Looking to 2006

[ghoti]

After that game, I'm confident of a solid showing for next year for a few reasons.

Galloway..........GONE!

Mellor................GONE!

Sullivan..............GONE!

It's great to get those three the f**k away from our side. Bring on Ross/Mapp, Pomeroy and Latu to replace those three. Remove Peach (who, unfortunately, is past it) and Stevo (still great, but can't last for long enough anymore...injuries are catching up with him) and we're looking like a good, strong young side with plenty of enthusiasm and the key point we've been missing for the past few years...DEPTH! Look at our forward options alone:

Ross, Kingston, Nutley, Maiva, Leuluai, Williams, Mapp, Pomeroy, Hilder, Manua, Latu, Mapp, Ciraldo(?), Bailey, Gallen...and I'm sure I've missed out on some.

Add to that full off-seasons training with the first grade side full-time for Kingston, Manua and Scott and we're looking at a very solid first grade side across the park...then insert Albert and possibly Greenshields and we're looking at a very good side for next year.

I'm salivating at the prospects of the season ahead.

 

[lotti]

Peachey off to England, Stevens gone somewhere.

 

[ghoti]

Yes...I know that...hence "Remove Peach...and Stevo."

 

[amzz]

looks bright!

 

[ink]

Heeee......Who'd wish to play for the Sharks, with supporters like you fellows.

 

[Foz]

Dont know if its been mentioned but Albert got injured the other day/night.
Could of been a fractured cheekbone or something similar.

 

[General E. Injured]

not sure if i'd want greenshields after our two games vs dragons. serious problems at catching. good runner though.

 

[MrSharky]

Next year we will see almost a completely new side... with the departures of stalwarts Stevo and Peach...

So far our best option, would be to play:

1. Fullback is tough: Brown? Albert? Greenshields?? Anyone but Simmons...
2. Albert
3. Vagana
4. Scott
5. Covell... Pelo maybe? McGoldrick?
6. Dykes
7. Kimmorley (c)
8. Ross
9. Kingston
10. Nutley
11. Gallen
12. Bailey
13. Hilder

14. Mapp
15. Pomeroy
16. Williams
17. Latu? Ciraldo? Manua? Leuluai?...

But the problem isn't with personnel... we certainly have enough quality footballers to be true contenders...

The problem is the coaching and the strategy...

And Raper, along with his coaching staff and the board are to blame...

We should be a more professional outfit... We lack discipline, we have idiots like Bailey who ejaculate in front of the media crying "top 4", "premiers"...

Training for '06 starts now...

We need an overhaul in defence... the commitment was there last night, but it was so obvious as to where we were being outplayed so comprehensively...

We also need a massive change in our attacking structure... With the amount of pressure we put on in that first half (5 repeat sets)... we only went into the break leading by 2... It should have been 18-4, if not 24-4... no excuses...

I don't know how many times I have to say this, but the only way to really work the opposing defence is with ball movement, and constant building of pressure....

We have great passers of the ball in Noddy and Dykes, and we also have the class of Vagana, and an up and coming centre in Scott... Next year I wanna see these guys at their best...

Which means standing deeper... enough of this flat line, short-ball bullsh*t that Noddy and Raper keep sprouting...

We need angled runners, decoys, players in motion, numbers in sets, and all the like... to be able to attack properly...

We need wide-running, hole-hitting backrowers at full-burst with support on both their in and out-sides...

We need to shaft the one-out from the ruck bullsh*t when we are hitting it up and learn how to spread the ball through 2, maybe 3 sets of hands to work our way upfield...

We need Noddy to learn how to adjust his kicking game to certain situations... We also need Dykes to be helping him....

The chase should be full-pelt from the 1st to the 80th minute...

And there are also problems with the players' attributes...

Size, Strength, Fitness, Stamina, Speed... We are lacking in all these departments...

We have been constantly out-muscled for 3 years straight...

The players were spent after only 60 minutes last night (except Nutley)...

We have little speed in the backline (Brown, Albert, Greenshields etc will help that)...

Compare that to the drags... who have such a monster backline behind an even bigger forward pack...

But this doesn't mean we need 17 Hutches... we need better strength and conditioning...

I was impressed with Elkin in the first-half of the year as our side was doing well, and showed all the goods in regards to fitness and stamina, and how we finished games...

BUT since then... well we all know the story...

All in all, next year has to be the year we really go for it, and go hard...

We should be playing with the same intensity we saw last night from Round 1 next year all the way to the GF; albeit with much better structure, strategy, and execution...

Next year is the year. It has to be. I'm excited...

 

[sydneysharkbrisbane68]

Here we go talking up the next year, like we do every year, since 67 and still nothing to show, head s must role when failure continues

 

[Special K]

Our squad looks better for next season than this year - but it depends on how our squad is used.

Will Raper pick the form players?
Will Raper blood new guys?
Will Raper make changes to the side when winning?

Finals football is good for our young blokes(Scott, Williams, Manua, Kingston) and will hopefully make them better players. Our squad is young next year but they'll have played a fair few games(compared to others their age - mostly due to them being thrown in the deep end by Opes) - which is a good thing.

 

[Dread]

I think the biggest question mark for next year sits on the fullback position. If we can work that out, then I give us some hope.

 

[SirShire]

Could Beau Scott go to fullback and the Pom to 3/4?

 

[Special K]

I think the biggest question mark is front row depth myself...

Just think if Price gets hurt around S.O.O time and we lose Ross AND Nuts... Hutch and who? uh oh! We need to unearth a angry prop - come on down Luke Harlen?

 

[chili pepper]

Prefer to see Scott remain in the centres.

 

[carinashark]

2006 will make or break Raper.
2004 = not much expected
2005 = final 8 finnish expected , bonus paid.
2006= top 4 finnish grand final apperance , bonus paid.
2007 = as above, bonus paid

 

[chili pepper]

I think the biggest question mark is front row depth myself...

Just think if Price gets hurt around S.O.O time and we lose Ross AND Nuts... Hutch and who? uh oh! We need to unearth a angry prop - come on down Luke Harlen?

As it was this year. What may have been last night ifwe had 1 more NRL standard prop

 

[Dread]

If Raper actually gives some of the young forwards in our ranks a crack, then I don't know if it will be that big a problem.

Of course, that's a big IF.

 

[ghoti]

Hutch, Manua, Williams, Mapp. We are a bit thin in the front row, but we won't be completely stuck.

 

[McLovin]

Cliff ran the ball well against the queens last night. A bit more ball security and he's a human wrecking ball. I loved his straight runs last night...

 

[Special K]

Manua and Mapp = not NRL standard props
Williams = back up prop at best, a backrower mostly
Hutch = Borderline NRL prop

More players will be added to that squad within the next few weeks, hopefully we'll sign some boppers... We will probably pick up another backrower(Raper loves them) and also once the flegg season ends you would think a few players would be picked up.

Greenshields really should be the target...