Raider chances of making the 8 in 2005

[God-King Dean]

I have heard on many ocassions Raider fans saying that their team will finish in the 8 next year, some evn saying that they will be in or around the top 4.

On the other hand, the majority of fans on the League Unlimited forum belief that Canberra will not make the 8, some even saying they'll take the spoon.

My question is, why do you believe (or don't believe) that your team will make the top 8 in 2005? Will/can they improve?

 

[Raider_69]

Yes, we will be in the top 8. If our team gels quickly and plays the attacking football we are capable of this year then we may find ourselves in the top 4. Snoppy Collins into an assisant coaching role will help enormously.

If - Schif, Carney, Weyman and J.Smith have at least reasonable seasons we will make the 8.

 

[Brimmer]

As passionate I am about the raiders... I'm also a realist so I will start by saying that the chances of us winning the premiership next year is pretty slim.

BUT!

I do believe they will make the 8. I think that our recruitment for this year has really plugged a few problem areas, our juniors are another year older and I truly believe the loss of McLinden from the halves will only benefit us for 2005.

 

[woodgers]

We will make the 8. Does anyone have the odds for us to do so because I am going to throw some coin that way. If we were $151 to win it, then we will be good value for the 8.

I could always check it myself......

 

[paulquinn49]

9th or 10th i reckon

 

[DJ Raida]

easy top 8

 

[greeneyed]

Doubtful the 8 with our overall poor recruitment and retention effort. Smith and Adamson are over the hill. Some good buys with Withers, Frawley and Ale, and some excellent youngsters coming up, but it won't be enough.

The idea the Raiders will finish with the spoon, however, is certainly not something I am expecting.

 

[VictorTheViking]

9th or 10th i reckon

Those posters in your sig are spot on..... :lol:

 

[Simon]

I think your season will depend on who plays in the halves. Jason Smith will have one spot, but he's old and injury prone. If Withers plays in the halves I think you can kiss your season good bye. He's a hooker and that's the only spot he should play. Carney looks good but is only young. Without Smith I think he may struggle a little. If Smith plays the majority of the games then you may make the 8, but if he misses half the season, I think you might have a battle with Souths for the spoon.

 

[Mullins_y2k]

6th or 7th

 

[Edwahu]

We will be around the 8. We produce enough players to always be around that level at the worst, which is what seperates us from Souths and Tigers etc. Even though our top squad could be better we have a very strong group of 18 and 19 year old players, mainly from the Riverina, who the club did exceptionally well to sign enmasse a couple of years ago. These guys will make their mark. There are the obvious ones like Carney, Weyman, Ale etc but then there are guys like Purtell, Milne, Mclean who were all playing well in reserves when they were still eligible for SG Ball who at the least will keep the first graders honest.

 

[SOULS 04]

i think the key is how we gel... i mean we do have alot of new players

i think we have alot better depth but will really miss wiki and davico if cross doesnt step up this year.

i still think we will make the 8 5-7th

 

[hrundi99]

6th or 7th

What he said.

It may well take another season for Carney to really hit his straps.

Canberra have been under-rated by Sydney league supporters for the last few years by default. I don't know whether it's because they don't see enough games to see the potential of our younger players or they just jump on the media bandwagon.

We have had a strong PL team over the last few seasons and that must bode well for youth in 1st grade.

 

[raiders_lover_18]

7th. Our PL team over the past has been to good for the Raiders to finish at the bottom of the ladder.

 

[canberra_raiders2k2]

im only worried bout our forwards, other then that every other position has basically improved.

 

[raiders_lover_18]

If Weyman stays fit and O'Hara is back to his best then we are sweet. Mic Hodgson, Adamson, Cross and Joshy Miller will take care of that.

 

[MILLWALL]

I think we will end up top 4 im hopefull og the young and old working really good together

 

[mike83au]

Same as this year, unfortunately.

I don't think we'll match the big 3 or 4 teams and we'll be in a battle with the next group of teams for the remaining spots in the top 8.

I feel another frustrating year coming on, where we have a few good games, but mostly frustrating ones, where we don't live up to our potential and lose certain matches we should have otherwise won. I think we'll come about 7th or 8th.

Please prove me wrong :|

 

[Edwahu]

Even though we will probably only be around where we were this year Im hoping Elliot at least will give a few new players a chance to come through and we will play some attacking footy, so I still reckon it will be a good year to watch.

 

[thickos]

Yeah I think around 8th with a week-one exit from the finals again sadly. It would be beautiful to win a semi again though after a 5 year drought.

As many have mentioned, having the PL champions of 2003 and preliminary finalists of 2004 means there is enough good young talent in the team to go places. Kahler, Miller, Rothery, Lawrence, Weyman, Cross.... plenty of good young forwards who can take up the slack if injury of form hits. As for the backs we still have Gafa, Robertson, Milne, Purtell, Fransiscus, Nathan Smith, Chalky and others waiting in the wings. Plus Campo and Carney in the halves.

It definitely is a new era for the club. The period 1996-2004 has not been productive in terms of on-field performance (two 4ths and a 3rd is not super reading). I think all of us hope that the clean-out (sadly of people we didn't all want to lose, e.g. Ruben and Luke), may be the jolt the club needs. It may seem like clutching at straws but you never know.

Jason Smith may be a total disaster of the masterstroke of the decade. We will know in 12 months time.