Round 21 vs Bulldogs

[Doomednow]

If Will Smith goes down we might need to employ a voodoo priest to break the curse.

Does anyone know a guy?

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Hope Smith goes well. No problems with that.
No pace in the back line again. Moylan, Mansour and Whare make up for that in other areas. Idris a waste of space at the moment. Hope Simmons goes better than Naiqama did last week.

Nothing we can really do about the props except rotate them and hope somehow they decide to stop playing like pussies. Anderson and RCG should be close to a shot if this doesn't happen. Good to see that Cleary has a lot more sense than some on here and has kept Segeyaro at hooker.

The backrow is a mess. Taylor's best spot by far is lock, Docker offers nothing; Cartwright should be starting. Hell, I'd take Brown starting at 12 just so Docker wasn't in the team.

 

[Thirsty Panther]

Yeo named as 18th man. Is there still doubt over Mansour?

 

[franklin2323]

I can back Ivan on every decision except Docker, he simply isn't a first grader at this point.

Docker didn't play on the weekend. Yet we still go owned. How we don't have atleast 1 new prop is beyond me.

Smith will go fine. He's a big part in why NSW Cup is going well. Like everyone we have brought up will go well.

 

[Panther Pete]

It's reassuring to read all the reports on Will Smith, hopefully he can carry NSW Cup form into firsts. I still have massive concerns over our forwards and in particular the front row, I just can't see them giving us any go forward which makes it even more difficult for Sowie and Smith to create anything.

 

[franklin2323]

Smith has 6 weeks to get into the swing of things. If he goes well he can play centre also so we can push Idris to the forwards for next season.

Yep seems only Ivan doesn't see our front row as ineffective

 

[flash]

Gould's comments this morning are a little frustrating. We are as guilty as every other team of throwing second rowers in the halves/backline rather than promoting a specialist player.

He timed his article well for one of the few times this year we have promoted a player from NSW cup rather than resort to a reshuffle.



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Set of Six
I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many matches as I have seen this year in which coaches have selected players out of position to fill holes caused by injuries and suspensions. In particular the number of back-row forwards who have been playing in the centres and at five-eighth has been astonishing. No doubt many of our back-rowers and forwards have the skills and the athleticism to fill a variety of roles in a team, but just as many are being caught out struggling to adapt to an unfamiliar role. Is it just the impact of the unfair second-tier salary cap that is forcing coaches into these decisions, or is there a growing reluctance among our clubs to risk an inexperienced player in the NRL, even when he would playing in his specialist position? Is it a lack of depth in experienced talent? What message are we sending out to players in the NSW and Queensland Cups when they see positions they play, being continually filled by players who are not all that adept in playing that position? How do we keep those players who are being overlooked motivated? I’m sure there are many factors at play here. I guess many clubs have undoubtedly been left with no other viable choices. However, I do find the game becomes less of a spectacle when we have so many players in the backs who do not have the skill levels we should expect from a genuine NRL backline player.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...g-direction-20140729-zyaj9.html#ixzz38tfMjuS8

 

[chrisD]

Yes that is well played, damn those anti-entertainment dogs playing Williams at 5/8.

 

[MaxPower]

It's just a part of Goulds' crusade against the cap.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Swap Wallace for Smith, and this is our first choice back line.
This is also our full strength forward pack.

Anyone think that this is good enough to challenge for the title next year?

 

[betcats]

Swap Wallace for Smith, and this is our first choice back line.
This is also our full strength forward pack.

Anyone think that this is good enough to challenge for the title next year?

Isnt Simmons retiring? Bryce and Dallin will be starting next year, RCG, BMM, Waqa and one or two others should also be in contention for spots. Depending on how some of those guys develop I think we should certainly be a better footy side next season.

 

[maple_69]

Swap Wallace for Smith, and this is our first choice back line.
This is also our full strength forward pack.

Anyone think that this is good enough to challenge for the title next year?

No definitely not. This side (you forgot Peachey missing from our full strength squad) needs improving on a number of positions to be a contender. Between DWZ, Jennings, Blake, Api, RCG, VTK, Smith, Cartwright and Anderson, we definitely have the players with the potential to add the quality we need but we'll need Ivan to manage it well. Plenty of clubs have collapsed at this point recently. Knights, Canberra a number of times.

I think we need one winger, one centre, one second rower and two props to hit their straps for us to be there.

 

[betcats]

This time next year our top side could look very different.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

This time next year our top side could look very different.

It will need to for us to challenge, I think. But I did forget Peachey.


We know Korosiau is coming, but he's not an improvement on what we already have in the starting 13. In fact, he's more than likely going to use a bench spot, meaning we need our forwards to step up even more.


Personally, I don't rate Simmons, Idris, Wallace, Docker, Kite, Plum, Brown all that highly; if we had two or three of them in the first 17 with stronger players around them, they could be part of a squad challenging for the title for sure. But all 7 at the same time, plus underperforming McKendry and Manu? Too many weaknesses.


So, we are relying on DWZ (who hasn't shown much in first grade, to be fair), Blake, Jennings, Anderson, and RCG to take some of the spots of the players above by this time next year? For players who have seen bugger all first grade, that's asking a lot.

 

[umina panther]

I've seen enough to know Cartwright will be the best attacking forward in the game. So with Bryce and Peach we just need forwards who can actually make meters.

 

[franklin2323]

Yes with changes sure is. If Smith goes well he can go to centre. Plum & Simmons are retiring. DWZ still has another year in NYC so will get better as will Cartwright & Yeo. Koroisau also off the bench

This side looks far better
Moylan.
Mansour.
Whare.
Smith.
DWZ.
Soward.
Wallace.
Kite.
Segeyaro.
McKendry.
Idris.
Peachey.
Taylor:

Koroisau
Brown.
Cartwright.
Manu.
Latimore.

 

[GongPanther]

My first impression when looking at the team is balance.

The team that will take the field on Friday will resemble a Panther side that looks familiar to the one that was squeezing those wins out a few weeks ago and it should jell together.

The only downside is with Mansour and Simmons coming back and they'll be lacking match fitness.

 

[Panther Pete]

The only downside is with Mansour and Simmons coming back and they'll be lacking match fitness.

That's possible but considering they are both wingers it shouldn't be a huge problem for us.

 

[maple_69]

I think the last issue we'll face with Mansour is fitness.

Looking at that aide franklin, its strong all round except prop. If Kite is still in our 17 I think he should be rotated for Anderson/RCG to get some experience next year. The good thing about the side is it only really relies on the Smith/Idris/Manu shuffle coming off to make the side look considerably better.

 

[franklin2323]

I think the last issue we'll face with Mansour is fitness.

Looking at that aide franklin, its strong all round except prop. If Kite is still in our 17 I think he should be rotated for Anderson/RCG to get some experience next year. The good thing about the side is it only really relies on the Smith/Idris/Manu shuffle coming off to make the side look considerably better.

I was just going by the fact we were told no more signings just re-signings. Hopefully we add Masoe to that team