SKD should stay

[Darkone]

moley is clutching straws

the only thing following Bennet is the smell of defeat

[stephenj]

more a stench thabn a smell, the stench of decay!

[Rooster_6]

R6, I get what you're saying but I think the question now is can we win next year with the same formula? Personally I would rather RTS play fullback all of next year, but this is not necessarily because I think we would be a significantly better chance of going back to back. It's simply because I want to see us play even better footy in attack. But I think even the staunchest of anti-Mini fans wluld agree that at least to begin with our defence would suffer. RTS hasn't played enough fullback in the past season to have developed his positional game and communication with the line to anything like what Mini offers.*

So I think the question is where is it that we will win it in 2014? Attack or defence? Will the defence be just as solid by within the first 10 rounds lets say with Rog at the back? Will we need to improve our attacking game significantly because teams will have figured out how to exploit weaknesses in our D (regardless of whether Mini is at the back)? Or can we win it with the exact same formula that we used this season and rely on the natural improvement of our younger players already in the team and the introduction of guys like Moga, Casty, Evans and Langi.*

What are your thoughts R6 and yours too Andy if you feel like joining in on some analysis.*

I think there's 2 important questions that need answering and unsurprisingly my answer to both is picking RTS at fullback.

1) How can we improve in order to go back to back?
2) What's the long term plan post-SBW?

We will need to improve if we're any chance of going back to back, the natural development of a young team and the progression of combinations amongst a comparatively new team will make us a better team next year but we can't rest on that. Robbo and co. will no doubt be looking at structural, personnel and positional changes in an attempt to make the side even better. For me RTS, Evans & Casty are the 3 who I think can really add something new to the team, RTS with his move to fullback, Evans as a potential gun off the bench and Casty who doesn't play a structured game like every other prop in our squad.

Onto the second question I think it's important we have a plan post-SBW, a lot of people talk about a like for like replacement in the forwards but it's unfair and unrealistic. No one can do what he does, no one has in recent history (I never got the chance to see some of the great ball playing forwards in the earlier years so I can only comment on what I've seen). The biggest attribute of his that we will miss is his flair and creativity, the ability to create points when we need them most and regardless of the pressure or quality of opposition. I think RTS is one of the keys to softening the blow of SBW leaving, he has the rare ability to create something from nothing it's crucial he gets the experience of a year under his belt now.

Even if RTS struggles initially in defence I don't think we'll lose anything because when you add up the extra points he'll create in attack the net worth will be in the positive, I'm sure of it.

I can't tell you how much I hate the phrase 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. It's a ridiculous philosophy that no one actually lives by. No one keeps every car they've ever bought until it's broken, no one keeps every TV, kitchen appliance, computer, couch, BBQ, mobile phone, wallet etc etc etc. until it's broken. It's the unbroken aspects of a situation that provide the greatest opportunities for innovation and innovation is the key to sustained success.

[Rooster_6]

Could it be Moga?

Yeh I assume that's who he's talking about.

He's long been touted as the long term replacement for Justin Hodges and the rumours have already started that he'll be signing with the Broncos in 2014.

[Parkway_Drive]

Yeh I assume that's who he's talking about.

He's long been touted as the long term replacement for Justin Hodges and the rumours have already started that he'll be signing with the Broncos in 2014.

I am of the same opinion, Hodges will be retiring in the not so distant future and hailing from Brisbane I am sure they will being going all out to woo him back......I hope he stays with us....he could be anything if he stays injury free and gets back into first grade with a successful and talented team in late 2014 or early 2015.

[Rooster_6]

I am of the same opinion, Hodges will be retiring in the not so distant future and hailing from Brisbane I am sure they will being going all out to woo him back......I hope he stays with us....he could be anything if he stays injury free and gets back into first grade with a successful and talented team in late 2014 or early 2015.

Yeh I'm with you there, it'd be really disappointing to see him leave.

Last year the club announced 4 year deals for Pearce, Cordner & RTS during the off-season. With the knowledge that SBW wont be here in 2015 I'd love to see the club start shoring up some of the promising talent at the club. Evans, Moga, Napa & Langi wouldn't be a bad place to start.

[Guest]

Love your Work Josh. Keep it up Im a mad stats freak too.

Yer, looking at the table, Chambers is quite underrated. Maybe it's due to that side being full of superstars, but i know why they moved to re-sign him this year.
I wonder what sort of money he's on. I had a look at some others, but the only two I could find were Hodges ($350k) and Idris ($500k).

[Rooster_6]

Whare has been a great pick up for Penrith. Didn't cost a whole lot coming from Manly but was very good in the centres this year. Very few centres in the game who can put their winger away like Whare was on a consistent basis this season.