I said after we went out in straight sets last year that I felt we were as far away from winning a comp as ever and nothing I've seen this year as the season has unfolded has changed my mind. What's even more depressing is that I reckon the Dogs and Bronco's will be mounting a better challenge than us in the next 3-4 years while our fortunes go south. The Broncos wont stay down for long, and the Dogs will be good if they find a decent hooker in the next couple of years.
Dogs will be good or even great pending on Burton. He has 2yrs and a 3rd in his favour. At which point he will be asking over a million. I'm sure 3 or 4 clubs will be prepared to pay him over that. The Dogs will need to be firing mid way thru 2023 or I doubt he will hang around?
The thing is when Penrith had 6 or 7 origin guys out and Burton in Halves the Tigers thrashed them and lost to Sharks.Where is the Dogs squad at?
They've signed in last year or so Naden, Allen,Flanagan,Cotric,Hethrington, Vaughan,Pangai jnr,Dufty,JAC,Burton.
That's 10 players. They've turned 2 into reserve graders in Allen and Flanagan. These guys where hyped up. Vaughan,Dufty nobody wanted. Hethrington probably only makes the bench of most other sides if that. TPJ is a lose cannon who they paid overs for.
JAC will leave a strong side where he does the finishing touches on a slick dominant side. Just like Cotric left a strong side and looks a shadow of himself do you think JAC is that great a player? He is fast. SAAB looks awesome to in Manlys backline as does Garrick.