A lot has happened in a short period of time since JA flew the coup that's for sure - and arguably all positive.
The mood when the news first started to leak on here about JA was dire, I could have never imagined the turn our off season was going to take after that.
I was always hopeful Cochise . It just seemed patient . It didn’t feel like they were sitting on thier hands .
I was too, as I have found Hartigan to be very impressive but my patience was starting to strain. I am so excited for the trials now.
I honestly don’t care if the wins don’t come . As long as the team shows what it’s going to become . But I honestly don’t think that’s going to be the case . The team is built to win IMO. Maybe a lot sooner than everyone thinks .
Lots of guys with a lot to prove. I think the distance between our potential ceiling and floor is probably the widest in the Comp. I honestly don’t know what to expect but at least the club has tried for a major upheaval. If I’m seeing effort each week I’ll happily back the clubs plan.
I agree, there's potentially some gap between best and worst this year. I think it's fair to say that Tigers have a Top 8 side based on potential, the question is whether or not Madge can get everyone to maximise that potential at the same time.
The past decade of WT, in my opinion, is characterised not by having a weak roster, but by not being able to get the bulk of the roster firing at the same time. I think Tim Sheens at times had rosters no better than Potter or JT or Madge, but he was our best coach at having everyone performing to a good level for a significant period of a season (even if he could only achieve that every few seasons himself). Our ability to string together a run of victories is horrendous.
I think everyone would be happy to see this 2021 team playing smart and passionate football every week, even if there are a bunch of close losses, but to at least be satisfied that players aren't clocking off during matches or from week to week.
And the thing about 2021 specifically is - I believe this is the first real year of Madge being sufficiently unencumbered by his predecessors. Maybe more than any other WT coach, I think Madge has good coaching systems but he needs time to recruit the types of players he wants in that system. This is very Melbourne Storm-like, from his time there - Bellyache doesn't change his systems to fit his players, he picks up players that can slot into his systems. That's why some players fail to kick on after leaving Storm, because it's the Storm system that supported them achieving their best.
You can still see how much Ivan Cleary fingerprint there was on our roster, given that Penrith have just signed up 3 of our depth players and we have taken on 2 of theirs (the latter of whom Ivan did not bring to Panthers). Packer and Mbye are the last two major hold-outs from the Cleary period, but almost all the other Cleary bit-players and development projects have been moved on or relegated. And Packer and Mbye are more financial sinks in the roster than big-name signings we are forced to play (i.e. we can now truly afford not to select them). Moving Reynolds on was the key, because tying up that kind of cash with a half you don't want to field, is like fighting with one arm behind your back.
But the players we are now leaning on are young (Luciano, Blore, Stefano, Laurie, Douiehi, Simpkin, Liddle), and the experienced heads are not necessarily known for their consistency (BJ, Jimmy Jet, Mbye, Brooks).
My gut says Madge has what it takes to get these young footballers up to the level required to play finals football.
Big difference was Sheens had a side that could put 5 + wins on the trot at full strength ....and had a core base of hardened NRL players to choose from ...can the 2021 Tigers do that .....64 000 dollar question
It's going to be an interesting season. I agree that we won't know where we are at until late in the season. I think this team can put 5+ wins on the trot together if somehow the coaching staff can get them playing to their ability and playing well together. I also think it's going to be hard to pull everyone together this season.