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Offseason work which needs to be done
This list could get long and ugly but let’s just brain storm key areas.
Major work needed:
Attack
Inability to create Set plays is a huge issue problem we have at the moment. I cannot remember one nice backline shift this season where we scored. You look at the top 4 teams and most of their trys come from set plays and shifting the ball with decoy runners and short passes.
Kicking game. Mitch Pearce had a good enough season with the boot, but in many cases he has been taking too much of the responsibility with kicking. Hopefully Maloney takes some pressure off him. I would like to see us try more short chips kicks which used to work nicely when Carney was here.
Defence
Where do I start? I think that JT needs to start from scratch here because we need some serious work in this area. We have gaping holes in defence and bad reads on the fringes which even Parramatta made a mockery of when they played us. We need to work on our shifting of line and line speed, because many times this season we have allowed cheap metres through the middle of the park.
Fitness
If Mescia does return, he will have to earn every dollar he makes, because this season our fitness has been very poor. The best evidence of this would have to be in the game against the tigers where for the final 20 minutes we ran out of gas. Our forwards need to work on their fitness level also as many of them e.g JWH are capable of playing long minutes every game.
Discipline
We need to stop giving away stupid penalties, especially in our own half.
Individual Problems
Minichiello- What is there he doesn’t need to work on? The only good thing he has is ability under the high ball. His ball playing, ball control, positioning in defence/kick returns, catching inside balls, running in holes, and footwork all need serious emergency work. Have I missed anything?
BJ- I think his defence and ball security need work. If he can do some sprinting exercises that won’t hurt either.
RTS- If he is to play FB next year, his ability under the high ball and fb Positioning need to be tested to see if he is in fact a first grade fb. I can wait to see him play there.
Moga- Defence and attacking attitude. Sometimes when I see this kid run the ball he looks like tarzan other times like jane. He needs to work on his defence and reading opposition defensive lines.
SKD- Defence and tackling techniques
Pearce+ Maloney- complementing attack. This season when we watched Pearce and Anasta play it was like watching two separate teams play and Pearce was the only one who looked like setting up a try. Hopefully maloney’s running/kicking game works nicely with Pearce.
JWH/Kennedy/Tasi/Masoe- Fitness and unleashing the beast within. In all seriousness, I think we may have these guys in the future all in rep games. They have the physical attributes, they just need to work on them.
Friend- Speed out of Dummy half and creativity, especially with having a kicking game. This kid last year was a class above everyone, but this year he has failed. He needs to work on his kicking game and things like 40/20s so that he may one day become a smith-like dummy half. Also his speed out of dummy half.
Aubo- Needs to become a utility player off the bench. Spend time at dummy half and be a buhrer type of Super sub.
Bosden- I would like to see this kid move into the front row and be a 60 min type of workhorse prop. He has the motor but just to be injury free.
Taka- Needs to bulk up and work on his defence. Off the bench he can be a massive type of impact player, especially with this passing game of his which is better than Anasta’s. We definitely need him in the team because he can provide some spark in attack.
Guerra- passing game to outside men. Has been great this season and a real diamond in the rough type of player but needs to pass more to the outside men and create opportunities.
Evans/Napa- Need time in NSW cup before making the step into FG. Probably a handful of games will do and hopefully they make their debuts around round 5, depending on injuries.
I'm not sure if I've missed out on anything but major work will be needed this offseason in Rebuilding our mighty club, go easts!!!!!!!
Major work needed:
Attack
Inability to create Set plays is a huge issue problem we have at the moment. I cannot remember one nice backline shift this season where we scored. You look at the top 4 teams and most of their trys come from set plays and shifting the ball with decoy runners and short passes.
Kicking game. Mitch Pearce had a good enough season with the boot, but in many cases he has been taking too much of the responsibility with kicking. Hopefully Maloney takes some pressure off him. I would like to see us try more short chips kicks which used to work nicely when Carney was here.
Defence
Where do I start? I think that JT needs to start from scratch here because we need some serious work in this area. We have gaping holes in defence and bad reads on the fringes which even Parramatta made a mockery of when they played us. We need to work on our shifting of line and line speed, because many times this season we have allowed cheap metres through the middle of the park.
Fitness
If Mescia does return, he will have to earn every dollar he makes, because this season our fitness has been very poor. The best evidence of this would have to be in the game against the tigers where for the final 20 minutes we ran out of gas. Our forwards need to work on their fitness level also as many of them e.g JWH are capable of playing long minutes every game.
Discipline
We need to stop giving away stupid penalties, especially in our own half.
Individual Problems
Minichiello- What is there he doesn’t need to work on? The only good thing he has is ability under the high ball. His ball playing, ball control, positioning in defence/kick returns, catching inside balls, running in holes, and footwork all need serious emergency work. Have I missed anything?
BJ- I think his defence and ball security need work. If he can do some sprinting exercises that won’t hurt either.
RTS- If he is to play FB next year, his ability under the high ball and fb Positioning need to be tested to see if he is in fact a first grade fb. I can wait to see him play there.
Moga- Defence and attacking attitude. Sometimes when I see this kid run the ball he looks like tarzan other times like jane. He needs to work on his defence and reading opposition defensive lines.
SKD- Defence and tackling techniques
Pearce+ Maloney- complementing attack. This season when we watched Pearce and Anasta play it was like watching two separate teams play and Pearce was the only one who looked like setting up a try. Hopefully maloney’s running/kicking game works nicely with Pearce.
JWH/Kennedy/Tasi/Masoe- Fitness and unleashing the beast within. In all seriousness, I think we may have these guys in the future all in rep games. They have the physical attributes, they just need to work on them.
Friend- Speed out of Dummy half and creativity, especially with having a kicking game. This kid last year was a class above everyone, but this year he has failed. He needs to work on his kicking game and things like 40/20s so that he may one day become a smith-like dummy half. Also his speed out of dummy half.
Aubo- Needs to become a utility player off the bench. Spend time at dummy half and be a buhrer type of Super sub.
Bosden- I would like to see this kid move into the front row and be a 60 min type of workhorse prop. He has the motor but just to be injury free.
Taka- Needs to bulk up and work on his defence. Off the bench he can be a massive type of impact player, especially with this passing game of his which is better than Anasta’s. We definitely need him in the team because he can provide some spark in attack.
Guerra- passing game to outside men. Has been great this season and a real diamond in the rough type of player but needs to pass more to the outside men and create opportunities.
Evans/Napa- Need time in NSW cup before making the step into FG. Probably a handful of games will do and hopefully they make their debuts around round 5, depending on injuries.
I'm not sure if I've missed out on anything but major work will be needed this offseason in Rebuilding our mighty club, go easts!!!!!!!
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