Anyone going to this?

[Tiger_In_The_Gong]

- the cowboys game was frustrating for everyone. It wasn't a plan NOT to pass. However he had told the team that roosters and knights losses the defence had been unacceptable. He thinks the fact that he is preaching so much defence has psychologically made the players think they aren't allowed to attack. This should change and we have been putting more emphasis on passing, particularly short passes

.

This is his first admission of any fault.

Shows the gap between talking the talk and a coach actually having the talent to communicate his vision to a playing group.

 

[NT_Tiger]

Thanks fergiefurr.
Assuming that the cap situation is for real, it goes a long way to explaining the issues with Tedesco's signing as well as why other 'favourites' were allowed to leave. It sounds like we are treading a very fine line even to keep any players of quality.
If this is the case, I think it demonstrates Taylor's commitment coming here with eyes wide open and the commitment to the club of the players that are staying regardless.

 

[Geo]

It was a well put together night and something I'm glad I went to. It's a bit of a shame as my guess is there was probably only about 120 'fans' there. From speaking to people a lot of them were even tigers staff, friends or sponsors. My guess is there were probably 50-60 actual fans/members there.

The first 40 mins was drinks/canapés and a handful of players/staff walking around chatting. The players were all friendly and happy to talk/pose for photos. I had small chats with most of them (from memory the players there were brooks, Moses, Ava, taupau, teddy, Simona, naquima and Richards). A guy who was very impressive for mine was Tim Simona, I think he is someone the club could use a lot more with marketing etc. He's a good looking young bloke, speaks very well and was extremely personable. He didn't make you feel like it was a chore chatting to you and asked questions like if you played, which junior club, what you do for work now etc. For someone like me who works in the people industry he is someone who sponsors/corporates would love.

Then JT gave about a 3-4 minute speech about the night and covered a few things he was no doubt going to get asked 'yes we are working on defence, no we aren't forgetting attack, yes we are improving' etc etc

You got split up into 5 groups that went through the 5 departments for 20min presentations. Head coach, assistant coaches video session, game day prep with a trainer, strength and conditioning, sports science. I'll cover them briefly. Now a few things got said by coaches that they asked to be kept confidential (it was mainly deficiencies in players that the coaches are working on), I am going to keep it that way, don't even bother PMing me. They gave a lot of info and I'd like to respect that.

JT - obviously this was the one everyone was there for

- Basically he spoke for about 15 minutes about his '3 year plan'. That the tigers are renowned for being a soft team. At the roosters the forwards would love playing the tigers because 'they don't hit us hard.' This is the main thing he is trying to change.

- it starts with defence. We were the worst defensive team last year. At the moment our game is structured around having the opposition start their sets in their own 25ms every set. That way it makes it harder for them to score.

- he isn't coaching the attack out of players. They are allowed to play what they see. However they need to know the game situation and field position.

- the cowboys game was frustrating for everyone. It wasn't a plan NOT to pass. However he had told the team that roosters and knights losses the defence had been unacceptable. He thinks the fact that he is preaching so much defence has psychologically made the players think they aren't allowed to attack. This should change and we have been putting more emphasis on passing, particularly short passes

Then a few questions:

- will we be signing any players? Short answer no. our salary cap is a mess. We are already at the limit for next year. Unless we release players under contract for next year we won't be signing ANYONE. The previous management has signed players in massive back ended contracts that are way, way over their worth

- the next few weeks will see if nofo is a center. Nofo is excited to play there. If it doesn't work he will go back to wing. He said depending on how nofo goes there will show if we need a center or a winger for next year

- our initial defence contact isn't good enough. Again this is a tigers thing. He was happy with it for the first 5 weeks but it's gone back to the old habits again

- he is happy with the way we are progressing and expects the next 12 games to win more then we lose

- the bombs aren't designed to get the ball back, they are to allow the defensive line to get set and move downfield as one

I don't know what to make of JT. He certainly believes in what he is doing and says the players do too. I can see what he is trying to do. He does come across as a bit of an angry any though. I don't know if he is like that with the players.
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Couple of small things of note from other sessions:

S & C coach has worked at other clubs and for collingwood, said Aaron woods is the most professional footballer he has ever seen. His game prep, after game routine, training, diet, training etc. brooks and teddy are 2 of the best young guys at this he has seen too. Salesi funaki has the biggest bench press and deadlift at the club. Kev naquima has close to if not the most 'explosive power' however they measure that, in the NRL

Kidwell/Cameron video session. This was really good but felt rushed. Kidwell singled out Lovett as a very good defender/wrestler. Said that one of our main problems is leaving too much space in the middle of the ruck (example sezers try) and the wrestle is still and issue for us. Cameron spoke a lot about supporting runs through the ruck that don't get the ball. How coaches measure stuff like that. Then a lot about shape etc.

Game day prep, just took you through what goes on in the room before kick off. They hate Friday nights because channel 9 change the kick off times which messes every thing up.

Sports science, I found a bit boring, other people may have enjoyed. Anyways apparently we are as good as the other clubs now, until last year this was piss poor apparently.

Like I said it was a good night and was run very professionally. To me it's a shame as I see the club could make this into a massive thing. Tickets for $99 won't work, it shouldn't be a money making exercise. It's a great way to allow members to feel apart of the club. Obviously not every member can go but I'd run say 3 a year and every membership goes in the running to win a ticket. The groups were quiet small but you could easily have had say 50 people in a group.

Thanks for the detailed response FF….much appreciate,,,,

As for the signing of new players in a way I am glad that we wont be signing more....what's the term umm...Plodders....there is not much out there of quality would much rather nurture what we have than sign other Clubs Go-Lo reject shop players as we have in the past...

 

[fergiefurr]

Re the cap. I can see how we would be at it. I've been told by a guy I chat to at games who has previously come good with info that Lawrence's back end deal has him on approx $750k for next year. Humpreys Nd sheens had virtually the whole squad on back ended deals. I'm guessing Galloway and Farah would be too. Farah might be on say $900k a year. But his first year might have been $300k, then the next few years $1.4mil. Last year Andrew Vela was nearly one of the top 5 paid players in the club due to an insane back ended deal based purely off potential.

We've been so unprofessional over the years nothing would surprise me with this club.

Yes we've released players but we've also resigned plenty. Teddy, sironen, nofo etc. Who knows what we signed brooks and Moses for, they could be on anything for 2016/17.

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[Pokies]

How many players though do we have in our current squad that would be on an existing contract from the sheens/humpty years? Farah, Lawrence KG .. Anyone else??

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[Pokies]

Sorry I realised I forgot Moltzen as well but im pretty sure his contract ends this year so shouldn't hold us back for next year.

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[innsaneink]

Thanks fergie. ..appreciated.

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[westy81]

I was there, what colour group were you in fergie I was in purple group, cause everything you said sounds exactly what was said in my group

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[Sabre]

Was anything said about why we don't let Richards do those big spiralling kick offs any more?

 

[Tim Sheens]

I was there, what colour group were you in fergie I was in purple group, cause everything you said sounds exactly what was said in my group

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Anything to add 81?

 

[Doc_Tiger]

That's a really great post fergie. I think a lot of that info was pretty well assumed by most on here though.

It's just amazing that we have reached the cap limit for next season. Absolutely mind boggling.

I think I recall early in the piece (like when he first came on board) JT said nobody was to be signed til 2017\. So I'm not totally surprised about that. Disappointed where in that position though.

Interesting to hear that Simona is so marketable.

Thanks for your detailed run down.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

If our cap is full it seems obvious to me that they are talking about their budget not so much the full cap.

No way in hell are we spending our full cap solely on players.

AS said earlier there is a lot of spin here.

You really have no clue. We are spending to the cap it's not a budget thing at all.

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[happy_tiger]

I'd say the big difference between us and many clubs is that our players might have 10-15% of players salaries being covered by TPA's

Many other clubs would be at least 25%

Makes a huge difference in the big scheme of things

 

[Tiger_In_The_Gong]

If our cap is full it seems obvious to me that they are talking about their budget not so much the full cap.

No way in hell are we spending our full cap solely on players.

AS said earlier there is a lot of spin here.

You really have no clue. We are spending to the cap it's not a budget thing at all.

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Ohh because you know.

You dont have one ounce of proof to back this up.

Whats more all youve got are personal attacks like calling me clueless.

Cant handle a strong opinion thats different to yours can you.

 

[cqtiger]

I'd say the big difference between us and many clubs is that our players might have 10-15% of players salaries being covered by TPA's

Many other clubs would be at least 25%

Makes a huge difference in the big scheme of things

Agree Hap. This is THE area that cruel's us every time

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[happy_tiger]

I'd say the big difference between us and many clubs is that our players might have 10-15% of players salaries being covered by TPA's

Many other clubs would be at least 25%

Makes a huge difference in the big scheme of things

Agree Hap. This is THE area that cruel's us every time

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But on the positive side we are getting much better with this , it might just take some time as we have many contracts signed for the big names already

 

[Telltails]

I'd say the big difference between us and many clubs is that our players might have 10-15% of players salaries being covered by TPA's

Many other clubs would be at least 25%

Makes a huge difference in the big scheme of things

Agree Hap. This is THE area that cruel's us every time
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Also the reason why the Roosters are able to maintain a ridiculously good roster.

 

[fergiefurr]

In order to field a team in the NRL each team has to spend a certain amount of the salary cap. You can't just say 'the caps $6mil but this year we can only afford $5mil.' The NRL want an even competiton and won't let you. I think it's like 92-95% of the cap that you HAVE to spend.

So it's not a lack of money issue for us. It's back ended contracts that have stuffed us.

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[tigerbalm]

Thanks for the feedback on the night FF

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[Tiger_In_The_Gong]

In order to field a team in the NRL each team has to spend a certain amount of the salary cap. You can't just say 'the caps $6mil but this year we can only afford $5mil.' The NRL want an even competiton and won't let you. I think it's like 92-95% of the cap that you HAVE to spend.

So it's not a lack of money issue for us. It's back ended contracts that have stuffed us.

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That makes sense Fergie, happy to be corrected.

Under those requirements it would only be possible to be under the cap by 500 to 600k, a couple of handy players however.

The trouble with accepting that we are spending the cap is the alternative that we are just really poor at the recruitment and retention side of things :frowning: