Where are we heading and what is the plan??

[fizman]

What a strange season we are having in 2004! Beaten by the Cowboys and Souths, yet wins against Melbourne, Brisbane and Newcastle and ALL away mind you.

With some new signings announced and hopefully a couple more on the way, where do Sharkies supporters feel we are heading and when do you feel we will have our next best shot at the title??

I am a little perplexed at a couple of the signings we have made and I do have a couple of concerns. We all know that goal kicking has been a major issue. One game does not make a season, but I feel as though that Matty Hilder was excellent on Sunday and certainly should be given the duties until seasons end. Which brings me to the point of if he IS the best kicker, WHY haven't we been using him??

The other hotly debated subject is Peachey. Again, one game certainly does not make a season, but I thought our back 3 last weekend were excellent. Simmons is growing each week as a footballer, Reick has some confidence and Merritt is showing glimpses of why we signed him. If we are looking at the future plans, where does Peachey fit into the scheme??

I am pretty happy with our forward pack. I think we have a great mix of experience and youth. What I really like about our pack is how they share the workload around. Statistically, they are all putting in, and there is no reliance on one or two of the big boppers.

Another issue keenly discussed is Greg Bird. I would like to see us keep him. I feel that he is a good player whose best football is still way in front of him. I would hate to see him leave us and go to another club and show what he is really capable of.

Back to the original topic, I actually believe that this football side is quite capable of beating anyone on their day. Whilst I am an advocate of Bird, I still feel as though a quality 5/8 is lacking for us to be a genuine threat.

I feel as though we have the forwards to dominate most sides, and at least compete with the better sides. We have the X factor with Sully and some backs who can throw the ball around as well.

The last point I would like to make is our second phase play. I think it has been outstanding. I beleive we are the No1 ranked side for offloads which is great. I think we spread the ball very well and can look dangerous in attack. I felt as though that we showed great strength against Newcastle not to get beaten when they were coming home strongly.

I feel we have a great platform to build on and can only get better from here. I feel that we can make the 8 this season, top 6 next year and then the assault on the title in 2006.

 

[millersnose]

certainly our 3 best wins this year were against the broncs,melbourne and a narrow loss to the dogs all with the main guys - peachey noddy stevo bailey on deck

how you can draw conclusions from sundays game about the greatness of the youngsters is perplexing given the poor performance of newcastles depleted team

 

[Jimbo]

A lot depends on our forwards. They stood up for themselves on Sunday (and in Brisbane), however they did not against Canberra and Penrith.

Consistency please...

 

[++ Gregos v.4]

Defense.

My god, how we need to practice our line defense.

 

[Macca]

I know Millers will shoot me down, but I am excited about our young blokes. I am pleased with the signings so far. I think we will be a big problem for a few teams in the finals this year, and we will be a huge threat next year.

 

[millersnose]

i am unable to shoot you down mcsharkie

everyone seems to have this optimism after beating the knights

i will have to wait a few weeks i think before logic once again returns to the forum

 

[Macca]

:lol: You did try to shoot me down!!

You are now claiming that I am being illogical. Don't hide it just have a go. Reefy is now ignoring me for some reason, so I need someone else to debate with.

 

[millersnose]

i have had a go mcsharkie

reefy is scared

kimmorley coming back soon means he has only 2 options

1. continue to bag kimmorley in spite of his obvious great footy skills despite how silly this will make him look

or

2. concede kimmorley is a great player

my money is on 1

 

[Macca]

He still hasn't gotten over Preston leaving. Noddy still shits all over him. It is illogical to bag Noddy. No doubt about that. He is one of the best halfbacks of this era and he is now showing that he may have been held back a bit by Ando rather than the other way round.

 

[DJDL]

Just on Preston, how many points did he bleed the other night?! :shock:

 

[Macca]

Especially considering the pack he was playing behind.

 

[Foz]

I've thought we were going to throw a few games away this year.
Even now we can be 20 points up and there is no way we are safe.
Our attack is as good as anyone's but we are a long way behind in defence.
I suppose Penrith had defensive problems last year but it didnt stop them coming to the party when they had to.
I have doubts about matching it with the top teams if we make the semis but you never know we just might click.

Very much outsiders to win the comp.
6/4 would be about the right price to make the 8.
Last I looked we were 9/10 so I wouldnt be diving in to take it just now.

 

[b_shark]

I think we are heading in the right direction - last season we won 8 games - one more win this year and we will have improved. Whether we do well in the final series this year is debatable (I think we still have too many defensive weaknesses to really challenge) but I am more and more confident that once the team gets a few more games under their belt that we will be back into the form of the 90s

 

[Sharkies all the Way]

We are building to something big IMO. We've got a good mix of mature, seasonsed and young players and the team after this year, and all the minor problems are fixed (eg Defence, Kicking) we will be a real threat. This year it would nice to be in top 8 however we have no chance of winning comp. The signings have been relatively sensible and I can see big things happening next year

 

[PJ]

i am unable to shoot you down mcsharkie

everyone seems to have this optimism after beating the knights

i will have to wait a few weeks i think before logic once again returns to the forum

Not everyone Millers.

I happen to agree with you wholeheartedly on this. I was far from impressed with the way we let a very average Knights team back into the game.

It was one we were lucky to get away with.

 

[Sharkies all the Way]

We were lucky to get away with it but although they were depleted you must also recognise we were without 3 key players and had to asign a player to 1/2 back who has never played their before. When considering this it was an ok victory.

 

[Alan Shore]

Sunday showed that we need the experience of Peachey and Kimmorley to truly put teams away. At 30-10 I started thinking of putting 50 points on the Naughts, only for them to score. After their first second half try it was an avalanche.

9-4 in the penalty count as well against us, good that we were tough enough to hold out the Knights for the final twenty minutes. Whilst we won in the first half, it would have been a massive blowout with the Knights only registering points because they got FOUR, yes, FOUR, penalties in a row.

 

[Sharkies all the Way]

That was ridiculous. The four penalties:

1. Holding down to long
2. Not back the ten
3. Hit Stevens and Sullivan got it in front of kicker
4. Vagana not back the ten

Although some of these were warranted, I believe the crowd had started to influence Lyons to much. This was not the case according to Daley though, 'all penalties were warranted' :roll:

 

[Mr Angry]

Defense.

This must improve.

My god, how we need to practice our line defense.

Not practice we get plenty, we must get better at it.

With some new signings announced and hopefully a couple more on the way, where do Sharkies supporters feel we are heading and when do you feel we will have our next best shot at the title??

Still have a shot this year. Defence must improve. Not looking promising.

I am a little perplexed at a couple of the signings we have made and I do have a couple of concerns.

I am happy with the re-signings.

We all know that goal kicking has been a major issue. One game does not make a season, but I feel as though that Matty Hilder was excellent on Sunday and certainly should be given the duties until seasons end. Which brings me to the point of if he IS the best kicker, WHY haven't we been using him??

Sweet action.

The other hotly debated subject is Peachey. Again, one game certainly does not make a season, but I thought our back 3 last weekend were excellent. Simmons is growing each week as a footballer, Reick has some confidence and Merritt is showing glimpses of why we signed him. If we are looking at the future plans, where does Peachey fit into the scheme??

I would re-sign him, 2 wing spots left.

I am pretty happy with our forward pack. I think we have a great mix of experience and youth. What I really like about our pack is how they share the workload around. Statistically, they are all putting in, and there is no reliance on one or two of the big boppers.

More hurt required, especially eary on.

Another issue keenly discussed is Greg Bird. I would like to see us keep him. I feel that he is a good player whose best football is still way in front of him. I would hate to see him leave us and go to another club and show what he is really capable of.
Back to the original topic, I actually believe that this football side is quite capable of beating anyone on their day. Whilst I am an advocate of Bird, I still feel as though a quality 5/8 is lacking for us to be a genuine threat.

Must be a match for Kimmorley, so Bird Kent Aitken pick one and give them 3 weeks with Brett. Bird is the only one I have seen actually play outside Kimmorley and I did not think did to much, defends well. Rapers intentions have been clear along, he prefers Bird.

I feel as though we have the forwards to dominate most sides, and at least compete with the better sides. We have the X factor with Sully and some backs who can throw the ball around as well.

Defence is the problem, rarely do we make ground without the ball. Hurt required.

The last point I would like to make is our second phase play. I think it has been outstanding. I beleive we are the No1 ranked side for offloads which is great.

Our attack has improved this season.

I think we spread the ball very well and can look dangerous in attack. I felt as though that we showed great strength against Newcastle not to get beaten when they were coming home strongly.

Still 26 against, but we did hold out, good sign.

I feel we have a great platform to build on and can only get better from here. I feel that we can make the 8 this season, top 6 next year and then the assault on the title in 2006.

3 year plan you say?

You asked

 

[shadowboxer]

i cant believe im saying this but i would be stoked with a top 8 spot. A few years back it was "make the semis then crumble". However currently we aint cutting it with the big boys. The game agianst penrith should have been ours but couldnt stop the tide and that was very dissapointing.

Ultimately though, i thought we were going to get done agains tthe knoghts and whilst ugly it is still a win. That game we lost against the dogs in round 2 was the same, but we didnt get the 2 points.

It will be interesting to see how we go when we have a full strength pack. The game against the broncos should how devasting we can be.