First half of next year

[citizen_cub]

I noticed many suggesting that if we are to win the comp next year, we will have to finish within the top 2 in order to progress straight through to the GF qualifier and from there, hopefully knock off the team we play who will be ranked lower.

Whether we do finish this high, we heavily rely on how well we start next year and how we perform in the middle rounds. Obviously this year we started slowly (injuries not helping) and before we knew it, after 10 rounds the top 4 were completely segregated from the rest of the pack (I think the gap was about 6 points) and from that position, we were never going to finish anywhere near the top 2, only thanks to 9 straight wins that we scrapped into 4th.

I think huge emphasis needs to be placed upon rounds 1-10 next season and if we can win say 7 out of the first 10, we get ourselves into a position where we can afford to lose a few games along the way, but at the same time not face the possibility of moving down a couple places on the ladder.

Do you think greater emphasis should be placed upon the first half of the season, or the second half of the season (like this year)?

 

[MightyMaggy]

I think there are so many variables that can affect the results of games, you cannot "decide" to go hard in the first half or the second half of the competition. The teams you draw and injuries for example will have a big influence on your results.

 

[Joel Helmes]

I think we are starting to get into a habit of relying on a late season run to get us in - Ithink however that yes this puts too much pressure on e.g. if we had won the premiership this year we would have had to win 12 straight games!

Yes a professional team (pending serious injuries) will switch it on from round one - claim 7 or 8 wins in the first 10 games or so getting all the hard work done early - and then coast along to about the 18th round when they step it up again.

What I liked about the Tigers in 2011, and what gives me so much hope for the next couple of years was that we were able to have a top gear and a slower gear, you could tell in some games that we were cruising.

In the old days the Tigers would have to play out of their skins to claim any win.

So yes with Adam Blair joining our awesome pack, and with "hopefully" a capable number seven helping to steer the side around I reckon we will come out in attack mode next season.

 

[Joel Helmes]

I think we are starting to get into a habit of relying on a late season run to get us in - Ithink however that yes this puts too much pressure on e.g. if we had won the premiership this year we would have had to win 12 straight games!

Yes a professional team (pending serious injuries) will switch it on from round one - claim 7 or 8 wins in the first 10 games or so getting all the hard work done early - and then coast along to about the 18th round when they step it up again.

What I liked about the Tigers in 2011, and what gives me so much hope for the next couple of years was that we were able to have a top gear and a slower gear, you could tell in some games that we were cruising.

In the old days the Tigers would have to play out of their skins to claim any win.

So yes with Adam Blair joining our awesome pack, and with "hopefully" a capable number seven helping to steer the side around I reckon we will come out in attack mode next season.

 

[diedpretty]

I just look at Melbourne - front runner all year - then the Manly debacle, then resting players, almost got done by a pretty ordinary Newcastle in 1st semi then a weeks break leading to the Warriors - they looked underdone for a big game - sometimes it is better to come home with a wet sail and be playing hard football when it counts.

 

[2041]

I just look at Melbourne - front runner all year - then the Manly debacle, then resting players, almost got done by a pretty ordinary Newcastle in 1st semi then a weeks break leading to the Warriors - they looked underdone for a big game - sometimes it is better to come home with a wet sail and be playing hard football when it counts.

I'm not reading too much into that - I just think Melbourne had a team that was very well set up for the regular season (great structure, players who know their roles, clinical playmakers) but ran out of steam and ideas at just the wrong time. I don't think Cronk has been fully fit since he returned from injury and Smith's form was down as well, and the reality is that if you're not cheating and two of your big money playmakers don't perform you're going to get in trouble eventually. Whether that would have been massively different if Smith had played against the Roosters in the final regular season game I really don't know, but I tend to doubt it.

In fact, overall I'm really dubious about the concept of "momentum" in relation to the finals. It's easy to identify momentum in the team that wins because obviously they've just won a few games, but you'd be hard-pressed to pin it down in advance I'd say - other than that the best teams will probably be winning games at any given point in time.

 

[westTAHger]

just would like to have same team, not one battered by injuries.
.
don't care how they win, if its boring and ensures a win and the 2 points then so be it.
.

 

[MightyMaggy]

I think we are starting to get into a habit of relying on a late season run to get us in - Ithink however that yes this puts too much pressure on e.g. if we had won the premiership this year we would have had to win 12 straight games!

Yes a professional team (pending serious injuries) will switch it on from round one - claim 7 or 8 wins in the first 10 games or so getting all the hard work done early - and then coast along to about the 18th round when they step it up again.

What I liked about the Tigers in 2011, and what gives me so much hope for the next couple of years was that we were able to have a top gear and a slower gear, you could tell in some games that we were cruising.

In the old days the Tigers would have to play out of their skins to claim any win.

So yes with Adam Blair joining our awesome pack, and with "hopefully" a capable number seven helping to steer the side around I reckon we will come out in attack mode next season.

Cannot agree more! I think with the addition of Blair our forwards look very promising. My worry is the need for a DOMINANT WHEN REQUIRED half-back, a position, which I thought Lui could fill, but now ….......

 

[Joel Helmes]

I think we are starting to get into a habit of relying on a late season run to get us in - Ithink however that yes this puts too much pressure on e.g. if we had won the premiership this year we would have had to win 12 straight games!

Yes a professional team (pending serious injuries) will switch it on from round one - claim 7 or 8 wins in the first 10 games or so getting all the hard work done early - and then coast along to about the 18th round when they step it up again.

What I liked about the Tigers in 2011, and what gives me so much hope for the next couple of years was that we were able to have a top gear and a slower gear, you could tell in some games that we were cruising.

In the old days the Tigers would have to play out of their skins to claim any win.

So yes with Adam Blair joining our awesome pack, and with "hopefully" a capable number seven helping to steer the side around I reckon we will come out in attack mode next season.

Cannot agree more! I think with the addition of Blair our forwards look very promising. My worry is the need for a DOMINANT WHEN REQUIRED half-back, a position, which I thought Lui could fill, but now ….......

Yes I agree regarding the halfback issue although it probably didn't come across in my initial post. I don't subscribe to the theory that you can put anyone in the seven jersey and all they need do is plug the gap and give it to Benji. I can't help but think that if given a full off season and told he will get first shot that Miller will be that person - cream rises to the top and I think Miller is class.

 

[Flippedy]

Whilst peaking at the right end of the season is a definite bonus, I would be really happy if they could just be a bit more consistent over the 26 rounds of the regular season. Manly have played it pretty well spot on this year. A consistently good season like theirs would be really nice, but also very different from what us Tigers' fans are used to :brick:

 

[izotope]

Have to agree on momentum through a season.. every game is a new one. I think confidence can play a big part however.

Momentum is very obvious in each game however to me.

Here's hoping for a bit more consistency next year win 5 lose 1 :slight_smile:
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[Goose]

it is difficult to maintain the rage for the entire 26 rounds and semies, the key is to be playing your best footy come finals time, but you dont want to leave yourself too much to do late in the season either

 

[underdog]

Our boys will also be given the luxury of probably not being picked for SOO again - as NSW will proably go with their "experimental" team from last year after the "success" of winning one of the three origin games. Not to mention our best performers are going to be either English (Ellis and Heighington) or Kiwi (Marshall and Blair). :unamused:

Farah wont get a look in if Ennis is fit… :roll

Galloway, Woods, and Lawrence will be forgotten about again.

imagine that - coming top 2 or three running into the origin period, **_THEN_** being able to snipe teams BELOW US while their Origin players are out.... It's laughable, but sadly a strong possibility to be true.