Pole's backend of the season has been another positive along with Sukkar and Roberts and might have saved the need to recruit to much more in the front row, assuming we can resign him. Still think we are a prop short, unless there is an eye to getting a different kind of 13 (Kurt Mann style)...
Mate Sione Fainu was pretty poor when he arrived in the pathways, nothing like the pedigree of his brothers and he was far from a certainty to play first grade. The club did a great job getting him there and he has continued to develop into a strong first grader.
I know what you're saying but...
They have also done a decent job in developing Sione Fainu, Fonua Pole and Jahream Bula prior to their first grade debuts. Sione in particular they did a great job with through the pathways.
We will need to invest in another half next year, just can't see it being Burton on the coin he would likely want. As you say we need some upgrades to the depth in the pack, but I think we probably need another depth choice for centre and a bench utility (if Doueihi throws the toys out again and...
Cheers Kade.
Burton is a cracking centre and an ok 6 but this reeks of using the Tigers to strengthen negotiations with other clubs, my gut is he would have zero interest in coming here. Even if it is not i'm not sure how he fits into the picture considering what his asking price would be...
Outside back depth looks ok next year. Wouldn't mind another centre so Makasini can stay on the wing. Would like Skelton but he may be pushed out.
Need a half, backrower and a 1 or 2 props if we want to be competitive when a few injuries happen.
Decent showing. Maybe a bit of introspection by a few of them as to why they decided to have a crack the last 2 weeks when the seasons dead but completely phoned it in for 3 months when the season was alive.
Reminds me of Smith v Archer "you only bowl fast when it doesnt matter"
Where has this team been??
I was pretty ambivalent about resigning Pole until the last month or so. Must keep.
Doueihi better turn up day 1 in preseason ready to gain about 15kgs, your days in the halves are done son...
The players around those players makes a difference too. I watched a Manly side with Jake Simpkin, Josh Feledy, Brandon Wakeham, Nathon Brown etc look like 2005 Tigers last night. Helps when you have Turbo, Fogharty, Olakuatu...
Agree. A JFH type would be transformative for us. We cry out for an aggressive, smart pack leader. His game is the antithesis of everything we have been about for 15 years.