Jolls
Well-known member
While we sit and judge our outside backs on their 2023 performances we have to recognise that they were playing outside a halves combination that rarely took the ball to the line and gave them no time, most of the time. There are defensive errors in them for sure but in many cases thay are adressable. On the plus side they have shown, at times, that they could get the job done in attack.
We definitely need to add some strike to what we have - but I don't think it is time to throw the baby out with the bathwater. To be competitive we need to build depth; and not until we will have a competitive KOE side putting pressure on the FG team for positions will we have that.
We need to spend some cap $ on strike and mongrel to add to what we have and work hard on developing the Toupou's and Toa's during the off season. This has to be complimented with some quality depth signings, not top 30 contracts, making it a real competition for selection in both grades and Flegg week in week out.
We have young Jimmy coming back from and ACL, Feledy being developed, Reilly has come along and will be putting some pressure on. Then we have Toa, Naden, Junior, Staines and Nofa all competing for the FG ranks as it stands. Now it is time to add to that a real strike weapon in the centres that has some clout - Olam maybe a little quiet off the filed (not sure never met the guy; simply going off my experiences working with PNG dudes) but I think Gags could fit the bill in the same way Klemmer and Bateman have in the forwards.
While it would be great to buy in a brilliant young star - it isn't likely to happen - what we need is similar leadership in the backline as we have in the forwards. Someone to develop the backline by leading by example at training - doing the 1%ers and showing the young bulls how the game should be played. We certainly can't rely on Nofa to do any of that.
I trust that Benji and Fulton have a simialr plan - while Alamoti may have been a nice get from the Dogs he is coming from a system as bad as ours and into a system that will get the most from him. We need attitude, mongrel and leadership. With a couple of the right additons we could well see a most improved backline. Time will tell - but I think it is as clear as the nose on your face where our deficiencies lie - the selection dudes have made their halves choices - now let's see what joy they bring us as teams start to get knocked out of the race for the big dance!
We definitely need to add some strike to what we have - but I don't think it is time to throw the baby out with the bathwater. To be competitive we need to build depth; and not until we will have a competitive KOE side putting pressure on the FG team for positions will we have that.
We need to spend some cap $ on strike and mongrel to add to what we have and work hard on developing the Toupou's and Toa's during the off season. This has to be complimented with some quality depth signings, not top 30 contracts, making it a real competition for selection in both grades and Flegg week in week out.
We have young Jimmy coming back from and ACL, Feledy being developed, Reilly has come along and will be putting some pressure on. Then we have Toa, Naden, Junior, Staines and Nofa all competing for the FG ranks as it stands. Now it is time to add to that a real strike weapon in the centres that has some clout - Olam maybe a little quiet off the filed (not sure never met the guy; simply going off my experiences working with PNG dudes) but I think Gags could fit the bill in the same way Klemmer and Bateman have in the forwards.
While it would be great to buy in a brilliant young star - it isn't likely to happen - what we need is similar leadership in the backline as we have in the forwards. Someone to develop the backline by leading by example at training - doing the 1%ers and showing the young bulls how the game should be played. We certainly can't rely on Nofa to do any of that.
I trust that Benji and Fulton have a simialr plan - while Alamoti may have been a nice get from the Dogs he is coming from a system as bad as ours and into a system that will get the most from him. We need attitude, mongrel and leadership. With a couple of the right additons we could well see a most improved backline. Time will tell - but I think it is as clear as the nose on your face where our deficiencies lie - the selection dudes have made their halves choices - now let's see what joy they bring us as teams start to get knocked out of the race for the big dance!
Last edited:
