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Season 2024

Messages
17,046

Vic Mackey

Referee
Messages
25,371
Yes, Fulton is focused on the emerging talent who are still developing physically.

It reminds me of the panthers. Most of them young, big, fit and on the up

It will give Benji more game options.

Our squad is overly invested in these youngsters

3 years ago Blore, Simpkin and Stefano were 3 of the hottest 19 year olds in the game. Only Stefano has kicked on and Id argue he still hasnt hit the heights of his 2021 season since

We got lucky with Bula, Pole and Tupou however not all 20 year olds are ready for full time first grade footy. Guys like Feledy, Kit, Matamua, Tumeth etc look like they need at least another year in nsw cup before being considered for NRL
 
Messages
17,046
Our squad is overly invested in these youngsters

3 years ago Blore, Simpkin and Stefano were 3 of the hottest 19 year olds in the game. Only Stefano has kicked on and Id argue he still hasnt hit the heights of his 2021 season since

We got lucky with Bula, Pole and Tupou however not all 20 year olds are ready for full time first grade footy. Guys like Feledy, Kit, Matamua, Tumeth etc look like they need at least another year in nsw cup before being considered for NRL

Excellent.

Mostly agree and Fulton is on the record as preferring the longer game with recruitment.

This is perhaps being weighed up against the tremendous expectations and weight on Benji.

I prefer incremental improvements, with only a few steps back every now and again. This is the Adam O’Brien model.

I really like Feledy but he’s not quite ready.

Morris should be solid campaigner in the coaching ranks. Explosive exit.

A great coach.
 
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Fordy20

Juniors
Messages
2,290
We got lucky with Bula, Pole and Tupou however not all 20 year olds are ready for full time first grade footy. Guys like Feledy, Kit, Matamua, Tumeth etc look like they need at least another year in nsw cup before being considered for NRL
We did get lucky with Bula, Pole and Tupou. Tupou was looking pretty tired by the end of the season too.

Definitely agree those other blokes need more time in the lower grades. Personally, I don't see the hype around Matamua that others do and Feledy might need a couple of years in reggies.

I feel a bit for Blore. A full season starting in the second row might have been good for him, but after we signed Bateman, Blore got pushed down the pecking order and didn't get as much game time as I would have expected. Being shopped to other clubs probably doesn't help to make you feel welcome either.
 
Messages
17,046
One thing I’ve always thought about the game for many decades now is just how hard it is to turn an average player into a good player and beyond that, to get most players up that line most of the game.

And say individually, your player has to pass many tests and excel at others.

A side can’t afford a weak fullback or carry a bad playmaker. Slow play the balls should only be seen tactically.

I really hate a wasted set. Without being stupid, we need a lot of options. I appreciate that’s harder at the start of the game etc.

They have to have the ability to learn and grow and also increasing levels of fitness.

Watching the Broncos switch off in the gf really brings home the necessity for a player possessing numerous attributes. It was a self immolation to some extent, but it took a well conditioned side to bring it home. They played well mentally the panthers. Really toughed it out. We need that drive.

We had a bad start to the season, but collapsing in a heap after that was very difficult to watch.

I wonder if Tim had indeed lost the change room. Seems like it. Almost all of the players were Madge recruits,many with good relations with him, it could have played a factor. No one was playing at any consistent optimum except API.

He may have overcooked his Brooksy support. It was a nice thing for him to do, but in the end, it didn’t help Luke or us.

I think our forwards will enjoy competent halves and a more powerful backline.

I’m sorry Tuki didn’t improve as forecast.
I’d love to read anyones views on that failed venture.
 
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gordsy

Juniors
Messages
2,120

madunit

Super Moderator
Staff member
Messages
62,358

Since 1974, the club GF history as gone L, W (1984), L (1994), W (2004) and L (2014), meaning the club is due for another W in 2024.

Umm.........wow, hope they don't put their houses on it?

We need @madunit to give us some history to tell us when it's our turn?
Lets look at the facts

Wests finals campaigns, by decade
1900-09 -
1910-19 -
1920-29 - 1927, 1929
1930-39 - 1930*, 1931, 1932, 1934*, 1935
1940-49 - 1945, 1947, 1948*, 1949
1950-59 - 1950, 1951, 1952*, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959
1960-69 - 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966
1970-79 - 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979
1980-89 - 1980, 1982
1990-99 - 1991, 1992, 1996

Balmain finals campaigns by decade
1900-09 - 1909
1910-19 - 1915*, 1916*, 1917*, 1919
1920-29 - 1920*, 1924*
1930-39 - 1932, 1936, 1938, 1939*
1940-49 - 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944*, 1945, 1946*, 1947*, 1948, 1949
1950-59 - 1950, 1956, 1958
1960-69 - 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1969*
1970-79 - 1975, 1977
1980-89 - 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
1990-99 - 1990

Combined - years where Balmain and Wests were both in the finals
1932
1945
1947
1948
1949
1950
1956
1958
1960
1961
1963
1966
1975

So, in the Wests Tigers first 24 seasons (2000-23) they've made 3 finals campaigns
Balmain and Wests combined in their first 24 seasons (1908-31) appeared together in zero

However, the NRL has played 4724 games over the last 24 years
The first 4724 games (or closest to) were played between the seasons 1908-1970 (4707 games) and both sides were in 12 finals series at the same time.

It would be 5 more years before they'd do it again.

Then 30 years after that, after both sides had been merged together, they won a Premiership.

So all I can deduce is that we'll make the finals again in 2028. Then between 2029 and 2058 we'll merge with some other side and win the Premiership in 2058.

2058 will also likely be the year after Pascoe and Chairman Lee are no longer involved with the club.
 

Nutz

First Grade
Messages
5,296
@madunit
Hey mate, or should I say hi Mad it's Nutz 🤣
That was sooo cool reading that.
It also highlights that you have far too much time on your hands ha ha.

2058 will also likely be the year after Pascoe and Chairman Lee are no longer involved with the club.......
So I'm wondering is there a chance you can do an edit because I'll be long gone by then 😭
 
Messages
17,046
@madunit
Hey mate, or should I say hi Mad it's Nutz 🤣
That was sooo cool reading that.
It also highlights that you have far too much time on your hands ha ha.

2058 will also likely be the year after Pascoe and Chairman Lee are no longer involved with the club.......
So I'm wondering is there a chance you can do an edit because I'll be long gone by then 😭

Lee can’t survive the review.

I think Pascoe will struggle.

We should be poaching talent from other boards and enshrining member decision making power.

We’ve spent $80m on the white elephant coe and the net result has been 4 wins.

Boot the players out until they’ve earned it. Lease it out to someone who can use it properly.

Once we build the coe, state of the art barber and all that, we were supposed to be the next Melbourne Storm.


We build it, the players seem to spend most of their time in the jacuzzi or sauna and we actually play worse.

My bet is Brooksy had his own car park and private bbq out the back to get romantic with.

Justin would be a good fit for a dodgy building group, but no one’s going to employ him. So I guess he stays.

Next time, let’s just buy Justin a big Lego box.
 
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Tigerm

Coach
Messages
10,770
Lets look at the facts

Wests finals campaigns, by decade
1900-09 -
1910-19 -
1920-29 - 1927, 1929
1930-39 - 1930*, 1931, 1932, 1934*, 1935
1940-49 - 1945, 1947, 1948*, 1949
1950-59 - 1950, 1951, 1952*, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959
1960-69 - 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966
1970-79 - 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979
1980-89 - 1980, 1982
1990-99 - 1991, 1992, 1996

Balmain finals campaigns by decade
1900-09 - 1909
1910-19 - 1915*, 1916*, 1917*, 1919
1920-29 - 1920*, 1924*
1930-39 - 1932, 1936, 1938, 1939*
1940-49 - 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944*, 1945, 1946*, 1947*, 1948, 1949
1950-59 - 1950, 1956, 1958
1960-69 - 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1969*
1970-79 - 1975, 1977
1980-89 - 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
1990-99 - 1990

Combined - years where Balmain and Wests were both in the finals
1932
1945
1947
1948
1949
1950
1956
1958
1960
1961
1963
1966
1975

So, in the Wests Tigers first 24 seasons (2000-23) they've made 3 finals campaigns
Balmain and Wests combined in their first 24 seasons (1908-31) appeared together in zero

However, the NRL has played 4724 games over the last 24 years
The first 4724 games (or closest to) were played between the seasons 1908-1970 (4707 games) and both sides were in 12 finals series at the same time.

It would be 5 more years before they'd do it again.

Then 30 years after that, after both sides had been merged together, they won a Premiership.

So all I can deduce is that we'll make the finals again in 2028. Then between 2029 and 2058 we'll merge with some other side and win the Premiership in 2058.

2058 will also likely be the year after Pascoe and Chairman Lee are no longer involved with the club.
WOW, hahaha, very good.
 

Nutz

First Grade
Messages
5,296
I think all of our frustrations of the board/Pasco/Lee will be alleviated if...
1. We recruit the right people eg Cheika,
2. Recruit reliable players that we need in certain positions eg centre,
3. Start winning, especially close games and games that we should.
We are playing more home games next year so some solid performances there would definitely heal the scars.
Remember that dismal performance for Tommy's tribute. Yuk.
Just about every milestone game at Leichhardt Oval had a dismal result.
I was starting to think that home games were actually a disadvantage. Can someone tell me what our home games win/loss ratio has been over the years...is it getting worse?
It's hard not to join in the sledging of the board when we are consistently let down.
After I post a sledge of the board I say to myself, why did I do that as it's really not going to help us.
Yes the partition got the journos tongues wagging but now it's time to let go and get on the train again.
It's only going to hamper recruiting if we members are calling for Lee and co to be sacked.
So for me, well I'm going to start preserving some brain cells and please remind me if I start rubishing them again without due cause.
 

Tigerm

Coach
Messages
10,770
I think all of our frustrations of the board/Pasco/Lee will be alleviated if...
1. We recruit the right people eg Cheika,
2. Recruit reliable players that we need in certain positions eg centre,
3. Start winning, especially close games and games that we should.
We are playing more home games next year so some solid performances there would definitely heal the scars.
Remember that dismal performance for Tommy's tribute. Yuk.
Just about every milestone game at Leichhardt Oval had a dismal result.
I was starting to think that home games were actually a disadvantage. Can someone tell me what our home games win/loss ratio has been over the years...is it getting worse?
It's hard not to join in the sledging of the board when we are consistently let down.
After I post a sledge of the board I say to myself, why did I do that as it's really not going to help us.
Yes the partition got the journos tongues wagging but now it's time to let go and get on the train again.
It's only going to hamper recruiting if we members are calling for Lee and co to be sacked.
So for me, well I'm going to start preserving some brain cells and please remind me if I start rubishing them again without due cause.
Yep, winning fixes everything.
 
Messages
17,046
I think all of our frustrations of the board/Pasco/Lee will be alleviated if...
1. We recruit the right people eg Cheika,
2. Recruit reliable players that we need in certain positions eg centre,
3. Start winning, especially close games and games that we should.
We are playing more home games next year so some solid performances there would definitely heal the scars.
Remember that dismal performance for Tommy's tribute. Yuk.
Just about every milestone game at Leichhardt Oval had a dismal result.
I was starting to think that home games were actually a disadvantage. Can someone tell me what our home games win/loss ratio has been over the years...is it getting worse?
It's hard not to join in the sledging of the board when we are consistently let down.
After I post a sledge of the board I say to myself, why did I do that as it's really not going to help us.
Yes the partition got the journos tongues wagging but now it's time to let go and get on the train again.
It's only going to hamper recruiting if we members are calling for Lee and co to be sacked.
So for me, well I'm going to start preserving some brain cells and please remind me if I start rubishing them again without due cause.

Harden up brother.
 
Messages
17,046
The best teams are the ones who are the best defenders, first and foremost.

That needs to be our primary objective in 2024 - concede far less points.

Its easy to build an effective attack off the back of good defence.

It is not possible to do it the other way round.

The ying and the Yang must be in harmony young grasshopper.

Defence is pointless if you cannot score (excuse the pun).

Even the best defences wilt under individual mishaps but an attack can soothe the pain.

Rock, paper and scissors.
 
Messages
17,046
I am alarmed that young @Nutz has taken a step back into the dark side.

How many times have we been here before?

The mind and body becomes too used to this pre-season madness. Every year this f**king evil dark spell is cast and most of us fall for it. I’ve been there myself. I know.

No Lee, not this year.

We won’t be fooled again.

Changes are needed where it counts the most, ie the club decision makers.

No buying us off this year with spin and false hopes. I don’t care if we sign the entire kangaroo side before Xmas.

No more Eddie everywhere for Lee and co.

Let the fedora burn and the light and the heat start to meld our shattered hearts back together.

Get that stupid ferari and drive it off a cliff. Gift it to a single mum in Airds or something.

Take the castle and let the slaughter commence.

Spare no one and no injured lad left behind.

I’m f**king dying on my feet this year.

It’s over Lee, go quietly, get out of our lives.

I’m strapped in and prepared to get the spoon for the term of my natural life, so long as we sack these incompetent nerf balls from the board.

Bring up the battering rams, the coe must be taken at all costs.

Not one dickhead board member left alive ( figuratively anyways).

We must not fail.

Not one step back.

If nothing changes, we are entirely and absolutely f**ked beyond measure.
 
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