@Tony33 said:
2006-12 was not a rebuilding phase nor should it have been. 2003-2004 were the rebuilding years for the success in 2005 and for what should have followed from 2006-2012\. We had squads that were the perfect mix of experience and youth throughout those years and really should have capitalised on the Farah/Marshall era with another premiership or two.
We failed miserably from 2006-2009 and really should've won a grand-final in either 2010 or 2011.
Those were not legitimate rebuilding years no matter who said what, they were just excuses to justify our failures.
The last 2-3 years have been legitimate rebuilding years IMO.
We have blooded so many youthful players over that period who even now are still babies and finding their feet. On average we have the youngest team with an average of just 22 which is extraordinarily young.
This time next year they should be comfortable in FG if they are good enough and that is when I will start expecting consistent performances over the 80 minutes week-to-week.
We took a gamble when Potter was brought in and decided on the youth policy, to me that is when the "re-building" phase begun; with players like Heightnon, Beau, Marshall, Utai, Lote and all the deadwood moving on in place of all these inexperienced juniors at once. That is when the re-building phase started.
So if we include this year, that's 3 years of rebuilding, putting us in a good position to make the finals consistently from 2016 onwards and maybe we'll see a few premierships in 2017-2020.
We are only so impatient now because we expected so much more from 2006-2012\. Had we of won a grand final or two in those years, then we would be giving the current squad the time they deserve.
Injuries have always been our downfall.
However first id like to draw striking similarities to what happened 10ish years ago to what is taking place at our club now. Hopefully lightning strikes twice.
The "re-building" phase of this club started in 2003 when Sheens came to a then and still existing basket case of a club. No players wanted to come here after the Hoppa/Lamb era. Sheens took on a pretty poor roster in 2003 that featured stars such as Withers, O'Halloran, NBQ, Wozniak, Trindall, and Beuttner. He had his 1 year grace period in 2003 to rebuild 'his' team for the following year. Something Taylor should have the chance to do this year and capitalize on his tenure in 2016/17.
Fortuitously, Sheens had the benefit of a huge wave of talented cubs coming through our ranks at the time (same as now!) and was able to throw them into first grade in 2003 and 2004 to gain valuable experience. Guys like Benji, Farah, Gibbs, Fults, Halatau, Rhino, Collis, Harrison all debut in 03/04\. Sheens bought big for his second year. Not big as in big names but big as in quantity. Sattler, Moodie, Hodgo, Prince, Payton, Richards, Elford, Fatz. He backed guys that were not wanted or on the outer at other clubs, guys nearing the end of their careers, guys that nobody expected anything from. The experience Sheens brought to the Tigers in 2004/05 combined with those young guys and a hell of a lot of luck with very few injuries earned this club a Premiership Trophy.
I have vivid memories of Sheens during the period 2003/2004 in every second interview he gave of him saying "these are rebuilding years…..2006/2007 we will be contenders". However success came early and maybe a little too early and easy for some. 2006 was to be the start of OUR dynasty, after all, the Broncos, Manly, the Doggie fans had enjoyed such moments. We had just won a premiership, the next 10 years were in the bag. All the Aussie stars would want to come to play for us and with our juniors they too will become the next generation of rep footballers. We had the biggest NRL superstar in Benji in our squad, Prince was carving it up, the next decade looked to be ours.
What could go wrong?
Then came 2006, the curse of the premiers. Injury after injury just killed us that year. Hodgos knee, Benjis shoulder twice and his broken cheekbone. We were without our premiership winning spine for most of the season. 2006 became a write off. And by the way, we did sign some huge superstars after our premiership wining year, Ryan O'Hara, Sam Harris, Jamal Lolesi and Big Keith. 3 of those went a bit pear shaped. TNT debut in 06 along with Rowdy. Rangi Chase was going to be our saviour, Benji and Rangi in the halfs, mouth watering, Rangi lasted 1 game! Dont know what ever happened there, I reckon Sheens was pee'd off with him for getting TNT to throw him the ball back out from over the try line to allow him to score his maiden try.
2007 we had more injuries and our Star Half had jumped the ghost and headed back up North. I feel this is the year where Sheens started to loose the plot. These were meant to be the years we were contenders! These are the years he was building for way back in 2003 and 2004! Why did we just fall in a heap?! 2005 was just a bonus. 2006-2007 we should have been contenders Mr Sheens. I remember wishing for him to be flicked after 2007\. How he got another half a decade is just beyond belief. The victory in 2005 let him sweep a lot of crap under the carpet and get a way with a lot more then he should have been able to get away with.
This period (2007-2009) is known as the Johnny Cronk era. The lost years. Sheens tried to reinvent the game during this period. You dont need big forwards and you dont need a half back to compete in this comp. Nothing against Johnny Morris, he didnt miss a game in 3 years for us and he was our clubs second best hooker, its just a shame Sheens kept playing him at half back. Robbie playing half, Benji playing half, Fults at 5/8th, Lawrence the most talented young centre in the game at 5/8th, Fitzy just about stuffing up every game running around in doughnuts, no one could do wrong, no one was ever dropped, the lightest starting forward pack in the comp and playing a 3 man bench, these are just some of the wonderful memories during this period.
Recruitment during this time pretty much dried up. We didnt need to sign too many players in 2007/2008 as we had that big crop of cubs now playing for us. I cant really think of any one of note we signed. Plodders like Danny Galea, Corey Payne, Dane Laurie and Jarred Saffey. Teo and Beau Ryan Debut around 07\. 2009 we had much better success and landed a big fish in Ellis. Dwyer debut in 09.
Enter 2010, The cubs have matured, Ellis was ripping it up with his young offsider and future Aussie rep in Simon Dwyer, the club has just signed Lote Tuqiri, Lawrence was blasting them away in the centres, BMM and Andrew Fifita debut, Johnny Cronk has gone to Cronulla and we finally have a half back in Lui. 2010 and 2011 we should have won at least if not both those years. They have to go down in history as years that we had that trophy again and we threw it away. Woods and Simona debut in 2011\. Only purchased Utai
It has to be said here that Sheens had stuffed around with Benjis careers. Put a real half next to him and let him play his natural game and we make a good showing for the premiership. God knows what would have happend if Prince stayed a Tiger or at the very least we made a play for a real half back during those dark years of 2007-2009, they may have just looked a little brighter.
2012....2012....2012, what can one say about 2012? Mr Sheens, the players knew it and the fans knew it. It was time to go. Lui was gone. Teddy, Koro and Sirro debut. Bell and Reddy came to the club along with the biggest failed signing since O'Hara, Blair. Produced absolutely no return for the amount of money he was on.
2013 Potter came along like a lamb to the slaughter. He inherited Anasta, Pettybourne, Tapau, Bodene and blooded Sue, Ava, Nofo, Brooks. He had a pair and made the hard decision to bench a guy that had ruled the roost for a decade and after 2013 Benji parted ways with the Tigers.
2014 the writing was on the wall for Potter after a few rounds as he lost support from the players. Austin looked to be the only player on the field at times. Injuries struck again for the Tigers and Potter was forced to player forwards on the wing. He didnt buy much in 2014 and we heard yet again that the coffers are dry, Patterson, Austin Lulai, Gavet were the buys of 2014.
Now we have a new coach, a new vision, a new rebuild period. 2012-2014 were just a total waste. The only saving grace is that they did however produce the debuts of our current superstar rookies ala 2003-2004.
3 coaches in 4 years. Here we are in 2015, youve really got to wonder where all that cap has gone??? Robbie must be on some serious coin.
I think the fans are annoyed with the Tigers club when they constantly spew out the old favourite line "we are rebuilding" give it a rest please! The club has been rebuilding from certain players debuts to their retirement! Fulton has come and gone, Robbies about to go! We've been hearing this for over a decade.
Stop building and just get on with it!!!
