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The 2017 Pre-Season Thread

J

Joel-22

Juniors
Messages
899
I know it's a game early but for must of us it just can't come quickly enough. I'm actually quite excited by this pre-season due to all of the uncertainty surrounding who will be playing and in what position. Also, it seems we now have a humble amount of money for a signing or 2 for next year. Who will they be?

  • Nathan Ross
  • Daniel Saifiti
  • Jacob Saifiti
  • Sione Mata'utia
  • Pete Mata'utia
  • Sam Mataora
  • Mitch Barnett
  • Danny Levi
  • Tyler Randall
Realistically, the aforementioned players are the only players who would have to f**k up monumentally in the pre-season not to feature somewhere in the 2017 round 1 side. That leaves 8 spots entirely up for grabs.
Final Warning for the following players:

  • Korbin Sims - has not progressed since he made his debut in 2013. Last chance
  • Dane Gagai - abysmal year and I sat that as a Gagai apologist
  • Jarrod Mullen - this is more due to injury, if he sustains another major injury surely he retires
  • Trent Hodkinson - he won't be the new kid on the block next season so there is no excuse for the shit he has provided thus far
As a team I'd like to see us work on attacking sets 20-30 metres out from the try line (easily out worst area for the back half of 2016), our wrestling and support play.

In the way of signings, we desperately need a fullback and asap so they can get a full pre-season training with the side.
We also need a hard-nosed front rower with a bit of experience and a tackling machine workhorse.

This is what I'd lean towards:

1.New Fullback
2.Brendan Elliott
3.Nathan Ross
4.Pete Mata'utia
5.Dane Gagai
6.Jarrod Mullen
7.Trent Hodkinson
8.Sam Mataora
9.Tyler Randall
10.New Prop
11.Sione Mata'utia
12.Mitch Barnett
13.New Tackle Machine Lock

14.Danny Levi
15.Daniel Saifiti
16.Jacob Saifiti
17.Korbin Sims
 
Knight76

Knight76

Juniors
Messages
2,045
Give Nathan Ross the Pre-Season at fullback and give him a chance. He just does not have enough space to work with on the wing, Centre would be fine but I'd like to see how he goes at the back.

Hell, throw him in there next week against the Dragons as a taster.
 
Burwood

Burwood

Bench
Messages
4,988
The main excitement should centre around who is going to buy the club. Not only will it (hopefully) open up the player market to us, but it should also see the end of Gidley at the club.

On the player front, I wonder where Phythian sits in the scheme of things? Hopefully we have enough depth to allow him to be eased into first grade off the bench, not thrown to the slaughter like Feeney was.

And speaking of Feeney, I still have hope for him yet.
 
Allstar Knights

Allstar Knights

Juniors
Messages
2,199
I like the look of Matthew Soper-Lawler in NYC. I don't think it will take him long to overtake Elliot for his wing spot. Class player.

I would let go of Korbin. Been weak as piss this year.
 
J

Joel-22

Juniors
Messages
899
Allstar Knights said:
I like the look of Matthew Soper-Lawler in NYC. I don't think it will take him long to overtake Elliot for his wing spot. Class player.

I would let go of Korbin. Been weak as piss this year.
Click to expand...

It's amazing what a year can do. I'd have laughed at the idea of letting Korbin go in 2015, now I'd simply shrug my shoulders. I'd put Gagai in the same boat, although I'm willing to give him another season because at his best, he's very good. At Korbin's best, he's average.
 
Glendale

Glendale

Juniors
Messages
879
This is potentially our most important pre-season ever. Firstly big changes off the field with the new owners coming in, as well as what I'd expect to be changes within the coaching structure. Also key signings are going to have to be made in order to help us become more competitive, without 2-3 good ones I'd say next year will be no different to this year. The there's the on field stuff- with such a young squad, every pre-season in pivotal. The whole squad will be more experienced next year so there will be less excuses and we should be able to visibly see the improvement in individuals and the team collectively. For Brown, he just needs to settle on things. He's had a year of trial where he's tried a lot of different things and had a look at a lot of different players, in the pre-season he really needs to settle on what he thinks is our best team and run with it, no chopping and changing like this year. I think something that's often forgotten about this year is the amount of players we've had to use. We've used almost 40 players, buy far the most in the league, and we've had to call upon players from outside the original first grade squad eg. Dennis, King, Pythian, Adams, who are all local league or part-time footballers, just to make up the numbers in our team this year. I think all of the young players will improve, some may even improve rapidly from this offseason.
 
Mr_Knightside

Mr_Knightside

Juniors
Messages
2,375
I agree, a couple of off season signings will be crucial for injecting some experience into our squad.

I can't see us being any worse next year, having consistency in who plays first grade will help us, we can't afford another injury crisis like we have had this year, just about all our players have spent time on the sidelines or have played injured.

A couple of our younger guys will benefit immensely from having a full time off season, King will be better next year as well as Denniss who really needs to hit the gym and add some muscle to his frame.
 
Allstar Knights

Allstar Knights

Juniors
Messages
2,199
The only thing I'm excited about is to see the progression of the Saifiti's and Sione as a backrower after another off-season.

It's a bit sad that's all to be excited about.
 
Glendale

Glendale

Juniors
Messages
879
I think the trick is to think like old mate Chicken Hunter. Keep the expectations at rock bottom so everything good that happens will be a pleasant surprise.
 
Knight76

Knight76

Juniors
Messages
2,045
Allstar Knights said:
The only thing I'm excited about is to see the progression of the Saifiti's and Sione as a backrower after another off-season.

It's a bit sad that's all to be excited about.
Click to expand...

Seriously? What about Josh King going full time with the squad and seeing how he goes next year, or Phythian, should be full time next, Levi will be recovered and will be good to see how he develops in tandem with whichever rake we sign. There are other things to be looking forward to next year.
 
Glendale

Glendale

Juniors
Messages
879
Browny's quite obviously a fan. Gets picked over more talented players whilst training once a week.
 
Knight76

Knight76

Juniors
Messages
2,045
Josh is a good prospect. Bugger though I thought his apprenticeship finished this year.

I get the opinion around here that if you didn't come out of the womb a superstar your not worth the effort.
 
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