Rumours and Stuff

[Bazal]

Get the splinters out of ya bum Bazal

Who me? I reckon we'll come 6th or 7th. But in a tight comp I can see why people rate others above us

 

[strider]

Who me? I reckon we'll come 6th or 7th. But in a tight comp I can see why people rate others above us

Yeah, i agree

 

[Basil Brush]

We have a bottom 4 or 5 hooker, and a centre/fullback who has yet to demonstrate a worthwhile kicking game at 6. We also have no recognised goal kicker, a big problem (theoretically) for a side with recent form for getting close but losing the tight ones.

Gutho might do a great job, but I can definitely see why people rate 8 or so other sides above us. Especially given the hooker issue. De Gois is pure plod

I've also noticed people seem to have completely missed that we have a really good pack now. Quite a few write ups, forum and otherwise, have said we have a weak front row....I do think we're under the radar for most people, but I also think we have some glaring potential issues in a year that's looking like having 12 or 13 teams easily capable of making the 8

This is exactly the way I look at this season.

As for our spine, DeGois is not too good. I rate Norman highly. Gutho very unproven but I rate him. French is a 19/20 year old playing his 1st full season at fullback.

I will personally be stoked if we make the 8, but not sure I expect it.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

This is exactly the way I look at this season.

As for our spine, DeGois is not too good. I rate Norman highly. Gutho very unproven but I rate him. French is a 19/20 year old playing his 1st full season at fullback.

I will personally be stoked if we make the 8, but not sure I expect it.

French is 21

 

[hineyrulz]

I think where the so called experts are underrating us is our fast moving aggressive defence, which will keep us in a lot of games this year. Thats why i think we can get away with at least half our games quite easily.

 

[emjaycee]

BA has built a squad that will get us in the 8 based on the strongest defence in the comp and the individual brilliance of Semi, French, Jennings and Norman in attack.

Each one of the above can conjure up a try when needed and with Gutho and Taka in the mix we actually have quite a potent attack.

2016 we had Peats for less than half a season and then we survived with the DeGois and Kaysa pairing so i don't see that our 9 is much worse off. We also went through the last 8 games with Rob Jeffson in 7 and Gutho in 6 and we still managed to win our share.

Throw Manu and KE into the attacking mix and i reckon we are good for the 8, barring injuries and suspensions where our depth will be tested.

 

[hindy111]

Defense works but need attack to. Dogs have great defemse but once a other team knows you cant score they start to take bigger risks knowing they can hold you out.
And mentally when you know you cant score you start to feel flat.


The duke says we are a finals team and thata good enough for me.

 

[Snoochies]

I'd be grooming the Fog for hooker. Has play making skills, can kick and kick goals.

 

[El Diablo]

And mentally when you know you cant score you start to feel flat.

Gus knocked you back again eh

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

BA has built a squad that will get us in the 8 based on the strongest defence in the comp and the individual brilliance of Semi, French, Jennings and Norman in attack.

.

That's right. As the old joke goes, "There's no 'I' in team, but there are five in 'individual brilliance'"

 

[hindy111]

Gus knocked you back again eh

He doesn't even know my name

 

[Joshuatheeel]

BA has built a squad that will get us in the 8 based on the strongest defence in the comp and the individual brilliance of Semi, French, Jennings and Norman in attack.

Each one of the above can conjure up a try when needed and with Gutho and Taka in the mix we actually have quite a potent attack.

2016 we had Peats for less than half a season and then we survived with the DeGois and Kaysa pairing so i don't see that our 9 is much worse off. We also went through the last 8 games with Rob Jeffson in 7 and Gutho in 6 and we still managed to win our share.

Throw Manu and KE into the attacking mix and i reckon we are good for the 8, barring injuries and suspensions where our depth will be tested.

Yep!!

Also adding Brown, Pritchard and potentially Vave, gives us more attack in the middle then we had last year. Brown and Pritchard both have some nice attacking skills while Vave adds some size like Paulo did for us.

Also the focus has been on Gutherson's ability to fill the 5/8, while French is skill a rookie he will take some pressure of Gutho as he also has play making skills. A big plus compared to last year where while Gordon was safe didn't add a lot to our attack.

 

[TheRam]

you don't have an IQ and the only thing you use a hamster for is a sex toy

and you don't even need to use duct tape

The fact that you know that duct tape(heaven help us) is used is both troubling and telling on you.

 

[forward pass]

I think Gutho will go alright whilst Normie is playing in the 7. But if Norman is missing, he will really struggle in that role - which was the case on the weekend.

 

[El Diablo]

The fact that you know that duct tape(heaven help us) is used is both troubling and telling on you.

how do you know unless you knew what i was talking about?

 

[El Diablo]

He doesn't even know my name

it's on the restraining order he has taken out against you

 

[TheRam]

how do you know unless you knew what i was talking about?

Hahahaha...cos you said it you fool.

 

[El Diablo]

Hahahaha...cos you said it you fool.

nope

i just said he didn't need to use duct tape

i never mentioned what it was used for

 

[oldmancraigy]

BA has built a squad that will get us in the 8 based on the strongest defence in the comp and the individual brilliance of Semi, French, Jennings and Norman in attack.

Each one of the above can conjure up a try when needed and with Gutho and Taka in the mix we actually have quite a potent attack.

2016 we had Peats for less than half a season and then we survived with the DeGois and Kaysa pairing so i don't see that our 9 is much worse off. We also went through the last 8 games with Rob Jeffson in 7 and Gutho in 6 and we still managed to win our share.

Throw Manu and KE into the attacking mix and i reckon we are good for the 8, barring injuries and suspensions where our depth will be tested.

Too true.

I don't understand the other side of the coin. My guess is that the 'expert' tipsters looked at the standings from last year and concluded we hadn't improved enough to make the 8 based on competition points and ladder standing.

To win 13 games despite the mayhem of last year was a mightily impressive effort. In 2010 the Storm won 14 games, and everyone ranted about what a noble job they had done, and (quite rightly) had them pegged to do well the following season (they improved by 5 games to win 19 and claim the minor premiership).
Let's remember the Storm's scenario was far more quickly dealt with than ours. They were stripped, and then got on with it. We were stripped, then whipped, players went crazy, injuries abounded - and the inevitable leagues club power brokers reared their ugly heads again...

 

[emjaycee]

The other key thing to take into account is the strength/experience of the depth in a squad and the impact of injuries and suspensions which cannot be predicted.

In 2016, all teams that won at least 13 games used no more than 28 players throughout the year (Sharks were lowest with 24).
Teams that won less than half their games used no less than 29 players (Titans and Dragons) and some as many as 35 (Newcastle).