Our weakness

[Life's Good]

Our mental strength and resilience as a team. The best thing Wayne Bennett did was make us believe we could win even if we were behind on the score board

Well said.

 

[emack]

Just read the heading to this thread and thought it was another Paul McGregor thread..................well the title does describe him perfectly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Crush]

Our mental strength and resilience as a team. The best thing Wayne Bennett did was make us believe we could win even if we were behind on the score board

I agree with this 100%.
I think the addition of Graham will help build belief and resilience. He is a true leader.

 

[MrDragon007]

Sentimental poppycock
Used by date well and truly up

Yet he is still being picked in the New Zealand rep team, scoring tries, and playing well....
That in itself says he may still have a bit to offer.
I feel more assured when experts ( Rep selectors) still believe a player still has something to offer on the representative level.
And lets be honest, its not like there are no young speedy options for the wing spots in the kiwi rep team. Yet Nighty still got himself the wing spot.

 

[MILEY CYRUS]

The Cowboys made the grand final with slow blokes like Linnett, Winterstein and Coote in the backline.

Sack McGregor

Winterstein was a burden during the finals. Linnett was bog average.

 

[grouch]

Winterstein was a burden during the finals. Linnett was bog average.

I agree. This proves my point!
A lack of classy speedmen didn't prevent them reaching the grand final.

Blaming ours is an excuse
Blame the coach

 

[Old Timer]

Yet he is still being picked in the New Zealand rep team, scoring tries, and playing well....
That in itself says he may still have a bit to offer.
I feel more assured when experts ( Rep selectors) still believe a player still has something to offer on the representative level.
And lets be honest, its not like there are no young speedy options for the wing spots in the kiwi rep team. Yet Nighty still got himself the wing spot.

I don't give a shit what the Kiwis do with their side and their coach is a gronk anyway.
If you have faith in rep selectors then you must be happy with Pearce, Woods, Hayne all playing for NSW SOO then?
IMO we need strike wingers who can score a 50m if not a 75m try on a repetitive basis and Flo can't do that.
So IMO we have limited strike power and can only attack with our wingers within 20 m of the opposition line and even then most of the time we are forced to make Widdop kick to that side and that further limits us and if the kick goes pear shape Flo could never catch anyone making a break.
Would you swap Flo for Cottric, Rapana, Mitchell, Radradra but to name a few?

 

[Qdf]

Hazz....read an article today where Daniel Topau from the Roosters had a great deal of respect for SBW when he played for them and really gave him a lot of confidence and Sonny got on to him when he happened to slacken off so to speak.....maybe Graham can do the same fof Nene who like you say needs a bomb under him .....I havnt written McDonald off just yet but like Tru Saint said was a disappointment in 2017...I personally think hes got the abilty but he goes missing during games, and his sense of urgency is almost non existent at times....actually at times he reminds me of a young Justin Hodges

That's because he isn't using his skills correctly.
Dumb shite Mary wants him to run the ball up as an extra forward..

 

[Qdf]

Go to bed.

You ,...fellow dragonfan are a real idiot.

 

[MrDragon007]

I don't give a shit what the Kiwis do with their side and their coach is a gronk anyway.
If you have faith in rep selectors then you must be happy with Pearce, Woods, Hayne all playing for NSW SOO then?
IMO we need strike wingers who can score a 50m if not a 75m try on a repetitive basis and Flo can't do that.
So IMO we have limited strike power and can only attack with our wingers within 20 m of the opposition line and even then most of the time we are forced to make Widdop kick to that side and that further limits us and if the kick goes pear shape Flo could never catch anyone making a break.
Would you swap Flo for Cottric, Rapana, Mitchell, Radradra but to name a few?

Yes i would, And id also swap Hunt for Thurston, and Dufty for slater, and AhMau for Klemmer, and so on and so on.
That has absolutely nothing to do with anything.
Does that mean im upset we have them, hell no! Im wrapped with the team we have.
Are there faster wingers out there then Flo? F#@king oath there is, but how many of those you mentioned can slot into fullback (like Flo did numerous times in 2017) and deliver the games he did?
He is safer then a brick house under the high ball, can tackle one on one, and can score flashy tries like all those you mentioned (all be it from closer range).
His main fault is his speed.
We have youngsters that can step in if it gets that bad.
As for the SOO players you mentioned, Hayne is a flop, but for some reason is known to perform in the big games, Pearce has failed at SOO but isnt a bad club Half, and NSW isnt exactly bursting at the seams with rep halfbacks, and Woods, he has a motor, might not be barnstorming and rampaging but he churns out the minutes and makes the metres.
A wingers reuirement is more then just running 75 metres to score, Flo lacks in some areas, but excels in others....
What you see as an important requirement for a winger differs from what i see, each to there own.

 

[jak]

Yes i would, And id also swap Hunt for Thurston, and Dufty for slater, and AhMau for Klemmer, and so on and so on.
That has absolutely nothing to do with anything.
Does that mean im upset we have them, hell no! Im wrapped with the team we have.
Are there faster wingers out there then Flo? F#@king oath there is, but how many of those you mentioned can slot into fullback (like Flo did numerous times in 2017) and deliver the games he did?
He is safer then a brick house under the high ball, can tackle one on one, and can score flashy tries like all those you mentioned (all be it from closer range).
His main fault is his speed.
We have youngsters that can step in if it gets that bad.
As for the SOO players you mentioned, Hayne is a flop, but for some reason is known to perform in the big games, Pearce has failed at SOO but isnt a bad club Half, and NSW isnt exactly bursting at the seams with rep halfbacks, and Woods, he has a motor, might not be barnstorming and rampaging but he churns out the minutes and makes the metres.
A wingers reuirement is more then just running 75 metres to score, Flo lacks in some areas, but excels in others....
What you see as an important requirement for a winger differs from what i see, each to there own.

well put sir.

 

[MILEY CYRUS]

Yes i would, And id also swap Hunt for Thurston, and Dufty for slater, and AhMau for Klemmer, and so on and so on.

Thurston should have retired after the GF win. He is on his last legs. Wasn't even a top 5 player in the GF. Jake Granville carried him to a Clive Churchill.

 

[possm]

In my opinion we have the cattle and it would only take one good off-season WITH A GOOD COACH to sort our the problems in our backline. From what I see:

1. The performance of Dufty can be improved during the off-season with body shaping and combination work with his halves and forwards. He has to be allowed to play his natural game.

2. Mann has the speed and skills to match it with any left winger in the competition.

3. Aitken has had his problems at right centre. What was his strength when he first made his way to the 3 jumper - his defence - now seems to be his biggest problem. I am sure the instructions and game plan he has been given to follow heavily contribute to this problem. Having said this, Aitken also has a big problem under the high ball and with his lateral defence. More and more I see him best suited as a lock forward. Lomax is now in the top 30 and is rapidly improving his game. On first look, he definitely seems to have the goods and sod if he continues his progress in the off-season, I believe he will be the first choice replacement for Aitken as we move towards mid-season.
4. I would have preferred Jimmy the Jet over Lafai but that is history. I'd say that Lafai will ware the 4 jumper all season baring injury.

5. Our right edge defence has been our worst nightmare. If Nightingale is to hold onto the 5 jumper, Mary just cannot employ the compressed defence structure. Unfortunately Nightingale no longer has the speed to recover from a long ball or a wide kick. My thoughts are that Nightingale will start at 5 but will lose his spot to a quick young winger before mid-season.