Season 2026

[Fangs]

Still got some international football to get through. We need a really good rest after another gruelling season. We just ran out of steam in the end.

Some luck with off-season surgeries would be nice. I think we had 3 key players under the knife last time and that didn't help at all.

And still no home ground. On the road for every game in 2025. Hopefully our final year of that if construction doesn't halt.

Otherwise we are looking pretty good for 2026. Top 30 isn't finalised. Curious to see if we have any movement there in the coming months.

 

[BossleyPanther]

We will need another Prop along with Tom Ale. players aging need to start blooding players on that 14 role,, Melbourne doing it well

 

[Oldpanther86]

We will need another Prop along with Tom Ale. players aging need to start blooding players on that 14 role,, Melbourne doing it well

I'm gonna say the unpopular thing. I still want cole.Surely the GOAT coach can teach him to play multiple roles to an acceptable level say a 6 out of 10 in case of injury and the guy defends really f**king good. get him to hit the weights for a little strength over the pre season and you've got the perfect cheap 14.

 

[ColdWetPanther]

We will need another Prop along with Tom Ale. players aging need to start blooding players on that 14 role,, Melbourne doing it well

I think we are right with props. Moses has another few years left in him (with fewer minutes) and Smith, Henry and Patea are developing nicely. Ice in the middle has been incredible second half of the season.

I think we are short on backrowers. And 14 is a problem.

 

[soc123_au]

I'm gonna say the unpopular thing. I still want cole.Surely the GOAT coach can teach him to play multiple roles to an acceptable level say a 6 out of 10 in case of injury and the guy defends really f**king good. get him to hit the weights for a little strength over the pre season and you've got the perfect cheap 14.

I'd like to see this too, Ivan must see something there to have started the year with him at 6.

Sort out the 14 and a few decent backrowers and we are in a great spot.

 

[Oldpanther86]

I'd like to see this too, Ivan must see something there to have started the year with him at 6.

Sort out the 14 and a few decent backrowers and we are in a great spot.

Yeah second row is a worry. I don't see Sorro going well another year there unless there was some injury holding him back this season we didn't know about. He's starting to slow down and needed garner to take 30 minutes.

 

[Chins]

Ivan's bench lost us the game yesterday, it has been coming for years but playing with only 16 every week is really awful coaching.
We need a 14 who can contribute in EVERY type of match.

 

[Karnivayne]

Lindsay Smith is a good bench 2nd rower and direct replacement for Yeo over origin, he doesnt bend the line back or a consistent offload threat but can ball play. Sorenson is done and Henry doesnt offer much in attack or defense. The big win is Schneider leaving, unfortunately Ivan will find another Schneider somewhere and throw him in.

We need another starting forward, bench forward, starting 2nd row and a decent utility.

 

[Chins]

Lindsay Smith is a good bench 2nd rower and direct replacement for Yeo over origin, he doesnt bend the line back or a consistent offload threat but can ball play. Sorenson is done and Henry doesnt offer much in attack or defense. The big win is Schneider leaving, unfortunately Ivan will find another Schneider somewhere and throw him in.

We need another starting forward, bench forward, starting 2nd row and a decent utility.

Ivan is a stubborn f**k so we'll see Cogger riding the pine for 70+ mins a game.

 

[Oldpanther86]

Ivan is a stubborn f**k so we'll see Cogger riding the pine for 70+ mins a game.

Yes and I'm gonna cry about it every week so get ready.

 

[Chins]

Yes and I'm gonna cry about it every week so get ready.

Ill be right there with ya.
14.Garner with 3 other forwards wins yesterday.
If Nathan goes down we lose no matter what so what the point?

 

[BossleyPanther]

I'm gonna say the unpopular thing. I still want cole.Surely the GOAT coach can teach him to play multiple roles to an acceptable level say a 6 out of 10 in case of injury and the guy defends really f**king good. get him to hit the weights for a little strength over the pre season and you've got the perfect cheap 14.

I thought this at the beginning of the year. He would be best suited to 14. But I think Ivan will go Cogger

 

[Hooked]

We need a 14 that adds spark. Whether its a line-break, a 40/20. Something that can swing momentum our way.

Also need to sort out the backrow. Sorro needs to be a bench forward next year with Garner starting.
And we need to blood a young backrower to get them ready for 27. In case Sorro and Garner are borh gone end of next season. Whether that is Clarke, Crosby or someone else.

I would also like to see Talagi be the other option for a field goal. Most opposition teams know to rush at Cleary. We need another viable option. Even if its just for 1 point. 20-30 metres out. Talagi should be that alternative.

 

[Chins]

The easiest option to sort 14 is to buy a hooker. Kenny can still play huge minutes but some just tackling

 

[Oldpanther86]

We need a 14 that adds spark. Whether its a line-break, a 40/20. Something that can swing momentum our way.

Also need to sort out the backrow. Sorro needs to be a bench forward next year with Garner starting.
And we need to blood a young backrower to get them ready for 27. In case Sorro and Garner are borh gone end of next season. Whether that is Clarke, Crosby or someone else.

I would also like to see Talagi be the other option for a field goal. Most opposition teams know to rush at Cleary. We need another viable option. Even if its just for 1 point. 20-30 metres out. Talagi should be that alternative.

And Nathan needs to learn to take risks. Thats his next evolution. Nothing crazy juat every now and then a calculated risk/reward play.

 

[Sime_11]

Sam Healey from the Wahs would be a very astute 14 for us ( i even think he could start for us in some games just to relieve Kenny as well)

gotta sort that 14 problem - its finally cost us as Chin & others have been saying for yonks.

Middle forwards we are fine - I expect Yeo to move into starting prop at some point (Smith can pinch at 13 with Paps as backup)

we are very settled with competition for spots in backs & forwards - and losing no one we need this off season is great for us. it cant be understated how settled that will make us in the off season.

our stalwarts are getting older - we really need to find the balance of reducing their minutes (Yeo a perfect example) - we want quality minutes from our guys - we can share game time around 17 players, but each player has to bring quality minutes not quantity (that's not a dig at Yeo FYI)

 

[age.s]

Imo Garner shouldnt be starting. He looks like "our best backrower" when he comes on in the second half, fresh, against tired opponents, ready to utilise his hole running. When he starts he has to do a lot of tackling and his engine gets tested. He's ok in that role, but its not his strength.

I really feel like we really lost something when Patea dropped out too. You could see it missing in the second half yesterday. We needed a spark, something to go our way and it never happened.

I agree with buying a hooker and having a second field goal option that isn't Edwards.

 

[Oldpanther86]

Imo Garner shouldnt be starting. He looks like "our best backrower" when he comes on in the second half, fresh, against tired opponents, ready to utilise his hole running. When he starts he has to do a lot of tackling and his engine gets tested. He's ok in that role, but its not his strength.

I really feel like we really lost something when Patea dropped out too. You could see it missing in the second half yesterday. We needed a spark, something to go our way and it never happened.

I agree with buying a hooker and having a second field goal option that isn't Edwards.

Patea instead of Schneider yesterday and we probably win. Absolutely no chance broncos stop that yardage game and the fatigue isn't as bad.

 

[Whino]

We need another hooker. At this stage its only Kenny and the untested Scott in our top 30 next year.

 

[Whino]

No Vegas or World Club Challenge to prepare for. As Fangs said hopefully a good run with off-season surgeries.
Our pre-season prep should be a lot better next-season.
A few tweaks and we can be back on top again.