How are we really travelling?

[greatodensraven]

I don't have the confidence that others do of us holding together through origin, but we are doing well. Keefy's Renaissance was unexpected, and though I'd like to have seen a bit more defensive starch than attacking flair at the moment, I can't complain too much.
Would like to see the back of Lovett sooner rather than later though.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

Yeh I think we'll struggle heavily without woods and Farah.

Think you're completely off the mark with the assessment on Lovett though. We really haven't seen enough of him to even make a reasonable assessment IMO.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

'
Not necessarily that he's just not up to first grade standard (though admittedly I have my reservations about that too) more that I feel like we've got better options.

I think Jesse Sue is a better option than Lovett in the 2nd row for now. Problem is if we move Jesse then our bench weakens. However if Ava & Lodge can provide the same impact/form they did v the dogs then I'd be happy with starting Sue ahead of Lovett (esp if Keithy is back).

 

[Tigerdave]

Given how young and inexperienced the side is, overall, we're doing pretty good.

The for and against, for mine, is the biggest surprise. 8 rounds in and we're +26, only 5 teams have a positive for and against in double figures.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

We've only been beaten by +10 in one game (Souths.) We're not getting hammered in context of the final scoreboard which is a good thing.

 

[Goose]

I don't have the confidence that others do of us holding together through origin, but we are doing well. Keefy's Renaissance was unexpected, and though I'd like to have seen a bit more defensive starch than attacking flair at the moment, I can't complain too much.
Would like to see the back of Lovett sooner rather than later though.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

Yeh I think we'll struggle heavily without woods and Farah.

Think you're completely off the mark with the assessment on Lovett though. We really haven't seen enough of him to even make a reasonable assessment IMO.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

'
Not necessarily that he's just not up to first grade standard (though admittedly I have my reservations about that too) more that I feel like we've got better options.

I think Jesse Sue is a better option than Lovett in the 2nd row for now. Problem is if we move Jesse then our bench weakens. However if Ava & Lodge can provide the same impact/form they did v the dogs then I'd be happy with starting Sue ahead of Lovett (esp if Keithy is back).

I think Sue has been so much better once he moved to the middle. I also think Lovett is more effective on the edge than Sue was (however Sue overall is a better player).

My prefeerence for the team would be Sue to start with Woods and Taupau in the middle, with Lodge, Ava and Galloway coming of the bench.

Would keep our middle strong the whole game.

 

[pHyR3]

I don't have the confidence that others do of us holding together through origin, but we are doing well. Keefy's Renaissance was unexpected, and though I'd like to have seen a bit more defensive starch than attacking flair at the moment, I can't complain too much.
Would like to see the back of Lovett sooner rather than later though.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

Yeh I think we'll struggle heavily without woods and Farah.

Think you're completely off the mark with the assessment on Lovett though. We really haven't seen enough of him to even make a reasonable assessment IMO.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

lovett is tackling at like 98% efficiency this season, approaching 200 tackles too

seems to be going pretty good imo

 

[Tigerdon]

If you had to choose between Lovett, Halatau and Lawrence as the best utility on the bench, who would you go? … I'd go Lawrence.

 

[pHyR3]

If you had to choose between Lovett, Halatau and Lawrence as the best utility on the bench, who would you go? … I'd go Lawrence.

utility probably halatau, 2nd row, hooker with ease. Not sure how he'd go at centre but id imagine alright.

Lovett debuted on the centre and did pretty damn well so he's got both covered decently. Lawrence is average at both so he'd be my last pick.

 

[Tigerdon]

i thought Lawrence did pretty well coming on. He played with energy and help stopped the dogs getting any momentum. made some good decisions in defence.

 

[pHyR3]

i thought Lawrence did pretty well coming on. He played with energy and help stopped the dogs getting any momentum. made some good decisions in defence.

he was good but id rather lovett at 2nd row for sure and probably halatau too given he's' been more consisent there.

lawrence only has the one game in a team that played pretty decent. easier to look good in a good team. just ask adam blair

 

[VanillaThunder]

I'd have Halatau starting in place of Lovett, with a bench of Ava, Lodge, Sue and Akauola/Lawrence.
Dene would provide the same defensive stability as Lovett, with a better running game, more experience, better protection of our halves, and the versatility to spell Robbie and give Sue/Sita/Rowdy a run.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[spearby]

if anyone would have said after 8 rounds we would be running 5th I would have though you just come from next to leichhardt oval. all I say is how good has j taylor got them playing he has done a mighty good job and I have egg all over my face because I for one wasn't sure he could do the job. you can see every week he brings some little thing into the game plan last week teddy did the grubber kicks for the winger and the result 2 meat pies .NOW WHEN TAYLOR SPEAKS I TAKE NOTICE

 

[Masterton]

lovett is tackling at like 98% efficiency this season, approaching 200 tackles too

seems to be going pretty good imo

I'm with you. He's no world-beater, but he runs a decent hole and makes the right decisions in defence. Could well get squeezed out if our forwards are at full strength, but he's good depth.

 

[TrueTiger]

As per thread…we aren't going to bad 4/4 and sitting in 5th place,we could be 0/8 and tearing our hair out...JT has done a good job and I honestly think we are going to get better....we have a pretty good team to follow and it will be a hell of a ride in the next few weeks... Cheers WTS supporters...

 

[Black_Orange_White]

I like the start, but remember last year? We were killing it then too.

By round 24, I was happy not to lose by 60, which unfortunately we did and were lucky not to a couple more times.

 

[2041]

The area's of improvmenet is really a tactical one. I have a strong belief that Taylor is telling Moses to hang out on the fringes and let Brooks control our attack. I would prefer to see them work in tandem, the sooner the better, but I trust his judgement. I'm just waiting for that particular plan to change as it'll give us a much better lok at how that combination is going to look in the years to come.

Taylor did say in the last presser that Moses was playing a role "for the team" rather than for himself, which I took to mean rather than his own natural game.

He went further saying it is difficult to get so many talented players involved and keep structure, at present it meant that Moses wasnt getting a chance to show his talents at this stage, but was doing a great job for the team especially defensively

If this is true it is phenomenally promising. The fact that players are buying into a plan which is obviously limiting some of them in a way which must be very frustrating shows Taylor has their respect. Fingers crossed, anyway.

I think we're going much better than expected. I'd still be happy with what I asked for from the season: much improved defence, staying competitive all season, sorting out the horrible injury problems, improvement from most/all the kids and a few signings in key areas to set the platform for a real go in 2016\. Anything this season is a bonus.