Your team for 2016

[Magpies Forever]

I think he is the key. I agree, he really needs to start doing something to justify his position in the team. How long does he get to dine out on the "potential" tag?? He has hands like feet and his lateral defense is borderline at best - making it an impossible task for a halfback to defend outside him. He really needs to work his butt off in the preseason on his weaknesses. It doesn't help when you have people in the media (ie. Gordon Tallis) saying he should be picked for Australia :crazy::crazy:

I think unfortunately for Sironen, he not only has the 'potential' monkey on his back but also his family name too.

His contract is up at the end of 2017 and unless he is able to show the development of these potential abilities very soon, he will become at best an interchange player and have to fight for renewal of contract. I give him only until mid season. We are coming close to having wasted too much time on him for the return.

 

[madunit]

In all honesty, Sironen isn't one of our 17 best players.

He's been dining out on his old man's name and reputation all his career thus far.

Bayly is a much better player than Curtis too, and he will be looking for a NRL gig in 2017-18 I reckon.

 

[super_coach]

Siro has been injured or recovering from injuries nearly his whole career in the NRL. At the back end of 2015 he started to look the goods, I think 2016 will be his year barring injuries.

 

[Tigerted]

Sironen has been so substandard that the only ways he will receive a renewed contract are nepotism or a miraculous turnaround in attitude/work ethic.

This guy has been hugely disappointing & along with his holy cross mate brooks has shown an appalling lack of enthusiasm & ability to cut it in the nrl.

The only one of the 3 holy cross boys who came into grade with massive wraps & expectations who has shown he has it between the ears & is willing to get involved & is ironically the most maligned by our fans is Moses.This kid genuinely improved in the back half of '15 & I've no doubt he should have 7 on his back & be steering the side around the park.

 

[macnaz]

In all honesty, Sironen isn't one of our 17 best players.

He's been dining out on his old man's name and reputation all his career thus far.

Bayly is a much better player than Curtis too, and he will be looking for a NRL gig in 2017-18 I reckon.

Yep im looking forward to seeing more of Bayley playing .
One thing with the Sirro's , I believe if they kick on to become quality players they will be loyal to our club , thats one thing im confident has rubbed off from the old man. Just hope they can be half the champion Paul was.

 

[Nuts]

Siro has been injured or recovering from injuries nearly his whole career in the NRL. At the back end of 2015 he started to look the goods, I think 2016 will be his year barring injuries.

Well I hope for his sack they were hand injuries and this year he may finally learn to hang on the ball!!

 

[madunit]

I think Brooks cops too much shit as well.

Too many expecting Peter Sterling from the kid in a side with a consistently belted pack, disgraceful fringe defences either side of him, an abysmal one dimensional game plan which stifles ball running and a coach who will not allow the experienced playmaker in the side to shoulder some of the playmaking duties.

If you are to sit down and consider these facts, it's impossible to see how any halfback could have shined.

If Ballin becomes the #1 hooker, than Brooks will continue to be an isolated target to hit by opposition defences. They just need to shut him down and most of the Tigers attack will be dead.

I hate the practices and game plan that Taylor has tried to enforce. It does not co-operate with our stregnths nor does it help to hide our weaknesses.

It does the exact opposite.

 

[super_coach]

Taylor job is well and truly on the line so I can not see him going back to the one out stuff. At the back end of the year when he let the kids play whats in front of them they had some success.

Moses,Brooks and Siro will all be a lot better in 2016 and they will also have a lot better cattle around them.People love to talk about individuals, but it is a team game. The old story a champion team will beat a team of champions.

Iam usually Mr Negative, but 2016 I am moderately positive about, I think we have recruited some very good budget buys and I think a lot of the kids have now had a season or two experience under their belts. Anyway their should be no excuses for another sub standard year

 

[Magpies Forever]

Taylor job is well and truly on the line so I can not see him going back to the one out stuff. At the back end of the year when he let the kids play whats in front of them they had some success.

Moses,Brooks and Siro will all be a lot better in 2016 and they will also have a lot better cattle around them.People love to talk about individuals, but it is a team game. The old story a champion team will beat a team of champions.

Iam usually Mr Negative, but 2016 I am moderately positive about, I think we have recruited some very good budget buys and I think a lot of the kids have now had a season or two experience under their belts. Anyway their should be no excuses for another sub standard year

I'm 50/50 as to how we will go this season. I too feel we have a better allround squad with depth for once. No great superstars but solid enough. I worry about their mental toughness as that has let them down too many times in the past. I hope the turnover of players has remedied that but............ I remain unconvinced as to all of Moses, Brooks and Sironen making the step up as they are needed to do. At best 2 out of the 3.

If we can get a competitive start and not be belted each week over the first 5 rounds I think we can hope for a middle spot come the closing end of the season. From that anything is possible for the semis if they are tough enough and have gelled as a squad. If not, its the same old, same old, for WT.

 

[Tiger05]

I think its funny that Moses copped it a lot but now he is getting a lot of support. I reckon him and Brooks could be a real good combination. I also think Siro may come good and be a weapon for us.

Maybe they will all come good but who knows. Moses reminds me of Tedesco in that he wasn't cutting teams apart but he looked like he had the ability to kick on. I thought Brooks was going backwards early last year but some of the stuff I saw from him last year makes me think he has it in him as well.

 

[BrotherJim05]

I like they way you are thinking, but at the same time I really think we need a bloke in the middle that can hurt the opposition forwards with a big hit and put them on their backs, thus slowing the play the ball down. I think this is also a contributing factor as to why the edge defenders are more inclined to come into the middle in an effort to help out, and thus exposing our halves. I guess we will just have to wait and see what JT does.

To be perfectly honest (and after reading the above comments) I really have just named Sironen because I felt I had to. I don't know why, maybe its because he has been dining on his potential tag or his dads name.

I agree that Sironen has to step up. If he was at another club he would be on the bench. A lot of the Tigers players need to realise that they have an opportunity to play consistent FG due to our thin roster. They need to see it as a gift, not their given right.

 

[Tigerted]

Sironen would be playing state cup @ any other club.

 

[super_coach]

I'm 50/50 as to how we will go this season. I too feel we have a better allround squad with depth for once. No great superstars but solid enough. I worry about their mental toughness as that has let them down too many times in the past. I hope the turnover of players has remedied that but............ I remain unconvinced as to all of Moses, Brooks and Sironen making the step up as they are needed to do. At best 2 out of the 3.

If we can get a competitive start and not be belted each week over the first 5 rounds I think we can hope for a middle spot come the closing end of the season. From that anything is possible for the semis if they are tough enough and have gelled as a squad. If not, its the same old, same old, for WT.

The mid season grind will be the big test. Every year we hit the wall mid season big time. My take on it is, the physical grind catches up with us and the team just can not cope with the physical and mental demands the NRL places on them.

Okay this year with a reduced interchange the physical pressures may drop a little and with the kids being one season more experienced and some good signings we will be mentally tougher. Fingers crossed we might be able to cope with the mid season grind a little better in 2016. My fear is injuries, we had such a good run last year, be near impossible to repeat that run. My other fear is Teddy getting picked for SOO, we need him on deck every week and can not afford to have him away on state of O duties!!

 

[Tigerted]

A major reason the number & seriousness of injuries declined in '15 was the unforgivable lack of effort by a number of our forwards in addition to our weak intensity in defence right across the park.

I can handle regularly losing if the team shows commitment & dedication each week but we are bereft of players that give a f**k.I don't have much faith in someone as weak & incompetent as Taylor to be able to extract the best out of this squad & the concern is that this idiot doesn't command respect from the players thus we are doomed.

 

[madunit]

8 - Woods
10 - Grant
13 - Farah/Ballin

14 - Sue
15 - Ava
16 - Griffiths/Edwards/McConachie/Akouala/Buchanan
17 - Cherrington

 

[Tigerted]

Madunit I'm pretty sure that Akaoula has unfortunately signed to play with Penrith.Im a fan of his vigorous running style but disappointingly his been on the outer since the gump Taylor arrived @ the club.

 

[benched tiger]

I heard old men Siro talk on radio last season about the number of injuries and operations Curtis has had,for someone so young it was very surprising, and maybe explains a little how a young player who showed so much potenial has been so bloody dissappointing and useless for us.

 

[madunit]

I heard old men Siro talk on radio last season about the number of injuries and operations Curtis has had,for someone so young it was very surprising, and maybe explains a little how a young player who showed so much potenial has been so bloody dissappointing and useless for us.

I'd put it down to the fact he packed on 10kgs in muscle mass in a very short period of time and going from being a half in his entire junior career and then moving into the back row at NRL level.

Sure he's been close to crap, but the blame sits squarely with the coaches he's had. I've said it before and I'll say it again, of course he was going to become a forward, but he still had a half's brain. He should have had a season in the centres before packing the weight on. Learn how to run good lines, learn how to be more dominant and effective in his tackles.

Then put some muscle on him and move him into the forwards. the transition would have been seemless and would have produced an exceptionally better player than what we now have.

He is the product of abysmal coaching. Sheens started it by letting him play in the halves to start with. Potter got him after he was forced to beef up to become a back rower without really spending any quality time in the role.

Taylor just kept picking him despite his poor performances. And with very little back row at the club, or brought to the club, he is set to continue his form from last year.

I can't direct all my blame at him, the coaching system at the club failed him.

They have a history of it.

 

[WT Unity]

I agree that young Sironen's transition was rushed and you are right that the club simply bulked him up in the matter of one off season and said...here you go - you're an NRL backrower...go and dominate. This has happened to others as well and it probably also highlights the competition's structure (no proper reserve grade) is not the best, or at least not as good as it once was. It particularly effects a young player who is going to bulk up and move from centre or 5/8 to a back rower. There is nowhere for this apprenticeship to take place as I don't feel that clubs currently think there is much to be gained by playing talented players (who are on good money) in the NSW Cup.

 

[WT Unity]

In more general terms regarding our 2016 line-up....I'm starting to feel a bit more enthused about our forward stocks (especially with the signing of Grant). Back row continues to be the uncertainty.....but we have to hope that Lawrence consolidates his promising switch and becomes VERY GOOD. I'm talking about a "Ryan Hoffman" type of Very Good! In addition to that (and relating back to the above) let's hope Sironen a year or 2 on can aim up and deliver on his potential and stay injury free. On top of those 2 there is Edwards and Lovett (tackling machines) the 2 new Ipswich men and Chee Kam (I think Chee Kam has potential). There you go - I'm starting to fell better about the back row already! Unfortunately I am now concerned about centre and Goal-Kicking.....Who is going to kick?