Season 2024 - Round 2 Team

[Vicious]

We have pretty much the same team as 23 with an injured Olam plus a couple of low cost halves that need to prove their value.
This puts the ball firmly in the hands of our coaching staff to make the difference. I’m not expecting too much but getting more excited as the season opener gets closer. 😜

On face value we still have a team that could likely be collecting a third straight wooden spoon.
On ability and potential we have a team that could make the top 8.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

We have pretty much the same team as 23 with an injured Olam plus a couple of low cost halves that need to prove their value.
This puts the ball firmly in the hands of our coaching staff to make the difference. I’m not expecting too much but getting more excited as the season opener gets closer. 😜

Almost the same team? I'd say Charlie is like a new signing with how long he was out for + I believe he played a decent amount of fullback instead of wing at the start of the season.

Olam is new and Sezer brings the organisation to our team that we haven't had in a very long time. All of our five eights are much better than Wakeham with a ton more potential, not to mention they don't look like they're stuck in quicksand.

I also think they've learned from moving Bateman to lock and he will just stay at second row as it really helps our defence. Seyfarth at 13 opens the door to Lualilii later in the year. And Pole + Twal on the bench makes it way more balanced than Seyfarth + Twal.


Our 14 also probably won't be Simpkin for very long, if at all. Heavy competition from TDS / Latu / Sullivan / Galvin + Douiehi when he is back.


Honestly 6 - 7 changes in there if you look at it in depth.. which is nearly half the team.

 

[Lestronge]

You can dress it up as nicely as you want. Doesn’t change the fact the only difference to last year is Olam, who I grant is an upgrade. And our halves, which no matter how much anyone wants to claim are an upgrade, the jury is out.

lol . That’s factually not true . There’s literally different halves , Olam , and the big Fainu all but guaranteed to be there on game day .
What are you even saying …. lol

 

[Kelce68]

You can dress it up as nicely as you want. Doesn’t change the fact the only difference to last year is Olam, who I grant is an upgrade. And our halves, which no matter how much anyone wants to claim are an upgrade, the jury is out.

wot.

Way to move the goalposts.

You stated it was 'primarily the same side that picked up consecutive spoons'. That indicates the side has stayed the same for the last 2 years, but then pointed to Olam being the only difference to last year...

Two new halves. A fullback that played two-thirds of last year only. A captain and hooker that missed a handful of games last year. A winger who played a handful of games only. A brand new centre to the club into the starting side. That's not to mention others that have come through or have been bought and may feature as '24 wears on, nor is it to mention the bench and it may look different this season to last.

Those are just what's changed since '23.

I'm not sure you realise how off the mark that point was.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

lol . That’s factually not true . There’s literally different halves , Olam , and the big Fainu all but guaranteed to be there on game day .
What are you even saying …. lol

That’s what I said? What are you talking about?

 

[Kelce68]

On face value we still have a team that could likely be collecting a third straight wooden spoon.
On ability and potential we have a team that could make the top 8.

Basically the same as half the competition.

 

[BAGNF05]

lol . That’s factually not true . There’s literally different halves , Olam , and the big Fainu all but guaranteed to be there on game day .
What are you even saying …. lol

You just literally agreed with him. Apart from Fainu who is a 5 gamer.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

wot.

Way to move the goalposts.

You stated it was 'primarily the same side that picked up consecutive spoons'. That indicates the side has stayed the same for the last 2 years, but then pointed to Olam being the only difference to last year...

Two new halves. A fullback that played two-thirds of last year only. A captain and hooker that missed a handful of games last year. A winger who played a handful of games only. A brand new centre to the club into the starting side. That's not to mention others that have come through or have been bought and may feature as '24 wears on, nor is it to mention the bench and it may look different this season to last.

Those are just what's changed since '23.

I'm not sure you realised how off the mark that point was.

It is primarily the same side as last year which ran last. Idk what is controversial about that

 

[BAGNF05]

It is primarily the same side as last year which ran last. Idk what is controversial about that

Hope clouds logic.

 

[Kelce68]

It is primarily the same side as last year which ran last. Idk what is controversial about that

So, the fact there's (likely to be) entirely different halves, a new centre, an essentially new winger, and a new bench position or two is 'primarily the same'?

I'd say that changing one playmaker alone refutes that statement, but, I will note, that it can come down to what you meant by 'primarily'.

I would say that it's 'primarily' the same pack. The rest of the squad has seen significant change (most likely).

 

[GNR4LIFE]

So, the fact there's (likely to be) entirely different halves, a new centre, an essentially new winger, and a new bench position or two is 'primarily the same'?

I'd say that changing one playmaker alone refutes that statement, but, I will note, that it can come down to what you meant by 'primarily'.

I would say that it's 'primarily' the same pack. The rest of the squad has seen significant change (most likely).

I acknowledged those changes? We will still be fielding 13-14 players every week who were here last season. To me, that would count as primarily the same side.

 

[Kelce68]

I acknowledged those changes? We will still be fielding 13-14 players every week who were here last season. To me, that would count as primarily the same side.

Olam, Staines, Sullivan, Sezer, Sam Fainu. There's 5 at least. Puts the count at 12. Then, considering the weight the halves have on a side, it's not just about the numbers now, is it.

Again, our interpretation of 'primarily' is the stumbling block. Happy to leave it now.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Olam, Staines, Sullivan, Sezer, Sam Fainu. There's 5 at least. Puts the count at 12. Then, considering the weight the halves have on a side, it's not just about the numbers now, is it.

Again, our interpretation of 'primarily' is the stumbling block. Happy to leave it now.

Staines is a new signing?

 

[Vicious]

Basically the same as half the competition.

Yes and that’s why it would be silly to disregard the possibility that we could make the top 8 if most of the dominoes fall into place.

 

[Lestronge]

You just literally agreed with him. Apart from Fainu who is a 5 gamer.

Huh ? How did I agree with him ? He’s saying it’s the same team as last year , which isn’t true . It’s almost a lie if you say that about 22 . There’s literally 3 starters left from that catastrophe

 

[weststigers]

You can dress it up as nicely as you want. Doesn’t change the fact the only difference to last year is Olam, who I grant is an upgrade. And our halves, which no matter how much anyone wants to claim are an upgrade, the jury is out.

I think your take is being unfairly seen as negative.

In general, I think you are not complaining about the team, but cautious to call any positives too early because frankly, we haven't even played a trial.

Personally, I think the team has upside on paper, but that's all it is at the moment.

The road to wins encompasses many factors and we haven't seen whether that will eventuate. To me, top 8 is not out of the question, but neither is the spoon. We really have a lot of players with a big gap between their best and worst performances, so that in itself poses questions as to our ability to get wins this year.

A bit like you, I'm more optimistic than in previous years, but it's based on a lot of 'ifs' and if I'm being realistic, that hasn't been a recipe for success for any team in the modern era.

For all that's being said, I think Richo is probably our strongest asset this year. If we can jag 2 really good signings for next year to add to Luai, then 2025 might be where things start to turn on the field.

 

[weststigers]

We can only comment on information at hand currently as further data is not yet available. To me, as it stands currently, GNR is correct that our side has not been significantly improved.

That’s not to say that this off season hasnt been a major success and the squad will surprise the comp:
Maybe the new halves will click.
Maybe the centres will work really well with these halves, running superior lines.
Maybe our back 3 will carve up out wide.
Maybe our edges will work together in defence.
Maybe our middles will win the ruck consistently.
Maybe all breaks will be supported.
Maybe all our kicks will be chased properly.
Maybe all opponent kicks will be defended appropriately.
Maybe our defensive lines will communicate effectively.
Maybe our discipline will improve.
Maybe our ballhandling will match first grade standard.
Maybe our errors will decrease.
Maybe our bench will consolidate our position.
Maybe our depth has gotten deeper.
Maybe we are better coached.
Maybe the group are happier and stress free.

I’m actually interested in finding this stuff out this year. For once, I feel like I don’t already have the answers.

I'm about here as well. Lots of ifs in our team right now.

I do think our forward depth is a little light. Particularly prop and 2nd row.

 

[Kelce68]

Yes and that’s why it would be silly to disregard the possibility that we could make the top 8 if most of the dominoes fall into place.

I agree.

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

I think your take is being unfairly seen as negative.

In general, I think you are not complaining about the team, but cautious to call any positives too early because frankly, we haven't even played a trial.

Personally, I think the team has upside on paper, but that's all it is at the moment.

The road to wins encompasses many factors and we haven't seen whether that will eventuate. To me, top 8 is not out of the question, but neither is the spoon. We really have a lot of players with a big gap between their best and worst performances, so that in itself poses questions as to our ability to get wins this year.

A bit like you, I'm more optimistic than in previous years, but it's based on a lot of 'ifs' and if I'm being realistic, that hasn't been a recipe for success for any team in the modern era.

For all that's being said, I think Richo is probably our strongest asset this year. If we can jag 2 really good signings for next year to add to Luai, then 2025 might be where things start to turn on the field.

For me the biggest negatives over the past two years have been removed. Lee & Pascoe got the boot & Sheens who did a horrible job last year 'decided' to fast track Benji a year early. I think we've definitely seen a shift in culture since Benji has come in as a coach & it's refreshing to hear players say they actually want to be here long term. All of this together should see us improve our ladder position this season but like you said it's all a bunch of ifs atm.

 

[twentyforty]

Almost the same team? I'd say Charlie is like a new signing with how long he was out for + I believe he played a decent amount of fullback instead of wing at the start of the season.

Olam is new and Sezer brings the organisation to our team that we haven't had in a very long time. All of our five eights are much better than Wakeham with a ton more potential, not to mention they don't look like they're stuck in quicksand.

I also think they've learned from moving Bateman to lock and he will just stay at second row as it really helps our defence. Seyfarth at 13 opens the door to Lualilii later in the year. And Pole + Twal on the bench makes it way more balanced than Seyfarth + Twal.


Our 14 also probably won't be Simpkin for very long, if at all. Heavy competition from TDS / Latu / Sullivan / Galvin + Douiehi when he is back.


Honestly 6 - 7 changes in there if you look at it in depth.. which is nearly half the team.

😂 Frodo , you can’t fool me mate. You mention 16 players with the vast majority of them having won a spoon or two. I’ll still recognise them even with different numbers.
I do think Naden and Staines will surprise a few of us. Both very talented.