All the pieces coming together... And it looks great!

[Team_Tiger]

As we all know, there's a lot that needs to come together to win a grand final. Many pieces that make up the premiership jig-saw.

I've just been having a think about how we are travelling as a club: how the ingredients are looking good for a fantastic 2011 season. These include (in no particular order):

* Key players returing from injury (Moltzen, etc)
* We are strong off the field with new sponsors, etc.
* We have a great players in key positions, led by Robbie and Benji.
* The development of key players last year was outstanding. Blake Ayshford. Mitch Brown. Lui. You could even throw in Lawrence due to his Oz debut.
* We have excellent backup strength to cover injuries.
* Our forward pack is an excellent mix of workers, power and flair, led by the best second rower in the game.
* I'd rank our first string backline (Moltzen/Benji/Rowdy/Ayshford/TNT/Lote/Brown or McKinnon) up there with the best.
* 2010 showed that we have learnt to "win ugly" when needed.
* We are burning from being knocked out of the semis in 2010 - this will carry us through September again.

There's probably even more I could add to this list. Suffice to say, the pices are coming together. 2011 will be very special indeed. A great time to be a **TIGERS** supporter.

 

[prattenpark]

Win, lose or draw, it's always a great time to be a tigers supporter. But, I know what you mean. The final ingredient is luck - you need a good dose of that to get you through. A bit of that and 2011 will be very special indeed.

 

[Peaches]

Definitely a year to be optimistic. We were tired in the 2010 finals campaign. I don't think we will in 2011.

 

[Team_Tiger]

We were tired in the 2010 finals campaign. I don't think we will in 2011.

I agree. Primarily due to that extra time farce against the Rorters. As we all know, the game should have finished in the 80th minute, with the feather dusters knocked out.

Anyway… I'm taking my own thread off topic as this is about looking forward, not backwards, and we are looking good :smiley:

 

[Fraze23]

I agree, we have a good mixture of youth in Moltz, Lui, Lawrence and experience in the form of Ellis, Payten, Mckinnon, Heighington. This is the strongest position the club has ever been in. Good depth, good blend of exciting players and hard workers. The experience of 2010 will drive us further next year.
We are looking good off the field too.I've resigned as a member for the first time in 5 years so the rest of you that havent signed up get onto it!

 

[tig_prmz]

* We have a great players in key positions, led by Robbie and Benji.

might not agree with that one. To win a premiership you need a great combo of 1,6,7,9\. Even though 6 and 9 are perfect matches, we still have no idea who the no. 1 will be. Even though Moltzen and Lui look good in the no. 7, i still don't consider them the ideal organising halfback that we need. If the 1 and 7 issues are solved, the premiership will be ours.

Apart from that, I agree with all other points and add to that, the Australian coach who has the most no. of games in his belt.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH THE TIGERS IN 2011.

 

[Guest]

* We have a great players in key positions, led by Robbie and Benji.

might not agree with that one. To win a premiership you need a great combo of 1,6,7,9\. Even though 6 and 9 are perfect matches, we still have no idea who the no. 1 will be. Even though Moltzen and Lui look good in the no. 7, i still don't consider them the ideal organising halfback that we need. If the 1 and 7 issues are solved, the premiership will be ours.

Apart from that, I agree with all other points and add to that, the Australian coach who has the most no. of games in his belt.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH THE TIGERS IN 2011.

Benji and Robbie are still the primary playmakers though, the 1 and 7 provide an excellent foil for them, just as Benji provided an excellent foil for Prince in 2005, Moltzen and Lui provide good options now. Regardless of who Sheens selects at fullback, it's unlikely they would provide the creativity and point scoring ability that Hodgo provided in 2005\. The Tigers still have the team and depth to win the comp in 2011 though.

 

[tiga4eva]

I have always hoped every pre-season that we make the 8\. This year i am confident we will win the whole shebang.Great squad well balanced with Farah and Benji coming into the peak of their powers in the next 3yrs or so.

 

[Snake]

Its all about injuries to KEY players and a bit of luck I,m positive but not getting carried away until the season unfolds seen it all before great expectations then reality bites! Looking promising.

 

[redemption]

We need our best on the field at season's end - so injuries are my greatest concern (despite my confidence in our playing depth across the board)!

Depth does not cover the absence of dominant players like Farah & Marshall! The entire shape of the team changes if either of those two goes down!

 

[cunno]

A number of good points made in this thread, starting with optimism about our prospects for next season, the strength of key positions but then the need for some luck particularly with injuries. I think we also need a fair go from referees that influence on results in 2011 cannot be underestimated. I am still of the believe that our key players in positions 1,6, 7, 9 have a much better chance of influencing the result of the game if our forwards are strong and dominant. The attitude of the forwards will be crucial, for that matter the whole teams attitude will be important in what should be a long season. There is also the issue of goal kicking although Benji has improved significantly in this area.

 

[fainty]

lets not get too confident. Im sure after the 2009 season both parramatta and bulldogs fans were thinking the same…and we all know what kinda year they had!

 

[redemption]

lets not get too confident. Im sure after the 2009 season both parramatta and bulldogs fans were thinking the same…and we all know what kinda year they had!

Just because you also rated those teams above us in 2010 does not make it reality fainty (you flip)!

Parra rated Mortiner/Hindmarsh/Cayless - Bulldogs rated Kimmorley/Ennis/Ryan!!!!

We have BENJI & ROBBIE! (+ Heighno - Ellis etc)!!!!!

Injuries will be what cruels our chances in 2011 - not lack of genuine talent like those other scumbags!!!!!

**POST EDITED BY ADMIN**

 

[tig_prmz]

* We have a great players in key positions, led by Robbie and Benji.

might not agree with that one. To win a premiership you need a great combo of 1,6,7,9\. Even though 6 and 9 are perfect matches, we still have no idea who the no. 1 will be. Even though Moltzen and Lui look good in the no. 7, i still don't consider them the ideal organising halfback that we need. If the 1 and 7 issues are solved, the premiership will be ours.

Apart from that, I agree with all other points and add to that, the Australian coach who has the most no. of games in his belt.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH THE TIGERS IN 2011.

Benji and Robbie are still the primary playmakers though, the 1 and 7 provide an excellent foil for them, just as Benji provided an excellent foil for Prince in 2005, Moltzen and Lui provide good options now. Regardless of who Sheens selects at fullback, it's unlikely they would provide the creativity and point scoring ability that Hodgo provided in 2005\. The Tigers still have the team and depth to win the comp in 2011 though.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that we are the top 4 team in this comp next year for sure and the thing that will assure us a premiership will be the attacking and defensive role of the fullback and the supporting role of the halfback. Given Marshall's form and Robbie's brilliance, I'm sure we will be top 4\. but what the no.1 and 7 do willl define if we win the premiership. And to see if they can do their job, we need surity bout who will be wearing those jerseys and to me no.7 is tossed up between Lui and Moltz. while there are maybe 4 candidates for the no.1 jersey.

 

[everett]

I agree with most of the points raised. To win the comp you need to have a great run with injuries, have your top team fit and firing coming into the finals and have some luck. Marshall to me is the key. He is at a good age and has been playing NRL since 2003\. I would like to see Brown start at Number 1 and Moltzen at number 7\. We also need Fifita, Lui and Dwyer to avoid the second year syndrome. Can't wait for 2011 to begin.

 

[fainty]

lets not get too confident. Im sure after the 2009 season both parramatta and bulldogs fans were thinking the same…and we all know what kinda year they had!

Just because you also rated those retards above us in 2010 does not make it reality fainty (you flip)!

Parra rated Mortiner/Hindmarsh/Cayless - Bulldogs rated Kimmorley/Ennis/Ryan!!!!

We have BENJI & ROBBIE! (+ Heighno - Ellis etc)!!!!!

Injuries will be what cruels our chances in 2011 - not lack of genuine talent like those other scumbags!!!!!

When did i say i rated them above us???
…and flip? Was that your attempt of an insult?

 

[fergiefurr]

lets not get too confident. Im sure after the 2009 season both parramatta and bulldogs fans were thinking the same…and we all know what kinda year they had!

dogs had the best injury run in memory in 2009, plus kimmorley actually had a great year. i didnt tip them to make the 8 in 2010\. they arent a good team, they just had a good year in 09.

parras 09 was just 12 weeks of stunning play by one bloke, they (he) were never going to back it up.

we are different, we are a sure thing unless we get about 10 long term injuries.

 

[Geo]

lets not get too confident. Im sure after the 2009 season both parramatta and bulldogs fans were thinking the same…and we all know what kinda year they had!

dogs had the best injury run in memory in 2009, plus kimmorley actually had a great year. i didnt tip them to make the 8 in 2010\. they arent a good team, they just had a good year in 09.

parras 09 was just 12 weeks of stunning play by one bloke, they (he) were never going to back it up.

**_we are different, we are a sure thing unless we get about 10 long term injuries_**.

Agreed…If Benji Farah and Gareth and the Props stay fit....we will slay it....

 

[AndTheKungFoSing]

dogs had the best injury run in memory in 2009, plus kimmorley actually had a great year. i didnt tip them to make the 8 in 2010\. they arent a good team, they just had a good year in 09.

parras 09 was just 12 weeks of stunning play by one bloke, they (he) were never going to back it up.

we are different, we are a sure thing unless we get about 10 long term injuries.

Have to agree here really!

We had a terribe run with injuries last season and still finished in the top 4 and made it one game out… MASSIVE effort and testament to our youth programs and coaches imo. Few injuries and like a few here.... I am VERY very confident