I think season 26 will see the continued entrenchment of the big 4 clubs within the top 8 and the remaining 4 positions left of some 7 of the remaining middle clubs. The good news is I think WT have risen to the middle club arena and a top 8 position at season end not beyond what we can do. The remaining 4-5 low clubs will still compete but be less able to sustain effort throughout season.
Big, big issue to the quality and standards of referee's, touchies and adjudication along with unfathomable contributions from the video referees. No consistency and standard appalling. In addition, the NRL leadership and vision headed by Vlandys, Abdo and Annesley is lack lustre to say the least.
The incoming squad building bu Perth and Port Moresby will start to seriously effect depth and up and comers at existing clubs- no doubt the struggling and middling clubs rather than the power clubs. It will also push up player salaries with increased competition and make signing of established players even harder.
For WT ourselves, we have to be more consistent, stop loosing to lower clubs whilst beating equal or higher clubs, be more organised, get a better kicking game and continue gelling the clunky attack. Can we do it? Of course, our depth is improving and we are getting finally rid of some previously signed dead wood to increase competition for spots in the top 17, but we may have to rejig the assistant coaching staff and game strategy decision making. We are almost there in terms of a good competitive side but really, really need to be more organized and be able to manage games. Does that require an established halfback? Will Fainu / Doueihi / Madden be able to do that? Lets se int he preseason.
Go WT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
