The Pile On

[Poss]

Does anyone else think the current pile-on is a bit dramatic?

We were absolutely woeful against the Dolphins, no argument there. But the “Fitzy is crap, the team is crap, we’ll never win one” rhetoric feels way over the top.

Over the last 5 years we’ve been a consistent top 4 side, or just outside it. Back-to-back prelims. That’s not a broken club that needs a full clean-out. Yes, we probably need a bit more speed and x-factor, but some of the carry-on in here, especially in the Fitzy thread, is wild.

I want a premiership too. No one’s saying settle for mediocrity. But we’ve been right in the mix, and there are a lot of clubs that would love to be where we’ve been. Those prelim losses came against the Panthers and Storm at their home grounds, and we weren’t blown off the park.

This year does feel a bit flat so far, sure. But it’s round 3. Calm down a bit.

What changes are we actually making right now anyway? Who’s coming in apart from maybe MG for Ramien?

We’ve seen this before. Last year we dropped games mid-season, then clicked and went on a run. With our draw, there’s no reason we can’t do that again.

I don’t want another prelim exit either. But I’d still take being in one over missing out completely.

Fair enough calling out blind positivity, but the level of negativity three weeks in is just as bad. It’s going to be a long season if this is the tone already.

Who’s with me in not writing the season off in March, and giving it a few more rounds before we burn it all down?

I look at my 8 year old son who still proudly wore his new Sharks merch to the mall on Sunday morning and still got a buzz when we ran into Blayke Brailey walking his dog. Seems a much sunnier way to follow a team! haha.

 

[Frailty]

We have made two prelims - sure. Whilst they weren't embarrassed, they weren't particularly ever close to winning them. So the club needs to be improved - but they've rolled out the exact same team. There is a well known saying about doing the same things and expecting different results.

The point of the competition is to win. They can't and won't win the competition with this team. That's the end of it. The issues that existed last season are still there, but add another year to player's ages, and more footage from opposing clubs to break down and analyse.

 

[Poss]

I don’t really disagree with that.

There are gaps in the roster and they haven’t been addressed yet. That’s fair.

But this is also the last year with this squad. We know there’s going to be movement next season, so it’s not like the club thinks this group is the finished product.

They’re also not a million miles off. We’ve been in prelims the last two years. With a bit going our way and a different side of the draw to Penrith and Melbourne, it’s not impossible to jag a GF spot.

Does it feel likely right now? Probably not. But writing the whole thing off in March doesn’t really achieve anything either.

It’s going to be a long season if everyone’s already decided we can’t win it.

 

[DJDL]

It may be a little OTT, but for some, like me, it's the result of the realisation that, once again, we're there or thereabouts but ultimately not good enough.

We've heard all this talk over the pre-season of "this being our last chance to do something special" and "the boys all came back in great shape and firing".

So far we've seen:

- Our second tier forwards get steamrolled by the Eels kids
- The main team score a heap against the Raiders second stringers
- The team run riot for 40 minutes against arguably the biggest laughing stock in NRL history
- Then resort to half-arsed measures post-half time
- Come out swinging against the Panthers, then drop our heads the second things go against us and start playing panic football and making basic errors. For the gazillionth time in a match against a genuine heavyweight
- Turn their toes up, badly, at home against a mid-table side

Throw in the fact that our next batch of players coming through don't look anywhere near ready to step up, and certainly not in the positions which most need strengthening, and it paints a pretty dark picture.

Call me pessimistic if you will.
But it's hard to be optimistic when everything is so pharqued... haha

 

[Frailty]

I don’t really disagree with that.

There are gaps in the roster and they haven’t been addressed yet. That’s fair.

But this is also the last year with this squad. We know there’s going to be movement next season, so it’s not like the club thinks this group is the finished product.

They’re also not a million miles off. We’ve been in prelims the last two years. With a bit going our way and a different side of the draw to Penrith and Melbourne, it’s not impossible to jag a GF spot.

Does it feel likely right now? Probably not. But writing the whole thing off in March doesn’t really achieve anything either.

It’s going to be a long season if everyone’s already decided we can’t win it.

They are the same gaps that existed ALL through last season. Weren't addressed by the club or the coach.

The Sharks weren't going to beat the Broncos in the prelim and they weren't beating Melbourne in the 2024 prelim. So this 'If we were on the different side of the draw' is absolute delusional nonsense.

It's going to be a long season because the coach has shown he can not, and will not, make changes throughout the season (and apparently in the offseason too).

 

[Poss]

Do we think our bigger pack might be struggling a bit with the speed of the game and the rule changes? Could just be an adjustment period.

I get the counter to that is we knew about it in the off-season and should’ve addressed it. Fair.

I’m not saying everything’s fine. The gaps are there and they’ve been there for a while.

I just don’t get jumping straight to “season over” after three rounds. That’s the part that feels over the top.

It’s round 3. Things can change pretty quickly in a long season.

At the moment it feels like any loss just confirms what people have already decided, rather than actually watching how things play out.

 

[roboshark]

Nope. Pile on

f**k em

 

[Dragon Slayer]

We need some X factor in the backline.

Centre, Full back and Nicho’s spot.

Game breakers the other top teams have that we lack.

Been impressed with Iro and Stonestreet.

Just need to move on the meh.

Maybe blood Felix Faatilli for a bench role.

We need to freshen things up a bit and play more attacking football and less of this one out shyte.

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

Does anyone else think the current pile-on is a bit dramatic?

We were absolutely woeful against the Dolphins, no argument there. But the “Fitzy is crap, the team is crap, we’ll never win one” rhetoric feels way over the top.

Over the last 5 years we’ve been a consistent top 4 side, or just outside it. Back-to-back prelims. That’s not a broken club that needs a full clean-out. Yes, we probably need a bit more speed and x-factor, but some of the carry-on in here, especially in the Fitzy thread, is wild.

I want a premiership too. No one’s saying settle for mediocrity. But we’ve been right in the mix, and there are a lot of clubs that would love to be where we’ve been. Those prelim losses came against the Panthers and Storm at their home grounds, and we weren’t blown off the park.

This year does feel a bit flat so far, sure. But it’s round 3. Calm down a bit.

What changes are we actually making right now anyway? Who’s coming in apart from maybe MG for Ramien?

We’ve seen this before. Last year we dropped games mid-season, then clicked and went on a run. With our draw, there’s no reason we can’t do that again.

I don’t want another prelim exit either. But I’d still take being in one over missing out completely.

Fair enough calling out blind positivity, but the level of negativity three weeks in is just as bad. It’s going to be a long season if this is the tone already.

Who’s with me in not writing the season off in March, and giving it a few more rounds before we burn it all down?

I look at my 8 year old son who still proudly wore his new Sharks merch to the mall on Sunday morning and still got a buzz when we ran into Blayke Brailey walking his dog. Seems a much sunnier way to follow a team! haha.

ill decide by origin

IMO, we are gonna be very similar
which make sthe week to week nice but in the end..its what if

 

[R-15-3]

While Kennedy is fullback we won’t be a real premiership threat , solid player and top 8 yes but can’t see a world where Kennedy lifts the trophy.
Id love to see an alternate world where Dykes & ISON never got injured to see where this team would be at.

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

idk why kennedy gets singled out. hes actually played fine this year

ramien, nikora, halves, tom, afb need more blame

as to "not seeing him lift a trophy"
sure maybe, but TBH thats the situation we got ourselves in this position by continually re signing guys like BHU, Briton, Oregon, Hazelton tbh given this year, Ramien, all these blokes.

the lack of turnover in other positions meant that will was kept on a cheap price

 

[Feej 2: Electric Boogaloo]

The team is "solid", and that's about all you can say.

There's no standout, no "X-Factor". Sure, there's supposed to be, but unfortunately the much heralded #7 is as good as he's ever going to be, and that ain't enough.

They're a good side, but that's all they are, and therein lies the problem.

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

2029 that contract is up

ooooof

 

[Bookie]

When any of our backs make a break, I am never sure they’ll ever make it to the try line before an opposition front row forward chases them down.
Just no speed or excitement.

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

Stonestreet has a big of toe
the rest.
treacle men

 

[Stake Removed]

Fitz has stuck basically with same squad will be 5 years a couple players have came in but not much.
Last year was our chance, as pointed out lack of speed, other teams watching us, plus they have been improving adding players to the squad.
Hynes is not a half back its plain to see, Fitz believes he is, that needs to be fixed.
Another concern which I think has been missed is, we have not developed in now 5 years a backup to Brailey, Healey left and we are stuck with an old Berrell, if Brailey gets injured we are shot completely.
Fitz is also very reluctant to give young guys a run compared to other clubs, or the club is slow to get these players up to speed, that is on Fitz

What annoys most is he won't drop certain players, maybe doing this making play reserves will fire them up

 

[Craigshark]

It’s frustrating when some of you complain about how bad our forwards are going and then blame nicho in the same sentence. A halfback can’t do shit when his forwards are getting rag dolled by blokes half their size. Hynes has been taking more tough carries out of our own back-end after tackling his arse off than some of our superstar forwards. No wonder he can’t come up with an x-factor rabbit out of his arse play we all want. Hynes isn’t perfect, but hasn’t been our problem the first 3 rounds of this season. Trindall was horrible against the Panthers and not much better against the Dolphin

Ramien, Hazelton, AFB, Nikora, Kaufusi, Uele, Rudolf (besides for about 10 minutes on the weekend just gone) have all been a problem. Talakai hasn’t been his usual effective self off the bench, and then when we need a spurt from him, he gets taken off for his token interchange.

Does AFB have an offload in him? Why isn’t he scoring as many tries or creating as many opportunities for us as he was for the Wahs? Why is it when we throw an offload, there is no off the cuff second phase, because for 4 seasons every player looks like they’re too busy setting up for the next play.

I don’t think it’s time to write the year off, but the forwards need to find some mongrel and form.

 

[PJ]

All of the above plus they are just so boring to watch.


You know every play of every set.

 

[R-15-3]

idk why kennedy gets singled out. hes actually played fine this year

ramien, nikora, halves, tom, afb need more blame

as to "not seeing him lift a trophy"
sure maybe, but TBH thats the situation we got ourselves in this position by continually re signing guys like BHU, Briton, Oregon, Hazelton tbh given this year, Ramien, all these blokes.

the lack of turnover in other positions meant that will was kept on a cheap price

100% agree about the rest of the squad but every team can carry average players but the past 10+ years every premiership team has had an outstanding fullback.

Kind of feel for Fitz in a way, he has been trying to bring along a fullback for over 3 seasons to all be destroyed by injuries

 

[Ozzi_78]

I will give my opinion tomorrow at 4:05pm