Dear Ivan!

[TYGA]

It’s the first year of a rebuild what did you expect to happen. We are building nicely some smart recruitment for 2019 and we are a perennial top 8 team.

We’re going okay, but it doesn’t make him exempt from any criticism. Some of his team selections leave a lot to be desired.

There is not a lot to choose from TBH.
ET at Hooker, Tui at fullback, Marshall at 5/8 are really the only positions that are questionable.
I’m sure if injuries permitted Liddle would be playing 80 at hooker, Reynolds at 5/8.
He has signed Mbye for fullback. Changes would not have tally made a difference cattle is not there yet.

 

[The_Patriot]

It’s the first year of a rebuild what did you expect to happen. We are building nicely some smart recruitment for 2019 and we are a perennial top 8 team.

We’re going okay, but it doesn’t make him exempt from any criticism. Some of his team selections leave a lot to be desired.

There is not a lot to choose from TBH.
ET at Hooker, Tui at fullback, Marshall at 5/8 are really the only positions that are questionable.
I’m sure if injuries permitted Liddle would be playing 80 at hooker, Reynolds at 5/8.
He has signed Mbye for fullback. Changes would not have tally made a difference cattle is not there yet.

Spot on Tyga.

With a bit of luck Cleary would have had Reynolds at 5/8 and Liddle at hooker.

He has identified and addressed the fullback role.

Not much more the guy can do.

 

[TigerSJ]

I am not willing to blame our performance on Ivan's selections. Really there aren't that many options in our current squad. I questioned the promotion of Tui before last week and I have made my views on him clear. Apart from that perhaps a little rejigging around MCK, Aloiai, Grant, Huth, but none of them are standouts begging selection. No - I am with the posters who are realistic about our roster and the fact that Ivan has done a pretty good job with the group we have.
It was pretty clear if you were at the game that the Roosters were ordinary but we were worse. We had very little penetration with the ball and hence no momentum generated. Our ptbs were shockingly slow (Roosters were much more urgent in that area) and we have no strike from D/Half either. As a half it is difficult to make all the go forward yourself and much easier to play behind a pack that is rolling through the advantage line. Our attack suffers badly from having virtually no players at all that can break or even bend the line. The other area that was lacking was offloads - virtually none, so no second phase play either. You can go on… but a lot of the previous posts covered some of the appalling errors and sheer dumbness displayed.
My long term concern is that we looked very pedestrian and lacked any real spirit or fight to win for the most part. We only looked like we wanted it in the last 5 mins of the game. This is more of a problem for me because without that desire, and with the roster we have, we will not make the 8.

 

[tonza]

I am not willing to blame our performance on Ivan's selections. Really there aren't that many options in our current squad. I questioned the promotion of Tui before last week and I have made my views on him clear. Apart from that perhaps a little rejigging around MCK, Aloiai, Grant, Huth, but none of them are standouts begging selection. No - I am with the posters who are realistic about our roster and the fact that Ivan has done a pretty good job with the group we have.
It was pretty clear if you were at the game that the Roosters were ordinary but we were worse. We had very little penetration with the ball and hence no momentum generated. Our ptbs were shockingly slow (Roosters were much more urgent in that area) and we have no strike from D/Half either. As a half it is difficult to make all the go forward yourself and much easier to play behind a pack that is rolling through the advantage line. Our attack suffers badly from having virtually no players at all that can break or even bend the line. The other area that was lacking was offloads - virtually none, so no second phase play either. You can go on… but a lot of the previous posts covered some of the appalling errors and sheer dumbness displayed.
My long term concern is that we looked very pedestrian and lacked any real spirit or fight to win for the most part. We only looked like we wanted it in the last 5 mins of the game. This is more of a problem for me because without that desire, and with the roster we have, we will not make the 8.

Agree. With what we have at the moment this is the best we can expect. We never appear to fight in the tackle to play the ball and together with our poor dummy half play we are pedeatrian.

 

[Cairnstigers]

There is no doubt that Ivan is the best man to re build this club and coach the side
It seems like some of you would prefer that we go back to playing the way we did last year
We have the 3rd best defence in the NRL
I'm happy with that
This is a huge improvement on our previous seasons
We all want immediate success but need to learn to be more patient
We all know we are short a couple more class players with speed but they are not readily available or dont fit Ivan's mold
We dont really want someone like Corey Norman do we
Are we that desperate
So we need to wait until another class player comes along that fits our needs
We have Mbye coming soon to take the Fullback roll
That is a big plus
Thompson then goes to wing
That strengthens the team already
Reynolds will start in the halves very soon
That was always Ivan's plan for Josh
Injuries to Liddle Packer Twal and Taylor have not helped
Ivan is not a magician
He can only work with the players we have been able to sign
And those that are injury free
Be patient guys
It takes time to re build
Let Ivan work his magic

 

[momo_amp_medo]

OK …. did Not have oportunity to watch last few games ..... but what I got from your game reports and what I did see from both ISP and 1st grade players to date ....... I believe Ivan will again implement significant turnover of player roster for 2019.

I am absolutely satisfied with our achievements to date as my expectations were not high bearing in mind what we have at desposal this year.

For me the definite 20 keepers are:
Mbye, Lolo, Thompson, Nofoaluma, Marsters, Fonua, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Reynolds, Brooks, Gamble, Packer, Matulino, Liddle, Taylor, Twal , Lawrence, Aloiai, Eisenhuth, Rochow and Chee Kam.

Questions about the following remain:
Grant, Marshall, Sue, Godinet, Mcllinwrick, Felise

So by my count there may be quite different squad next year and hopefully bit of quality additions to both backs and forwards.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

OK …. did Not have oportunity to watch last few games ..... but what I got from your game reports and what I did see from both ISP and 1st grade players to date ....... I believe Ivan will again implement significant turnover of player roster for 2019.

I am absolutely satisfied with our achievements to date as my expectations were not high bearing in mind what we have at desposal this year.

For me the definite 20 keepers are:
Mbye, Lolo, Thompson, Nofoaluma, Marsters, Fonua, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Reynolds, Brooks, Gamble, Packer, Matulino, Liddle, Taylor, Twal , Lawrence, Aloiai, Eisenhuth, Rochow and Chee Kam.

Questions about the following remain:
Grant, Marshall, Sue, Godinet, Mcllinwrick, Felise

So by my count there may be quite different squad next year and hopefully bit of quality additions to both backs and forwards.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Sorry about the double up but internet here patchy!

 

[Pawsandclaws]

Bar a couple of good posts we have 6 pages of rubbish.

Ivan is doing an absolutely outstanding job. Yes he is a lot more patient than some of us would like. I would have dropped Benji a month ago for instance but the guy has us on the right track.

The team is not quote his. Its half inherited and a work in progress.

I guess only Jason Taylor gets 3 years to build a squad LOL

The team did well on Sunday and demonstrated a lot of fight. We lack the players to deliver that killer blow. Mbye will help but left centre and one wing position need an injection of lightning pace. Fonua is an accident waiting to happen (it happened twice on Sunday) and Thompson has one wing position wrapped up. If Katoa is available we need to strike.

 

[Telltails]

I think Clearys selections are about showing belief in players who have lifted to get the job done.
I maintain that the squad is ordinary at best yet overall have only been dusted up once by the Warriors. He doesnt have a lot of assured better options at his disposal so managing what he has got well is key to trying to keep in touch with the eight.
Performance is so much more than ability alone and while I dont always agree with his selections the performance of this team with all its glaring deficiencies demonstrates enough for me that he knows what he is doing.
Getting the best from Tui looks like a problem. He is giving him his opportunity but Mbyes arrival is a clear message that there is only so long.

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

Bar a couple of good posts we have 6 pages of rubbish.

Ivan is doing an absolutely outstanding job. Yes he is a lot more patient than some of us would like. I would have dropped Benji a month ago for instance but the guy has us on the right track.

The team is not quote his. Its half inherited and a work in progress.

I guess only Jason Taylor gets 3 years to build a squad LOL

he spent a hell of a lot of money on his half
As i said at the time, a few desperation signings .
as for an outstanding job, only time will tell.
Hes been about as good as he could be with what he has, but some of his signings, havent been too flash.

 

[Geo]

Bar a couple of good posts we have 6 pages of rubbish.

Ivan is doing an absolutely outstanding job. Yes he is a lot more patient than some of us would like. I would have dropped Benji a month ago for instance but the guy has us on the right track.

The team is not quote his. Its half inherited and a work in progress.

I guess only Jason Taylor gets 3 years to build a squad LOL

**he spent a hell of a lot of money on his half**
As i said at the time, a few desperation signings .
as for an outstanding job, only time will tell.
Hes been about as good as he could be with what he has, but some of his signings, havent been too flash.

Is that Reynolds…? How much did he spend..?

 

[upthetigers]

I think Clearys selections are about showing belief in players who have lifted to get the job done.
I maintain that the squad is ordinary at best yet overall have only been dusted up once by the Warriors. He doesnt have a lot of assured better options at his disposal so managing what he has got well is key to trying to keep in touch with the eight.
Performance is so much more than ability alone and while I dont always agree with his selections the performance of this team with all its glaring deficiencies demonstrates enough for me that he knows what he is doing.
Getting the best from Tui looks like a problem. He is giving him his opportunity but Mbyes arrival is a clear message that there is only so long.

The fact that Cleary wants Mbye before June 30 tells you everything.

 

[hobbo]

Bar a couple of good posts we have 6 pages of rubbish.

Ivan is doing an absolutely outstanding job. Yes he is a lot more patient than some of us would like. I would have dropped Benji a month ago for instance but the guy has us on the right track.

The team is not quote his. Its half inherited and a work in progress.

I guess only Jason Taylor gets 3 years to build a squad LOL

**he spent a hell of a lot of money on his half**
As i said at the time, a few desperation signings .
as for an outstanding job, only time will tell.
Hes been about as good as he could be with what he has, but some of his signings, havent been too flash.

Is that Reynolds…? How much did he spend..?

$650k plus a car

 

[Geo]

Bar a couple of good posts we have 6 pages of rubbish.

Ivan is doing an absolutely outstanding job. Yes he is a lot more patient than some of us would like. I would have dropped Benji a month ago for instance but the guy has us on the right track.

The team is not quote his. Its half inherited and a work in progress.

I guess only Jason Taylor gets 3 years to build a squad LOL

**he spent a hell of a lot of money on his half**
As i said at the time, a few desperation signings .
as for an outstanding job, only time will tell.
Hes been about as good as he could be with what he has, but some of his signings, havent been too flash.

Is that Reynolds…? How much did he spend..?

$650k plus a car

You sure thought it was plus a washing machine..

650K seems to be below ave for a half..the MILF is on 900k +

 

[upthetigers]

I think it's more like 750K + TPAs.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Didn't realise Reynolds had more than one accountant…

 

[happy_tiger]

Didn't realise Reynolds had more than one accountant…

And either way he has made some horrible decisions on his accountant

 

[Doc_Tiger]

My belief is he had to start somewhere. Reynolds was the first "big name". Prior to him, nobody was coming across. But then Packer and Matalino did, and now Mbye. Others will too, but he had to start somewhere. Let's not get too hung up on what grub is earning, if not for him, I don't know who we'd be trotting out in future to replace Benji. Could be a whole lot worse.

 

[clontarfkid]

Reynolds and McQueen just happened to be in the right place at the right time…and we paid a significant premium to regain some cred that the "little 3" significantly diminished in the space of a few weeks.
Matalino,Tui,Godinet all benefitted from this plus Ivans familiarity with them rather than form
Packer,Thompson and Fonua were solid signings...as was Benji despite his now apparent limitations
Jury still out on Mbye(tho no-one else wld have signed him at this price..I really don't know why we did either)
So our "strike rate"on signings is disappointing,particularly if you benchmark us againts Knights signings.
Having said that,Cleary CAN coach as is evidenced by our achievements with one of the worst rosters in the NRL...but he needs less autonomy on recruitment decisions .
Too many ordinary players at extra-ordinary prices will cement our future in the bottom 8 .