Look , I hate to break it to everyone , but this year is the first year where we didn’t just sign average players , who would compete for 20 of 24 games for a win loss of 11 and 13 . **What we did do , is sign a whole bunch of 19-21 year olds , and watch them nurture together . Most of those guys , you’re Lauries , AD and Simpkin of the world are in key positions . It is now a waiting game .** Really our season for real starts this week . Many of us knew we would lose both these games , not to the extent that we did , but hey , as long as we get rid of BJ , we should have at least a feeling of trust that we arnt going to bleed 30 points before we even get started. As for the rest , I dunno , it’s going to be a bumpy ride , and there is going to be some bodies left on the side of the ride as we drive along . BJ is the first , Brooks needs to fix his kicking game pronto , and some of the middles and edges need to start looking over thier shoulder , as we do have Simpkins and Blore to come in and take a couple of jobs .
**The team that played on Sunday will not be the one that finishes the season.**
Most rebuilds need a full tear down , then build up . I’m praying that won’t happen to us , but I’m no longer confident . But really our first test as to where we are is this week . We played 2 teams with years worth of continuity , and we got torched . It’s a bit of a bull crap draw , but what can you do . I would have preferred to ease into the season and build confidence , even if it is false .
Great post. Probably the best post of the week.
It really is a waiting game now. The recruitment has been very good. Exactly what was needed. As was fixing the junior pathways etc.
The foundation has been set but unfortunately it might be a case of two steps back one step forward for a little while.
The depth we have acquired is also very good.
The issue was always going to be the halves.
As for the OP's question if i could start over id have a young half back much more ready for NRL than Jock Madden. Thats all, the rest is ok.
The halfback issue , is an industry wide one . Canberra went to the UK, the roosters got lucky , and poached the sneaky glue guy to the Souths premiership , who got into a biff with the owner on a booze trip , Souths kept the other half of that equation and stuck him with a guy , who spent the first 26 years of his life floating in reserve grade purgatory, and Melbourne just manufactured one , like they did the time before that.
After that every single other team has huge question marks over the bloke wearing the number 7 , including manly . What’s DCE win record without a gun fullback ? Stewart before turbo .
