2014 Expectations

V

VanillaThunder

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I know these threads have been made to death, but I just felt like airing this out a bit. No doubt we need to have a better season next year, but I caution all those "top 8 or bust" claims. We have a young, inexperienced squad as is, and we're pulling in another 5 or so players who will likely be in the top 17 throughout the season, if not round one. Throw Brooks in there and that's over a third of the top team who virtually haven't played together. It's going to take time to build connections, plays and attitudes. We'll get better as the season progresses, we're definitely moving forward as a squad and I think a lot of that should rightly be attributed to Potter and the recruitment staff.

I understand that we can't have another 15th finish next year, but chopping and changing coaching staff after one season, if that, together will go no way towards establishing a strong club culture and genuine sustainability.

TL;DR: Death riding the coach if we don't finish top 8 next year takes us that many more steps towards becoming Parra.
 
personally i am pragmatic about it as well. i completely agree it is a long term process and right now am just optimistic that improvements will be made from here on in.

i think potter and mayer have done an excellent job in ensuring the tigers will build (key word build) for a very promising future.
 
Probably end up with around 9-11 wins

About 10th -13th

We are definitely heading in the right direction but we are a long way away from the Top 4 sides

We would need heaps to go our way to make the Top 8 in my opinion
 
@pHyR3 said:
Top 10.

What do you think will allow us to compete with those top 4 sides, happy?
Click to expand...

Quality back row , quality 6 and 7 ,quality centres ,1000 % improvement in defence and absolutely no injuries

If we don't improve dramatically in these positions we won't do much better than last season
 
13th or 14th if we are lucky.

I would expect having brooks in the team will do a small amount for our attack and jag us an extra win or two, but essentially we are still a very ordinary football side.
 
@happy tiger said:
@pHyR3 said:
Top 10.

What do you think will allow us to compete with those top 4 sides, happy?

Quality back row , quality 6 and 7 ,quality centres ,1000 % improvement in defence and absolutely no injuries

If we don't improve dramatically in these positions we won't do much better than last season
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Thing is, if with the squad next year with no injuries we can only come (let's say) 8th. I don't see how we'll get much better, the pack will get a bit better as they age, moses will come up but beyond that i can't see us rising dramatically from an 8th or 9th finish next year to a top 4 by 2016 without ANOTHER major shakeup, and it'll probably have to come in our defense but what will make us amazing defenders between 2014 and 16?
 
@pHyR3 said:
@happy tiger said:
@pHyR3 said:
Top 10.

What do you think will allow us to compete with those top 4 sides, happy?

Quality back row , quality 6 and 7 ,quality centres ,1000 % improvement in defence and absolutely no injuries

If we don't improve dramatically in these positions we won't do much better than last season

Thing is, if with the squad next year with no injuries we can only come (let's say) 8th. I don't see how we'll get much better, the pack will get a bit better as they age, moses will come up but beyond that i can't see us rising dramatically from an 8th or 9th finish next year to a top 4 by 2016 without ANOTHER major shakeup, and it'll probably have to come in our defense but what will make us amazing defenders between 2014 and 16?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Defence is attitude and commitment If we have the right mindset our defence will improve

Manly is the perfect example
 
I find hope for next season when I think that we weren't far away (points wise) from Newcastle throughout most of last season. Newcastle are tonight challenging for the right to play in the grand final and we are on the improve.
 
Everything goes to plan, I think we can finish 6th or 7th without too much trouble.

Things go wrong and 15th place isn't out of the question.
 
Benji could be a huge loss. I think the halves are our weak area as well as the backrow as per this year.

Still I think if Brooks comes on and someone else performs above expectations - Austin, Sirro or Moses - we could go well.
 
I think bottom of the eight if we have a good run with injuries is a outside chance,but really 10th is more realistic.I just hope the days of the blow out are over and most weeks we are in the contest till the end. The key is defense and its very hard to teach young kids how to defend consistently,it comes with experience. Take young Siro this year,a great talent but he was a liability in defense, in three years time he will be a champion in defense,its all about experience. Brooks will make a difference,but dont expect too much, he will have a few shockers along the way.

Bottom line next year will be just another year in the building process and hopefully Mayer will be able to sign some real class to speed things along in 2015
 
9th or 10th finish I expect

I only hope we are competitive for the majority of games and hopefully building up for a top 8 in 2015
 
No idea of where we will finish but my expectation is that we will have better structured and sharper attack with the Brooks/Anasta combination allowing the real talents of Lawrence, Tedesco, Simona, Marika, Nofo etc to show through. That will be built on a more consistent, and if not dominant every week, forward pack that gives good metres and holds it own line as well as any other in the comp. Success will come from that. Potter will be seen to have the skills of an NRL coach with the release of the deadwood around him in 2013\. I like our prospects to be honest. A real sneaky chance of doing something great.
 
Dependent on injuries and the way the team gels, we could be anywhere from 7th to 15th…

I don't care if we miss the eight, I just want to see some structured, high percentage football. The brilliance will come into it's own when the little things are done right.
 
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