Kearney

[Eels Dude]

Are these the same experts that change their opinion depending on their current agenda?

It's funny how people bag people in the media constantly, only to then use them to try and prove their arguement.

I get that our roster wasn't the best but I can't cop that it was the worst either! It seems to make people feel good to think it though, then they get to use that as an excuse to talk up how great the coach must be for us to just avoid the spoon.......

How about we all just accept this year as a write off for many reasons and stop making excuses just to defend the coach and then further to that, attack other posters for having the audacity to question the coach!

I think people have a right to not be 100% confident on a rookie coach, he now has the systems he wants in place, new players and a respected recruitment guy, so the last piece is his execution. Imo there is a lot of pressure on him because barring a massive injury toll, he will now be expected to perform.

I look forward to next year, lots of things to be excited about but it doesn't mean I can't be weary of the possibility that we may not live up to the promise.........it has happened too many times before!!!

Here here. Very good post.

We still had a couple of origin and international players. So I don't think we were the worst team ever to lace up the boots.

Last year's squad still had 10 players who'd either played SOO or Test level rugbye league, albeit some of them a long time ago. It was a weak squad compared to others in the competition but far from as bad as people are saying. You'd think we fielded a reserve grade side this year the way people describe it. There have been some Souths, Cowboys, Sharks and Raiders sides this past decade which were far worse on paper than our 2011 squad.

 

[HevyDevy]

Are these the same experts that change their opinion depending on their current agenda?

It's funny how people bag people in the media constantly, only to then use them to try and prove their arguement.

I get that our roster wasn't the best but I can't cop that it was the worst either! It seems to make people feel good to think it though, then they get to use that as an excuse to talk up how great the coach must be for us to just avoid the spoon.......

How about we all just accept this year as a write off for many reasons and stop making excuses just to defend the coach and then further to that, attack other posters for having the audacity to question the coach!

I think people have a right to not be 100% confident on a rookie coach, he now has the systems he wants in place, new players and a respected recruitment guy, so the last piece is his execution. Imo there is a lot of pressure on him because barring a massive injury toll, he will now be expected to perform.

I look forward to next year, lots of things to be excited about but it doesn't mean I can't be weary of the possibility that we may not live up to the promise.........it has happened too many times before!!!

Well played sir.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

while we were missing some players in important positions, we need to remember that most of the squad has been re-signed.

If it was such a bad line up we would have seen a greater turn-over of players, in particular the main 18-20 players who played a majority of games.

This is pretty poor logic mate, but unsurprising coming from you.

Half the guys we re-signed were first teamers this year, but will be backup players next year. That's why just looking at who we kept is misleading. A starter who is re-signed as a backup may as well have been dropped. The fact they were cheap enough to be retained on backup players contracts shows the quality of the 2011 squad.

More important than who we kept is who we have signed - brand new halves, for starters. As well as a brand new centre. On top of that we've signed a whole bunch of players coming into their prime who will provide competition for squad spots.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I get that our roster wasn't the best but I can't cop that it was the worst either!

So whose was worse?

I think people have a right to not be 100% confident on a rookie coach, he now has the systems he wants in place, new players and a respected recruitment guy, so the last piece is his execution. Imo there is a lot of pressure on him because barring a massive injury toll, he will now be expected to perform.

He captained club and country at the age of 21. He played almost 300 first grade games. He won a premiership. He coached his national team to world cup and four nations victories.

I think he knows how to cope with pressure.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We still had a couple of origin and international players. So I don't think we were the worst team ever to lace up the boots.

Our strengths were as strong as any other club, which is why we're a good chance next year.

What let us down was our weaknesses - our halves and outside backs. As they say, you're only as strong as your weakest link, and for us this year our weakest link was weaker than any other team's.

That's why we had a weaker team, despite whatever strengths we might have had.

 

[lingard]

Rubbish.

What, so you think our playing roster wasn`t that bad this year? Would 30 points to 10 sound nearer the mark?

 

[lingard]

while we were missing some players in important positions, we need to remember that most of the squad has been re-signed.

If it was such a bad line up we would have seen a greater turn-over of players, in particular the main 18-20 players who played a majority of games.

Okay; it`s generally accepted these days that to be competitive a team needs a good 'spine'. Our spine consisted of one player - Jarryd Hayne at fullback. And, later, Jarryd Hayne at five-eight. Our other 'spine' players were: Jeff Robson, Casey McGuire, Daniel Mortimer and Matt Keating. The first three wouldn`t play first grade in any other NRL team, and Keating is solid at best and might or might not get a gig elsewhere. Our 'spine' was our main problem, but add to that the fact that we played guys like Atkins, Chris Walker, and Morgan in the backs (players who would also be very lucky to get a first grade spot anywhere else), and I just can`t understand why some people don`t recognise just what a woeful side we had. They over-performed like crazy. I`m very proud to have supported them, actually.

 

[Suitman]

I`m very proud to have supported them, actually.

Considering the pain they put us through with all those close losses, so was I.

Suity

 

[Tyler Durden]

Q: What's the definition of an optimist ?
A: Parramatta coach with a 3-year plan.

 

[lingard]

Are these the same experts that change their opinion depending on their current agenda?

It's funny how people bag people in the media constantly, only to then use them to try and prove their arguement.

I get that our roster wasn't the best but I can't cop that it was the worst either! It seems to make people feel good to think it though, then they get to use that as an excuse to talk up how great the coach must be for us to just avoid the spoon.......

How about we all just accept this year as a write off for many reasons and stop making excuses just to defend the coach and then further to that, attack other posters for having the audacity to question the coach!

I think people have a right to not be 100% confident on a rookie coach, he now has the systems he wants in place, new players and a respected recruitment guy, so the last piece is his execution. Imo there is a lot of pressure on him because barring a massive injury toll, he will now be expected to perform.

I look forward to next year, lots of things to be excited about but it doesn't mean I can't be weary of the possibility that we may not live up to the promise.........it has happened too many times before!!!

Firstly, name the players in our side who would automatically get a first grade spot in another NRL side. (I reckon Hayne, Mannah, Hindmarsh, Maitua, Moi Moi, Ben Smith, Shackleton, Algood and Horo.) How many of our 'spine' would play first grade elsewhere? One. Hayne. I say we had the worst squad in the league.
I thoroughyl agree with you on the coach. I think he was able to get the players heads in the right place most of the time, but when it comes to tactics, game-plans, etc; there is enough evidence to suggest that he might have a long way to go. I think nobody could do anything but guess what sort of coach he`ll turn out to be with a decent squad.

 

[lingard]

Here here. Very good post.



Last year's squad still had 10 players who'd either played SOO or Test level rugbye league, albeit some of them a long time ago. It was a weak squad compared to others in the competition but far from as bad as people are saying. You'd think we fielded a reserve grade side this year the way people describe it. There have been some Souths, Cowboys, Sharks and Raiders sides this past decade which were far worse on paper than our 2011 squad.

No one said it was the worst side in history - just the worst side in 2011.

 

[lingard]

Our strengths were as strong as any other club, which is why we're a good chance next year.

What let us down was our weaknesses - our halves and outside backs. As they say, you're only as strong as your weakest link, and for us this year our weakest link was weaker than any other team's.

That's why we had a weaker team, despite whatever strengths we might have had.

I think our weaknesses were just as strong as any other ........ no, what I mean is, if the other teams strengths had been weaker than our weaknesses, we .......... if the strength of our weakness was stronger than the weakness of our ......... I`ll get back to you.

 

[lingard]

True although with 47 years of rugby league fandom behind him how could we possibly dispute his infinite knowledge?

When you`ve followed this team for 47 years (that only makes me 56, by the way), I hope nobody takes the piss out of you for it.

 

[Haynzy]

I think Canberra were the worst squad for most of the season.

 

[TheParraboy]

I think Manly were worse

 

[MrT]

Okay; it`s generally accepted these days that to be competitive a team needs a good 'spine'. Our spine consisted of one player - Jarryd Hayne at fullback. And, later, Jarryd Hayne at five-eight. Our other 'spine' players were: Jeff Robson, Casey McGuire, Daniel Mortimer and Matt Keating. The first three wouldn`t play first grade in any other NRL team, and Keating is solid at best and might or might not get a gig elsewhere. Our 'spine' was our main problem, but add to that the fact that we played guys like Atkins, Chris Walker, and Morgan in the backs (players who would also be very lucky to get a first grade spot anywhere else), and I just can`t understand why some people don`t recognise just what a woeful side we had. They over-performed like crazy. I`m very proud to have supported them, actually.

Couldn't have put it better myself. There is no doubt that we had the weakest team in 2011 for the reasons you stated above

 

[Eels Dude]

I think Canberra were the worst squad for most of the season.

I think Cronulla's squad was worse too. Our forward packs were about the same level, but their halves and outside backs were weaker than ours. At least we had one star in our spine... they had none.

Also in regards to the weakness of our squad, it certainly didn't help releasing a total of 8 contracted players for the 2011 season either mid season or in the last off season. You can't blame the previous coaching staff or previous admin for that. And then people use the excuse we struggled this year because we were forced to play blokes out of position.

 

[Eels Dude]

Firstly, name the players in our side who would automatically get a first grade spot in another NRL side. (I reckon Hayne, Mannah, Hindmarsh, Maitua, Moi Moi, Ben Smith, Shackleton, Algood and Horo.) How many of our 'spine' would play first grade elsewhere? One. Hayne. I say we had the worst squad in the league.

It depends which way you look at it. Most of the Storm's 2011 forward pack wouldn't crack a first grade spot at Parramatta so that's where the hypothetical fails. Even our s**thouse halves have both picked up NRL contracts next year and will no doubt see some first grade. Other discards like Reddy and Humble will be the same. On the other end, only two of our signings for next year were guarenteed first grade spots at their 2011 clubs, being Sandow and Willie Tonga... our remaining 2012 signings are fringe first graders who've spent the past couple of years hovering between first grade and reserve grade so they're really at the same level as the players you're speaking of.

 

[BigErn]

Cronulla was definitely weaker than us this year.

Souths, with all their injuries, were probably also weaker. They played most of the season without a forward pack.

I'll admit we had a terrible squad though. What will really bug me though, is if these supposed 'starters-cum-backups' as Poupou puts it stay as starters this year.
Case-in-point: Taniela Lasalo. You all defended Kearney last year saying that he was forced to play Ben Smith and Horo in the centres. I pose this to you. With our supposed outside back problems fixed for next year, where does Taniela Lasalo fit in. If he honestly eeks his way into the team ahead of:

Hindmarsh
Horo
Smith
Maitua
Shackleton
Allgood

I'll do my 'nana

Last year he was given first crack at the second row spot. That was before our worries in the outside backs. I hope that the buck stops this year. I really do

 

[Bigfella]

That doesnt really make any sense to me