I think some of the comments we have are a cut and paste job from August 2002 and August 2003. Calling for a top 4 finish as the expected benchmark is understandable, but wasn't that the benchmark we have set, and failed to reach, in the last 3 seasons? Yet we still give Smithy go after go.
At the moment, and untill we have some substance with our performances in 2005, it is all on paper. On paper, we have the side to win the comp. BUt on paper, we have not a lot differen than 2004, save for the added backrow experience of Morrison, and the wonderful character of Ridell. Otherwise, Tahu replaces Lyon, Marsh replaces Dykes, and Stringer replaces the reem of also rans that have slotted in front row somewhere over the last 3 years. Blokes like Sullivan, Heckenberg, Pearson, Peek, Armit. The third decent fropnt rower that we have never had since Mark Tookey left.
As I see it, 2004 was a let down. There were so many games that we could have won had coaching issues not clouded the mix. There were some games that we were never going to win, like Canterbury, Saints, Wests at Leichhardt, Canberra in Canberra. Cronulla was the sad fluke, Brisbane and Newcastle were the fortunate games. Souths and the second Manly games were the gifts we took, and the first game v Sydney was a gift from God.
Yet we scarificed many games due to crazy selections, mainly revolving around the scrumbase. Last year's resonably sucessful Witt/Dykes combo was never capitalised on. The reason was the development of the Witt/Thorman combo - first seen on the 4th last round of the season. It actualy produced our finest form since the opening rounds, but inexplicably was in tatters after a series of blunders after 75 minutes v Penrith. The early rounds sucess was largely down to the brilliant early form of Adam Dykes and his combination with Eric Grothe Jnr.
Basically, luck favoued us when:
We struck Brisbane sadly lacking in form in round 2,
Joey Johns did his ankle in round 3,
We played a buggered post Origin Easts,
Penrith slept for the first 5 minutes in Round 25
Luck deserted us when:
Fulltime blew during the home game v Cronulla,
The second game v Melbourne,
Adam Dykes and Eric Grothe got injured.
The rest of it was the club's own doing.
So, to '05.
What has changed? Well, there are a few more big names at the club. For the first time sonce 1996, we have purchased The Big 4. Timana Tahu (test regular, GF match winner), is the big buy. He's our bigest buy since Jason SMith, but he replaces another big name, Jamie Lyon. Glenn Morrison, a long term gun backrower who left Balmain gutted when he joined Norths, and similarly left Norths and the Cowboys gutted as he moved on. Mark Ridell, Saints biggest loss in a decade (bar maybe Mundine), and a potential Test hooker (and Parra's first forward goalkiker ever???). Finally, PJ Marsh, the brilliant second string hooker from 2001, returns with another GF medallion, a few Origin jumpers, and a broken neck!
Injuries, so often quotes as a key excuse of the last few years, is still with us. Eric Grothe has never had an injury free season. Nathan Cayless has spent much of the last 2 seasons injured. Of the imports, only Paul Stringer and Chad Robinson will come injury free. DEspite the euphoria of our signings, we must SURELY expect at least one of them to suffer from injury in 2005.
In the end, it still comes down to coaching.
I won't get excited until Brian SMith is no longer first grade coach. While he is with us, we will not even make the top 8, let alone the top 4!
