Round 1 2017

[Tony33]

Well here we are, heading into another off season. Except this time is different to any other in the last few years. The way we ended the year, the return of Teddy and the end of the Robbie Farah saga (finally!!) means we head into this off season with what should be a renewed sense of confidence.

A strong off season is really needed as I seriously think 2017 is going to be the toughest and most competitive season ever.
The cowboys, broncos, melbourne will continue to fly high whilst the sharks, raiders, panthers and titans will improve even more. Clubs like the roosters, manly, warriors and souths will also improve and challenge for the 8\. We need alot to go right for us to make the 8 next year but im pretty confident we can make the 8 just from the last 2 months of our season and the obvious cultural change on and off the field.

My 17 for next season:

1\. Tedesco
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Simona
4\. Naqaima
5\. Rankin
6\. Moses
7\. Brooks
8\. Woods (C)
9\. Ballin
10\. Sue
11\. Ailoai
12\. Lawerence
13\. Taylor

14\. Grant
15\. Ava
16\. Felise
17\. Chee-Kam

Absolute priorities this off season if we are to make the top 8:

- fix the defensive deficiencies on that right hand side (Moses, Naqaima and Nofo)
- figure out away to limit Simona's brain dead plays
- figure out a way for Brooks to complement Moses more effectively and get him more in the game.
- fix Brooks' and Moses' one on one tackling.
- practice goal kicking every bloody day !!
- work on earning repeat sets (short kicking game)

If we can improve these facets by at least 50% heading into round 1 2017, the top 8 beckons.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Liddle will be on the bench ahead of MCK.

 

[Eddie]

A strong Centre and another aggressive forward and plenty more work on our defence from the coach are the priorities.

I would not even mind letting go of one of our halves to beef up the side and have less spot players in the line.

Canberra just had too many targets today for easy tries.

other teams like Easts, Parra, Souths and Manly will be stronger I think after poor years and we could go backwards if we are not careful.

 

[king_sirro]

1\. Tedesco
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Whare
4\. Idris/Heleta
5\. Simona
6\. Sironen
7\. Moses
8\. Woods
9\. Taylor
10\. Seumanufagai
11\. Alioai
12\. Evans
13\. Sue

14\. Grant
15\. Felise
16\. Lawrence
17\. Liddle

 

[Masterton]

My 17 for next season:

1\. Tedesco
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Simona
4\. Naqaima
5\. Rankin
6\. Moses
7\. Brooks
8\. Woods (C)
9\. Ballin
10\. Sue
11\. Ailoai
12\. Lawerence
13\. Taylor

14\. Grant
15\. Ava
16\. Felise
17\. Chee-Kam

Absolute priorities this off season if we are to make the top 8:

- fix the defensive deficiencies on that right hand side (Moses, Naqaima and Nofo)
- figure out away to limit Simona's brain dead plays
- figure out a way for Brooks to complement Moses more effectively and get him more in the game.
- fix Brooks' and Moses' one on one tackling.
- practice goal kicking every bloody day !!
- work on earning repeat sets (short kicking game)

If we can improve these facets by at least 50% heading into round 1 2017, the top 8 beckons.

I mostly agree but Liddle will be there. I hope there's a new winger & possibly a young forward in the rotation.

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

We still don't know what Liddle will be like in first grade yet.
He's only had about 30 minutes so far , may be less.
This time last year , we were talking up Cherrington, but it only took a couple of games to show that he wasn't up to it.
Worth trying Liddle but we've got problems if he doesn't aim up.
There's nothing to say that Ballin will play again

 

[Geo]

OK

!. James Tedesco
2\. David Nofoaluma
3\. Tim Simona
4\. Tautau Moga
5\. Isreal Folau

6\. Mitchell Moses
7\. Luke Brooks

8\. Aaron Woods
9\. Cameron Smith
10\. Ava Seumanufagai
11\. Josh Aloiai
12\. Chris Lawrence
13\. Elijah Taylor

14\. Jacob Liddle
15\. Korbin Sims
16\. Sauaso Sue
17\. Tim Grant

 

[everett]

Need to clone Teddy 16 times in the off season.

It appears it will be a long off season without major reinforcements on the way.

 

[Snake]

Sorry of these sides 50% are full of pretenders ..these guys failed this season and will fail next season , we as supporters have to see things as the they are,without players being punted and others being brought in me personally think round 1@next season will be the same as round 26 this year .

 

[Born_tiger]

1\. James Tedesco
2\. David Nofoluma
3.
4\. Tim Simona
5.

6.
7\. Mitchell Moses

8\. Aaron Woods
9\. Matt Ballin
10\. Jesse Sue
11\. Josh Aloiai
12.
13\. Elijah Taylor

14\. Jacob Liddle
15\. Ava Seumanufgai
16.
17\. JJ Felise

Hopefully the likes of Esan Marsters and Paseka come through as well as guys like Ryland Jacobs and Watson Heleta..

Fill in the blanks

 

[Harvey]

1 Tedesco
2 Nofa
3 MCK
4 Simona/Heleta/TBA
5 Kharwin/Heleta/TBA
6 Moses
7 Brooks
8 Woods
9 Ballin
10 Grant
11 Aloiai
12 Taylor
13 Sue

14 Liddle
15 Ava
16 JJ
17 Lawrence/Lovett/Masters

 

[Nelson]

1\. Tedesco
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Simona
4\. Whare
5\. Mead
6\. Moses
7\. Brooks
8\. Woods
9\. Ballin
10\. Grant
11\. Aloiai
12\. Ben Currie
13\. E. Taylor

14\. Felise
15\. Ava
16\. Lawrence
17\. Liddle

 

[TYGA]

We need to look at the Raiders and learn from them. They used to rely only on juniors but realised that growing your own is too costly and takes way too long before losing them to other clubs.

Since 2014 (Signings):
Jordan Rapana (Titans)
Blake Austin (Tigers)
Aidan Sezer (Titans)
Josh Hodgson (England)
Elliot Whitehead (England)
Sia Soliola (England)
Kurt Baptiste (Broncos)
BJ Lulia (Newcastle)
Junior Paulo (Eels)

All 9 recruits are in their first grade lineup. They have two signings I can think of that didn't work Sisa Waqa and FP Nuausala. They ran 15th in 2014, 10th in 2015 and 2nd in 2016.

The decision was made to rely on about 7 or so locally produced players and bring in recruits that are mature and fairly established. If I look at the Tigers I would apply the same strategy and say Teddy, Moses, Woods, Nofo, Lawrence, Simona, Sue (maybe Brooks) would be the WT players that are in the mix.
We ran 15th in 2015, 9th in 2016 and ??? in 2017.

Who have we recruited that has worked out since 2015? Grant, ET, Aloai, JAC There is a huge difference in the financials of the raiders (Very strong) and well managed by Furner and our club which will hold us back.
We are 6 recruits short of the Raiders and they signed some established players in Soliola, Lulia, Paulo, Sezer, Austin.

 

[marzie]

1\. James Tedesco
2\. David Nofoaluma
3\. **New Signing**
4\. Michael Chee Kam
5\. Tim Simona
6\. Mitchell Moses
7\. Luke Brooks
8\. Aaron Woods
9\. Matt Ballin
10\. Sauaso Sue
11\. Josh Aloiai
12\. Chris Lawrence
13\. Elijah Taylor

14\. Ava Seumanufagai
15\. JJ Felise
16\. Tim Grant
17\. Jacob Liddle

 

[pHyR3]

Well here we are, heading into another off season. Except this time is different to any other in the last few years. The way we ended the year, the return of Teddy and the end of the Robbie Farah saga (finally!!) means we head into this off season with what should be a renewed sense of confidence.

A strong off season is really needed as I seriously think 2017 is going to be the toughest and most competitive season ever.
The cowboys, broncos, melbourne will continue to fly high whilst the sharks, raiders, panthers and titans will improve even more. Clubs like the roosters, manly, warriors and souths will also improve and challenge for the 8\. We need alot to go right for us to make the 8 next year but im pretty confident we can make the 8 just from the last 2 months of our season and the obvious cultural change on and off the field.

My 17 for next season:

1\. Tedesco
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Simona
4\. Naqaima
5\. Rankin
6\. Moses
7\. Brooks
8\. Woods (C)
9\. Ballin
10\. Sue
11\. Ailoai
12\. Lawerence
13\. Taylor

14\. Grant
15\. Ava
16\. Felise
17\. Chee-Kam

Absolute priorities this off season if we are to make the top 8:

- fix the defensive deficiencies on that right hand side (Moses, Naqaima and Nofo)
- figure out away to limit Simona's brain dead plays
- figure out a way for Brooks to complement Moses more effectively and get him more in the game.
- fix Brooks' and Moses' one on one tackling.
- practice goal kicking every bloody day !!
- work on earning repeat sets (short kicking game)

If we can improve these facets by at least 50% heading into round 1 2017, the top 8 beckons.

good post mate! throw in liddle for MCK and that all sounds good

send it in an email to JT :wink:

that squad doesnt look half bad. just need to purchase a strong 2nd rower for ~500k pushing aloaia to the bench. wont happen with farahs money all locked up in 2017 though

wouldnt say im excited for 2017, but im eager to see what we can do

 

[greatodensraven]

Based on the squad we have I think only Teddy & Nofo pick themselves. Plenty of spots up for grabs in the off-season!

1\. Teddy
2\. Nofo
3\. ??
4\. MCK
5\. Simona
6\. Moses
7\. Brooks
8\. Woods
9\. Ballin
10\. Ava
11\. Taylor
12\. Sue
13\. ??

14\. Grant
15\. Felise
16\. Liddle
17\. ??

I've moved Taylor & Sue to the edges to sure up the defence. Sue impressed there a couple of years ago & with Felise coming through I think we should move him back. Not sure who we move to lock, maybe Aloiai. His lack of lateral movement at least won't be exposed as much in the middle. Not sure about right centre either. Maybe Heleta, Peni? We need to go to market.

And the final bench spot? I'd like to put someone who can provide big impact there, maybe Paseka?

 

[VanillaThunder]

1\. Teddy
2\. Nofo
3\. Chee Kam
4\. Simona
5\. Heleta
6\. Moses
7\. Brooks
8\. Woods
9\. Ballin
10\. Ava
11\. Sue
12\. Lawrence
13\. Taylor

14\. Liddle
15\. Felise
16\. Aloiai
17\. Marsters

We need a signing to put pressure on Simona, the bloke can play but needs to be a bit quicker between the ears. I love Rowdy, and I can't leave him out of the side, but if we sign a quality backrower to put pressure on him I wouldn't be mad (especially if the Evans rumours are true). I want Aloiai playing up the middle, he doesn't quite know how to play on the edge yet and I think at this stage he could fill more of an enforcer role for us than Sue. Woods and Ava are both best in longer stints, and if Felise continues improving then I think we have a better rotation. Marsters to spell Lawrence about 20 minutes either side of the half, get on and be creative and cause havoc.

Hard on Grant who I think has been solid for us, but he'd be a more than capable back up and could lead the young NSW Cup pack (Tatola, Paseka, Grant, Graham) quite well. Hopefully one of them steps up and we can play them similar to how we managed JJ this year.

 

[VanillaThunder]

And honestly, worst case scenario have Marsters watching tape of BJ Leilua all off season and groom him to play centre. He'd be a big, creative body who would pose a lot of questions, (hopefully) be better in defence and help our halves, while also being a better option than Cassel or Milone straight off the bat.
If Paseka comes on like expected he could play a role similar to Aloiai and that would ease the transition for Esan.

The more I write about it the more I like it, anyone have JT's number?

 

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

1 Tedesco
2 Nofa
3 MCK
4 Simona/Heleta/TBA
5 Kharwin/Heleta/TBA
6 Moses
7 Brooks
8 Woods
9 Ballin
10 Grant
11 Aloiai
12 Taylor
13 Sue

14 Liddle
15 Ava
16 JJ
17 Lawrence/Lovett/Masters

Not a lot of Naiquama love in this thread. Is this because everyone thinks he's already gone, or do we just want to dump him in ISC?

Clearly a vacancy on the wing for maybe Heleta or Kharwin.

I'm not sold on moving Sue back to lock. He's grown an extra leg with that starting number 10 jersey. I also think ET is best at lock, in the old ball playing middle forward style.

I wouldn't bench Lawrence. His value is in his minutes and workrate. Fully fit, Lawrence goes 80 minutes, which means one less interchange back rower we have to carry. If he's in the side, he has to start.

Is Ballin an 80 minute player at his age? It would be nice to not waste a bench spot on an interchange hooker but like everyone else I want to see what Liddle can do. I'm s bit sick of the revolving door at number 9.

 

[tig_prmz]

We need to look at the Raiders and learn from them. They used to rely only on juniors but realised that growing your own is too costly and takes way too long before losing them to other clubs.

Since 2014 (Signings):
Jordan Rapana (Titans)
Blake Austin (Tigers)
Aidan Sezer (Titans)
Josh Hodgson (England)
Elliot Whitehead (England)
Sia Soliola (England)
Kurt Baptiste (Broncos)
BJ Lulia (Newcastle)
Junior Paulo (Eels)

All 9 recruits are in their first grade lineup. They have two signings I can think of that didn't work Sisa Waqa and FP Nuausala. They ran 15th in 2014, 10th in 2015 and 2nd in 2016.

The decision was made to rely on about 7 or so locally produced players and bring in recruits that are mature and fairly established. If I look at the Tigers I would apply the same strategy and say Teddy, Moses, Woods, Nofo, Lawrence, Simona, Sue (maybe Brooks) would be the WT players that are in the mix.
We ran 15th in 2015, 9th in 2016 and ??? in 2017.

Who have we recruited that has worked out since 2015? Grant, ET, Aloai, JAC There is a huge difference in the financials of the raiders (Very strong) and well managed by Furner and our club which will hold us back.
We are 6 recruits short of the Raiders and they signed some established players in Soliola, Lulia, Paulo, Sezer, Austin.

agreed.
i understand that our focus is to breed young players through the system, but when you get rid of almost all the experienced players in the squad, you need to buy some experience and we dont do that enough.

now with farah and hala gone, i have no idea who is going to be that experienced person. i love lawrence and he must have a good influence on the training paddock but he's a solid performer and that's about it. ET has slowly started to disappear after his 5 or so games and then there's woods who is probably our own scope (even though he's only 24/25). we need to recruit at least 3 or 4 150/200+ players.

and i agreee with OP regarding other teams. not being negative but roosters, rabbits and maybe even warriors, eels wont be further down the ladder than us next year.

it's not gonna get any easier for the next couple of years and the sad thing is, if this current crop dont see success in that time, they'll move away and we'll have to start from scratch again.