2015 Squad, Tactics, and Depth

[Eddie]

We will see some of the same average-rubbish senior players. Guys like galloway, lawrence, moltzen, rowe, blair, bodene these guys will continue to let us down most weeks.

Ok we have some good young blokes, but some of our senior player are average/rubbish and they are not off the books for a year or two yet.

 

[Mccarry]

Tactics wise perhaps a shift back to expansive, free flowing footy.

Fact is that our defence will take some time and is not a strength.

We have a great touch footy style team (not being sarcastic).

The back line VT suggested would fit, bar perhaps Pat. The pack with Siro, Patterson, taupau, woods, Farah have excellent hands. Put Austin in as lock and let the ball sing…

Opposition packs are getting bigger and bigger. Let's run at centres and halves all day. We need to perfect a style of getting tackled that gets us a quick play the ball. The old on the knees surrender version updated for new rules.

Thoughts?

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[russelldp]

Nice thread Vanilla.

Some comments on Bodene Thompson;

- we gambled on him after a horror injury run. For several years he was touted as a potential champ

- he is now a "1st grader". He knows he belongs and can influence results and for many forwards, this is the biggest hurdle.

- He can play 80 minutes aggressively, he hits hard and often in defence and has some real mongrel. Something we drastically need.

- with the ball, Bodene runs hard, has good leg drive and is courageous. With a very good 2014 and 2015 pre season under his belt, he will have the confidence, experience, clever coach and combination with his halves to be a very good right side hole runner.

- Bodene is one of very few WT gamble purchase who has paid off in that he's developed. He is now in a position to be great contributor so I dont understand why we'd punt him now, especially when any possible replacement will be doing the "apprenticeship" BT has just completed?

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[NT_Tiger]

I'm with you on most of the OP, but I would definitely be finding a place for Austin. He seems to have a great brain for attack and can take advantage of options in front of him although I think he needs to work on his kicking game.
One other thing I'd like to see, is to identify potential kickers in the squad and have Richards work intensively with them. Richards is a weapon and is worth many points per game both directly and indirectly through his kickoffs. He won't be around forever so the team should be doing everything in its power to learn his craft.

 

[guyofthetiger]

Like your stuff Vanilla

But if we can't make some signings in crucial positions I see us finishing in the bottom half of the 8 again in 2015

Talent only gets you so far

No Keefy and we'd get no salary cap help for not playing him

Yeah, we still need a game breaking centre, imo - not that we'll probably get one. So Vanilla's backline looks like it will be the go and it looks good on paper, until injuries strike again. And I worry about Lawrence still being there - although he played better the other night, he has been a huge liability for most of this season. I really don't think I could sit through another season of watching him struggle there.

I do like your prop rotation though - definitely the way to go. Ava and Lodge are young and strong and will only get better and I've had enough of waiting for Galloway to come good. Not sure about Paterson in the starting side, he hasn't impressed much this year, but then again he has been injured for a lot of it. Guess he deserves another shot, but I sure hope Sironen will eventually aim up and play to his potential and size next year.

I agree we definitely need massive improvement in the centres.
And Simona may well be best on the wing, to make the most of his speed.
We're just not getting around teams, which was where we used to score most of our points, especially when Lawrence still had legs.
The rest of the squad is looking good.

 

[magpiecol]

I'm with you on most of the OP, but I would definitely be finding a place for Austin. He seems to have a great brain for attack and can take advantage of options in front of him although I think he needs to work on his kicking game.
One other thing I'd like to see, is to identify potential kickers in the squad and have Richards work intensively with them. Richards is a weapon and is worth many points per game both directly and indirectly through his kickoffs. He won't be around forever so the team should be doing everything in its power to learn his craft.

Agree with the above. I would add that Richards has one more year on his contract and he does give us extra points with his goal kicking.

I think that we will have new centres next year so I am not sure where Simona fits in with Richards retained. Nofo is a cert. for one wing.

I thought Lawrence's game last week was his best for some time and a move to the second row should be looked at carefully. He does run hard and straight and he can hit in defence.

As for the coach, that will be up to the new board, however we do need a coach with attacking and defensive game plans. I just don't see this with Potter.

Some punters on here think that we need some tough love in the JV. I agree and once again I do not see Potter being that man. I know that Brian Smith is unpopular in some circles, but you have got to give him credit in straightening out the teams he has coached and usually left them in better shape than when he started.
He has been in Grand Finals 4 or 5 times with various teams without ever winning one. However, I am sure that if we could get to another GF in the next couple of years we, as fans, would be more than happy. To say nothing of the players.

Just another quick thought. I do not see any outstanding centres on the market at the moment. We should be going for all out speed men next year and I think that we have some of those in the lower grades. A good experienced coach should bring out their best.

 

[VanillaThunder]

Nice thread Vanilla.

Some comments on Bodene Thompson;

- we gambled on him after a horror injury run. For several years he was touted as a potential champ

- he is now a "1st grader". He knows he belongs and can influence results and for many forwards, this is the biggest hurdle.

- He can play 80 minutes aggressively, he hits hard and often in defence and has some real mongrel. Something we drastically need.

- with the ball, Bodene runs hard, has good leg drive and is courageous. With a very good 2014 and 2015 pre season under his belt, he will have the confidence, experience, clever coach and combination with his halves to be a very good right side hole runner.

- Bodene is one of very few WT gamble purchase who has paid off in that he's developed. He is now in a position to be great contributor so I dont understand why we'd punt him now, especially when any possible replacement will be doing the "apprenticeship" BT has just completed?

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Mainly that he just doesn't fit in the direction I'd like to see the team taken. I admire his work and his improvement, but I'd prefer a shift towards tall, offloading back rowers for the sheer purpose of it being a different body type to handle. On the edges at least, I'd like to see us offloading over the man rather than as the play is slowing down by popping an arm out the bottom.
Nothing against the bloke, I have enormous respect for him, as I do with Halatau and Fulton, but ideally I'd like to see us try something different.

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[Pedro_m]

I would like to see the tigers when they are under the pump just complete sets and aim for repeat sets rather than a low % play on the 2nd tackle. Why not bomb more to Richards side he's excellent under the high ball in super league that was his bread and butter.

 

[Guest]

I've given this thread a bit of thought and realistically, we need to look at who we have on the books for next year and where players fit into the overall picture.

So who do we have on the books for next year at this stage?

1.James Tedesco - Fullback
2\. Robbie Farah - Hooker
3\. Chris Lawrence - Centre
4\. Tim Simona - Centre/Wing
5\. Matthew Lodge - Front row
6\. Aaron Woods - Front row
7\. Adam Blair - Backrow
8\. David Nofoaluma - wing
9\. Dallas Graham - front row
10\. Asipeli Fine - backrow/centre
11\. James Gavet - backrow/front row
12\. Ava Seumanufagai - front row
13\. Jack Buchanan - front row
14\. Sauaso Sue - backrow
15\. Sitaleki Akauola - backrow/centre
16\. Luke Brooks - halfback
17\. Mitchell Moses - five eighth
18\. Kurtis Rowe - fullback/wing
19\. Kyle Lovett - backrow/centre
20\. Curtis Sironen - backrow/five eighth
21\. Tim Moltzen - five eighth/fullback
22\. Joel Luani - hooker/backrow
23\. Nathan Brown - front row
24\. Pat Richards - wing
25\. Keith Galloway - front row
26\. Martin Taupau - front row
27\. Blake Austin - utility
28\. Manaia Cherrington - hooker
29\. Delouise Hoeter - wing/centre/fullback

I am unsure on the status of Paterson, Halatau, Thompson and Lulia so please let me know if they are on board for next year.

Looking over this, we've got plenty of depth in the forwards, less so in the backs and I think we look weak in the centres and wing as we really lack serious speed. Simona and Tedesco can both motor but that's about it IMO. With Brooks and Moses in the halves, I think our variety and unpredictability in attack will improve, but again, unless we can reduce the number of injuries sustained, I think we'll struggle in the backend of the season once more. If we can keep our spine healthy though, then the top 8 is realistic.

 

[tigertye]

I think the biggest tactic should be reviewing our medical and strength and conditioning staff. There's no point picking teams now if we can't even get half the players on the field. Sorry but Skando with his Tafe certificate doesn't do it for me. No more jobs for the boys, just get ultimate professionals there doing the job they've done for years. We've been cursed for too long and something's gotta give!

Before people jump up and down, I realise a lot of injuries are contact injuries, ACL injuries, etc. but many have happened at training

All the injuries have taken way longer than expected to heal, why??? It has to have something to do with our staff in my opinion and a review should definitely be done.

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[tigertye]

I think the biggest tactic should be reviewing our medical and strength and conditioning staff. There's no point picking teams now if we can't even get half the players on the field. Sorry but Skando with his Tafe certificate doesn't do it for me. No more jobs for the boys, just get ultimate professionals there doing the job they've done for years. We've been cursed for too long and something's gotta give!

Before people jump up and down, I realise a lot of injuries are contact injuries, ACL injuries, etc. but many have happened at training

All the injuries have taken way longer than expected to heal, why??? It has to have something to do with our staff in my opinion and a review should definitely be done.

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[Tim Sheens]

People bag Galloway but he NEVER gets pushed back and when he tackles they stay tackled. Most of the other forwards apart from Woods arent that strong particularly in defense but that could be said about the whole team.

Exactly, his contribution is severely underrated by many, being the cornerstone of our pack for mine, even when needled up. He would be in my starting lineup each and every week.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and could just not like that he is as slow as a wet week, or that he may not charge like a Rhino. But the fact is that our pack basically does not get dominated when he is on the field, particularly because of his defence. We often leak through the middle when Keefy is either out, and/or when he is interchanged to the bench.

Don't agree? Then I suggest you objectively look back at a few games to see that it most certainly is the case.

Good thoughtful OP that I mostly agree with, and the contribution of a list by Willow was also good. Seeing the backs lineup from our successful start to the season is somewhat depressing in the current climate.

 

[Mccarry]

People bag Galloway but he NEVER gets pushed back and when he tackles they stay tackled. Most of the other forwards apart from Woods arent that strong particularly in defense but that could be said about the whole team.

Exactly, his contribution is severely underrated by many, being the cornerstone of our pack for mine, even when needled up. He would be in my starting lineup each and every week.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and could just not like that he is as slow as a wet week, or that he may not charge like a Rhino. But the fact is that our pack basically does not get dominated when he is on the field, particularly because of his defence. We often leak through the middle when Keefy is either out, and/or when he is interchanged to the bench.

Don't agree? Then I suggest you objectively look back at a few games to see that it most certainly is the case.

Good thoughtful OP that I mostly agree with, and the contribution of a list by Willow was also good. Seeing the backs lineup from our successful start to the season is somewhat depressing in the current climate.

Is it just me or does it feel like a breath of fresh air that for once posters are finding mostly constructive or analytical comments to contribute to a thread.

I hope this thread is the start of the tone changing on our forum. There has been far too much hate and personal attacks on here for me.

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[Mccarry]

People bag Galloway but he NEVER gets pushed back and when he tackles they stay tackled. Most of the other forwards apart from Woods arent that strong particularly in defense but that could be said about the whole team.

Exactly, his contribution is severely underrated by many, being the cornerstone of our pack for mine, even when needled up. He would be in my starting lineup each and every week.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and could just not like that he is as slow as a wet week, or that he may not charge like a Rhino. But the fact is that our pack basically does not get dominated when he is on the field, particularly because of his defence. We often leak through the middle when Keefy is either out, and/or when he is interchanged to the bench.

Don't agree? Then I suggest you objectively look back at a few games to see that it most certainly is the case.

Good thoughtful OP that I mostly agree with, and the contribution of a list by Willow was also good. Seeing the backs lineup from our successful start to the season is somewhat depressing in the current climate.

Is it just me or does it feel like a breath of fresh air that for once posters are finding mostly constructive or analytical comments to contribute to a thread.

I hope this thread is the start of the tone changing on our forum. There has been far too much hate and personal attacks on here for me.

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[Mccarry]

Is it just me or does it feel like a breath of fresh air that for once posters are finding mostly constructive or analytical comments to contribute to a thread.

I hope this thread is the start of the tone changing on our forum. There has been far too much hate and personal attacks on here for me.

_Posted using RoarFEED V.4_

 

[happy_tiger]

Keefy shouldn't be playing

His shoulder is supposedly pretty crook and may require surgery at season's end

Not an easy game to play when you have a crook shoulder and every club knows about it

Cut KG some slack , unless you know what its like to be carrying injuries you don't have the right to criticize

He's doing it because we have no other options , sounds like a true club man to me whther he is performing or not

 

[alex]

The 2015 squad will largely stay the same. We have not recruited anyone, and I doubt we will - who would want to sign with a club with such poor management and an unknown coach for next year? Another way this whole situation impacts the club.

I'd like to see Lodge get more NRL time next year. He was fantastic leading into his debut and has continued that form since returning from his injury. Would be willing to run him off the bench over Gavet.

 

[guyofthetiger]

I've given this thread a bit of thought and realistically, we need to look at who we have on the books for next year and where players fit into the overall picture.

So who do we have on the books for next year at this stage?

1.James Tedesco - Fullback
2\. Robbie Farah - Hooker
3\. Chris Lawrence - Centre
4\. Tim Simona - Centre/Wing
5\. Matthew Lodge - Front row
6\. Aaron Woods - Front row
7\. Adam Blair - Backrow
8\. David Nofoaluma - wing
9\. Dallas Graham - front row
10\. Asipeli Fine - backrow/centre
11\. James Gavet - backrow/front row
12\. Ava Seumanufagai - front row
13\. Jack Buchanan - front row
14\. Sauaso Sue - backrow
15\. Sitaleki Akauola - backrow/centre
16\. Luke Brooks - halfback
17\. Mitchell Moses - five eighth
18\. Kurtis Rowe - fullback/wing
19\. Kyle Lovett - backrow/centre
20\. Curtis Sironen - backrow/five eighth
21\. Tim Moltzen - five eighth/fullback
22\. Joel Luani - hooker/backrow
23\. Nathan Brown - front row
24\. Pat Richards - wing
25\. Keith Galloway - front row
26\. Martin Taupau - front row
27\. Blake Austin - utility
28\. Manaia Cherrington - hooker
29\. Delouise Hoeter - wing/centre/fullback

I am unsure on the status of Paterson, Halatau, Thompson and Lulia so please let me know if they are on board for next year.

Looking over this, we've got plenty of depth in the forwards, less so in the backs and I think we look weak in the centres and wing as we really lack serious speed. Simona and Tedesco can both motor but that's about it IMO. With Brooks and Moses in the halves, I think our variety and unpredictability in attack will improve, but again, unless we can reduce the number of injuries sustained, I think we'll struggle in the backend of the season once more. If we can keep our spine healthy though, then the top 8 is realistic.

Maybe the best use of Moltzen is on the wing if he's able to get his pace back?
Nofo in the centres?
That doesn't solve our lack of strength and height in the backs though.
We haven't been able to compete for the high ball in attack or defence for as long as I can remember.

 

[Guest]

The thing I don't like about Moltzen at fullback, or the wing is that he doesn't bring the ball back with any pace or sting in his run, whereas Tedesco and Nofo do. Moltzen has missed that much footy now, the best thing is to start him in the halves in State Cup and see how he goes from there IMO.

 

[TIGER]

Firstly i think Thompson has improved more than any other player this season, his commitment, effort and general attitude has stood out and id pick him ahead of any other backrower we have evry day of the week, ill even go as far as saying he's been our best player this season definately our most consistent.

# Austin has to be our 6 next year
# The Moses Teddy dillema will probably sort itself out pretty quickly with whoever gets injured first, and you can bet your balls on it one if not both of them will at some stage next year. if we can accomodate both of them im sure theyll give the opposition plenty to watch out for.
# We need opposition defences to have eyes for players who are not going to recieve the ball and these two Moses and Teddy are perfect for that, how many tries do souths or melb score because defence thinks Slater or Inglis is the danger man its vital for our attack that we can set up plays with that option.
# As much as Blair has got better and he tries his guts out, we need better he doesnt offer much and nobody is intimidated by him at all.
# Im sorry but i can't see a quality consistent first grader in Siro, he's been a flop.
# Simona and nofo are our weapons, Simona has been my biggest dissapointment this year and if there's no sign of improvement next year i think we need to start looking for a pair of centres.
# Patty old Patty i love him what can i say but for us to go forward we can't have him we need a weapons on the wings and he's just not one. Did i mention how much i love him though.
# Big red is in the same category as Blair.
# I was excited about our new young forwards early in the year and boy did they deliver, but it didn't last long but that was probably to be expected. Hopefully the experience they now all have is shown next year, a few of them have problems keeping up around the ruck slow to get to their feet and slow to get onside and in a position to make an effective tackle.
# Gotta say was a little dissapointed with Brooks kicking game, was expecting if nothing else for him to just provide that solid kicking game that we have severely lacked for years now.
His running went awol too.