Im not convinced
- Thread starter AmericanHistoryX
- Start date
Think we’ve had 3 teenagers out there mixing it up as inexperienced players in the NRL, and getting some wins despite their errors. The experience they are getting is gold.
I think later in the year we’ll get the rewards for giving them these reps.
Adam Doobie
Well-known member
So long as Alex Seyfarth is in the team we can't lose.
Absolutely, but I think more so, we have no centres, so the cohesion is naturally horrible as centre is so specialist. You saw the difference in Makasini in the trials when May could open up the field for him and give him space.
Someone like Tavana I think will shine if we can see him in space but Turuva (who is a great winger), is not good enough to set him up.
I’ll judge our centres and wingers more closely when our halves are creating more genuine chances. We are butchering overlaps at the moment by hanging onto the ball or crabbing across field (or throwing poor passes) when the opportunities arise.
Should have lead by 20 yesterday after 60 mins.
old_man_tiger
Well-known member
I'm also not convinced 100% but I'm very happy with the results. We have had similar starts, including the odd year where defence and committment seem to have been fixed. The consistent trend of physically looking stronger is a new one though and has been the best thing this year. The offloads, big defensive sets, easy yardage mid game etc... are not flukes, they are fundamentals we've been crying for.
However I'm concerned about the clunkiness in the opposing 20. I have my own ideas as to why, but the team is playing so well as a unit OVERALL that you have to leave it to benji and the senior guys to work it out, not a mug like me. If they address it, we wont have one of those soul sapping losing streaks even if we don't stay top 4.
I have been lucky enough to be in some good groups through work and hobbies. One thing I've observed is the good teams celebrate their wins but the great teams always think about what needs to change and they execute it decisively. If Benji is on the way up, and I think he is, he'll need to figure out when to make the big calls even in good times.
However I'm concerned about the clunkiness in the opposing 20. I have my own ideas as to why, but the team is playing so well as a unit OVERALL that you have to leave it to benji and the senior guys to work it out, not a mug like me. If they address it, we wont have one of those soul sapping losing streaks even if we don't stay top 4.
I have been lucky enough to be in some good groups through work and hobbies. One thing I've observed is the good teams celebrate their wins but the great teams always think about what needs to change and they execute it decisively. If Benji is on the way up, and I think he is, he'll need to figure out when to make the big calls even in good times.
HUNT 101
Well-known member
It's 2026 ,no such thing as the 3 game loosing curse,Benji isn't worried about the past, it's a new team.. ..it will be 3 in a row after the knights also no such thing as a finals drought we will feature this year.🤪😉
TIGERS
Well-known member
Like always since around 2018-ish, we will play at Campbelltown like it's an away game. We will play like we are annoyed and bewildered that we have to travel there. I hate it. 'Glory Glory' was playing through the PA system there last season when we played Souths FFS.
It's the biggest and worst blind spot at our club. 1 win in six seasons at a home ground is a disgrace. It's a miracle that people still turn up there to watch. The thing that makes my blood boil is that you don't even get half of the passion from our side at that ground that you would if it was LO. What we do with Campbelltown as a venue doesn't match what we say we are as a development club and what we claim we want to accomplish with pathways.
That's not me turning our stadium situation into a contest. That's not my point. But there would be a royal commission if we only won match at LO in the same amount of time. Campbelltown is so neglected no one would care to even bring up that stat. I want our club to turn up with the same passion everywhere we play.
Let's see what happens, but I expect the same as usual for this one.
It's the biggest and worst blind spot at our club. 1 win in six seasons at a home ground is a disgrace. It's a miracle that people still turn up there to watch. The thing that makes my blood boil is that you don't even get half of the passion from our side at that ground that you would if it was LO. What we do with Campbelltown as a venue doesn't match what we say we are as a development club and what we claim we want to accomplish with pathways.
That's not me turning our stadium situation into a contest. That's not my point. But there would be a royal commission if we only won match at LO in the same amount of time. Campbelltown is so neglected no one would care to even bring up that stat. I want our club to turn up with the same passion everywhere we play.
Let's see what happens, but I expect the same as usual for this one.
Buttface
Well-known member
Not at all.
We can’t win 3 in a row. We rarely win as favourites (so much so I’ve read a stats article saying the best bet in the NRL is to back against the Tigers when favs). We have an average record at CSS, well we have an average record.
And I have taken my rose coloured glasses off.
We’ve been here a few time before and got flog till September so never confident, but at least we’re not last and I have already backed us for a win.
rozelle_rudy
Well-known member
We're playing the Knights in the part of Sydney that's furthest from their home.
So it will be the M1 and M7 jetlag for them.
Aren’t quite the Panthers but we have done all we need. Looking at the teams we beat, cowboys got beat by us and knights who are 3rd, probably beat souths if Luai/Doueihi stay on the field they have only lost the AJ game and will be around top 4 by the end of the year, parra have been up and down.
Haven’t had it all our own way either. We are without Luai who is one of the few real leaders in the club. it’s also understated how much we miss Taylan defensively. Our left edge is getting torched because Luailli is too green I actually think we will be much better with Skelton there. Also while Turuva is doing a solid job he’s a great winger not a centre. So a heap of improvement left.
Haven’t had it all our own way either. We are without Luai who is one of the few real leaders in the club. it’s also understated how much we miss Taylan defensively. Our left edge is getting torched because Luailli is too green I actually think we will be much better with Skelton there. Also while Turuva is doing a solid job he’s a great winger not a centre. So a heap of improvement left.
And that's the danger. Short price favourites at home. In the past its a recipe for disaster for the Tigers. Lets home this team can turn that around.
Tito Santana
Well-known member
Records are made to be broken. Knights are flying but so are we.
Ours to lose.
Ours to lose.
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
Bit worried about how we recover for this one, last game was a real bruiser.
Tucker
Well-known member
Newcastle are over achieving without their star players.
Our blokes are struggling but fighting hard enough to collect wins.
We’ve had 2 good efforts and 2 average ones yet could be 4 from 4.
This squad is different from other years. We can’t accurately prejudge using empirical evidence.
I think Newie are due an off performance given their depleted roster. We need to be good enough to take advantage of that and I think we are.
Our blokes are struggling but fighting hard enough to collect wins.
We’ve had 2 good efforts and 2 average ones yet could be 4 from 4.
This squad is different from other years. We can’t accurately prejudge using empirical evidence.
I think Newie are due an off performance given their depleted roster. We need to be good enough to take advantage of that and I think we are.
69-05-41
Well-known member
That's an upgrade on the stupidity of prior years when we took home games against the hi-vis tradies to Tamworth
crazycat
Well-known member
It's such a weird matchup.
2025, Heck I would say we would win this hands down against a No-Ponga knights.
2026.. The knights have gone completely next level.
We should win on backs, with the knights missing Bradman Best. Surely Bula can beat Fletcher Hunt.
Our halves may be in a bit of trouble against Fletcher Sharpe who can definately be really dynamic. Sandon Smith IMHO > DCE at the moment.
Our pack should be able to match the Knights... where the hell did this no-name pack learn to play so good. IF Api plays and isn't penalized then we should win as I can see Api outdoing Phoenix Crossland.
.. .I can't look at the knights and see the 2026 team. I keep seeing the 2025 team. So way optimistic.
Would love to see our boys crash their party.
2025, Heck I would say we would win this hands down against a No-Ponga knights.
2026.. The knights have gone completely next level.
We should win on backs, with the knights missing Bradman Best. Surely Bula can beat Fletcher Hunt.
Our halves may be in a bit of trouble against Fletcher Sharpe who can definately be really dynamic. Sandon Smith IMHO > DCE at the moment.
Our pack should be able to match the Knights... where the hell did this no-name pack learn to play so good. IF Api plays and isn't penalized then we should win as I can see Api outdoing Phoenix Crossland.
.. .I can't look at the knights and see the 2026 team. I keep seeing the 2025 team. So way optimistic.
Would love to see our boys crash their party.
crazycat
Well-known member
Yea, our win against Parramatta was really a fluke. We were damn lucky to get the penalty in the last minute and Mitchell Moses's kicking game was off.
Newcastle are down Bradman Best now. They are missing 2.7m worth of cap, you would think they don't stand a chance.
Lets see.
