Where are we at competitively?

We are a top 8 side whose current position on the ladder is flattering.
Unstructured eyes up attacking footy is our strength.
The tough bruising defence is good to watch.
There are many holes in our game though and we don’t have a leader on the field who controls the game and influences the ref.
 
For me, it's too early to call, after 7 rounds. Our defense is solid and we are consistently dominating position and territory. We are also far more resilient than in previous years. However, our attack is clunky and inconsistent , especially in the red zone. It's a strange start to the season with many teams showing wild inconsistency. If I had to rate us, I'd say top 6 with potential to be top 4. Finally, being devil's advocate, and having been a long suffering Wests Tigers for many years, I will say we will scrape into the bottom of the 8. Better but still not quite there!
 
Last edited:
I'm happy to go from garbage to winning all the stats except red zone attack. But they'd better fix it quick because energy for line speed and first contact will dry up if the losses mount up.
 
From what I have seen thus far. Panthers are a class above. Dragons are a class below. All other teams in between there is not a lot between them.
I did not think we would be top 8 before the season, not far away but not genuinely challenging the 8. 6 games in I now believe there is no excuse to not make it.
 
Let’s not lose sight of how well Brisbane defended, especially Staggs. They were right up on top of us even with bugger all possession.

I thought our line speed was lacking in the first half, much better in the second.

It was a close game we were on the wrong side of. Two tries in the final three minutes of a half we dominated ultimately sunk us. If Pat Herbert (I think it was him) takes that intercept we probably win.

Swap A Reynolds for Luai and we win by 20 points.
 
We are a top eight team for sure.

The pack is brilliant! Hunt in groups and smash teams in attack and defense.

The backline needs work,too many simple errors .

But that pack will get us far!
 
moetk said:
Judging from the performance of other teams in the opening 7 rounds, where would you put us? Does our ladder position flatter us or is it a true reflection of our strength?

So far, Panthers are the Benchmark. We are not too far behind them

Panthers
Tigers
Broncos
Warriors

I don't rate the Bulldogs or Roosters.
Click to expand...
I believe we are one of the best teams in the comp. We have been the better team every game we have played. We lost both games by a whisker. No team goes undefeated. And the system is still developing.
 
Hopefully this was a wake up call/ego crush they needed, both to Benji and the players. The press the last 2 weeks was ridiculous for just 6 rounds. The starting side named last night is a 6-10th finishing team. An above average to middle of the pack team. Top 4 is punching well above their weight.

We could be top 4 but top 4 teams know how to score inside an opps 20mtrs, something this team just can not do with Jerry in the halves without a true halfback next to him.

It reminds me of the 2 most obvious glaring issues the Tigers had for many years and somehow almost like a piss take they failed to be addressed. Years without a genuine goal kicker that did cost us top 8 finishes and 10+ years persisting with Brooks at half. Blind Freddy can see the 20m attack is the issue with this team that needs to be addressed ASAP or it will be another finish out of the top 8, address it and the Tigers will finish 6th to 8th.

Its bleeding obvious it needs to be 7. Jock 6. Jerry with Doohey in the centres or 13. There just is not another spot for him and he is too footy intelligent/creative not to be in the team somewhere. 13 gets him closer to the action touching the ball more but im not sure he has the shoulders for it and Twal has it locked up playing as a 3rd prop there this year. Tough one for Benji.
 
Winston Churchill said:
Hopefully this was a wake up call/ego crush they needed, both to Benji and the players. The press the last 2 weeks was ridiculous for just 6 rounds. The starting side named last night is a 6-10th finishing team. An above average to middle of the pack team. Top 4 is punching well above their weight.

We could be top 4 but top 4 teams know how to score inside an opps 20mtrs, something this team just can not do with Jerry in the halves without a true halfback next to him.

It reminds me of the 2 most obvious glaring issues the Tigers had for many years and somehow almost like a piss take they failed to be addressed. Years without a genuine goal kicker that did cost us top 8 finishes and 10+ years persisting with Brooks at half. Blind Freddy can see the 20m attack is the issue with this team that needs to be addressed ASAP or it will be another finish out of the top 8, address it and the Tigers will finish 6th to 8th.

Its bleeding obvious it needs to be 7. Jock 6. Jerry with Doohey in the centres or 13. There just is not another spot for him and he is too footy intelligent/creative not to be in the team somewhere. 13 gets him closer to the action touching the ball more but im not sure he has the shoulders for it and Twal has it locked up playing as a 3rd prop there this year. Tough one for Benji.
Click to expand...
God yes this! Us not fixing those glaring issues for all that time was the most frustrating thing. I could not fathom why those weaknesses weren’t addressed week in, week out. Sheens was guilty of this and Madge was a culprit also. I really do hope this issue is acted upon quickly this time. We are playing well and deserve to have a chance at playing finals footy. I’d hate to see that stubborn streak of not fixing something that is glaringly obvious derail our hopes again.

Surely for the team’s, the club’s and the fans’ sakes Benji will see this and rectify it. Though I would say he’d have to make a call on benching Luai, not moving Douehi. Douehi and Madden have already proven they can play well together. An even tougher call for Benji.
 
Flippedy said:
God yes this! Us not fixing those glaring issues for all that time was the most frustrating thing. I could not fathom why those weaknesses weren’t addressed week in, week out. Sheens was guilty of this and Madge was a culprit also. I really do hope this issue is acted upon quickly this time. We are playing well and deserve to have a chance at playing finals footy. I’d hate to see that stubborn streak of not fixing something that is glaringly obvious derail our hopes again.

Surely for the team’s, the club’s and the fans’ sakes Benji will see this and rectify it. Though I would say he’d have to make a call on benching Luai, not moving Douehi. Douehi and Madden have already proven they can play well together. An even tougher call for Benji.
Click to expand...
I’d be happy to see Laui on the bench for Canberra
 
king_sirro said:
This is the most pleasing thing for me. The change in our line speed and our players going after the physical contact. Seeing us drive opposition players back, pull off hits, cut their space down. This has been an amazing change. If we maintain that we will finish 6th to 8th. If we maintain it and get our attack right in the halves we can possibly finish higher.
Click to expand...
Yeah I love attacking them with our defence....its.a.sight for sore eye's

I think i said 10th in the pick the ladder thread at the start of the year

We are still a work in progress ..so is Benji. Weve been pumped up massively the last 2 or 3 weeks...hopefully a 1 point loss can help us.as in getting grounded..back to basics...the obvious halves issue benji must see
We couldve easily had 30 put on us a.loss was always coming just a matter of when...there will be.more, a quarter of the way thru the season and.hopefully no blowouts against us for the rest of the year
As to the thread question... how longs a pice of string..weve had 2 losses one by 4 and one by 1...that says something
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

Total: 1,187 (members: 39, guests: 1,148)
Back
Top