2016 - We can challenge again

[The Brain]

yes i missed that one and in all seriousness young Connor Watson could also make a mark

This Kid is real good a champ in the making

Hastings for my money is a half back not a 5/8th .He has his old mans legs -slow

[ChookyG]

I posted this in another thread but if you actually think about it, we still have a very good chance next year. Here's why:

Look at the teams next year. Storm will go down the ladder, so will Souths. Cowboys will probably slip a little put maybe stay around the same. Dogs will slip. Sharks will move up but won't be that great. Broncos will be minor premiers. Warriors should be top 4.

So realistically, the comp is going to be more evenly spread next year and if you look at our squad we still have a top 4 squad. Napa, Evans, SST, Fergo, Hastings and Cordner will all get better. Theyre all still young. I think come mid next season we will no longer be missing Maloney. That just leaves us with 1 position to worry about which is FB. That will be the position that stops us winning the premiership and it will depend on how much the person in that role can step up that will decide whether we can win or not. If not next year, then by 2017, with another year of experience for the FB and our young squad hitting their peaks, the window will be wide open once again.

This isn't an old side and the exciting this is that although we are losing a 5/8 ad FB, they are being replaced by 2 hopefully decade-long star clubmen. And once again, if you look at the squads on paper next year, the best sides of the past 2-3 years are all likely to slip. And if the Broncos win this year it will be hard for them to go B2B. Also, I think we will finally not be the team that everybody sees as the benchmark which will help significantly come finals time.

[Bowzy]

We will be up there again next year, for those saying we're done for a while, you're kidding.

We still have an amazing amount of talent at our club, and if our boys can be hungry and determined next year then we'll be a shot.

[Thirteen]

We will be up there again next year, for those saying we're done for a while, you're kidding.

We still have an amazing amount of talent at our club, and if our boys can be hungry and determined next year then we'll be a shot.

It's difficult to get them hungry and determined for a preliminary semi final!

[Johnny Tobin]

What's do you mean you can't get excited about next year? What else would you rather do on the weekend then cheer on the red white and blue. We still have a strong side across the park.

Ok. I can't get excited, right now......

[milanja]

My opinion is probably none of what you say will happen

LOL
And agree bar the JWH one.

[steven.rosen1]

Who's going to be our goal kicker next year ?

[Guest]

Or we could end up with a version of 2005. In 02 03 04, we had great sides but won just the one title. The following year with the same roster, bar Freddy, we missed the 8. No RTS No Maloney, a case of dejavu?

[davos]

I don't think we have a bad roster for next year. Sure our depth/inexperience will be tested but there is no reason why we cannot have a serious go at the premiership next season.Our forward pack is one of the best in the comp and some of them are still babies. They also play long minutes so with reduced interchanges we will benefit from that. Our backline still boasts a number of international players/superstars in Fergo,toops,SKD and Jenko. Also Nikorima and Burgess are no slouches. And I think a halves pairing of Pearce and Hastings will gel together nicely after a few games.

[Tommy Smith]

The biggest issue is that the players have now probably got a 'finals footy complex'. They must be scarred by the sheer awfulness of their performances in finals footy for two years running.

Clutch teams win the competition. But without SBW at his best we're a bunch of nervous nancies on the past two years evidence. Flat track bullies.

[ChookyG]

The biggest issue is that the players have now probably got a 'finals footy complex'. They must be scarred by the sheer awfulness of their performances in finals footy for two years running.

Clutch teams win the competition. But without SBW at his best we're a bunch of nervous nancies on the past two years evidence. Flat track bullies.

And that scarring will serve them well. We will no longer be the team to beat and that will really help come finals time.

I hate to say it but the last team to lose 2 prelims in a row that they should have won were the Rabbits. And remember how hungry they were at the third opportunity?

[darcy]

The biggest issue is that the players have now probably got a 'finals footy complex'. They must be scarred by the sheer awfulness of their performances in finals footy for two years running.

Clutch teams win the competition. But without SBW at his best we're a bunch of nervous nancies on the past two years evidence. Flat track bullies.

No worries, employ a good psychologist.

RTS...gone.
Maloney...gone.
Fitzy has to start soon to improve Hastings' goal kicking. He needs to turn 4 into 6 most times like Maloney did.

IMO we're a big forward off the bench short.....a big and tall forward who can hurt players who try to tackle him.
6'7" 120kgs.
He could flop on the opposition in tackles like players in other teams are allowed to do to our players.
In fact I'd start with him and play Guerra off the bench...or play Guerra in the centres...SKD to FB..

[Arties Pie]

We really miss having a Captain like Freddy who would organize the side and let rip when needed. I just don't think Pearce and friend are up to the task, Jared could play that role but he isn't a 80 min player so if he was captain who would be a good vice captain maybe Cordner.. Just putting it out there.

[ChookyG]

We really miss having a Captain like Freddy who would organize the side and let rip when needed. I just don't think Pearce and friend are up to the task, Jared could play that role but he isn't a 80 min player so if he was captain who would be a good vice captain maybe Cordner.. Just putting it out there.

I agree. I think we lack leadership in big games. If we had somebody like Smith, doesn't have to be as good as he is, but a leader like that, we would have without doubt won at least once in the past 2 years. But, remember, we are still a young side so leadership will only get better