Tough decisions to be made in 2008

[waltzing Meninga]

With the addition of Joel Monahan next year, and the amount of quality forwards available in 2008, some pretty tough decisions need to be made by Neil Henry if we are to be a serious contender in 2008.

Allan Tongue

While I love the guy to bits, I think Terry Campese will be a better lock. Tongue would be perfect off the bench to inject some energy and creativity around some tiring forwards.

Terry Campese reminds me of a young Brad Fittler, and while Allan Tongue is the heart and soul of the club at the moment, he just doesn't have the size, skill, creativity or ability to break the line that Terry does.

With so many quality second rowers, I can not find a position in the starting line up for Tonguey next year.

This means a new captain, though I beleive this is a neccesity for success next year.

I know some people will scream at this idea, though as i said its a tough call that I beleive needs to be made.


Phil Graham

I think he needs to be moved to the wing. Joel Monahan will take one centre position, while I think the other position should go to Purtell if he returns. He has shown before his injury he has the talent to be a decent centre, and has size and strength to muscle his way over the line, something we have lacked in previous seasons.

I also think Phils blinding speed can be better used on the wing.

Michael Weyman

I think if he does not play at least 18 matches next season, the club needs to get rid of him. While he has all the potential in the world, he has been nothing but a chink out of the salary cap over the past 4 seasons.

Will Zillman

I think he must remain at fullback. He has had a massive learning experience this year, and I beleive he will show great improvement next year provided his knee is OK. He is the game breaker we will need.

Collin Best

Is not a winger and we have better centre options available in Purtell and Monahan. Should remain in PL and cover for any injuries.

Bronx Goodwin

Should take the other wing position with Best, Howell,Milne and Kelly remaining in PL.


I think if we can make the above calls next year we will be in for one great season providing injuries are kind to us.

 

[Timbo]

I stopped reading as soon as you suggested replacing Tongue.

Did you see what happened when he was off the field on Saturday? Case closed.

 

[Raider_69]

Have you gone completely f**king sideways?
replace tongue indeed

 

[waltzing Meninga]

I knew I was going to cop some flack for this, though Campese is a future representative player, while Tongue is a quality first grader.

Tongue would be perfect off the bench

 

[Raider_69]

You sir, are a goose clown!

 

[Raidersrawesome]

I stopped reading as soon as you suggested replacing Tongue.

Did you see what happened when he was off the field on Saturday? Case closed.

seconded , we lose everything when he is not playing , campo bench spot , would be dynamite coming off it , superb attacking option.

 

[Lime_Green]

I agree that some tough decisions will need to be made, though I agree with few of the options you have listed.

(1) Alan Tongue is our captain courageous. He needs to be on the field 80 minutes a game, preferably 25 games a year! He gets through a mountain of defensive work and is very handy in attack. Terry Campese should be in the side, however. Just in the 14 jersey as a utility. Had he been in the team this week we would not have lost IMO. His defense in particular would have come in handy when Tongue was forced off.

(2) Yes Phil Graham looks terrific out on the wing. But since he's been back from injury I am now convinced that he is a better centre. His defense is outstanding, Purtell's is not. He will be wasted on the wing. As we have seen in recent matches playing him in the centres does not mean he can't be occasionally switcherooed on an attacking raid so that he is furtherest out.

(3) Michael Weyman is a core part of our club and we should stick by him as long as he's not taking up too much of the cap - which I strongly doubt he is. Dump Weyman and our 2008 prop stocks look mighty low.

(4) I agree that Zillman is our first choice fullback.

(5) Best has been killing it in the centres, and makes a far better winger than Purtell. People have had a go at Best for his wing defense but do you remember how poorly Purtell defended out wide all of last year? Purtell is not a winger and all of Graham, Monaghan and Best are better options in the centres. Purtell as a backup.

(6) Goodwin I agree he should stick on the other wing. Better defender than Purtell out there IMO and shows serious flair. Purtell is too slow to be a decent winger.

 

[Brimmer]

I've been toying with the idea of tongue at hooker. He is at his best when he is sneaking around the ruck. Withers is still a good option though. But if I was king for a day I'd have withers off the bench to cover 6,7,9 if anything goes pair shaped. Tonguey at hooker and Campo at lock.

Be gentle.....

 

[Deleted member 10972]

1. Zillman
2. Milne
3. Monaghan
4. Best
5. Graham
6. Carney
7. Dobson
8. Logan
9. Withers
10. Thompson
11. Costigan
12. Plum
13. Tongue

14. Chalk
15. Turner
16. Learoyd-Lahrs
17. Weyman

1. Goodwin
2. Cross
3. Purtell
4. Kelly
5. Howell
6. Campese
7. Herbert
8. Tilse
9. ??
10. Thurling
11. Miller
12. Bickerstaff
13. Picker

14. ??
15. Jones
16. ??
17. ??

Looks pretty good for depth IMO.

 

[Timbo]

I remain largely convinced that the solution is to bring Tongue to the second row - where he can still do what he does - and bring Campese into the side as a ball-playing lock.

However that creates the problem of rotation. I think in that configuration, you have Tongue and Campese who are both 80 minute players. Costigan would start, but then you'd have Learoyd-Lahrs and Bickerstaff (who was very, very strong on Saturday) being under-utilized on the bench.

 

[Chachi]

Sacrilege! Captain Courageous is a legend and the NRL should look at replacing the number 13 on all jerseys with the word "Tongue". He's an 80 minute tackling machine and is also outstanding in the ball playing department. Above all he's a leader who appears to inspire confidence on those around him which is a priceless quality. Consistenly voted the most underrated player in the NRL by his peers for good reason.

At full strength I'd love to see Costigan and TLL start in the back row with him. Take your pick from Plum, Turner and Bickerstaff off the bench.

Campo is an ideal number 14 IMO. He can cover centres to halves to back row. He's a solid defender and has a reasonable kicking game (especially long). Will inject momentum and variety into our attack when the heat is out of the game - however he needs to come into the game with all guns blazing.

All that is well and good though - we've got limitless options up front but if Henry can get the magic 1-5 combination in the backs right then we're really cooking.

 

[green eyed mike]

Yeah, you certainly leave Tongue out of the starting line up. Even Elliot was smart enough to realise that the team needed him there so it must have been pretty f#cking obvious "he's to small and too slow but I leave him out the guys will kill me" or somehting like that. He led the tackle count in the NRL last year and is right up there this year as well as improving his ball playing skills.

I also think that he could potentially play some number 9. Withers hasn't had a great season and I think that Tongue could play at 9 in a similar way to how Steve Walters did.

But the reality is that our pack has rarely let us down this year. Neither has our ability to score points. What has really cost us has been our pathetic defense in the outside backs. This probably hasn't been helped by all of the changes that have gone on but if we could defend for 80 minutes then we could beat anyone in the comp. It will be good to have Monas back, he is great form at the moment and if we can keep this team together for another couple of years we should be able to have a really good crack.

 

[Macko8]

zillman/goodwin
milne
monaghan
purtell/best
graham
carney
dobson
tongue
learoyd-lahrs
costigan
logan
withers
thompson

plum
bickerstaff/turner
weyman
tilse/miller

 

[Macko8]

with no premier league next season,i just dont know how all our fringe first graders will fit in at sths logan, expect alot of players to be offloaded.

 

[Mullins_y2k]

Campese is not a future representative player...wish he was tho...he's solid, a great bench utility imo or if dobo starts to suck then starting lineup

 

[Mal Meninga]

(2) Yes Phil Graham looks terrific out on the wing. But since he's been back from injury I am now convinced that he is a better centre. His defense is outstanding, Purtell's is not. He will be wasted on the wing. As we have seen in recent matches playing him in the centres does not mean he can't be occasionally switcherooed on an attacking raid so that he is furtherest out.


(5) Best has been killing it in the centres, and makes a far better winger than Purtell. People have had a go at Best for his wing defense but do you remember how poorly Purtell defended out wide all of last year? Purtell is not a winger and all of Graham, Monaghan and Best are better options in the centres. Purtell as a backup.

(6) Goodwin I agree he should stick on the other wing. Better defender than Purtell out there IMO and shows serious flair. Purtell is too slow to be a decent winger.

If Purtell doesn't hang the boots up I think he'll surprise you and many other detractors here. People like Neil Henry and the Canberra/Sydney media see something in him, it's called the right attitude, and while he's not fast off the mark like Zillman, he'd match most backs in the club over the 100m dash

If he leaves Canberra I would not be surprised one bit if he turned out like Matt King.

For the record Best has been excellent in the centres, but that's got something to do with 100 games of experience. I agree that Graham and Best should start next year but all i'm notioning is that discarding Purts will bite us in the ass the way Todd Payten, Ben Cross, Mick Monas and so on have done.

 

[sydraider]

Tongue does all the 1%'s that go unoticed, he leads from the front as a captain, he is one of the fittest guys at the club and never gives in. There is no way he should ever be on the bench.

As for the halves, unless someone can come up with another halfback, Dobbo still remains our best option in the 7. Carney plays so much better in the 6. I think Dobbo will be better off next season for the run he has had this year. Just have to fix up his defence.

There are some tough questions to be asked with next years lineup, there is also the problem of a fair few players off contract next year. 08 will be interesting indeed and very exciting for us raiders fans.

 

[legend]

Not all players outside the top 17 will go to Souths Logan. Canberra are trying to formalise an agreement with Western Suburbs where we field some players in their premier league side.

All Wests Tigers players outside the top 17 play premier league for Balmain's feeder club, which I believe is Ryde-Eastwood.

 

[Timbo]

Either way legend, it's going to be difficult for Henry to gauge form of his blokes who aren't in the first grade side whether they're playing at Campbelltown or in Brisbane.

It also raises questions like where do they train? With Wests or with us? Surely they'll have to train with who they're playing with. How will Henry gauge their fitness on the training paddock?

We've made a big error by not continuing to fund a team in the open age competition IMO.

 

[Lime_Green]

If Purtell doesn't hang the boots up I think he'll surprise you and many other detractors here. People like Neil Henry and the Canberra/Sydney media see something in him, it's called the right attitude, and while he's not fast off the mark like Zillman, he'd match most backs in the club over the 100m dash

If he leaves Canberra I would not be surprised one bit if he turned out like Matt King.

For the record Best has been excellent in the centres, but that's got something to do with 100 games of experience. I agree that Graham and Best should start next year but all i'm notioning is that discarding Purts will bite us in the ass the way Todd Payten, Ben Cross, Mick Monas and so on have done.

It's his defense that is the real issue. Is it going to improve, do you think?