Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

Except we have the
Best spine since 86
Best forward pack since 86

We're not playing the 1986 Eels though, we are playing against all these 2023 NRL clubs spending tens of millions on poaching and keeping talent.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

In comparison, in making the Grand Final last year, we still only won 5 of the last 7 games, with a team in much better form.

How long does it take for form to turn around? I suggest it usually happens in the space of a week, and losers whinge about 'playing teams back into form'.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Panfers beat Newcastle with 6 out

We put 43 points on Newcastle, with RCG and Matterson out.

 

[Incorrect]

We're not playing the 1986 Eels though, we are playing against all these 2023 NRL clubs spending tens of millions on poaching and keeping talent.

Damn those sneaky well run clubs who identify ways to be successful...

 

[lucablight]

That's because nobody knew how good their junior 'development' (poaching) had become. But it was evident last year when they won every grade bar Harold Matts. Do you really think Ivan Cleary runs all that? It's 2023 mate. Gone are the days when head coaches like Brian Smith and Phil Gould ran football operations down to under 14s level. These days it's all about who can afford the biggest football staff.

I’m not saying Ivan Cleary is responsible for the junior development pathways system. I’m saying he deserves credit for bringing them into first grade and guiding them into becoming quality NRL first graders. I would argue that Penriths players aren’t even that talented as individuals. He’s done a great job at assembling those players into a powerhouse team.

 

[The Predictor]

We put 43 points on Newcastle, with RCG and Matterson out.

That’s only 2, what’s ur point?

 

[Eelementary]

A

Unfortunately even at full strength we’ve often dogged it many a time , mentally we are the weakest in the comp, considering our resources, we often can’t get up, even in front of capacity home crowd, so I respectfully disagree, Panfers beat Newcastle with 6 out

Yes, I actually singled out Penrith in another post as the only club with the depth to manage a crisis such as ours.

 

[Eelementary]

Its shows we also played other sides understrength. We are not the only side who has been hampered.
Anyhows my power rankings had us at 11th.
@TheRam said we won't play finals this year.

We where both laughed at. The rabbits all come amd fall their wings when we beat up the Bulldogs and Dolphins amd ridiculed us.

Lets just move on from this disappointing season. This squad is capable of top 4 without injuries and a better coach.

BAs time is up. I've already heard from my birds where he is going to land. I'll give you a clue. His son has already found a spot.

Those teams weren't as short-staffed we were, and certainly not for as long as we have been - we haven't been able to field our best 17 once this entire season.

 

[JokerEel]

Its shows we also played other sides understrength. We are not the only side who has been hampered.
Anyhows my power rankings had us at 11th.
@TheRam said we won't play finals this year.

We where both laughed at. The rabbits all come amd fall their wings when we beat up the Bulldogs and Dolphins amd ridiculed us.

Lets just move on from this disappointing season. This squad is capable of top 4 without injuries and a better coach.

BAs time is up. I've already heard from my birds where he is going to land. I'll give you a clue. His son has already found a spot.

Is BA also managed by Isaac Moses?

 

[The Predictor]

T

Those teams weren't as short-staffed we were, and certainly not for as long as we have been - we haven't been able to field our best 17 once this entire season.

That’s the whole point we should be able to with our resources, instead we have the wrong people doing the resourcing, other than Nathan Brown, recently coming on board

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Ok so far we've identified as issues
Ruck rules, covid, fox commentators

It's got nothing to do with commentators. But rule changes benefit some teams while disadvantaging others. The ruck rules changed in 2002 as well and we died in the arse while the Roosters benefitted massively. Or do you think Ricky Stuart was just a smarter coach than Brian Smith and adapted better?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

does not apply to our mentally weak club. 2001 GF ambush followed up with making up the numbers in the finals in 2002. 2009, the following year miss the finals. 2022 GF appearance and we look like missing the following finals again...

We love to contradict a cliche!!

Damn covid!!

Nah we should blame Arthur's (all of them) and FFS ON'IELL and Sarantinos for why we've been mentally weak since at least 2002. You couldn't make this up @Gazzamatta

 

[IFR33K]

With all due respect, we like to have a whinge and make excuses for this mob, the draw, injuries, suspension, shit happens, the good clubs are resilient and prepared, we are not one of those clubs…..I’ve had a gut full with all the whining, boo hooo

And over the 10 year period we’ve only had the one consistent….

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We are underachieving with this roster though. This squad should be more than good enough to make the 8 with the current landscape of the NRL.

We've also been unlucky this year, like the Roosters. We made the finals for four straight years, which we haven't done since 2002. Eventually your luck runs out and that might happen to us this year.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Damn those sneaky well run clubs who identify ways to be successful...

Everyone has 'identified' how to do it. Not all of them can afford it.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He’s done a great job at assembling those players into a powerhouse team.

Which ones has he assembled though? All the best ones were already at the club when he came back from Wests where he did nothing.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

That’s only 2, what’s ur point?

We destroyed them. With more players out we would have beaten them by less, just like Penrith did.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yes, I actually singled out Penrith in another post as the only club with the depth to manage a crisis such as ours.

Yep, 'next man up' is easy when the next man up is too good for reserve grade.

 

[hindy111]

We've also been unlucky this year, like the Roosters. We made the finals for four straight years, which we haven't done since 2002. Eventually your luck runs out and that might happen to us this year.

I predicted it.....So did @TheRam
We where right

 

[lucablight]

We've also been unlucky this year, like the Roosters. We made the finals for four straight years, which we haven't done since 2002. Eventually your luck runs out and that might happen to us this year.

I don’t think us and the Roosters are unlucky. We both haven’t performed to expectations.