WT Player Recruitment & Retention for 2020

[TillLindemann]

If we get Stefano for 2020, I'll be actually quite excited about our squad.

I don't buy the doom and gloom about us being weaker than last year.

Stefano, Musgrove, Big Lucy, and potentially a back in form Packer = stronger forward pack than last year.

Masters is no loss. His kicking single-footedly (sorry) kept us out of the 8. Momirovski and Talau can be our centres for years to come.

If Mbye finds his 2018 form we'll be very glad he's here.

Brad Abbey might be a smokey too.

In 2020 we will smash expectations. Get excited!

 

[ElleryHanley]

Smith
Bradley
McIntyre

Are all not close to NRL class. That is a significant amount of spots allocated to outside backs who will very likely never play.

The squad is really poorly balanced as it stands today...tons of big, mobile, forwards (good)...but really lacking any class or depth in the backs.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

If we get Stefano for 2020, I'll be actually quite excited about our squad.

I don't buy the doom and gloom about us being weaker than last year.

Stefano, Musgrove, Big Lucy, and potentially a back in form Packer = stronger forward pack than last year.

Masters is no loss. His kicking single-footedly (sorry) kept us out of the 8. Momirovski and Talau can be our centres for years to come.

If Mbye finds his 2018 form we'll be very glad he's here.

Brad Abbey might be a smokey too.

In 2020 we will smash expectations. Get excited!

If Packer pulls his finger out and we get Stefano for next year and he lives up to expectations I think the forward pack will be OK. The two things I am concerned about is lack of a specialist fullback and hooker. Our depth in the three quarter line is a little thin as well but that could change if JAC comes home, would probably still need another centre as well.

 

[Geo]

Smith
Bradley
McIntyre

Are all not close to NRL class. That is a significant amount of spots allocated to outside backs who will very likely never play.

The squad is really poorly balanced as it stands today...tons of big, mobile, forwards (good)...but really lacking any class or depth in the backs.

Bradley isn't on top 30...Development player...

McIntyre would be seen as a backrow option rather than backs..

 

[ElleryHanley]

Smith
Bradley
McIntyre

Are all not close to NRL class. That is a significant amount of spots allocated to outside backs who will very likely never play.

The squad is really poorly balanced as it stands today...tons of big, mobile, forwards (good)...but really lacking any class or depth in the backs.

Bradley isn't on top 30...Development player...

McIntyre would be seen as a backrow option rather than backs..

From our top 30 Geo, can you name 10 players who can play 1 to 5? (NRL level)


McIntrye would seem to be miles down the depth order for back row NRL team. Fairly sure he played a fair bit of state cup center?

 

[innsaneink]

Are we any faster in the backs this year?
Painfully slow last year it, cost us so many times

 

[crazycat]

So just coming at this from a different perspective.
In my opinion, Brooks would get a start at most clubs. He’s the closest we have to ‘marquee’. So last year he re-signs for 4 years and is rewarded with, at present, a spine with a makeshift fullback, an aging 5/8 and who the frig knows about hooker. He must be so pleased with our recruitment.

Good points, except I bet that's not what is bothering Brooks so much (we will see if he tries to quit for the Roosters *eew* during the season).
Brooks has a target on his jersey by being the Marquee man. Yes our lack of a Spine would bother him (although playing alongside either Marshall or Reynolds should not. Sure they are both older, they are quality and we should talk our people up.... Reynolds at Hooker though is another story likewise Thompson at fullback is lacking, IMHO we should hold onto Thompson till we can upgrade him with someone worthwhile)

Our lack of a forward pack would be worse. Your a halfback, you want to get the ball out quickly. Yet we loose the battle upfront to protect Brooks and he is forced to make hard plays.
That's our Number 1 problem. Give us Easts, Storm or a better pack and Brooks will do a lot better. This will be his biggest temptation, to be able to play properly behind a real pack.

 

[tiga4eva]

Are we any faster in the backs this year?
Painfully slow last year it, cost us so many times

Needed to recruit outside backs......... And haven't

 

[Tiger_Steve]

So just coming at this from a different perspective.
In my opinion, Brooks would get a start at most clubs. He’s the closest we have to ‘marquee’. So last year he re-signs for 4 years and is rewarded with, at present, a spine with a makeshift fullback, an aging 5/8 and who the frig knows about hooker. He must be so pleased with our recruitment.

True, but he performed under the same circumstances and really well at that, to finish off last season.

No argument- he’s one of my favourites. Imagine if he had a good spine around him!

 

[Tim Sheens]

So just coming at this from a different perspective.
In my opinion, Brooks would get a start at most clubs. He’s the closest we have to ‘marquee’. So last year he re-signs for 4 years and is rewarded with, at present, a spine with a makeshift fullback, an aging 5/8 and who the frig knows about hooker. He must be so pleased with our recruitment.

Good points, except I bet that's not what is bothering Brooks so much (we will see if he tries to quit for the Roosters *eew* during the season).
Brooks has a target on his jersey by being the Marquee man. Yes our lack of a Spine would bother him (although playing alongside either Marshall or Reynolds should not. Sure they are both older, they are quality and we should talk our people up.... Reynolds at Hooker though is another story likewise Thompson at fullback is lacking, IMHO we should hold onto Thompson till we can upgrade him with someone worthwhile)

Our lack of a forward pack would be worse. Your a halfback, you want to get the ball out quickly. Yet we loose the battle upfront to protect Brooks and he is forced to make hard plays.
That's our Number 1 problem. Give us Easts, Storm or a better pack and Brooks will do a lot better. This will be his biggest temptation, to be able to play properly behind a real pack.

Brooks lacks targets, and each additional target also takes pressure of themselves as individuals. Sure, I would always like to have the best pack, but for mine, with the reasonable platform provided last season, that is not our priority.

 

[steve-o]

Has there been any indication that Packer and Maguire have “made up”? If not, I wouldn’t have any expectations of seeing him in first grade this season...

 

[Demps]

Now all we need is a hooker

 

[TheDaBoss]

What ever happened to Soni Luke 🤔

 

[Sunnycoast_tiger]

What ever happened to Soni Luke 🤔

Gone back to Panthers

 

[Ponyo]


 

[Sully]

Matto...

Again a journalist stating the bleeding obvious

 

[Goldust]

I’d love to see him get whacked ,but who in our team is capable of that?lol
Maybe Josh Aloiai

 

[TillLindemann]

Has there been any indication that Packer and Maguire have “made up”? If not, I wouldn’t have any expectations of seeing him in first grade this season...

I've definitely read on here a few times that they've made up and that he's primed for this year. Hopefully that's true.

 

[twentyforty]

Has there been any indication that Packer and Maguire have “made up”? If not, I wouldn’t have any expectations of seeing him in first grade this season...

I've definitely read on here a few times that they've made up and that he's primed for this year. Hopefully that's true.

We need to swap Packer for AJ.

 

[Bathursttiger2]

Now all we need is a hooker

A couple of seasons ago we had more hookers than Kings Cross, now zero.