Surely with all these contracted players being released

[themanonthehill]

We can negotiate 5 yr contract extensions and upgrades for Junior Burger and Morris.
We must sign them early before the vultures circle

 

[Steve Austin]

We can negotiate 5 yr contract extensions and upgrades for Junior Burger and Morris.
We must sign them early before the vultures circle

Apparently the club is negotiating for McDonnell to become the very first 10yr Wests Tiger along with keeping Morris on as 'skills' coach once his current contract expires.

I can see a dynasty building here. :sarcasm:

 

[Vicious]

My info is that we are on the lookout for a couple of recruits.
No idea who, but i reckon there`s still some talent that may be available for next season IF we act fast.
Players such as either Michael Dobson, Daniel Holdsworth or Scott Dureau as a more natural halfback and most importantly they all have good kicking games. Nick Youngquest or the slim chance of getting a release for Luke Rooney for some depth in the backs, i`d personally also look at David Howell as a winger with pace, size and height.
A big, strong and AGGRESSIVE prop would be great, but to be honest, i can`t see anyone available who`d be much better than what we already have ??? That being the case, i`d be making sure we retain Jarrod Saffy and Luke Harlen, give them more of a go next season and re-acess our forwards halfway into next season as i`m sure some big names wil be available at the end of `2008.
In saying that, it wouldn`t do no harm to sign a couple of big, strong and athletic young forwards such as Steve McLean and Brenton Lawrence from the Raiders as they wouldn`t cost us much and have the potential to be real wild cards. Rumours already linking McLean with the Dragons.

 

[themanonthehill]

I'd be a big fan of us signing Holdsworth or Dobson. As Daley say often says a poor set can become a great set with a big clearing kick. Our kicks lack distance and we don't have a get out boot like a Monaghan, Anasta, Campese (crikey he can launch them), Sherwin, Finch etc. And we have a lot of poor sets distance wise. Rooney would be a massive coup, as would Lewis. Depends on how much Penriff want to free up to have a dig at Carney either this season or next

 

[Vicious]

I'd be a big fan of us signing Holdsworth or Dobson. As Daley say often says a poor set can become a great set with a big clearing kick. Our kicks lack distance and we don't have a get out boot like a Monaghan, Anasta, Campese (crikey he can launch them), Sherwin, Finch etc. And we have a lot of poor sets distance wise. Rooney would be a massive coup, as would Lewis. Depends on how much Penriff want to free up to have a dig at Carney either this season or next

It doesn`t look like Penrith are going to release Rooney, so i reckon a combination of Nick Youngquest and David Howell, both tall and fast, fighting for one wing spot wouldn`t be abd poor mans option ?
And as far as the halfbacks are concerned, i reckon the relatively unproven Scott Dureau is far more talented than either Dobson or Holdsworth. Any of them would be an improvement on what we had this season, but if it were up to me, i`d be taking the gamble on Dureau, i`ve got no doubts he`ll make a big name for himself next season, no matter what club he ends up at.
This wouldn`t mean i`d forgotten about Blake Lazarus either, as i`d be looking to utilise his pace and running game as a 5/8 when Benji`s unavailable which will probably be quite often.

 

[Gus22]

It doesn`t look like Penrith are going to release Rooney, so i reckon a combination of Nick Youngquest and David Howell, both tall and fast, fighting for one wing spot wouldn`t be abd poor mans option ?
And as far as the halfbacks are concerned, i reckon the relatively unproven Scott Dureau is far more talented than either Dobson or Holdsworth. Any of them would be an improvement on what we had this season, but if it were up to me, i`d be taking the gamble on Dureau, i`ve got no doubts he`ll make a big name for himself next season, no matter what club he ends up at.
This wouldn`t mean i`d forgotten about Blake Lazarus either, as i`d be looking to utilise his pace and running game as a 5/8 when Benji`s unavailable which will probably be quite often.

Howell? Are you sure you're not confusing Howell with Purtell? From what I've seen Howell is PL standard. Purtell on the other hand has potential, I'd sign him if available.

 

[rupertpupkin]

Am not sure that any of these proposals are going to significantly help. The time that a couple of decent signings could make an impact has well and truly passed. The team has lacked command since the Prince debacle in early 2006. That needs to be addressed as well as position filling. Also goal kicking. Unless defence is drastically improved, WT will continue to miss the 8 without a good (specialist) kicker. The team is a mess, the players are obviously out of their depth, and the bottom has dropped out of the side. This is a result of terrible recruitment, and stupid releases, resulting in players constantly shifting positions to cover the lack of key spots, and attempts to "manufacture" a player to fill gaps. This has gone on too long, and much more needs to be done than blowing more cap $$$ on band aid solutions. The whole recruitment, signings, upgrades, and retention-release strategy (possibly personnel to boot) has to be scrapped, and the team rebuilt from the ground up. Start from scratch.

 

[super_coach]

Sheens has always said you need a no1 no6 no7 and no9 and some good athletes to fill the other numbers--well at present we have
1--a great nine with good back up
2--a no 1 with a big heart but just not the legs anymore to play no1 at this level week in and week out
3--a no6 who in a good side would be a super star but is on struggle street with our mob
4--no no7
5-- not too many athletes either

 

[Vicious]

Sheens has always said you need a no1 no6 no7 and no9 and some good athletes to fill the other numbers--well at present we have
1--a great nine with good back up
2--a no 1 with a big heart but just not the legs anymore to play no1 at this level week in and week out
3--a no6 who in a good side would be a super star but is on struggle street with our mob
4--no no7
5-- not too many athletes either

I agree 100%. The only way to get around having a side with no playmaking or creative number 7 is to surround whoever the 7 maybe with strong, tackle busting ball runners and hard hitting defenders. We`d have to be running last in forcing turnovers, no one in the side hits hard except young Ben Te`o and we had very few players who run onto the football and are capable of making a line break, again Ben Te`o is one of our only players that run onto the football with aggression. Chris Lawrence always runs onto the football hence the reason he`s one of our most dangerous and Liam Fulton is capable, but for whatever reason, only does it sparingly.

 

[Gus22]

I think we have a good base to work with. Three things worry me:

A) We are lacking some size and aggro in the engine room to complement our football playing ability on the fringes.
B) Our defensive pattern & technique needs a massive overhaul.
C) Lack of depth in playing roster

Key positions are covered:
1. Hodgo. Has last a yard or two of pace but is still a great ball player. He would more than adequately play the role of a half or 5/8 in attack. In defence at fullback he is as safe as houses.

6. Covered by Hodgo in attack. In defence Morris or Fulton will do.

7. Marshall. A work in progress as a half back. I've seen enough class from him, that given a solid season in the position, he could be one of the best 7's in the NRL. The prospect of injury is the real concern here, as is playing him on the wing in defence. I'd be inclined to stick with him on the wing in defence (with vast improvement required). The shoulder is more likely to pop when trying to tackle forwards in mid-field. Marshall is the key and must play 80% of games if this side is to have a winning year.

9. Farah. Best in the business. As long as he's not burdoned with having to provide all the attacking options, he is largely uncontainable.

Atheletes:
McDonnell: Dissappointing so far, but on the wing outside Collis his speed is a big weapon.
Collis: Big, fast, with ball skills
Lawrence: Big, fast, with line breaking ability.
Heighington: Big engine, goes all day.
Teo: Big, fast, with an offload.
Tuiaki: Big, reasonable pace, very powerful.

 

[super_coach]

I think we should try and get back to a situation where the no7 plays no7 both in attack and defence.

With every player having a diffrent role in attack, defence ,with the wind ,against the wind,different refs,night or day they need to be a rhode scholar to work where they should be--keep it simple

 

[themanonthehill]

However we end up at least it is looking like supercoach is on his last legs as a first grade coach (at least with us) and hopefully the gnome will follow simultaneously (though knowing our administration I expect sizzler simmons will be given a 10 yr rolling contract on 500k a year).

There are divisions, bizarre recruitment and retention and cracks are starting to appear. Noyce's Man U of the NRL has become the equivalent of the Accrington Stanley of the NRL. I thought the days of not up to it offspring ended with the days of Stapleton and Carroll (Bernard Carroll was possibly the worst footballer to have ever worn the shirt) but Ronald is endeavouring to carry on the tradition.