Season '22

[Iamback]

Was he booed?

They read the names out. Got to him no one cheered and you could hear boos

 

[DinkyDi]

They read the names out. Got to him no one cheered and you could hear boos

Did Burton, Capes, and Naden get the same treatment? Also, was there any re-signings, or signing, revealed?

 

[The Realist]

The coming season and the following one will determine whether Cleary is a good(ish) coach, an upper echelon coach or an Elite Coach.

Can he keep this team motivated enough to do all the 1%ers whilst under fatigue and duress like we did this season, or will a bunch of our players fall off a little because they have already achieved the pinnacle and are just not as hungry?

 

[Alintheeast]

An elite coach would not have lost to Wests and/or Cronulla, I appreciate there are significant differences in scale but these guys have been winning premierships all their careers. They turn up every game and still enjoy their achievements as evidenced by their faces yesterday. I think getting back to playing at Penrith Park will also help.

 

[Crashtest]

An elite coach would not have lost to Wests and/or Cronulla,

What? We only lost 2 regular games all season, which was those two games, when we were decimated by origin selections and injuries.

Across the whole 2021 season, Ivan beat the elite coaches 2 to 0 against Robinson, 3 to 1 against Bennet and 2 to 1 against Bellamy.

Across the last 2 seasons, it is Ivan 4 to 0 against Robinson, 5 to 1 against Bennet and 3 to 2 against Bellamy.

 

[Old and Disgruntled]

It wouldn't matter what Ivan achieved, the haters on here would still find fault.

 

[Kilkenny]

The coming season and the following one will determine whether Cleary is a good(ish) coach, an upper echelon coach or an Elite Coach.

Can he keep this team motivated enough to do all the 1%ers whilst under fatigue and duress like we did this season, or will a bunch of our players fall off a little because they have already achieved the pinnacle and are just not as hungry?

I think a lot depends on how he re-invents his squad.

Ivan and his support staff are more aware that we are around emerging talent within the club, than fans are, particularly given we haven’t seen much NSW Cup, Flegg or other juniors this past two Covid interrupted seasons.

From what I have heard there are some real talents within our junior ranks who the brains trust believes will emerge in 2023-2024 and potentially develop into NRL quality players. There is a genuine belief we could have six - eight NRL quality youngsters waiting’s in the wings so that sounds positive going forward.

 

[Kilkenny]

It wouldn't matter what Ivan achieved, the haters on here would still find fault.

I think there were legislate concerns when Ivan was brought back to the club by the Chairman of the Board, Dave O’Niell but he has been vindicated. Two GF’s, one Premiership, hard to argue against that.

 

[Alintheeast]

Craig Bellamy, Trent Robinson, Jack Gibson, Wayne Bennett, Tim Sheens, Norm Provan, Ken Kearney, Arthur Halloway were/are elite coaches. Not a hater but don’t think a Premiership qualifies him for elite status. If Ivan is elite then Johnny Lang is too. John took over a roster that had just won the Wooden Spoon and then won a Premier 2 years later.

 

[maple_69]

He’s not in the Robbie/Bellamy tier but I’d say he’s up there with Bennett who obviously has a way better resume but has 1 prem and 1 gf loss since clearys first year coaching. In that time Cleary has a prem and 2 gf losses and spent most of that time rebuilding perennially underperforming teams. Des has 2 wins/3 losses in that time and just 2 losses in the last decade.

Ive got to hand it to him on the Critter/Momo deployment. Lock down the only two left edges that could pick us apart and smash them with go forward proved the only path to a title we could have taken. He’s learning how to manage a team at this level and the other top guys have been there for 5-30 years.

 

[John Hamblin]

I like the signing of Chris Smith. Low cost good honest toiler who won't let you down!

 

[Westernised Panther]

I like the signing of Chris Smith. Low cost good honest toiler who won't let you down!

Not to mention the golden opportunity he now has to not only play for his junior club, but also to force his way into a first grade team that has the credentials to defend their premiership.

This should be enough motivation for him to give it his all. Good luck to him

 

[betcats]

At this stage it looks to me like Chris could be battling with hopgood and Lindsay smith for that last bench spot. J Maine and Lindsay are middles so but the middle rotation at full strength is sorted so they might find themselves needing to play on an edge to crack the side. Either way I like Lindsay and hopgood I think they can both kick on to be good nrl players, it’s a big year for them trying to establish themselves.

 

[Smug Panther]

At this stage it looks to me like Chris could be battling with hopgood and Lindsay smith for that last bench spot. J Maine and Lindsay are middles so but the middle rotation at full strength is sorted so they might find themselves needing to play on an edge to crack the side. Either way I like Lindsay and hopgood I think they can both kick on to be good nrl players, it’s a big year for them trying to establish themselves.

Out of the 3 Hopgood looks the mostly likely imo

 

[betcats]

Out of the 3 Hopgood looks the mostly likely imo

Agree but I’m keen to see more of Lindsay, his one game this year I was impressed with him in his limited minutes.

 

[DinkyDi]

 

[betcats]

I like Falls as a back up to Nath. Steady kind of half who organises and kicks very well and will keep the defence honest with the occasional scoot. Was working full time as tradie so going full time on an nrl contract should help him improve. Gun goal kicker also

 

[DinkyDi]

I like Falls as a back up to Nath. Steady kind of half who organises and kicks very well and will keep the defence honest with the occasional scoot. Was working full time as tradie so going full time on an nrl contract should help him improve. Gun goal kicker also

In his one and only game, I like the look of Lindsay Smith. Touch wood he, and Hopgood, both gets decent playing time.

 

[Smug Panther]

In his one and only game, I like the look of Lindsay Smith. Touch wood he, and Hopgood, both gets decent playing time.

Both have looked promising but Leniu is the one who needs minutes. Ivan hasn't done him any favours

 

[Iamback]

One of Hopgood, Smith or Leinu surely gets moved to the edge. Each bring their own skillset but Smith is probably the better backrower build