My Thoughts On 2023 So Far...

[Snidest 0]

Lots of clowns in this crappy thread!!!

 

[Snidest 0]

The team has barely any holes. Ideally we'd have a marquee half but we don't. Brooks and Wakeham though are good enough to get us to the 8 or higher. Ideally we'd have a lock forward who offers more in the middle. I think they can move Bateman there and pick someone else as an edge backrower. A quality left centre would be great as well. I think Naden can do the job and maybe even Talau although it sounds like he is gone. Those two need work though.

We had a terrible start to the season and I blame the coaching staff but at the same time they've put this team together. Brooks and Joe O shouldn't have been picked at the start of the season and Doueihi was played out of position and probably should have been dropped. The coaching staff have to get those decisions right. IP is not performing to the level that he can and we need more out of him. The coaching staff have to work this out.

I think we'll end up with more wins than last season and that is a massive positive. We've outperformed based on my expectations at the start of the season but the squad is better than what I thought it was.

A couple of good recruits, some luck with injuries and if the coaching staff can get the team playing well more consistently throughout the game and throughout the season we can move up the ladder.

Doueihi was played in first grade........

HE IS A NOT EVEN SHADOW OF AN NRL PLAYER!!!!

Yep - and let's drop a genuine young star in Fonua Pole - when he is a massive part of our middle yardage dominance!!

FMD Earl!!!

 

[sparci]

Our side, if healthy, are good enough to play finals.
Our side is returning a multitude of stat domination and excellent numbers, commensurate with those who will play finals.
I picked us for 13th. This side is better than that, however winning 10 from their last 12 will be a tall order.
Missing the 8 will be a failure and when the season review is held, people are going to be shocked that we lost so many games this year based upon the numbers most guys are returning each week.

Simple, the story of the season is execution in the opposition red zone, had we been atleast half decent in that, I can assure you we'd have atleast 4 more wins (Parra, Dogs, Manly and Raiders). In turn entrenched in the top 8 right now. But this team is so clueless when they get to the opposition line, which is sad because for the first time in a long time we actually comfortably get into the red zone against most teams quite frequently. We lost a game (I think against Manly) where at the 70th minute mark the possession was 60%!!!

 

[twentyforty]

Hi everyone
After a demoralising start to this year we are in a position now to consolidate and claw our way up to a position where I believed at the start of the year we would finish. Anywhere from 8th down to 12th. To our credit we have been competitive week in and week out.

I've been a Brooks basher for 5 years+ Whilst I have never questioned his effort, I have always questioned his ability. Even today I'm still not sold. If the Newcastle switch happened and we kept Hastings I would have been over the moon. Brooks has definitely improved (from a very low bar) and because of this and the current shortage of halves available we should re-sign him. I can't believe I just said that. Maximum 2 year offer. Hopefully his manager doesn't go stupid and demand overs. If so let him go.

Our forwards have been great this year led by Api. I wasn't really sold on his signing but I was wrong. Without him god knows where we would be. Stefano, Klemmer, Twal, Bateman have all shone. Pole & Ice are on the improve week by week. Our defence has been pretty good all season.

It's great to see Nofo back in first grade and weeks ago I thought he was gone forever. Bula has been the surprise packet of the year with Toa a close second. Tupou is also on the improve. We are slowly getting our attack sorted and the sooner it clicks the sooner we can really trouble some of the better sides.

I have no idea who the coach is at present and there are more people in that box than ever before. So I can't comment on this. All I can say is Sheens still $hits me in our weekly presser.

In summary I think this year could have got really ugly and we have saved some face. There were games we should have won but all teams can say the same. Let's hope we can continue our improvement and shoot for a definite top 8 finish in 2024. Maybe even this year if we go on a run.

BB Anonymous?
That’s the first step, owning your problem.
Remember, we’re all friends here.

 

[Tucker]

Whoa, hold up folks - from where we were at last season - turning this club around was always going to be a process. We all knew that it wasn’t going to happen in one season. Rebuilding our roster, bringing on our juniors, fixing our coaching team- are all medium to long term goals.
Before one game was even played this season I honestly thought that what we had achieved in the way of our squad clean out and recruitment was fantastic- well there is more work to do. We are short 3-4 quality NRL players still.
A plan was put into place and actioned by the club and it was going to take a few seasons to reap rewards. The hard part for us fans is to be patient, try to enjoy the journey and have faith that we are heading in the right direction.

Been hearing that for 12 years.
Time to put up or shut up.
Start winning.

 

[earl]

Doueihi was played in first grade........

HE IS A NOT EVEN SHADOW OF AN NRL PLAYER!!!!

This is sad but at this point true. I don't know what happened to this guy.

Yep - and let's drop a genuine young star in Fonua Pole - when he is a massive part of our middle yardage dominance!!

Have you seen my updated avatar ? I rate Pole as the guy we need to build around in the forwards. I think he is better than Stef.

I just think he is more of a prop and not a ball playing or skillful lock. I think the club feels the same way and wants to move Bateman to 13 as well.

I have not seen a prop take on an opposition pack via hard running at the Tigers like Pole did against a tough Canberra pack.

Love your passion though.

 

[Kelce68]

Whoa, hold up folks - from where we were at last season - turning this club around was always going to be a process. We all knew that it wasn’t going to happen in one season. Rebuilding our roster, bringing on our juniors, fixing our coaching team- are all medium to long term goals.
Before one game was even played this season I honestly thought that what we had achieved in the way of our squad clean out and recruitment was fantastic- well there is more work to do. We are short 3-4 quality NRL players still.
A plan was put into place and actioned by the club and it was going to take a few seasons to reap rewards. The hard part for us fans is to be patient, try to enjoy the journey and have faith that we are heading in the right direction.

Shhh you.....

If you take this more thorough, patient, nuanced take on the situation, it might bring a little bit too much positivity into the situation.

You should know by now that almost universal statistical improvements don't matter. Combinations don't take time. Losing a starting half doesn't impact anything. A brand new forward pack that have never played together don't need cohesion. Juniors don't require time to adjust to the pace of the NRL. New structures in both attack and defence should yield immediate results and that clubs often go from the spoon to the penthouse overnight..... OVERNIGHT!

It's 12 - 0 or nothing. There is zero improvement in this club. It's exactly the same. No-one has improved. Performances have been equally as bad.

NO ROOM FOR NUANCE!!!!

(sorry, @Snidest 0 for stealing all your exclamation marks. I'll return them in one piece I promise)

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Simple really - we didn't have a full preseason with new recruits Api & Ice (Post World Cup) & Bateman - MIA due to Visa issues. And Brooks' injury didn't help. Add the Sheens' plan to throw 200 passes without having those guys actually around to practice the plays meant our early season clunky form reflected the lack of preparation - dare I use the term "we just didn't gel"? Seems like we are now more stable - Our starting pack has been the same now for a couple of months (apart from Api bench due to SOO). Someone mentioned we are fitter and have less serious injuries. Brooks Wakeham is more than a work in progress, it has become almost tradesman-like now and the addition of Bula has given us a real strike weapon in the spine as opposed to the ineffective Laurie efforts. Hell even Toa looks a first-grader now!

 

[Tucker]

Shhh you.....

If you take this more thorough, patient, nuanced take on the situation, it might bring a little bit too much positivity into the situation.

You should know by now that almost universal statistical improvements don't matter. Combinations don't take time. Losing a starting half doesn't impact anything. A brand new forward pack that have never played together don't need cohesion. Juniors don't require time to adjust to the pace of the NRL. New structures in both attack and defence should yield immediate results and that clubs often go from the spoon to the penthouse overnight..... OVERNIGHT!

It's 12 - 0 or nothing. There is zero improvement in this club. It's exactly the same. No-one has improved. Performances have been equally as bad.

NO ROOM FOR NUANCE!!!!

(sorry, @Snidest 0 for stealing all your exclamation marks. I'll return them in one piece I promise)

The Dolphins disagree with your bullshit

 

[Kelce68]

Simple, the story of the season is execution in the opposition red zone, had we been atleast half decent in that, I can assure you we'd have atleast 4 more wins (Parra, Dogs, Manly and Raiders). In turn entrenched in the top 8 right now. But this team is so clueless when they get to the opposition line, which is sad because for the first time in a long time we actually comfortably get into the red zone against most teams quite frequently. We lost a game (I think against Manly) where at the 70th minute mark the possession was 60%!!!

Yep. It's all red-zone attack.

Needs to be far better. Everything else is in place for a competitive side once again.

 

[Kelce68]

The Dolphins disagree with your bullshit

Why so combative, Tuck? We don't disagree on everything you know...

And no, Kaufusi and the Bromwich's never played together. You're right.

 

[Kelce68]

The Dolphins disagree with your bullshit

They've overachieved this year, good on them. Where did most of us have them finishing at the start of the year?

Are you actually arguing that, generally speaking, combinations don't take time?

 

[Tucker]

Why so combative, Tuck? We don't disagree on everything you know...

And no, Kaufusi and the Bromwich's never played together. You're right.

We’ve had ages to get combos going.
Our squad is good enough to currently be in the 8. They should be in it right now. You take those 4 new forwards out of this team and we are last by some space. Their impact has been almighty. We have found a fullback who plays many years above his actual experience. Our halfback, after 10 years of people telling him to run the ball, has been running it and is carving up.
Individuals are playing very good footy.
Why can’t the coaching staff get them to form a team?
No one chases long kicks. No one chases highballs. No one backs up in attack and very few chase in defence when line breaks occur. Very few go the extra step after doing their job I.e. backing up on the inside in defence. We are doing plenty right such as high completion rates, reasonable defence, decent discipline and great possession rates that also produce great field position. We have lowered our average points against by a whole try per game. Opposition sides are claiming we are hitting hard and are relentless - they have noticed a difference. Our second half comebacks are scaring oppositions as we can pile the points on very quickly.

All these positives are adding up to minimal wins. It’s either the coaching staff aren’t motivating them enough or more than likely, our lack of a true on field leader is letting us down. We have no general. Api is not a great captain. Bateman would be better but no one can understand him.
Unfortunately, Doueihi is the only real captain candidate in this club, and I doubt he’ll ever play for us again.
Ben Hunt. We need him. He is a general and can be a co captain with Api.

 

[Jolls]

We’ve had ages to get combos going.
Our squad is good enough to currently be in the 8. They should be in it right now. You take those 4 new forwards out of this team and we are last by some space. Their impact has been almighty. We have found a fullback who plays many years above his actual experience. Our halfback, after 10 years of people telling him to run the ball, has been running it and is carving up.
Individuals are playing very good footy.
Why can’t the coaching staff get them to form a team?
No one chases long kicks. No one chases highballs. No one backs up in attack and very few chase in defence when line breaks occur. Very few go the extra step after doing their job I.e. backing up on the inside in defence. We are doing plenty right such as high completion rates, reasonable defence, decent discipline and great possession rates that also produce great field position. We have lowered our average points against by a whole try per game. Opposition sides are claiming we are hitting hard and are relentless - they have noticed a difference. Our second half comebacks are scaring oppositions as we can pile the points on very quickly.

All these positives are adding up to minimal wins. It’s either the coaching staff aren’t motivating them enough or more than likely, our lack of a true on field leader is letting us down. We have no general. Api is not a great captain. Bateman would be better but no one can understand him.
Unfortunately, Doueihi is the only real captain candidate in this club, and I doubt he’ll ever play for us again.
Ben Hunt. We need him. He is a general and can be a co captain with Api.

I think there are a couple of things holding our team back.

Leadership is one - but not the leadership that the Captain brings. There has been a distinct improvement in our go forward through the inclusion of Klemmer, Bateman and Papali'i. The type of leadership that starts at training - doing the extras, leading by example and not letting shit slide with others. This is lacking in our backs; Bula, Tupou and Toa need examples of what right looks like. A backline leader who doesn't let shit slide, the equivalent of a Klemmer or Bateman demanding performance. Those players should be Brooks and Nofa - but they don't have it in them.

We need to purchase two leaders - a half and a centre. They don't have to be marquee players, but exceptional leaders. With that I think we are over our biggest hurdle.

Courage is the other. I think we are starting to see this in our club. It doesn't come overnight but it starts by making the hard right decisions. Letting Offa go, dropping Nofa and Blore to develop their games, sending Naden back to ressies to work on his mental approach, blooding Bula and even a couple form the board - hiring Fulton and sacking McDonald. There is improvement needed but it looks to be heading in the right direction.

If we can develop those two aspects going forward we will see drastic improvements. We have shown that we have the skills, now it is abut developing consistency and hardness. Doing the right thing each and every time, putting your mate before yourself - every time, putting the team before your mates - every time.

Buy two leaders for our backline and we make the 8. Buy leaders with real strike strike and we could be top 4. Invest in the leadership of our junior NRL players and the board and we could create a dynasty.

 

[Kelce68]

We’ve had ages to get combos going.
Our squad is good enough to currently be in the 8. They should be in it right now. You take those 4 new forwards out of this team and we are last by some space. Their impact has been almighty. We have found a fullback who plays many years above his actual experience. Our halfback, after 10 years of people telling him to run the ball, has been running it and is carving up.
Individuals are playing very good footy.
Why can’t the coaching staff get them to form a team?
No one chases long kicks. No one chases highballs. No one backs up in attack and very few chase in defence when line breaks occur. Very few go the extra step after doing their job I.e. backing up on the inside in defence. We are doing plenty right such as high completion rates, reasonable defence, decent discipline and great possession rates that also produce great field position. We have lowered our average points against by a whole try per game. Opposition sides are claiming we are hitting hard and are relentless - they have noticed a difference. Our second half comebacks are scaring oppositions as we can pile the points on very quickly.

All these positives are adding up to minimal wins. It’s either the coaching staff aren’t motivating them enough or more than likely, our lack of a true on field leader is letting us down. We have no general. Api is not a great captain. Bateman would be better but no one can understand him.
Unfortunately, Doueihi is the only real captain candidate in this club, and I doubt he’ll ever play for us again.
Ben Hunt. We need him. He is a general and can be a co captain with Api.

There's a lot of contentions in there, and a lot that I agree with.
- Why can’t the coaching staff get them to form a team?
- It’s either the coaching staff aren’t motivating them enough or more than likely, our lack of a true on field leader is letting us down

I don't think a lack of motivation is the issue. If it were, I'd say that would manifest moreso in defence than attack, as that's more reliant on effort. But attack is clearly where we're still seeing issues.
No one chases long kicks. No one chases highballs. No one backs up in attack and very few chase in defence when line breaks occur. Very few go the extra step after doing their job I.e. backing up on the inside in defence.

Couldn't agree more about the kick pressure and contesting kicks. It must be a strategy to corral the opposition kick recipient and dominate and pin on tackle zero, 1 and 2, rather than contest and risk an easy counter attack or kick return. I don't like that strategy.

But I can't agree with the second part re; the defensive 1%ers, I think they're covering the inside man, diving on loose balls, chasing in broken play and scrambling relatively well (all effort areas).

Api is not a great captain.

Why do you say this? I think he leads by example, is a calming influence, is vastly experienced, respected by his peers, is cool under pressure and is a big talker. He's doing a great job in this role in my opinion.

Doueihi is the only real captain candidate in this club.

I love Doueihi's passion and emotive/competitive side, but he still has a lot of deficiencies in his game, particularly in defence, so it's hard to justify the club captaincy for someone who has a lot to work on. I also don't think it's best for his development and that is, as you said, if he even makes it back this time.

Ben Hunt would improve the side no doubt. Is he a realistic option from our end? Are we a realistic option for him? Will he even come onto the market? Is his price and limited playing future worth the investment?

 

[Tiger_heart]

I think there are a couple of things holding our team back.

Leadership is one - but not the leadership that the Captain brings. There has been a distinct improvement in our go forward through the inclusion of Klemmer, Bateman and Papali'i. The type of leadership that starts at training - doing the extras, leading by example and not letting shit slide with others. This is lacking in our backs; Bula, Tupou and Toa need examples of what right looks like. A backline leader who doesn't let shit slide, the equivalent of a Klemmer or Bateman demanding performance. Those players should be Brooks and Nofa - but they don't have it in them.

We need to purchase two leaders - a half and a centre. They don't have to be marquee players, but exceptional leaders. With that I think we are over our biggest hurdle.

Courage is the other. I think we are starting to see this in our club. It doesn't come overnight but it starts by making the hard right decisions. Letting Offa go, dropping Nofa and Blore to develop their games, sending Naden back to ressies to work on his mental approach, blooding Bula and even a couple form the board - hiring Fulton and sacking McDonald. There is improvement needed but it looks to be heading in the right direction.

If we can develop those two aspects going forward we will see drastic improvements. We have shown that we have the skills, now it is abut developing consistency and hardness. Doing the right thing each and every time, putting your mate before yourself - every time, putting the team before your mates - every time.

Buy two leaders for our backline and we make the 8. Buy leaders with real strike strike and we could be top 4. Invest in the leadership of our junior NRL players and the board and we could create a dynasty.

Ah, yes...leadership...We forget that it is not an individual that will cover ALL aspects of leadership. You need a leader on the field; one in the locker room who is also in tune with the club and the players; one that keeps the subgroups (eg not the leaders) motivated and even a reserve leader, for the times when the leader is away..Two leaders on the field and if their egos are not kept under control (remember Benji - Brooks) there will be more confusion...I think EVERYONE needs to be on the same page, connected.

 

[Snidest 0]

There's a lot of contentions in there, and a lot that I agree with.
- Why can’t the coaching staff get them to form a team?
- It’s either the coaching staff aren’t motivating them enough or more than likely, our lack of a true on field leader is letting us down

I don't think a lack of motivation is the issue. If it were, I'd say that would manifest moreso in defence than attack, as that's more reliant on effort. But attack is clearly where we're still seeing issues.
No one chases long kicks. No one chases highballs. No one backs up in attack and very few chase in defence when line breaks occur. Very few go the extra step after doing their job I.e. backing up on the inside in defence.

Couldn't agree more about the kick pressure and contesting kicks. It must be a strategy to corral the opposition kick recipient and dominate and pin on tackle zero, 1 and 2, rather than contest and risk an easy counter attack or kick return. I don't like that strategy.

But I can't agree with the second part re; the defensive 1%ers, I think they're covering the inside man, diving on loose balls, chasing in broken play and scrambling relatively well (all effort areas).

Api is not a great captain.

Why do you say this? I think he leads by example, is a calming influence, is vastly experienced, respected by his peers, is cool under pressure and is a big talker. He's doing a great job in this role in my opinion.

Doueihi is the only real captain candidate in this club.

I love Doueihi's passion and emotive/competitive side, but he still has a lot of deficiencies in his game, particularly in defence, so it's hard to justify the club captaincy for someone who has a lot to work on. I also don't think it's best for his development and that is, as you said, if he even makes it back this time.

Ben Hunt would improve the side no doubt. Is he a realistic option from our end? Are we a realistic option for him? Will he even come onto the market? Is his price and limited playing future worth the investment?

This Doueihi passion crap is a myth!!

If he was genuinely passionate and competitive - he would put his body on the line in defence like any decent NRL player!!

He's a cat and a fraud!

 

[Tigersfan222]

We’ve lost 75% of our games….
It’s an F mate.

5 of 9 losses being against top sides, in 1-12 matches besides broncos and rabbitohs, the team we held to a try for 70 minutes.

 

[Tigersfan222]

With the team we have had this year we should not be 3-9 for the season,our performance this year is underwhelming at best

Did you even read it

 

[Honkylips]

Great insight into bias and ignorance!

How would we be going with Hastings???

You want to see lack of BOTH effort and ability - your fave Nofa would not be back if Staines was fit - and hopefully will finally be gone at season end!!

Sheens is the coach DUMBO!!! I am glad he shits you - enjoy the wins!!

We would be in the 8 with Hastings.