Again LT there were voices at the time wanting to throw Payton in at the deep end similar traits to Gardiner had reserve grade playing well needs to be rewarded not let them feel like they need to move to another club to progress.
Because it's not sustainable.... It's hectic panicky desperation style defending you usually see at the end of very close games... It's very taxing physically and I wasn't surprised we fell away a bit from about round seven that year
Probably because the squad was nowhere near as good as recent riff/storm roster.
They defend in a very controlled structured manner... As sparty mentioned, they also absorb pressure and just bide their time waiting to pounce
Between you and I, I hope the trials don’t go to well. Trial form does not necessarily indicate team form. And you are correct t about the first 6 games. And if I can add even. More so the last 6 games. I will give Benji 2025 to show what he can do with the team. We now have a team that can be competitive consistently not just 1 or 2 games a season. Anything below 9th is a failure and he maybe shown the door. And based on were we are now and what’s coming top 4 2026!!!
When? The last 10 years we have had a crap roster and nothing to brag about. Anything about the bottom 4 was over achievement!
Let’s agree to disagree. His decisions recruitment was almost the worst I had even seen. Thankfully for Penrith he does. It do the recruiting and has an abundance of gifted players in the junior ranks.
True was a disaster but was always going to happen. Well obvious to some. And to many especially if you include non Tigers supporters with rosey coloured glasses.
Need 2/3 external good signings for 26 to have any confidence of top 4 appearance for me W.
Yeah I still think Gardiner will become a good NRL coach if he wants it.
Also was coach before the six again rule was introduced.- which really exposes the good teams from the not so good.
There's being hopeful then there's dreaming. We aren't going to be close to a top 8 side this year. It's just the usual pre season hype when the new guy signs but when you look at it there is so much more deeper thinking that goes into success. Wayne Bennett at Souths is a very underrated signing for example. I haven't heard many people put souths in top 8, but I could very well see them in the top 4 and be the biggest risers after finishing 16th last year
Gardiner hasn't shown anything to prove he is a good NRL coach. Trent Barrett was the attacking assistant coach when penrith won 17 in a row in 2020. Doesn't mean he's a good coach. Gardiner has lost 5 from 5 coaching Samoa. A team that made the world cup final in 2022
That's the point lol. I'm not the player. I can't control their performance. They can. So they should be hopeful and raising their standards because they can control that. What I am refusing to dream into is the media hype in the off season. It's funny that Gus Gould thinks we're a top 8 side, or is it just to put pressure on us so the Bulldogs can have a pressure-free season? Alternatively, James Graham doesn't believe our team is going to emulate the 2023-2024 bulldogs transition with a second year coach in Benji/Ciraldo with a big penrith signing Luai/Crichton. The circumstances are very different. I think if the Tigers are successful in 2025 it will be an all out attack on all sides of the field, sort of like what Bournemouth is doing in the Premier League this season. But I doubt we can mimic the Bulldogs' 2024 season of teamwork, great line speed, wrestling, and defence. Those have Ciraldo's fingerprints all over it. With the same defensive assistant coach as last year, I don't see our defence improving dramatically. However Benji's player-first style for this year will be very exciting to watch as he lets the players decide how they want to play as if they are playing park footy
Yea loved them...
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Fair call. I haven’t kept up with his recent performances, just really commenting from what he seemed like when here.
Think Gus top 8 comment is with hope we don't reach that goal so he can have a crack at Galvan, Graham always seems to have a crack at us must have run over his cat, surely Luai brings over that defensive mindset, your sound comments may playout I would be happy at this point we challenge for the top 8 you?
I totally agree re Gardiner and feel it more then most that we could have had Flanno here instead!
Pen and Melbourne play disciplined games and will usually win the game in the second half when lesser talented and unfit teams capitulate.
Actually we scrambled well also in 2024 which indicates good attitude.
