Does anyone think next years side will be better than this years?

[king_sirro]

Judging on the latter part of this season KS, it is more Nofa needs to work on his defensive combination with Kev. His reads were terrible and put Kev and the team under enormous pressure. I think that is more the problem.

I agree with you re: Rowdy and Siro - they could end up one of the best second row combinations in the NRL. Both can hit hard with their defence, Rowdy runs great lines and Siro can offload with the best of them. If we can get a few of the outside backs to follow them through eeeeyahhh! Think with both of them having 2015 in the back row - the gained experience will show through in 2016.

Not hijacking this thread but so much depends on the No:9 (quarter of the spine). The sooner that gets settled and worked on the better - it is crucial. Does not matter which two dummy halves as long as it is settled - one needs to be Manaia though. The other?
Won't start another debate I have my preference though. With those back rowers, Teddy, Moses, Brooks, Cherrington +1, we could do some serious damage to the opposition if they get quick ball.

However as we know - all will be to no avail if the big boppers do not stand up.
Woods, Ava, Sue to start with and then the three to follow whoever they will be - whether it be Graham, Lamar, Edwards, Chee Cam, Halatau, the Ipswich boys or ? Whoever they are they need to build the "go forward" foundation or the backs and winning won't matter.

I would play Hunt on the other wing - I have seen him play for St. George a few times on the left wing and he did an excellent job. He knows how to go forward and find the try line. I would start him there and let him play his way out of the team if that be the case.

All in all, if we can stay reasonably injury free and the boys play to the game plan (instead of throwing it out the window - happened a few times this year). JT has proven he is one of the better tacticians in the NRL over the years, but he needs players to do as they are asked.

I think we will go pretty well with the team we have. 8.9.10 wouldn't disappoint me.

Your first paragraph mate I agree with, I just didn't word my post the way I should have. Nofo is definitely a defensive issue and if he and Kevin can work it out together it will be a huge help.

 

[jirskyr]

Unfortunately for Nofo, his strengths are undone by some real weaknesses. I fear for his ongoing fitness, he looked really sluggish last year, hope he can shake off his knee complaints. He almost broke down taking that intercept against Saints in Rd 26.

Offensively he is a powerhouse, good out of dummy half and good at going over in the corner. Can jump for a shorter fellow too, kind of like a rugby league Tim Cahill.

Defensively, as has been said, very ordinary reader of the play, does not trust his centre at all.

I was really impressed with Siro the last few rounds of 2015, I expect him to take his game to another level in 2016 or forever be an also-ran. The age and injury excuses only last for so long, it's time for him to deliver consistently each week. But fit and hungry, he's a threat and can really punish in defence.

Fingers crossed for Rowdy, he's still one of my favourite players because of the way he goes about his football - professional, doesn't mince words but does not get caught up in controversy, good off-field profile and clearly a talented footballing head. I was pleased to see him find a new lease of life as a 2nd rower, we all knew it was coming, he's still only 27.

 

[Masterton]

I think Dave is a pretty good defensive winger when he has a good defensive centre inside him on a regular basis. (Yeah, I know that's damning with faint praise.)

 

[Poppa]

Its early days but wait until the season begins.
With game time this could be better than we are thinking.
Maybe we could have secured some bigger names especially in the forwards.
So onward to 2016.
:sign: :supporter:

 

[Pawsandclaws]

Judging on the latter part of this season KS, it is more Nofa needs to work on his defensive combination with Kev. His reads were terrible and put Kev and the team under enormous pressure. I think that is more the problem.

I agree with you re: Rowdy and Siro - they could end up one of the best second row combinations in the NRL. Both can hit hard with their defence, Rowdy runs great lines and Siro can offload with the best of them. If we can get a few of the outside backs to follow them through eeeeyahhh! Think with both of them having 2015 in the back row - the gained experience will show through in 2016.

Not hijacking this thread but so much depends on the No:9 (quarter of the spine). The sooner that gets settled and worked on the better - it is crucial. Does not matter which two dummy halves as long as it is settled - one needs to be Manaia though. The other?
Won't start another debate I have my preference though. With those back rowers, Teddy, Moses, Brooks, Cherrington +1, we could do some serious damage to the opposition if they get quick ball.

However as we know - all will be to no avail if the big boppers do not stand up.
Woods, Ava, Sue to start with and then the three to follow whoever they will be - whether it be Graham, Lamar, Edwards, Chee Cam, Halatau, the Ipswich boys or ? Whoever they are they need to build the "go forward" foundation or the backs and winning won't matter.

I would play Hunt on the other wing - I have seen him play for St. George a few times on the left wing and he did an excellent job. He knows how to go forward and find the try line. I would start him there and let him play his way out of the team if that be the case.

All in all, if we can stay reasonably injury free and the boys play to the game plan (instead of throwing it out the window - happened a few times this year). **JT has proven he is one of the better tacticians in the NRL over the years, but he needs players to do as they are asked**.

I think we will go pretty well with the team we have. 8.9.10 wouldn't disappoint me.

Your first paragraph mate I agree with, I just didn't word my post the way I should have. Nofo is definitely a defensive issue and if he and Kevin can work it out together it will be a huge help.

He certainly has not demonstrated this at the WTs. Insofar as players doing what they are asked, isn't it a case of the coach demonstrating he has leadership skills to bring them along with him?

 

[ricksen]

I'd love to be optimistic, but there's just so many question marks over our squad for me.
We're very light up front and out wide, with the only answers either very young and inexperienced or border line first graders (or both).
Keen to see how it plays out, but I suspect we'll be getting the 'rebuilding' chat from the club pretty early on in the piece, and I'll be very surprised if JT is around this time next year.