Parramatta may be lucky to make the 8 next year

[Stagger eel]

I agree with Mark,

I think at the end of the day, baring another horific injury toll we are at the very least a 20 to 30% better team with the additions on board, this will assure us a top 8 spot.

the reasons for this are

1] the recruitment of not only great players but players who have relished in big time football.

2] the devolopment of Mateo and Ben Smith who will figure strongly in the top 25

3] the anticipation of Peranara playing in the tri series, this will only be a great benefit to him and the club.

4] Cayless and Cannings can almost count as recruits as they hardly figured this year.

5] Our 2 most experianced clubman [Hindy and Caylo] have had their futures assured and can concentrate in achieving their real goals, a premiership win.

Mark also left out a number of players who could also figure strongly next year.

Peranara brothers
Ian Henderson
Daniel Backo
Hauraki
Josh Davis
Taia Brothers.
Josh Corboda

the above could be considered dark horses in the top 25 , and all we might is maybe 1 or 2 of them to turn into a SBW or KMH and we have the makings of a great, great team.

 

[Jake the snake]

I don't think Witt will be playing halfback next year.

 

[True EEL]

Mark in the stands

explain to me how our season's top tryscorer, Matt Peterson ends up starting the year in PL and what Luke O'Dwyer has done to deserve to be 'starting at lock' next year???? honestly????

and good post Ron and i agree and said similar things a while back and even thought the rumour about Owen Craigie could be alright if he was being bought to play in the centres to bolster the playing strength for the outside backs

and although i do agree to an extent about Ash Graham and his ball skills and passing game, he needs some time to get his game and confidence back and i expect 6. Morris and 7. Marsh next year with marcus Perenara and of course Witt and Tim Smith putting pressure on them in the halves and i think that Josh Davis may well be in first grade quite early.....who knows with a bit of luck perhaps he could be our version or the 2005 version of Sonny-Bill......i mean had anyone outside of Canterbury really heard of him at this stage last year????

but otherwise some people do have some funny ideas about who should be playing and who shouldn't......depending on all the usual things and mainly who is coach i think the starting squad will be something along the lines of this next season, chosen on form, ability, experience and talent and pecking order.....

1. McKinnon
2. Peterson
3. Burt
4. Tahu
5. Grothe
6. Morris
7. Marsh
13. Wagon
12. Morrison
11. Hindmarsh
10. Vella
9. Riddell
8. Cayless (c)

14. ???
15. Widders
16. Robinson
17. Cannings
18. Stringer

who knows about the no: 14, but all i know is that we need a utility/hooker player to come on for Riddell, there is no future in swapping one of your halves there halfway through the game

personally i would like to see Lee Hopkins retained (if he hasn't already been brushed) as he is one of the most versatile players in the club and proved late this year he can play hooker/dummy-half and can create things from there as well, however, perhaps Marcu Perenara may be given a chance there at leats to start with

and i know i have criticised Vella and he will be lucky to retain his starting spot, he is still the incumbent and both Cannings and Stringer are coming off injuries and may need time and anyway vella seems to be able to play in a good or performing pack or when Cayless plays with him, so lets hope both of those things happen next year...........thats my two cents worth

 

[Stagger eel]

Craigie won't be at the club next year.

 

[True EEL]

well i did say it was a rumour......

 

[MarkInTheStands]

True Eel,

Luke O'Dwyer at the start of this year put his Body on the line and was a rising star at our club; I think he will continue that. As for Petersen, his attack is great, no doubt but the wingers will always be the top try scores, and I rate Burt's Versatility and Grothe’s Strength and Speed over Petersen’s ability to finish.

As for Marsh, you want to rush him back into the 7, he hasn't played 7 for a while, I think the last time he was in the 7 shirt for more that one game was Parramatta premier league.

 

[Stagger eel]

well i did say it was a rumour......

yes I know!

but I can confirm that's no longer a rumour and a fact that he won't be at the club next year.

source: Smithy after the reggies semi at Leichhardt.

 

[True EEL]

ok thanks

and so did Smithy share any other gems with you on the day about anything else???

 

[Stagger eel]

I'm sure Luke is 24 years of age which is hardly a rising star age, he definetly has a great deal of potential, however next year will be make or break for Luke.

 

[Stagger eel]

ok thanks

and so did Smithy share any other gems with you on the day about anything else???

no, it wasn't me that he spoke to. if it was me, he would still be at Leichhardt answering questions.

 

[The Colonel]

I'm sure Luke is 24 years of age which is hardly a rising star age, he definetly has a great deal of potential, however next year will be make or break for Luke.

Luke is only 21

30/1/1983

;-)

 

[Stagger eel]

I'm sure Luke is 24 years of age which is hardly a rising star age, he definetly has a great deal of potential, however next year will be make or break for Luke.

Luke is only 21

30/1/1983

;-)

ok!

I take that back.

the kid's a rising star! ;-)

 

[Pazza]

Looks to much like the Same old same old True eel. Vella has been under performing for years now. Something has to be done. I wouldn't mind having Wagon in the pack if we had O'merley and Price as front rowers. Parramatta just doesnt have that work ethic in the forward pack. To many times backs are taking dumb half runs during the opening 20 minutes when guys like Vella and Wagon stand in the background doing jack all. If your not keen to work hard in gaining ground than you have no place in the starting pack.

LOVE your team MITS. Part from O'Dwyer, i'd drop him, putting Robinson in the number 8, Cayless in the 12, Morrsion in the 13 and Tsoulos/Stringer in the 15.

 

[True EEL]

i'm not writing Luke O'Dwyer off and have nothing against him and think he does have talent......however, he neds to prove more of that talent as far as i am concerned before he is handed a starting spot

he was filling in for injuries every time he played last year, let him prove himself first and also see my post about lock and backrow in the Morrison effort against the Roosters thread...........

 

[True EEL]

and as far as Peterson goes, i think Wagon will still be at lock, even though he could be handy still in the centres, which leaves the pecking order in the backs as McKinnon, Peterson, Burt, Tahu, Grothe

and PJ will be the halfback at the start of next year, its so clear that is the plan
and if not he will be 5/8.......and he won't be being rushed back, he will be training his guts out all off-season and is already training and will play in all the trials

and Parra did not buy him back and he did not come back just to play on the bench as second fiddle to Riddell after doing what he did for the Warriors and QLD????? think about it

and ok, the time-frame was much greater, but look at Glenn Morrison.....how is he going for coming off a neck injury and he is playing in the forwards

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Morrison is going well and I can't dowbut that , but he has also not had 2 operations and 18 months of, he had 1 operation and something like 15 weeks off. Either way Morrison is starting from the Bench (or did) in the last 4 games for the cowboys.

 

[Stagger eel]

1 thing that hasn't been talked about and is definetly in our favour is the fact that this is a contract year for Wags, Vella and Morris.

These three need to have a big year to earn anywhere near what their on now especially with Vella and Morris who both had a Mediocre season at best.

I reckon there's atleast 500K there alone!

 

[True EEL]

the only reason Morrison was starting from the bench was.....

because Graham Murray made the correct decission not to take away starting positions from the blokes like Steve Southern and Luke O'Donnell (for Morrison) that got the team to where they were in the absence of Morrison......

however, you can tell the regard he is held in and the confidence they had in his form and health/fitness in the minutes he played throughout the finals and the early entry he had into the games and the fact that they even played him in the front row for most of the game against the Broncos or Bulldogs.....

i would ahve thought that cosmetic and loyal (to the players mentioned for their effort throughout the season) move would have been obvious to most people???

anyway, i think PJ will be fine, of course i don't want to see him risked and be injured again, i'm not stupid, its just that i'm sure he himself, his doctors and Parramatta are not supid either....they will not play him or advertise that he will be playing if he is not right.....

 

[MarkInTheStands]

I am not saying he will not be right, but I don't think he will be Match fit, that is why to start the year I see him being an impact hooker off the Bench

 

[Utey]

This is a very logical discussion and everybody has their own good points. However we have to admit our recruitment drive is pretty damn good this year. I would like to see a halves comination gel right from the beginning of the trials. I believe without a doubt that we have the potential to be a top 4 side but if we can live up to it would be very intresting. 2005 leaves a lot to be desired.