Moving Forward ......

[TigerOfBankstown]

This is all pretty obvious stuff.
Only thing I'd add is if we fail to make the 8 again next year then I would want to see a massive Manly styled clean out of players and staff. They would have had three years to get their stuff together and failure again confirms they are not a good combination.

I won't hold my breath though because as talented as they are, they are a gutless bunch of footballers who fold collectively when the going gets tough.

And this is why I think we need a new coach now not next year when we are failing again, we didn't turn up twice in 3 weeks with our season on the line.
If JT couldn't lift these guys for a first tilt at semi final football twice in 3 weeks he is not the man for the job, not with standing his failure on his defence mantra and accountability non policy.
I honestly believe we need a new coach now, we have a stack of players off contract next season and we will look to re-sign some and recruit some more, I feel we will be in a far better position to do this with a different coach who is locked in past 2017.
Players want to know who is coaching before re-committing or signing from another club, and I think we really can't afford to gamble with JT in such an important year for the club, if we stuff it up next year we will be paying for it for quite a few years.
And therefore I think we need a Cleary, Toovey or the likes leading us into a defining year in our clubs short history, people will just say, you just hate JT, I won't lie I do and I have no faith in him as first grade head coach, his ceiling is assistant coach where he goes alright, above that position is beyond him.

irrespective if you hate JT or not,he deserves his last year to see how well we go without the RF dramas and a lot of the cap mess..take a minute to think about what Styker said about soft, gutless footballers,they may not be what some think they are,quality is whats needed,not overated and still learning or fringe first graders as many suggest we have…

Interesting choice of words "RF drama" "cap mess" surely JT isn't that emotional and that easily distracted? or is he? If he is then surely he his not a leader of men hence just not up to first grade standards..

I don't think anyone expected miracles, but we got brutalised against the Panthers and raiders in an unacceptable manner.. It wasn't as if we weren't running last?

I knew we were in for a long 3 years before WT kicked a ball under Taylor, and the status quo won't change..

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

If those boys were suffering from fever they may be forgiven but that is the only possibility. Has it been established definitely? Otherwise don't invest another year in half of them. If the capt was not sick for the sake of Chr..t get another one.

 

[stryker]

This is all pretty obvious stuff.
Only thing I'd add is if we fail to make the 8 again next year then I would want to see a massive Manly styled clean out of players and staff. They would have had three years to get their stuff together and failure again confirms they are not a good combination.

I won't hold my breath though because as talented as they are, they are a gutless bunch of footballers who fold collectively when the going gets tough.

Stryker, I agree that a clean out could be on the cards. I don't agree that they are gutless. Anyone who plays rugby league is not gutless. Sure we'd like them to be more aggressive, run harder, tackle harder and stand up for their mates more but i don't see them as gutless. I'd love for a few old school forwards who go out there and smash the opposition each week but i can't agree that they are gutless.

Individually they are not…you cant make it to this level without having ticker but collectively and by NRL standards they are.
They have us fooled sometimes and almost believing they have bottle but until they compete even when it looks like nothing is going their way, I'll be dirty on their fortitude as a squad.

 

[851]

This is all pretty obvious stuff.
Only thing I'd add is if we fail to make the 8 again next year then I would want to see a massive Manly styled clean out of players and staff. They would have had three years to get their stuff together and failure again confirms they are not a good combination.

I won't hold my breath though because as talented as they are, they are a gutless bunch of footballers who fold collectively when the going gets tough.

Stryker, I agree that a clean out could be on the cards. I don't agree that they are gutless. Anyone who plays rugby league is not gutless. Sure we'd like them to be more aggressive, run harder, tackle harder and stand up for their mates more but i don't see them as gutless. I'd love for a few old school forwards who go out there and smash the opposition each week but i can't agree that they are gutless.

Individually they are not…you cant make it to this level without having ticker but collectively and by NRL standards they are.
They have us fooled sometimes and almost believing they have bottle but until they compete even when it looks like nothing is going their way, I'll be dirty on their fortitude as a squad.

I know what you mean Stryker, as a collective unit they have no bottle.

 

[larrycorowa]

We don't have enough leaders. When the going gets really tough we fold up. Apart from woods and possibly sue who would you bank on to turn momentum in a game with a big hit or run?

Players like sue, Ava, Simona, nofo need to step up while Moses, brooks, aioli are still developing. I would be making some cuts this year I think you could put Kev, rankin, Ava, grant, Edwards, sirro up for trade….all fringe first graders. If we could replace these guys with two or three better quality more consistent players I think this would lift our squad to the next level.

 

[stryker]

We don't have enough leaders. When the going gets really tough we fold up. Apart from woods and possibly sue who would you bank on to turn momentum in a game with a big hit or run?

Players like sue, Ava, Simona, nofo need to step up while Moses, brooks, aioli are still developing. I would be making some cuts this year I think you could put Kev, rankin, Ava, grant, Edwards, sirro up for trade….all fringe first graders. If we could replace these guys with two or three better quality more consistent players I think this would lift our squad to the next level.

Tedesco is the only member of the squad who is consistently capable of turning momentum. Moses is too but he is still very rocks n diamonds. Woods folds up.

 

[stevetiger]

With any business the path to success begins with removing its debts especially those that hang around for years. Wests Tigers has taken a huge step forward in this direction over the past two years and despite the self imposed cost constraints the club has shown gratifying improvement on the field. The first grade came within one point of qualifying for the semi finals and the club's state cup and under 20's side have qualified in the semi finals of their respective competitions. Each of these two teams have a good chance of at least qualifying for the grand final.

Like most things in life you have to do the hard yards before improvement can occur. The club has accepted these hard yards and the rewards will begin to emerge more clearly.

Sounds great but I don't believe a word of this. It's not as simple as what you are trying to make out.

You have to clear the problems at the foundation before you can begin to fix the problems higher up. Not vice versa. It applies to most things in life.

Again it sounds good in theory but it's all just meaningless cliches.

We've underperformed two years in a row now. That is all that matters. We have to get it right next year.

 

[stevetiger]

We don't have enough leaders. When the going gets really tough we fold up. Apart from woods and possibly sue who would you bank on to turn momentum in a game with a big hit or run?

Players like sue, Ava, Simona, nofo need to step up while Moses, brooks, aioli are still developing. I would be making some cuts this year I think you could put Kev, rankin, Ava, grant, Edwards, sirro up for trade….all fringe first graders. If we could replace these guys with two or three better quality more consistent players I think this would lift our squad to the next level.

Tedesco is the only member of the squad who is consistently capable of turning momentum. Moses is too but he is still very rocks n diamonds. Woods folds up.

Yep but not many teams have players all over the park who are big name players. Moses definitely looks like having that ability but you are right in that he makes way too many mistakes.

Woods is not going to be a consistent game breaker.

I reckon our overall squad though is pretty good. It's not that we need game breakers. We just need a couple of decent signings or for some juniors to come on in the right positions.

 

[larrycorowa]

Woods hasn't got enough support and is not helped when our halves (and Simona last few games) make all or nothing plays and we have 40% possession.

 

[Tigrr]

Lawrence typifies everything wrong with this team with poor defence and positional play, small size, little mental strength despite being a senior player and no aggression or dominance in a game, just does enough. While he is in the side mediocrity rules

 

[Tigrr]

Sorry the other half of the equation is Brooks who should be playing park footy as he is a total passenger and will never be anything else

 

[Kavi]

Lawrence typifies everything wrong with this team with poor defence and positional play, small size, little mental strength despite being a senior player and no aggression or dominance in a game, just does enough. While he is in the side mediocrity rules

I have seen games where he is very aggresive and thats when he is at his best… Give him some time

 

[Kavi]

Sorry the other half of the equation is Brooks who should be playing park footy as he is a total passenger and will never be anything else

He just needs to improve his defence and his kicking game… whether he can do that is the question

 

[stevied]

This is all pretty obvious stuff.
Only thing I'd add is if we fail to make the 8 again next year then I would want to see a massive Manly styled clean out of players and staff. They would have had three years to get their stuff together and failure again confirms they are not a good combination.

I won't hold my breath though because as talented as they are, they are a gutless bunch of footballers who fold collectively when the going gets tough.

And this is why I think we need a new coach now not next year when we are failing again, we didn't turn up twice in 3 weeks with our season on the line.
If JT couldn't lift these guys for a first tilt at semi final football twice in 3 weeks he is not the man for the job, not with standing his failure on his defence mantra and accountability non policy.
I honestly believe we need a new coach now, we have a stack of players off contract next season and we will look to re-sign some and recruit some more, I feel we will be in a far better position to do this with a different coach who is locked in past 2017.
Players want to know who is coaching before re-committing or signing from another club, and I think we really can't afford to gamble with JT in such an important year for the club, if we stuff it up next year we will be paying for it for quite a few years.
And therefore I think we need a Cleary, Toovey or the likes leading us into a defining year in our clubs short history, people will just say, you just hate JT, I won't lie I do and I have no faith in him as first grade head coach, his ceiling is assistant coach where he goes alright, above that position is beyond him.

You may be correct regarding the coaching because JT just doesn't seem to be able to consolidate his position. The overall performance of the team has improved in 2016 and the harmony within the squad looks to be very strong. However, just when you think the team is learning to grind and tighten their discipline, we get performances like the Penrith and Canberra games. This inconsistency causes Taylor's credibility to teeter again. But all of this is a futile discussion because the club can't afford to sack and replace him.
So, what needs to happen? The team needs a break and when they return they should be greeted by the toughest preseason training regimen ever. In my opinion, their fitness levels need to be lifted so that they can stay in the fight more regularly during games.
Secondly, the club needs to appoint a strong, no holds barred defensive guru. Someone who can get in the players heads, not just show them structures.
Finally, the powers that be need to tap JT on the shoulder and caution him to make the hard decisions by selecting, sacking and promoting the best available players each week. In order to promote excellence, there needs to be consequences for poor performance or mediocrity not reward. There is no place for nice guys, favorites or overpaid underachievers.
My forecast? I think we will finish in and around the bottom of the eight but it's really very difficult to predict. Any team can be hit by injuries and sink accordingly. Any team can underachieve due to poor attitude, aging players, loss of form or dissension within in a club. Obviously depth, loss of players on rep duty and maturity/ improvement of young players can also be factors. It's bloody impossible to say! I predict that, if the team avoid injuries to key players such as Tedesco, Moses or Woods then the team should scrape into the bottom of the eight.
To those who say that to not make the eight is a failure, I don't agree. As many have said, lots of teams are bound to improve in 2017 for a whole variety of reasons. We don't have the cash to upgrade several positions when we clearly need to. We also have limited depth, a young squad and a relatively inexperienced coach, who is learning on the job, like many of the players. Based on these factors, I really believe we overachieved this year. With continued improvement from Moses, a more experienced, injury free and consistent Brooks and the game breaking ability of Tedesco I think we'll sneak into the eight and that will be a great achievement. In 2017, the goals should be to increase the overall consistency of the team, eradicate the blowouts and put some effective defensive structures in place. In 2018, we can look to sign a couple of quality new players and think seriously about a top four position. A final comment - I think the greater calm created by Farah's departure will be another positive factor in the Tiger's favor. The ball's now firmly in Taylor's court….....