Realistic team for 2011

[alexwilliams_66692007]

well it looks like we f***ed up once again with signing at least one quality player coming off contract with both Inu and Mateo going to the Warriors next year...

good one again the admisnistration at the Knights...

 

[Apey]

most weeks, most of the team doesn't even have a genuine dig. the list of blokes who can generally hold their head high as far as effort goes would be something like -

- Aku
- Pato
- Crossy
- Gidley for his few games thus far

...

i'm not sure i can honestly pick anyone else, taking the whole year into account. it's not that they don't have the talent, they genuinely don't have the heart right now. if that's the coaches fault, then so be it... but my suspicions are still that there's a big question mark that we can't see from the outside looking in.

If you're basing it purely on effort I'd add Simmo in there.

 

[Alex28]

To be honest, Mateo and Inu have been ordinary for a while now. I think we've dodged a bullet with missing either of them...

 

[Adsy]

People have already mentioned it on here but we really just need new quality players in the positions of centre, half & prop.

Given Melbourne's current situation as a possible example I'd like to see us sign - Inglis, Cronk & Tolman.

 

[Serc]

If you're basing it purely on effort I'd add Simmo in there.

Yep I couldn't think of anyone else either until your post reminded me - Simmo has been pretty tops this year, especially effort wise.

 

[Rolla]

Yep I couldn't think of anyone else either until your post reminded me - Simmo has been pretty tops this year, especially effort wise.

I have also been impressed with Mark Taufua, both in regards to effort and quality.

 

[perverse]

If you're basing it purely on effort I'd add Simmo in there.

yep, when he's played he's had a dig for sure. sadly for simmo the problem isn't effort, it's a declining level of ability. still hits hard and defends well, though.

 

[Alex28]

People have already mentioned it on here but we really just need new quality players in the positions of centre, half & prop.

Given Melbourne's current situation as a possible example I'd like to see us sign - Inglis, Cronk & Tolman.

I've heard from Tolman's family in Dubbo that a deal has apparently been done with the dogs however he doesn't want to be the first to jump ship from the Storm.

Inglis...man...personally I think he would struggle in a side that doesn't have the likes of Slater/Cronk/Smith around him. Put him in our side and he'd be OK, but he'd actually have to do some work to be brilliant. He'd be a massive waste of money here.

Cronk wont happen. He doesn't want to leave, and he'd be the first man the Storm would keep. Nothing more than a pipe dream.

 

[Adsy]

I've heard from Tolman's family in Dubbo that a deal has apparently been done with the dogs however he doesn't want to be the first to jump ship from the Storm.

Inglis...man...personally I think he would struggle in a side that doesn't have the likes of Slater/Cronk/Smith around him. Put him in our side and he'd be OK, but he'd actually have to do some work to be brilliant. He'd be a massive waste of money here.

Cronk wont happen. He doesn't want to leave, and he'd be the first man the Storm would keep. Nothing more than a pipe dream.

So the dogs could afford to sign Tolman before Hannant leaves? Crazy if true.

Right side combo of Mullen - Taia - Inglis - Uate would be pretty destructive next year and beyond I'd imagine.

Cronk is probably my dream Knights signing at the moment.

 

[Serc]

Me too Adsy...the salary cap rules and counting up the $$$ suggests the Storm are going to lose a significant part of their big 4. And depending on the way you see it, are they going to let go their most naturally gifted players (Slater/GI/Smith) or a player who is a little bit manufactured, but still fairly talented (Cronk).

Actually thinking about the theory behind what the Storm are going to have to do again...Cronk would be on less than the other 3, so they seek to gain more from cutting one of them rather than him.

Anyway interesting times thats for sure.

 

[Alex28]

So the dogs could afford to sign Tolman before Hannant leaves? Crazy if true.

Right side combo of Mullen - Taia - Inglis - Uate would be pretty destructive next year and beyond I'd imagine.

Cronk is probably my dream Knights signing at the moment.

Hannant is gone. The chain reaction is just waiting for Tolman to make the announcement...

Inglis...I see him as the part-time man. He can do some brilliant things, but it is on his own terms and when he wants to. He has that luxury at Melbourne - there is enough brilliance around him to allow for that.

He wouldn't have that luxury here. He would have to be the man all the time. We would be looking to him to make things happen, and that really isn't him. I actually think he is pretty lazy. Without a quality 1/6/7/9 he is a waste of money - and we can't get the quality 7 as well as buying him.

 

[Adsy]

Fair enough mate. All a bit of a dream really anyway.

We will probably end up signing Kimmorley and a nuffie second rower and that's it.

 

[Nuffy]

I've heard from Tolman's family in Dubbo that a deal has apparently been done with the dogs however he doesn't want to be the first to jump ship from the Storm.

Inglis...man...personally I think he would struggle in a side that doesn't have the likes of Slater/Cronk/Smith around him. Put him in our side and he'd be OK, but he'd actually have to do some work to be brilliant. He'd be a massive waste of money here.

Cronk wont happen. He doesn't want to leave, and he'd be the first man the Storm would keep. Nothing more than a pipe dream.

Alex, I don't doubt your mail but it makes a complete mockery of the public statements from the club CEO's that they wouldn't make a feeding frenzy out of the Storm situation.

It seems that clubs are already picking over the carcass, if we have been chivalrious and held back.................. then we are mugs.

If there is money in the kitty, they should be throwing it at players now.

 

[Alex28]

Tolman was a done deal prior to the sh*t storm - sorry...should have made that clear.

 

[Jono078]

Just a thought..

James McManus as a centre?

Defensively he would be up to it you would think. Not what he'd offer in attack though.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

well it looks like we f***ed up once again with signing at least one quality player coming off contract with both Inu and Mateo going to the Warriors next year...

good one again the admisnistration at the Knights...

No that is called dodging two very big bullets. Inu and Mateo are lazy and overrated.

 

[perverse]

Just a thought..

James McManus as a centre?

Defensively he would be up to it you would think. Not what he'd offer in attack though.

i've suggested it before... it's not a very popular opinion, though... or at least it wasn't. i think if you got him at the right weight he could be a decent centre. im not as big a fan of the idea as i was probably 12 or 18 months ago... but that could be because i haven't seen jimmy play in so long too.

he's really the forgotten man at the moment... and it's hard to see where he fits in the team with coops beginning to hit his strides. we're weak in the centres and jimmy mac is definitely valuable to the team in a lot of ways. i think at least giving him a run at centre could be worthwhile.

i think coops also rates himself anywhere in the outside backs, and has had a game or 2 there in the past (in which he was rather mediocre, if memory serves). might be worth revisiting, though.

 

[Jono078]

Just after I posted that actuallly, I watched highlights from our most recent game and thought, would McManus even be better than Lulia as a centre?

I think he'd be more stronger and have lots more heart and pride in the jersey, as far as skill though probably not.

EDIT: I remember Vuna having some time in the centres last year and doing well. Making those strong runs then holding the ball in 1 hand and offloading to the winger because he demands so much attention.

 

[perverse]

Just after I posted that actuallly, I watched highlights from our most recent game and thought, would McManus even be better than Lulia as a centre?

I think he'd be more stronger and have lots more heart and pride in the jersey, as far as skill though probably not.

EDIT: I remember Vuna having some time in the centres last year and doing well. Making those strong runs then holding the ball in 1 hand and offloading to the winger because he demands so much attention.

yeah? i don't remember being overly impressed, tbh... particularly defensively (which is our major problem at the moment, really). you could be right, though... i don't exactly have vivid memories of him playing there, it's more of an emotional memory... lol. feelings of mediocracy and apathy on the subject, if you will.

 

[Yosh]

No that is called dodging two very big bullets. Inu and Mateo are lazy and overrated.

Not gonna disagree with you there but:

Lulia
Wes
Sau
Mad Dog
Ciraldo
Tolar
Simpson

I'd put the Parra pair way above these guys!