R1 Team V Canberra

[ACTPanthers]

I'm prepared to wait & see for at least a month.This squad needs at least that much time to find it's feet.I think we will get a win,which I think we really will do being that we weren't all that bad against a Parra side that were highly impressive.

Anyone remember the impressive 1st half until the dropsies absolutely killed us off?

Parra have a squad that everyone is lauding,yet this thread is talking our own down like we haven't got a hope in hell.

Lets see how we go against the Raiders before going the usual "hate our own team just for the sake of it " routine.

I'm confident of getting all 5 grades this Saturday...jump on board if you want.

Hate?! What, in the lords name, are you talking about? I'm pretty sure no-one here hates our team - Some people have opinions, and feel strongly about them, but I'd seriously doubt they hate the team. They are pointing out glaringly obvious flaws in our side, I see nothing wrong with that.

People are being realistic, rather than expecting a win and being utterly disappointed when it doesn't happen... Blind optimism is great if it works for you, but I don't envy the fall from elation you may well have...

 

[betcats]

It was a bit of an overreaction from a few us(myself being one) but seriously as a fan of this club you learn to be pessimistic. Griffin doesn't come to us as a proven coach with a great track record, he has a record of confusing selections and mediocrity so I am finding it hard to be optimistic.

Gus has said they haven't done anything to review or improve our strength and condition or medical staff and look how the season has started, probably our best two players are injured plus four or five others. The Moylan injury was 100 percent piss poor management, why on earth would we play him in the parra trial when he got injured the week before?

Can you imagine the broncos, or the roosters or the bulldogs copping the injury toll we have had for the last 5 years or more and still sit there talking about luck? It is f**king ridiculous to not even look into what we could be doing better.

 

[TheFrog]

Soward and Wallace are not good enough. Period. Signing Wallace was our biggest mistake since Gould came back, in my opinion.

Considering he (and Soward) was signed at the same time Austin was shown the door, its hard to argue with that. But you are not to know a bloke is going to injure both his knees in successive seasons.

And obviously they weren't to know Austin would be a gun within 12 months.

 

[umina panther]

Almost everyone knew Austin should have been playing ahead of Luke Walsh. Ivan gave him one real chance in a game where a red hot JT and the Cows tore us apart in the first 30mins....then he was never given another chance and we went back to Walsh plodding

 

[pantherpuddy]

Does anyone remember what Griffin did when he named his team at the broncos every week. Does he usually stick with the 17 named or does he have a habit of changing the team named before kick off. Just wondering if the team named will really be the team that runs out on saturday

 

[Kilkenny]

Jamie Soward was a 'marquee' signing for want of a better term and was outstanding for us in his first season but injury plagued for season two. Another less than stellar season and he is most likely to retire and take up coaching position on offer from the club.

Peter Wallace was a 'stop gap' signing until either we brought someone thru from our junior ranks or were able to recruit a quality half/five eighth. TMM has been signed and will no doubt get his chance at some stage this season. Hopefully in time young Cleary might develop into NRL standard player, time will tell.

Wallace and Soward had to get the gig against the Raiders and TMM will undoubtedly get his chance whether thru injury or hopefully outstanding form in NSW Cup.

I have no issues with the coaches selections for the 1 thru 5. I think he just fitted in the best five fit and available players. Will Smith won't let us down in the number 1 he has shown he is capable in the position and is capable of being very dangerous with his speed and elusiveness.

As for the forwards, again the coach has gone with the best players fit and available and accommodated them into the 17. I have no doubt Latu will come in to the side once fully fit he is an emerging talent and will only get better. Likewise JFH will be a regular first grader at some stage during this season, enormous talent so his time will come.

I can't see what all the fuss is about, the coach has selected what he considers to be the best 17 players available and worked the side around those players.

 

[hindy111]

Does anyone remember what Griffin did when he named his team at the broncos every week. Does he usually stick with the 17 named or does he have a habit of changing the team named before kick off. Just wondering if the team named will really be the team that runs out on saturday

Sure - He brought Ben Hunt into first grade. Many doubted him.Many said Hunt is useless.But he gave him time off the bench. He took over at brisbane in a time of transition and copped a hard time.
He actually was the one who showed Wallace the door for a young Hunt.

Then everyone comes along and says Bennet turned them from just a top 8 side to almost premiers. He also added Milford who was one of their top 3 players and Darius boyd who is an Australian player. Add to the fact that guys like Hunt matured along with some of the other young juniors bought into grade.

The same thing is happening at Parra. BA is a good coach but he took over the team with a few good young juniors coming thru and more money to spend on the cap along with the addition of Norman + peats. Many bag RS saying he got us the spoon.

No offense to Cleary, but he had penrith playing Boring football and went sideways to often. I reckon Griffin will go good. Give him a chance!

 

[Pomoz]

Sure - He brought Ben Hunt into first grade. Many doubted him.Many said Hunt is useless.But he gave him time off the bench. He took over at brisbane in a time of transition and copped a hard time.
He actually was the one who showed Wallace the door for a young Hunt.

Then everyone comes along and says Bennet turned them from just a top 8 side to almost premiers. He also added Milford who was one of their top 3 players and Darius boyd who is an Australian player. Add to the fact that guys like Hunt matured along with some of the other young juniors bought into grade.

The same thing is happening at Parra. BA is a good coach but he took over the team with a few good young juniors coming thru and more money to spend on the cap along with the addition of Norman + peats. Many bag RS saying he got us the spoon.

No offense to Cleary, but he had penrith playing Boring football and went sideways to often. I reckon Griffin will go good. Give him a chance!

A sensible measured reply Hindy111. Cleary had some good qualities and certainly set higher standards than Elliot. However, I couldn't honestly say we played scintillating football under him. As for Bennet, he was unable to get the Knights to a GF in one year, but did it at the Broncos. Griffin left him a really good side that just needed a bit of stardust from Boyd and Milford and they were able to come second, no mean feat. If Griffin had Milford and Boyd, what would he have done?

You are spot on with RS. What a complete pile of crap he inherited. Also had to deal with an unstable back office. He did the hard yards and started the clear out that has set you up nicely for this year. You just need luck with injuries.

 

[Pomoz]

Mckendry was never the same after his neck injury. Grant I don't know, it seemed more like a personality clash with Cleary.

I agree re McKendry, but he was never as good as Tim. So Tim got to play under a new coach, what happened at Souths?

 

[TeamSatan]

No courage showed in selecting this team.

Smith is reserve grade standard and should be there.
Naden is looking more like a first grader. Young but be brave and pick him.

Halves are old. Wallace should be captain of reserve grade and used only in emergencies.
Soward to half and TMM at 5/8. That is the future. Courage needed.

Back row is really good. ET for defence over Yeo probably.

Front row lacks intensity. Need a crazy big mean prop. Just dont have one.

Anyone who thinks Garcia should be in firsts needs medical treatment.
Deadset massey cup player at best.

Be better with moylan whare and latu of course. Latu is the full hearted strongman we need. Really underestimated player.

Raiders at home with the 50/50 going their way and our team looking patchy means we lose.
Unless Carty or Merrin just carve up and be our match winners.

Go Panthers.

 

[Kilkenny]

Given those players unavailable the more I look at the side the more I am convinced it is the best available for Round 1.

When you sit back and take stock and look at the fact we have Moylan, Whare, TMM, Latu, JFH, Kikau (and others) who will automatically come back in or will be putting pressure on those selected for round 1 it is not all doom and gloom.

The Raiders will be hard to beat, but are beatable provided me maximise our completion rates and do not turn the ball over cheaply in our own end. It's that simple.

I look at the two sides on paper and do not see there 17 being any better than ours and the provided we can play somewhere near our best I see no reason why we can't come away with a positive result.

 

[maple_69]

First round is a complete crap shoot. We have every chance of winning.
With Latu, Moylan and Whare back we will get a clear idea of what Griffin is thinking as he'll have the flexibility to making big changes without seriously weakening another position.

 

[mxlegend99]

First round is a complete crap shoot. We have every chance of winning.
With Latu, Moylan and Whare back we will get a clear idea of what Griffin is thinking as he'll have the flexibility to making big changes without seriously weakening another position.

Those 3 replace Mckendry, Smith and Blake straight up. Griffin already tipped his hand:

Mckendry in NSW Cup for battle of the west. Hes at the bottom of our 5 props
Smith is obviously just a backup for Moylan
Whare is a certainty at full strength and Griffin already said he would wait and see how Whare was doing before Blake was picked

Big changes aren't happening. Griffin blooded Ben Hunt off the bench for ages before dropping Wallace for him. I think like Cleary injuries are the only way he will make big calls early.

 

[Exsilium]

So the halves aren't good enough, the coaching staff have less idea about player form then LU contributors, our injury toll is somehow etched into the very culture of our club, the team selections have divided the people and Will Smith is the worst player in the WORLD, like omg!

that is what I've picked up from this thread.

Quick light your torches, grab everyone we can and let's storm pepper stadium on Monday if we lose. If we win just wait till we lose then we will show them how to run a football club properly!

f**k me, I think we will miss the 8 but at least I'm prepared to see the season through before I start bitching. It's round ONE for f**ks sake. I am quite happy with that side considering the injuries.

FWIW DWZ isn't ready to be running the kilometres expected of him at fullback, not so soon after his lung issues. The kid said it himself, he's working on his fitness and breathing. Give it time.

f**k I hope will smith has a blinder just to listen to the whinging.

 

[Kilkenny]

So the halves aren't good enough, the coaching staff have less idea about player form then LU contributors, our injury toll is somehow etched into the very culture of our club, the team selections have divided the people and Will Smith is the worst player in the WORLD, like omg!

that is what I've picked up from this thread.

Quick light your torches, grab everyone we can and let's storm pepper stadium on Monday if we lose. If we win just wait till we lose then we will show them how to run a football club properly!

f**k me, I think we will miss the 8 but at least I'm prepared to see the season through before I start bitching. It's round ONE for f**ks sake. I am quite happy with that side considering the injuries.

FWIW DWZ isn't ready to be running the kilometres expected of him at fullback, not so soon after his lung issues. The kid said it himself, he's working on his fitness and breathing. Give it time.

f**k I hope will smith has a blinder just to listen to the whinging.

Agree 100%.

 

[betcats]

If Dallin isn't ready to play FB should he even be playing? Sounds like another serious injury waiting to happen.

 

[franklin2323]

When have we ever taken the field with 17 that's named on Tuesday? RCG has had no footy. So many start off the bench yet. JFH 18th man may start.

I think this is the pack that will start:

McKendry
Seg
Merrin
Cartwright
Yeo
Taylor:

Matagi
Peachey
RCG
Latimore

That will do a decent job on what looks an underdone Canberra side on a warm day

 

[franklin2323]

I agree re McKendry, but he was never as good as Tim. So Tim got to play under a new coach, what happened at Souths?

Used poorly. Grant is hopeless off the bench. He starts or shouldn't play

 

[betcats]

IMO Timmy just seems to slow and lumbering. He cant wind up before the defence is on him. Wasn't a big deal when he was younger but as he got older and bigger his stone feet started to show. Didn't he get benched as a result of telling the coach to f**k off or something like that?

 

[goosie]

I think Griffin has chosen the best available team and looking forward to the game . Cheers Guys!