Raiders a Premiership Force: your prediction

[Bay56]

In 2004/2005 I made a statement that if managment made the right decisions in terms of contracting a coach and strategic marquee players we would show promise in 2009 and be a force in 2010.

Since then we've dispensed with a coach with the worst record in our history, are about to dispense with a coach that currently has a worse record and contracted a coach, with no record at all, that will take us to season 2011 (and come whatever, probably for a lot longer).

We resist entering the market and paying "overs" for genuine game winners, rather relying on developing youngsters and hoping they will be the next Andrew Johns ... the result being that we currently have one player on our books that could be considered to be a consistent match winner (and even there we are let down with what looks like inadequate coaching).

I'm not privy to current plans that management have but on the face it doesnt seem to be real promising.

Well 2009 is coming up fairly quickly and I very much doubt we will be showing much promise and I dont think we'll be knocking on the premiership door come 2010.

Where does that leave us. A lot will obviously rely on the huge risk management have taken in contracting an inexperienced coach.

I'll make a predicition that, unless management are about to pull a rabbit out of the hat, I dont think the next few years are going to see us finishing aywhere near the top half of the eight.

 

[Macko8]

I think your right.

If things continue with management and this same old game plan and boring players and not signing any marquee players than that premiership is at least a decade away..

 

[Mick_63]

I recall Don sr saying that we would be winning the comp 2008/2009.Then again during the Todd Carney signing he again said that he thought Todd would hang around and win a comp with his mates.
I don't see a cohesive strategy to be honest.
With the scrapping of June 30 the managemant are going to be used by player managers to up the price/show interest in their players.
More than ever they have to be the equivalent off the field as the players are on the field to win the comp or at least be a consistent force.
Coaches (elliot,henry)have come and gone with a few highlights,what could have beens(bulgarelli mistakes) and a lot of bottom dwelling.
But where has been the coaching?
Tilse and Dobson a few years ago would have looked like magnificent prospects.Look at them now.Both playing with no confidence.Show dobson how to tackle,instruct Tilse to take the hit and offload in traffic.These players and others are stagnating.

For us to again be a force is going to put a helluva lot of pressure on a young coach.
The rabbit could well be Mik Monas.I cant see Don sr baulking at anything for his son re recruitment.
As it is 2009 is 15 years on.

 

[Raider_69]

I said a few years ago that we'd win a comp in the 2008-2009-2010 period
i still firmly think thats possible, todd carney is he gets consistant will drag us to the top 6 on his own. If just a few of the players around him strike form aswell. Namely Herbert, Goodwin, TLL and Monaghan, then they will make the rest look like magicians.

Ill conceed the lose of Henry has dampened my confidence, ill wait to see what Furners tactic's are like as a coach but Henry has the tactical nous to win a comp. With the talent we still possess, if furner is a good coach we can still achieve great things in the immediate future and the talent is in the U20's to make it last a while too

Dugan is a special, special player

 

[parra pete]

I agree with you about Josh Dugan. He is very special.
I was told earlier this year that he would be given a run in the NRL this season. I thought he may have been too small.
I have changed my mind. He is bigger than I thought he was..and has been terrific in the Raiders NYC team. There are some good kids in that side. I'll bet David is licking his lips in anticipation.
I see also where Cappy McFadden is back as an assistant coach..

 

[Edwahu]

Well we have put in sustained good performances in the juniors for about 5 years now, so you would hope it would convert to first grade. Honestly though I think it will always be a matter of luck for us, at least until we get a good run and season behind us.

 

[Cryptic]

I honestly think we have done a bit of a 180 in some regards... Four years ago it was said the Raiders had boring as batsh*t attack, which was true... We had the forward pack to do it but the backs couldn't do anything with the ground they were given... I think we are now the opposite... We have the backs to put away any team but they just aren't getting the support they need from the forwards... In the game we have won this year you can see the difference too, it's been all the Raiders with a bit roll on and then the backs work their magic and we get a try... In game likes todays (and the second half against the STorm) where the forwards aren't even making an average of 7 metres a hit-up the backs have no room to move and we get smashed... With any luck Furner can teach our forwards how to run onto a f**king pass and actually do some damage...

The only think I'm generally pretty happy with this year is our defence... I think overall there is very little you can fault with it (as a whole, not counting individual runs of poor form/ability).

 

[Chachi]

First we have to get rid of Henry. There is absolutely no point in having him around - especially when it comes to contract negotiations. The boys need to be playing for Furner.

NH has done some good things for this club, but his use of the bench absolutely astounds me. I said the same thing a few weeks ago but this game was something special. Campo, Dobbo, Picker...what the f**k was going on out there?

 

[Timbo]

Yeah, I think we've gone backwards in many regards.

I don't see any differences now from 2004 or 2005.

 

[Syren]

Your current NYC side has some nice talents. Its a matter of holding onto them and bring them into first grade. If Carney can stick around, I can see Raiders challenging in about 3-4 years time, thats a big IF.

 

[edabomb]

Can't see us challenging in the near future (3-5 years) unless something drastic happens.

 

[mongoose]

I think we have a core group of players now (short 1 good young prop) that can push for a premiership but we just play dumb football. Along with penrith and the dragons we are the dumbest team in the comp. Too many errors and penalties cost us every week. If we complete most of our sets and get our fair share of possession and stop giving the opposition piggy back penalties we will win most of our games.

 

[raiders fan forever]

yeah what was it yesterday after 30 minutes we had only completed 33% of our sets thats just dumb football
things have gotta change..now!

 

[Brimmer]

footy is a funny game. I played one season and came dead last only to win the comp the year after. Go figure.

 

[Raider_69]

footy is a funny game. I played one season and came dead last only to win the comp the year after. Go figure.

history is littered with tales like that
all it takes for a premiership is a talented bunch of blokes (which we have) and to be lucky enough to have them all gel and hit form at the same time, with limited injuries...

 

[Lime_Green]

I feel really optimistic about next year. Things are looking up IMO.

 

[matt]

as soon as henry walks...we can then start the walk.

 

[Bay56]

history is littered with tales like that
all it takes for a premiership is a talented bunch of blokes (which we have) and to be lucky enough to have them all gel and hit form at the same time, with limited injuries...

or a bit of forward planning that will add science to the luck factor resulting in a sustained period of success rather than a one year wonder

 

[Mal Meninga]

Yeah, I think we've gone backwards in many regards.

I don't see any differences now from 2004 or 2005.

That's what I said last year when Henry was crowned golden balls midway through the season. While i'm no fan of Elliot... Atleast his forwards were tough and we completed our sets. The attack is still inept and defense has never really been a problem until last season.

 

[shear_joy9]

Canberra are much closer to winning the spoon, than a premiership.