Is this our best team in 20 years ?

[Avenger]

Is this current team our best since 2001?
I think statistically at least it may be.

I think it’s our most balanced team even though I think the 2005 and 2007 teams had more talent and were more experienced.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I think the 2005 team was better. But this is the best since then, and has more recent big game experience. In 2005 we had missed the finals for two years straight.

 

[emjaycee]

2005 Squad

​

2021 Squad​

Pretty hard to split as the game is also a little bit different, but interesting to note similar average age (2021 would be younger if JArthur and Emu were actually born).

 

[84 Baby]

Can’t go past our 2013 squad

 

[strider]

Theres been alot of lean years, so its not hard to be right up there.

I too would say 2005 was probably better. There were threats all across the field. Where as i would say our 2,3,4,5 is fairly average atm - not bad, but not particularly good.

 

[emjaycee]

Theres been alot of lean years, so its not hard to be right up there.

I too would say 2005 was probably better. There were threats all across the field. Where as i would say our 2,3,4,5 is fairly average atm - not bad, but not particularly good.

From the 2005 squad, I would put Tahu and EGJ in for Opa and Haze but is Reddy better than either Waqa or Opa and is Burt better than Sivo?

 

[Soren Lorenson]

And I always loved the impact of Widders off the bench.

 

[strider]

From the 2005 squad, I would put Tahu and EGJ in for Opa and Haze but is Reddy better than either Waqa or Opa and is Burt better than Sivo?

Green and Gold Joel ... ffs, wash your mouth out.

I would say Joel is quite similar to Opa. And Joels peak (which prob wasnt 2005) is better than Opa, but Opa is not over.

Burt. Yes i would say better than Sivo .... vastly different, and different playing styles then and now, so not really a direct comparison ... but yeah i would say burt was better.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

So our big games experience is nearly identical between '05 and '21 (117 vs 113 games), though across more players (16 to 19):

2005 squad:

Player	Finals + Origin experience
Hindmarsh	18
Vella	18
Tahu	14
Wagon	12
Cayless	11
Marsh	9
Robinson	9
Burt	7
Morrison	5
Riddell	5
Morris	2
Peek	2
Widders	2
Grothe	1
Petersen	1
Stringer	1

2021 squad:

Player	Finals + Origin experience
Ferguson	22
Paulo	13
Nrown	8
Blake	7
Campbell-Gillard	7
Gutherson	7
Matterson	7
Moses	7
Lane	6
Smith	6
Drown	4
Cartwright	4
Mahoney	4
Niukore	3
Sivo	3
Stone	2
Dunster	1
Opacic	1
Papali'i	1

A few interesting points emerge from comparing these teams though:
The 2005 team had nearly all of their big game experience in their top 17, whereas nearly one fifth of ours is with Ferguson, who might not even play in the finals. However, the 2005 team had only two game's worth of finals/Origin experience in their halves+fullback, though Marsh/Riddell had 14 games between them. At least our main playmakers Moses and Gutherson have seven games each.

 

[strider]

Can’t go past our 2013 squad

Dickhead

 

[IFR33K]

Is this current team our best since 2001?
I think statistically at least it may be.

I think it’s our most balanced team even though I think the 2005 and 2007 teams had more talent and were more experienced.

This team is very good, but hard to go past the 05 team considering they won the MP. The 09 team also needs to be considered because of their achievements. They should of had a premiership…

 

[84 Baby]

From the 2005 squad, I would put Tahu and EGJ in for Opa and Haze but is Reddy better than either Waqa or Opa and is Burt better than Sivo?

Doubt salary cap works out but.

Dickhead

That was the squad current Origin rep Junior Paulo made his debut in

 

[84 Baby]

Anyway I’d rank it equal 3rd with 07.
2005 and 2001 were clearly better.
But the better question is is this years squad better than 2016, 2017, 2019 and/or 2020?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

But the better question is is this years squad better than 2016, 2017, 2019 and/or 2020?

I think it's obvious.

 

[Eelementary]

On paper, the 2005 was the best team we've had since the 80's, and is slightly ahead of our 2021 team for two main reasons, imo:

* halves that created a million tries between them; and

* big, fast, powerful backs like Tahu, Smith, and Grothe.

I think our backs are powerful, but not quick.

And our halves are inconsistent.

Not only did Tim Smith have 40 try assists in 2005, but he had loads of goal-line drop-outs, too.

Moses and Brown are very talented, but very inconsistent.

 

[Twizzle]

Moses and Brown are very talented, but very inconsistent.

I think Dylbags will become more consistent, he's only 20 so he's no where near the finished product

I really think its too early to judge him but that try on Friday night should give him heaps of confidence to take the line on a lot more

 

[eels_fan]

Definitely 05, but don’t think we’re too far behind them

 

[Avenger]

So our big games experience is nearly identical between '05 and '21 (117 vs 113 games), though across more players (16 to 19):

2005 squad:

Player	Finals + Origin experience
Hindmarsh	18
Vella	18
Tahu	14
Wagon	12
Cayless	11
Marsh	9
Robinson	9
Burt	7
Morrison	5
Riddell	5
Morris	2
Peek	2
Widders	2
Grothe	1
Petersen	1
Stringer	1

2021 squad:

Player	Finals + Origin experience
Ferguson	22
Paulo	13
Nrown	8
Blake	7
Campbell-Gillard	7
Gutherson	7
Matterson	7
Moses	7
Lane	6
Smith	6
Drown	4
Cartwright	4
Mahoney	4
Niukore	3
Sivo	3
Stone	2
Dunster	1
Opacic	1
Papali'i	1

A few interesting points emerge from comparing these teams though:
The 2005 team had nearly all of their big game experience in their top 17, whereas nearly one fifth of ours is with Ferguson, who might not even play in the finals. However, the 2005 team had only two game's worth of finals/Origin experience in their halves+fullback, though Marsh/Riddell had 14 games between them. At least our main playmakers Moses and Gutherson have seven games each.

You are a bit of an apologist but I’d still
prefer to be stuck in the desert with you however you are without doubt one of the best posters here. Great effort Pou.

 

[yy_cheng]

watching Tit's game, I think Dylbags didn't do too bad.

I think some games, they should let Dylbags be the half or the game manager (general kicker as well) and moses play the leulai role.

This could even be in games where we are ahead by a fair bit.

That will only make us more dangerous come finals time.

 

[hineyrulz]

Can’t go past our 2013 squad