Wooden spoons get won in the off season: Our 2,3,4,5.

[ElleryHanley]

I am shocked at our lack of urgency at fixing our backline this off season.

The simple reality is our 2-3-4-5 are, by far, the worst in the NRL.

Not only the worst attacking wise, but also defensively. Other teams can just swing it wide, draw and pass, and score on us regularly. It is literally like conceding any chance at winning before we start. They are the worst 2-5 in the comp in all areas.

We will come last again unless we change things. Why on earth has Staines not been signed so far? Why is the top 30 full of forwards who will never even play (Tumeth, Mansfield etc) and zero outside backs?

2 Nofa: this bloke is years past his best. Worst defender in the comp.
3. Toa: he is a back up at a finals type team. Good once a month.
4. Naden: one good game a year. Well past his use by date. Horrible defensively.
5. Tupou: lots of talk that he lacks any real ability to learn. Slow and no real footy instincts.

Depth:
Reliy: I have seen him a dozen times in state cup. Yes, has some nice moments...but has fundamental flaws and is not an NRL player.
Feledy: lacks the pace and size of an NRL player.
Kepoa: by FAR the worst defensive back in the NRL last season. If he is our backline depth again, god help us. Not even a state cup back.

This backline would not threaten much in State Cup. Most of them have spent time in state cup and done very little. That says it all...

We do not even have a FB back up if Bula gets hurt.

It is a shockingly bad backline and has wooden spoon written all over it. Why on earth is there no desperation to fix it?

 

[earl]

I'd probably go with these guys in these positions.

2. David Nofoaluma
3. Starford To’a
4. Triston Reilly
5. Junior Tupou

Ideally we get Staines or some other fast outside back.

Nofo and Tupou can hit the ball up hard and score points. I like To'a. Centres like Staggs go missing regularly. It's a tough position. I think To'a makes most teams. Reilly can do a job but he probably isn't going to push the needle.

Nadan is a good back-up player. Feledy might make it at some point in his career but I can't see him being great. Maybe Doueihi can come into the centres but he'd have to learn to defend. Kepaoa is I suppose a back-up but personally I view him more as a forward now. I suppose he might have an impact.

At their best and if they are fit they can do the job. The reality is they aren't going to be at their best and yes it's probably the worst back 5 in the comp.

I don't think Nofo is that bad but he is slow and paid a massive salary and if you have a guy on that much on the wing you really have to get heaps more out of them.

As for the club not doing anything I don't know who we can realistically recruit to fix these issues. I think we need to recruit kids and it's going to take a couple of seasons for our backline to improve.

 

[Demps]

Sad truth @ElleryHanley
It's one extremely poor backline.

Has been this way for years and attempts at strengthening it have been very ordinary.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Pretty much. Some will argue our best centre is a guy coming off his third knee reco.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

What's more concerning.... Is they're probably right to argue that.

The fact no one can say for certain who our starting centres will be come round 1 would also lend itself to that.

I’ve just had a realisation. For years, one of the biggest talking points in the off seasons on here has been what will be the starting 17 come the start of the season. It’s always mystery. I think there would be less of that with top 8 teams.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

I'd probably go with these guys in these positions.

2. David Nofoaluma
3. Starford To’a
4. Triston Reilly
5. Junior Tupou

Ideally we get Staines or some other fast outside back.

Nofo and Tupou can hit the ball up hard and score points. I like To'a. Centres like Staggs go missing regularly. It's a tough position. I think To'a makes most teams. Reilly can do a job but he probably isn't going to push the needle.

Nadan is a good back-up player. Feledy might make it at some point in his career but I can't see him being great. Maybe Doueihi can come into the centres but he'd have to learn to defend. Kepaoa is I suppose a back-up but personally I view him more as a forward now. I suppose he might have an impact.

At their best and if they are fit they can do the job. The reality is they aren't going to be at their best and yes it's probably the worst back 5 in the comp.

I don't think Nofo is that bad but he is slow and paid a massive salary and if you have a guy on that much on the wing you really have to get heaps more out of them.

As for the club not doing anything I don't know who we can realistically recruit to fix these issues. I think we need to recruit kids and it's going to take a couple of seasons for our backline to improve.

Doesn't look good. That backline.

 

[earl]

Doesn't look good. That backline.

To be honest I think we are much more dependent on our halves coming good than our outside backs. The problem is that outside backs that can actually have an impact makes the halves job a lot easier.

 

[happy_tiger]

What about our 6 and 7 as well

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

To be honest I think we are much more dependent on our halves coming good than our outside backs. The problem is that outside backs that can actually have an impact makes the halves job a lot easier.

Absolutely

 

[earl]

What about our 6 and 7 as well

I just posted the same basic point. These guys are more important but we are betting basically on quality juniors. Fainu, Sullivan and Galvin. I don't expect Galvin to play this season but over the next couple of seasons hopefully he'll come good.

The Sezer signing is a funny one. It's a good deal for us but it's almost like next year is a write off already.

 

[ElleryHanley]

I'd probably go with these guys in these positions.

2. David Nofoaluma
3. Starford To’a
4. Triston Reilly
5. Junior Tupou

Ideally we get Staines or some other fast outside back.

Nofo and Tupou can hit the ball up hard and score points. I like To'a. Centres like Staggs go missing regularly. It's a tough position. I think To'a makes most teams. Reilly can do a job but he probably isn't going to push the needle.

Nadan is a good back-up player. Feledy might make it at some point in his career but I can't see him being great. Maybe Doueihi can come into the centres but he'd have to learn to defend. Kepaoa is I suppose a back-up but personally I view him more as a forward now. I suppose he might have an impact.

At their best and if they are fit they can do the job. The reality is they aren't going to be at their best and yes it's probably the worst back 5 in the comp.

I don't think Nofo is that bad but he is slow and paid a massive salary and if you have a guy on that much on the wing you really have to get heaps more out of them.

As for the club not doing anything I don't know who we can realistically recruit to fix these issues. I think we need to recruit kids and it's going to take a couple of seasons for our backline to improve.

Good points, but any team with Nofa, Reilly and Tupou has no speed and will almost certainly come last.

I just do not think we can afford another spoon...especially in Benji's first year.

Something proactive has to be done asap.

 

[ElleryHanley]

What about our 6 and 7 as well

Yes...but the 2-5 basically can't defend.

Look how often teams scored on us first set with basic draw and pass plays.

No matter what the pack and halves do, you can't win when 2-5 can't defend basic sets.

 

[ElleryHanley]

I just posted the same basic point. These guys are more important but we are betting basically on quality juniors. Fainu, Sullivan and Galvin. I don't expect Galvin to play this season but over the next couple of seasons hopefully he'll come good.

The Sezer signing is a funny one. It's a good deal for us but it's almost like next year is a write off already.

Galvin will be a star...

But he is yet to even play SG Ball...needs at least 18 months.

 

[gregjm87]

I just posted the same basic point. These guys are more important but we are betting basically on quality juniors. Fainu, Sullivan and Galvin. I don't expect Galvin to play this season but over the next couple of seasons hopefully he'll come good.

The Sezer signing is a funny one. It's a good deal for us but it's almost like next year is a write off already.

the club has already told us that 24 is a write off. Since they fired Madge the narrative has always been about building a roster for Benji in 2025. They've updated that narrative to say Benji is ready to take over coaching now but still the story is that they are building for 2025.

 

[ElleryHanley]

Pretty much. Some will argue our best centre is a guy coming off his third knee reco.

Yeah, I left AD out as I do not think 2024 is realistic.

At best he will be mid season.

 

[ElleryHanley]

the club has already told us that 24 is a write off. Since they fired Madge the narrative has always been about building a roster for Benji in 2025. They've updated that narrative to say Benji is ready to take over coaching now but still the story is that they are building for 2025.

Yeah, but Benji taking over changes things IMO.

He does not have the personality to cop hammerings and a spoon...

And the club simply can't afford three in a row. We have to act.

 

[gregjm87]

Yes...but the 2-5 basically can't defend.

Look how often teams scored on us first set with basic draw and pass plays.

No matter what the pack and halves do, you can't win when 2-5 can't defend basic sets.

i, like everyone else, dont rate the 2-5 but they are forever confronted with massive overlaps. I dont think anyone we put there will be able to defend until they start getting some help from the inside.

 

[happy_tiger]

Yes...but the 2-5 basically can't defend.

Look how often teams scored on us first set with basic draw and pass plays.

No matter what the pack and halves do, you can't win when 2-5 can't defend basic sets.

Not arguing ...just adding to the list ...our 2 to 7 probably suck in 2024

 

[Jolls]

Yeah, I left AD out as I do not think 2024 is realistic.

At best he will be mid season.

Still can't tackle to save his life; he's a turnstile at times. Mid season - no change.

 

[jrtiger]

I am shocked at our lack of urgency at fixing our backline this off season.

The simple reality is our 2-3-4-5 are, by far, the worst in the NRL.

Not only the worst attacking wise, but also defensively. Other teams can just swing it wide, draw and pass, and score on us regularly. It is literally like conceding any chance at winning before we start. They are the worst 2-5 in the comp in all areas.

We will come last again unless we change things. Why on earth has Staines not been signed so far? Why is the top 30 full of forwards who will never even play (Tumeth, Mansfield etc) and zero outside backs?

2 Nofa: this bloke is years past his best. Worst defender in the comp.
3. Toa: he is a back up at a finals type team. Good once a month.
4. Naden: one good game a year. Well past his use by date. Horrible defensively.
5. Tupou: lots of talk that he lacks any real ability to learn. Slow and no real footy instincts.

Depth:
Reliy: I have seen him a dozen times in state cup. Yes, has some nice moments...but has fundamental flaws and is not an NRL player.
Feledy: lacks the pace and size of an NRL player.
Kepoa: by FAR the worst defensive back in the NRL last season. If he is our backline depth again, god help us. Not even a state cup back.

This backline would not threaten much in State Cup. Most of them have spent time in state cup and done very little. That says it all...

We do not even have a FB back up if Bula gets hurt.

It is a shockingly bad backline and has wooden spoon written all over it. Why on earth is there no desperation to fix it?

good post EH. I think To’a can play at the consistent output we need him to next year given that he’ll be able to gel with Sezer and Bateman either side of him. Tupou is a gem and while he had some heart in mouth moments, there is something special there.

all of that said, it’s hard to disagree. three signings need to be made in the OBs. the first is Charlie Staines. the second should be a first grade proven left centre and the last should be a speedy winger.

Gagai, Olam, Addo-Carr and others have been thrown around this forum ad nauseum, but those positions are in dire need of strengthening before preseason, let alone Round 1. I remain optimistic, but it’s at a critical juncture.