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first I agree the year has been a shit show! and there is plenty we need to fix. But it's not all bad:
form:
- when we have had Moses/Gutho on the field we are 3 from 6, that % is almost enough for finals. 3 of those loses being to top 6 sides, 2 top 4. So yes our form has been poor, but it's half ok, with our spine on the field.
- some things like fixing our competition rate and 20% improvement in our defence, would make a huge difference to our form. Not simple but possible
- so there is something there for new coach to work with
Board/management
- They weren't happy like all of us, with our form, so they sacked our coach.
- they turned things around last time we finished last
Squad/recruitment
- yeah there are issues with the squad. Depth, speed and potentially age.
- however we have experience in the pack
- importantly we have a quality spine.
- we have recruited 2 origin players in 3 years (both side before they debuted). So we can recruit quality
- some really promising rookies in Arthur, Talagi and potentially Guymer. All who could add much needed youth into the squad.
- there is plenty for a new coach to work with.
- looks like the pathways are starting to produce players. A lot are getting runs in NSW cup
- the 2 best, next potential NRL coaches both want the coaching job, so they see potential at the eels. Plenty of rookies have knocked back jobs before as if wasn't in their best interests to take (CC dragons/tigers, Ryles dragons)
Salary cap
- looking at our contracts, we pretty much have stuff all contracted for 2026. We should have a fair bit of cash. It gives the new coach a year to see what he has and where we need to improve. Not many coaches have such a short timeframe to be able to turn around a squad (see tigers, dogs, dragons etc)
- there is already evidence club is being proactive to free up space for next year. Sivo is being shopped and rumours of Paulo to (and this isn't the smith one)
Issues
- we need some speed in the backs
- depth
- not having a full squad
- these things need fixing
- need to continue investing in our resources.
So yes a doomy and gloomy season but don't see us, in the likes of tigers, dragons, dogs, who took (or are still taking) several years to fix their squads and get off the bottom. Yeah it won't be easy, but reckon we have a pretty solid base to get off the bottom and back into the finals in the next 1-2 years.
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