It cant get much worse

[Edwahu]

Well, losing to a depleted Tigers side is bad enough but Woolford isreportedly now out for the season with a serious knee injury and Todd Paytenmay be missing for a little while as well. We know have 2/3rds of our salary cap on the sidelines.

Still, thats no excuse for the worst half of football I have ever seen from a Raiders side. 26-0 was the worstI have felt as a supporter. Sure we came back in the second half but it means nothing if the game is as good as gone.

Letting go of Macfaddento keepMonoghan must be one of the worst descisions in the history of the game. The last few weeks Cappy has made sure that the club knows who the better player is and today he was our best by miles. M.Monoghan looks like he can join Faumuina, Lolesi, Woolfgram etc in the dud pile of "next big things".

 

[legend]

By my reckoning Ed, we have been outscored by 88-0 nil in the first half of the last three games. The team lacks fundamentals and it's no surprise we turn it all around once Andy is on the field. I would say we are looking pretty good for the wooden spoon. Some of the mistakes I saw from players like Davico and Payten was under 6 stuff and unforgivable at first grade level. There is not enough quality competition for spots which means players become complacent as their spot is never under threat. I fear for the future of the club.

 

[imported_Kaon]

It might all be one sick joke but maybe Matt Elliott wants the Raiders to be down by 30 at half time. It could be all be character building for next season or something. The Raiders could not come from behind earlier in the season but they won the second half's against the Dragons, Eels and Tigers.

Please tell me i'm clutching to straws.

 

[Edwahu]

Woolford and Paytens knee injuries are not as bad as first thought and they wont be missing for too long.

 

[legend]

I am starting to wonder about a few things. I am starting to have doubts over Elliot's ability to lead us to the promised land and why are all our players continually going down? Are they overworked or not match fit or just plain unfit? I can't put it all down to bad luck and with Kenny, Andy and Lesley leaving the club must have trimmed in excess of 750k from the cap yet they are offering incentive based contracts no hacks like Tyran Smith and Owen Cragie. Nagas was on a notional SL contract which has only just run out which means he would have been on something like 400k. We are starved of outside backs and Cragie is not the answer and surely the club does not think Woolfgramm is a first grade quality player on a weekly basis. Please tell me the club has an ace up their sleeve.

 

[Edwahu]

Kenny isnt gone for sure and even though he is well past his best he is better then Woolfgram, Lolesi, Faumuina etc.

I cant understand the wraps Faumuina gets off some fans. He is a massive liabillity.
He jumps around a bit and holds the ball in one hand but he hasnt made any actual breaks since someone fell off him in the Canterbury game.
I couldnt believe it when he ran in after Schif had pulled of a trysaver on Galeaand actually pushed Galea towards and over the line. It was incredibly stupid.

The problem with the club at the moment is that Mal stuffed alot of our juniors around and hasnt developed them into anything more thendecent players. I have no doubt that if it had someone like Wayne Bennett or Brian Smith at the helm between 98-01that guys like Mclinden,Cappy and Payten would be the best in their positions and other juniors who have come and gone without much of a chance would be solid first graders.

Elliot has had a hard job so far and we will only know how well he is going next year when Finch,J.Monoghanetc should start to kick on.

 

[legend]

Ed, is there any more news on Craigie and Kenny Nagas. I am reaching new depths of despair with the bloody club and my confidence in management has reached an all time low. I think it's time Kevin Neil stepped aside. He has had his go and failed badly this year.

 

[TheSaint]

At least your side looked like coming back.

 

[Edwahu]

Craigie has agreed to play for us and he is trying to secure a release from the final year if his Tigers contract. I cant see why they would want to keep him so he is pretty much guarenteed to be waddling around for us next year.

Nagas was linked with the Broncos but apart from that I havent heard anything. He says he is keen to stay and with the Volcano leaving I imagine the club is a lot keener to keep him too.