Raiders are gutless

[legend]

I had to stop watching once the score hit 40-0. What an embarassment to the people of Canberra and fools like me who choose to follow them. I don't mind if a side gets beaten having a go but what I saw tonight was just woeful. No heart, no urgency, no flair or imagination and at this stage no points. Where to from here? Can things get any worse?

 

[ozbash]

dont let it get you down legend. the raiders have had the guts ripped out of the team and are rebuilding.
they,ll come right....

 

[imported_Kaon]

The Raiders have lost that winning edge.

IMO Glenn Lazarus took it with him. Even though he was a bit of a dickhead, he was a good coach and he had the winning touch. I know it won't happen but if the Raiders can get him back as their forwards coach, we would rocket up the ladder.

 

[G@v]

Legend, do you think Matt Elliot will do a better job if and when he takes over from big Mal?

 

[legend]

Gav, I think Matt Elliott can make big inroads into the development of some of the players but I think he needs to spend a fair bit of time with Brett Finch who is just too erratic at the moment. He also needs to sign a couple of quality outside backs. He has the platform of forwards to build a great side but he just needs to finish it off with some decent backs. I am willing to give him some time.

 

[Edwahu]

Elliot has some good plans for development at the club and he is off to a ok start considering the circumstances.

I agree that we shouldnt of booted Lazzo and we also should of done every thing to keep Furner at the club. He is the guy we are really missing and after seeing the defensive effort on the weekend I am more convinced then ever. We let in to many soft trys and lack commitment when it matters.
Guys like Tongue, Martin,Schifcofske and co have shown plenty of ticker but some of our players look disinterested most of the time.

For example I was glad to hear that we have re-signed Payten (yes, its official) but I have to wonder about his attitude to the club after some of the comments he made. I wouldve liked to have seen Macfadden, who has shown how hurt he is to have to leave, given priority.

 

[legend]

Ed, my good friend, welcome aboard. I think Elliot will be successful and I have a big wrap on Gavin Lester. When Canterbury played Melbourne last year he had a blinder. He'd be a good cheap buy.

As for Andy Mac, I think we should have kept him as competition for position always keeps a player on their as Brian Smith has shown. The team has a good nucleus and I am more than pleased about O'Hara being the starting prop. That sigining for us has been a great one and hopefully he will be a career raider as we gave him his shot at first grade and he grabbed it with both hands.

 

[imported_Rasputin]

Sorry to say Legend but they didn't performmuchbetter today. Put in a better performance in the 2nd half butof course it was all too late by then.

 

[imported_Mailman]

Ed or Ledge,

How is Jace Van Dijk playing for Canberra in 1st Div ? Or is he in Flegg ? Last year he played for Broncos feeder team Toowoomba and he had some wraps on him. Does he look like getting a go in the nations capital or what?

 

[legend]

Welcome Mailman.

Jace is actually playing first division and from what i've seen of him he has loads of talent and is a great goalkicker to boot. He will be playing first grade next year i'm sure.

 

[imported_Mailman]

Thanks for that info ledge, much appreciated.

 

[imported_Mailman]

Just on the Raiders, who do you guys think should be the Canberra halves next year?

At the moment they have some good quality players in Finch, Monaghan, McLinden, McFadden and Van Dijk. Canberra also have a youngster named Allan Brookman (I think, can't be sure) who is meant to be a class act.

The good thing is that all these players are young and have plenty of years ahead of them. However, McFadden is meant to be leaving, and McLinden must be unhappy with his constant positional changes.

I think McLinden should be at five-eighth, but you guys have seen more of the Raiders than I have, so who do you think should be wearing the 6 and 7 ?

 

[kobe wan kenobi]

just on the subject of gutless, i think a lot of teams in this comp dont play with enough pride. I also think the coach has a lot to do with that. Consider that parramatta is the only team to not lose by 20 points this season!!!!

 

[Edwahu]

Peter Chapman said on the weekend that the club views its four squad halves for next year as Mclinden, Monoghan, Finch and Richard Killian. I am suprised Van Dijk didnt get mentioned as he is going pretty well, but Killian plays alot of hooker so it probably got him thespot.
I have no doubt that our halves next year should be Finch and Mclinden.
Mclinden was going to well to drop before he was injured and Finch is improving and is at least dangerous in attack.The clubsupposedly wants Finchplay 5/8thin the longtermbut I am pretty sure Mclindens form earier in the yearchanged their minds.

 

[legend]

Finch is still a little inconsistent but he is slowly improving. I think Macfadden is going to be a big loss. He played quite well yesterday. I still fear for our chances as the sides below us are starting to build up nicely but we are dead in the water. The club has to do something with the outside backs. Also are the kiwi blokes having an afro comp or something? Faumuina, Wiki and Volcano all have fuzzy hair now. What's going on there?

 

[Edwahu]

At least we might build a bit of depth through all this adversity. You cant build class though and thats what Finch and Mclinden need outwide. Management have their heads in the sand though and I cant see us getting any backs of note.

I dont know whats up with the Kiwis but unless Faumuinas afro can help him tackle, I couldnt care less. I was pretty pissed off when I saw him laughing and joking towards the end of the game. It might be a minor thing but it was still annoying.
Unfortunately ,things have just got alot worse. Simon Woolford has broken his arm and is out for the rest of the year. Lolesi and Porter are also out for a while.
Davico, Nagas and Wiki are probably all going to miss the Tigers game.
Our injury toll now stands at:
Jamaal Lolesi
Ruben Wiki
Luke Davico
Ken Nagas
Darren Porter
Mark Mclinden*
Shaun Rutgertson*
Shane Kelly*
Jason Croker*
Michael Hodgson*
Leslie Vainikolo*
Simon Woolford*

With * representing a season ending injury.

9 of our first thirteen are out and 4 of our best 5 players are as well.
I would like to think things cant get any worse but I am a little worried that the spoon could be heading our way.

 

[legend]

Please Ed, tell me you have some good news. Tell me we signed Richardson or Albert. What will the side look like this week?

Schifcofske
Manuel
Faumuina
Williamson
Wolffgram
Finch
Monaghan
Colella
Martin
Mapp
O'Hara
Macfadden
Payten

Ed, can you name me a bench. I can't think of any besides Adam Peters

 

[Edwahu]

I will have a go at a side:
Schifcofske (C), Manuel, J.Monoghan, Faumuina, Woolfgram, Finch, M.Monoghan
Ohara, Macfadden, Payten, Colella, Martin, Tongue
Bench: B.Kelly, Williamson, Mapp, Kite
Hopefully Davico and Nagas might be right to play. Luckily the Tigers dont have much outwide and our forwards are still pretty good.

I am interested to see who gets the captaincy. You would think it has to be Schifcofske but Macfadden could be a outside chance.

 

[legend]

Schifcofske deserves it but it will probably go to Finch. I keep forgetting about Alan Tongue. It must be the red hair. Hopefull due to this lack of depth it will show the club we still need Andy. He is a great player. Whatever happens the exprience for the youngers guys will prove to be invaluable next year. If we win the game against the Tigers you can forget the wooden spoon. 15 points shoud see us well clear of last place.

 

[Edwahu]

Good news,
According to Chappo the Canberra times got it wrong and Woolfords arm isnt broken, its only badly bruised.
Hopefully that means Davico and Nagas are a prettygood chance of playing too.