fact that JFH has been under this much scrutiny and we've let a complete cheat get away with a seemingly sparkling reputation in this code for the majority of watchers makes me sick.

No one, including me who referred to JFH conceding two penalties for high shots against the Raiders in our semi final loss, is blaming him for the loss. I was at the game and made the comment to family members he should have been given a rest as his was clearly fatigued and that was immediately before the two penalties. In my opinion better use of our bench MAY have changed the outcome of the contest particularly given the way we had fought our way back and were on top. There were certainly calls that did not go our way from the officials in that game, and we certainly didn't get the bounce of the ball, but it is history now so need to focus on 2017 and not dwell on 2016.

 

[Kilkenny]

Are they better then Cartwright, Merrin and Yeo though? Unless we need to why change them?

In my opinion, we have such depth and quality when we are fully fit and injury free, there is largely no need to play players for the full 80. They can all have a spell and let our bench forwards rip in. Fatigue causes players to make mistakes where it is missed tackles, dropped ball or giving away penalties. I don't think it is a case of our bench players being better than the likes of Merrin, Cartwright, Yeo, JFH etc because no there not but surely they may offer more in a 20-25 minute spell allowing the above players some rest which may make them more effective overall.