I was very surprised I watched the whole game (mind you no-one offered to play tiddliewinks with me or teach me how to knit).
I thought we did OK against one of the expected grand finalists. Yes, we were at stages dominated and they did drop lots of ball but Utoikamanu was a standout again, Madden did better than expected, Simpkin is coming along, Liddle made a great break that led to a try, Maumalo was solid, Twal stolid as usual, even Nofo actually made some tackles.
A couple of additions and we could start to climb the slippery slope of NRL success.
Last sentence is facts.
Been saying it all year.
We can't wait around for the youth to develop.
We need to recruit.
Hard and heavy.
2 centres, second rower, prop, lock.
Need to go to the market and aim to buy & build a team.
Ivan recruited hard and heavy....where did that get us....
let Madge develop the young guys and buy the odd NRL star to compliment them...Tamou,JTJ,KM. will help develop them...today showed that these guys can compete with the best...they just arent mature enough yet,but its coming...
I disagree with a lot of this.
Ivan put no thought into his recruits.
Signed his NZ boys and the Dogs halves.
Stupidity at its finest.
We need to sign the right type of guys.
Tamou, Jet, BJ... these guys are duds.
We need to look at players that would improve our team. Pascoe said we haven't tabled any one offers.
Insanity.
Players like Hynes, Mciness and Finucane all signed to sharks and are exactly what we could use to better our team and mentor our youth...
Look TT, I read your posts and you always point out madge is building the team of young men and all that and it may work in 5 years time but we need to build a team for now also.
Ok lets take your scenario....Madge came here with an absolutely trashed cap...thanks Ivan...
Madge and Hartigan plan to re establish our junior pathways...well done...
Madge recruited some hardened NRL players,Tamou,JTJ,BJ and made Mbye a utility to cover many positions we could not afford to fulfil...smart business...
Our young guys are learning NRL and when the players of substantial quality come along Im willing to bet Madge/Hartigan will pounce....
we are setting a new and invigourated platform for the future ...patience is needed and we will have success...