Your new buys

[simon says]

That is a load of rot IMHO.

Id much rather have 40 blokes of PL standard to pick from than 20.Its simple maths.And how many blokes do clubs sign that have never played for the club???People on here are telling me about Cannings,Langi etc,they are complete strangers.Promising young players from both our juniors get to train with the first graders and know each others games quite well.I do admit that a 6 from Wests wouldnt have the connection he has with his own number 7 than with the Balmain one,but Ill take the player pool over this small problem any day.Normally when players go to the top grade its usually only a couple any way.Its not like 7 guys move up and thus keep their lower grade combo going.

And on Prince,he wasnt a potential star,he was a star for the Cowboys in 2000,you only have to look at his stats.And he displaced Goldthorpe and Green who at the time were very highly rated.

 

[Freak]

Sorry Colonel I can't bat for you on this 1.
I would prefer double juniors as well, and this is a good argument Simon.
However if combined I would still think in the majority of cases Parra juniors would win, but I guess we will never know,..................or will we?

Any chance of combining Tigs and Maggies juniors in the near future. As you yourself have pointed out you do have an unfair advantage!!!

 

[The Colonel]

They are complete strangers however when they train they train together and develop combinations. If you are training in two different venues the combinations don't develop.

The Magpies and Tigers PL squads, and correct me if I am wrong, before last year when Sheens moved to Concord Oval were trained in two different places. Teams need time to bond. Not turn up two days before and meet each other if someone is injured. When Terry Lamb left as coach he said that whoever came in to take over needed to seriously look at either combining the two PL sides or have them train in the same venue at least. He reckoned this was the most difficult thing about coaching the Tigers and even though I don't rate him as much of a coach Sheens seemed to listen to what was said.

Prince did star to an extent in his first year at the Cowboys. He showed enough ability that the Broncos were keen to chase him too. However injuries and almost three seasons out of first grade don't in my opinion make him a star still. He has much to prove again.

 

[The Colonel]

Don't get me wrong I would love to be able to field to PL sides at the Eels. It would be fantastic. However wouldn't it be better off combining one side with the cream instead of mixing it with some good but not neccessarily great milk just for the sake of having two sides???

They did finish 6 and 8 however give that result how would a combined side have performed and in the long term benefited the Wests Tigers JV.

It would also provide a more stable path to first grade and a better way to keep the really good players.

 

[Eelementary]

"Hodgo cost us 220k,quite reasonable for a player with SOO and GF experience.You didnt what him we did,thank you very much."


Really? $220 000 for Hodgson? That IS a great deal. He has talent. But lacks confidence. I am sure he can do some great things for you at Wests; I just want to tell you, don't hold your breath or expect great things of him. He's experienced and very talented but has suffered a lot recently with injuries and confidence. Still. Good luck to him.


"I dont see that Payten as reserve grade standard at all.I rate him very highly.He looked sharp at the Roosters and has added to considerable size in the off season."

Personally, I wouldn't have Payten in my team. MAybe for depth. But I am sure that's why you guys signed him - to bolster your prop depths. Same reason we signed Stapleton (who I think has a very high defensive workload), Pearson and Moi Moi.


"I dont see why Graham cant play in the second row,my mail is that he will.I rate him as well,very clever with the ball and a good tackler to boot."


Agreed. Good locks and second rowers can swap positions these days - there's been fan talk here of placing Nathan Hindmarsh at lock with WAgon at second row. Plus I think Sattler will be your nuber one lock this year.


"I see where you are coming from about our front row.Aside from Payten and Skandalis,the cupboards look bare.We will be relying on a group of big youngsters to take the step up next year......Laffranchi,Patterson,Gibbs and co.Watch out for these guys,they could go very well."


That right there is the reason we signed average players. For depth. We now have something like 10 or eleven props we could use this year. Our main ones will be CAyless, Cannings, Armit, Tsolous and Vella, but Pearso, Stapleton and Moi Moi may come into the picture later, as will KAufusi.

"And you may bag out Prince,but if you remember is form at the Cowboys and when he did play for the Broncos it was first class.He is a very clever player and has impressed at training with his array of skills."

I agree. He has great talent. But so did Dykes and Green, and they haven't exactly set the world on fire have they?


"On predictions,Im not predicting anything till I see them play,but I think that we have a far better squad than last year(especially in the halves) and should improve on last year,how much,well that is the big question"


Smart thing to say - you can't say anything until you see them play. I agree 100%. I also agree your squad for this year is much better than last, with exciting new talent coming through like MArshall and co.

Good luck to Wests and I hope they do well in 2004 (not well enough to win the Premiership of course, because I hope the Eels do that!)

 

[Eelementary]

Hey Tigers fans.

Just out of curiossity ...

Whatever happened to Michale Buettner?

I remember that I was disappointed to see him leave. While not a superstar, he had an OK kicking game and lots of pace and he was, after all, an Eel.

So whatever happened to Buetts?

 

[Eelementary]

Hey SimonSays.

Here's my Eels 17:

1. Graham
2. Burt
3. Lyon
4. Vaealiki
5. Grothe Jnr.
6. Dykes
7. Witt
8. Cayless (C)
9. Morris
10. Cannings
11. Hindmarsh
12. Wagon
13. Hopkins

14. Vella
15. Kaufusi
16. Pearson
17. Thorman

 

[JessEel]

i actually think he's still in their squad, just not first grade. i could b wrong

 

[eels1986]

Scot Prince has achieved very little since 2000. With his confidence shot he has a long road ahead of him. Lets say he gets injured again who will play halfback for the Tigers. If you say Renyolds then Marshall will have to be rushed which won't be a good thing. Remeber Pat Ric hards suffered a terrible injury and after 2 years has never been the same player, I fear for Prince. Everybody rates him so highly because he played a few good games for the Cowboys in 2000 at 5/8 and since then has achieved nothing. I am still waiting for someone to please tell me when he played SOO. I can't remember him representing Queensl;and. Tim Sheens did say that whil you have Balmain and West Magpies are seperate teams then it will be a struggle. It means more money being spent and quantity is not better than quality. I'd imagine too much bickering going on for spots. Two traditional joined at the head but seperate bodies can't be good.

 

[Pazza]

My Parra 17:

1.Throman/Graham
2.Grothe
3.Lyon
4.Vaealiki
5.Burt

Backs:
There is plenty of class here, Graham did a good job at fullback last season but i would like to see how Thorman would fair there, just to take some pressure off the halves. Burt has always combined well with Vaealiki and he makes so many more breaks down that left hand side. Give Lyon 15 runs a game he will produce huge amounts of attacking plays.

6.Dykes
7.Witt

I must admit the halves are and always have been the weak link in the side. I worry about there physical strength in defence, they are no Brad Fittler and Craig Wing strong defending type of halves. Other players such as thorman, Muspratt and T Smith will challenge Dykes for his spot. Witt has a mortgage seeing he just signed a 4 year deal with the club.

8.Cayless
9.Morris
10.Cannings
11.Hindmarsh
12.Armit
13.Hopkins

I can not see one slow player in that starting pack. I can see this pack being very fast off the advantage line and putting plenty of pressure on opposition forwards. Cayless, Hindmarsh and Hopkins prove to be the workers and leaders in the pack while Cannings(115kg) and Armit(108kg) bring size and muscle to the pack. Armit is young and there are other back row players at the club that could do the job but i feel that Armit has the most amount of potential out of all the players fighting for the number 12.

14.Wagon
15.Vella
16.Kalfusi
17.Tsoulos

The bench is very forward orientated but Wagon can play in the backs and so can Hopkins and Morris if needed. Vella will play better off the bench with his speed running off quick play the balls against tired defencive lines. Kalfusi and Tsoulos are power players off the bench that still prove to have skill.

i am totaly confident of beating the bulldogs in round 1 2004.

 

[Hurriflatch]

My Team (at full strength and all players in form)

1. Luke Burt
2. Eric Grothe
3. Jamie Lyon
4. DAvid Vaealiki
5. Matt Petersen
6. Adam Dykes
7. Michael Witt
8. Nathan Cayless
9. John Morris
10. Michael Vella
11. Nathan Hindmarsh
12. Lee Hopkins
13. Daniel Wagon

14. Chris Thorman
15. Aaron Cannings
16. Chris Muckert
17. Dean Widders/JUstin Tsoulos/Chris Armit/Corey Pearson

Graham just getting shaded with Grothe/Petersen as wings and that forces Burt to fullback.

 

[Jake the snake]

Your forward pack looks thin Hurri. Whats the difference between last years team that was getting beaten last year??

If I were smith this would be my pack and bench:

And dont forget Smith is going for forward power this year and your not going to get that by having both Vella wagon and Hopkins starting the game.

Cannings
Morris
Tsoulos
Cayless
Hindmarsh
Wagon

Hopkins
Pearson
Armitt
Vella/kaufsi

 

[simon says]

Thats an intereseting idea having Cayless in the second row.That is a monster pack.Ive never thought of putting him there,he is a good player and Im sure he would handle it.Id still have Hopkins instead of Wagon,I dont rate him,thats just my opinion.

The halves are a worry,you'll have to wait and see if they muscle up,they are both lightweights and I know I would be running my big fellers straight at them to test them out.

Someone mentioned Buettner,he had a near career ending knee injury early last year.Rumour was that he was to retire,but he has healed better than expected and is in line for a centre spot.Ive never rated him as a defender or a kicker,but as a hole runner he is one of the best,and It wouldnt surprise me to see Sheens put him in the starting 17,running off Prince/Marshall and co.

 

[Pazza]

Forward pack looks powerful Jake but there are mobility issues with your props. I think that Cannings paired up with Tsoulos would be targeted by halfbacks and hookers which would devistating on our defencive line. It would be better to pair a big powerful prop with a smaller, faster, forward such as Cayless. Plus Cayless is a prop through and through.

 

[Pazza]

Thats an intereseting idea having Cayless in the second row.That is a monster pack.Ive never thought of putting him there,he is a good player and Im sure he would handle it.Id still have Hopkins instead of Wagon,I dont rate him,thats just my opinion.

Cayless started his career in the back row. Cayless might not be the biggest prop around but he is physical. His defencive power is better used at prop and his workrate also. Parra needs a man in the front row taking near 20 hitups a match along with Hindmarsh and i think Cayless is the man to do this.

 

[Jake the snake]

I was Going by what Fitzgerald said about Cayless and Vella being in the 2nd row and how they would be rotating with Hindmarsh.

The game has changed guys its more of a power game and with the shorter 10m we need all the forward power and after that period in the game where the Monster forwards have laid the platform then we can put the likes of Hopkins and Armitt on so they can run riot at the retreating defence line.

 

[eels1986]

Sorry if I seem to pick on Simon but doesn't the Tigers have the same problem with their halves. Surely Prince and Marshall aren't much bigger than Witt or Dykes. I don't believe Fitzhenry is a good 5/8 and is a much better centre. Parra has tried Cayless in the 2nd row for a few games over the last couple of years without any real success. Will be interesting if Smith does use Cayless and Vella in the 2nd row. I guess it will depend on the side we are playing. I agree with Jake the game has changed and we are now dealing with that change. Bring on the big boppers.

 

[simon says]

See Eels 1986,I can make a comment about other teams.My team may have the same problem.Its not like Im going...your teams crap and mine is great.I can discuss footy objectively without it being a "my dads bigger than your dad" theme to it.

Most of the people here have been very cool and Ive had an interesting debate.You havent helped,but you arent on your own,there are a lot of people posting on LU that like slagging each other off,and insulting eacothers sides,so I can see why you are on the offensive.

But Im not like that,I wanna talk footy.If i say Parra has a problem in the halves,it doesnt mean I think we dont have the same thing,its just a comment.

You mention Fitzhenry isnt a good 6,well in my posts I said exactly the same thing.I dont want him in the top 17,Ive also said that......So it seems like you are tryimg to tick me off,but you are actually agreeing with me so thank you very much,lol. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Eelementary]

Defensively, our halves may not be the best but are not the worst.

I know Witt is a tackling machne.

Dykes started to put his body on the line when tackling late last year (see Broncos V Eels and Penrith V Eels) and was becoming a better defensive player.

I think given time, the blokes will prove to be handy.

 

[eels1986]

Simon I am not trying to tick u off but I was just examining your teams chances for the new season and your new recuits. You would have noticed I only joined in when you were stating that the Tigers new buys were superior to the eels. I joined because I didn't believe signed all that well. As u can see by my other posts the only players I have a rap for would be Hodgo (if fit) and Sattler. The other players signed were ordinary. I also agree with u that the eels signings are average but I'm rapt with Cannings, Grothe and Muckert. As I haven't seen Thorman play the jury is out. Things became heated when EA joined which was fun annoying the old fella, hope he doesn't take it personally LOL (I know he won't). I can't remember reading where u don't rate Fitzhenry as the few games I have seen him at fullback or centre he has played well but sucked at 5/8. I think he has a future but we all can't like every player can we? Don't worry I am quite happy to discuss footy but realise u came on the eels board and claimed the Tigers buys were better so I thought I would respond. U gotta admit it kept the thread going!!!