Hastings

[Tommy Smith]

That is correct.

2014 was a poor year. And yet we run the Minor Prem. Remarkable really.

That team was so ridiculously talented that we won the MP without playing close to our best footy for 90% of the season.

And I believe that was largely due to a drop in desire.

It speaks a lot to the greatness of Thurston that he hasn't allowed a similar hangover at the Cowboys. I believe he has been the single greatest driving force behind them getting even better in 2016.

[Johnny Tobin]

But all those options in the halves don't give us a Maloney type of player who just plays off the cuff footy. He is a schemer. The blokes we have are all organisers. Where do the chance plays come from.

Keary, hopefully.

[Johnny Tobin]

That is correct.

2014 was a poor year. And yet we run the Minor Prem. Remarkable really.

That team was so ridiculously talented that we won the MP without playing close to our best footy for 90% of the season.

And I believe that was largely due to a drop in desire.

It speaks a lot to the greatness of Thurston that he hasn't allowed a similar hangover at the Cowboys. I believe he has been the single greatest driving force behind them getting even better in 2016.

Don't get too excited. They haven't won yet. In fact, they probably won't be minor premiers which, as you remind us, we were the following year - without desire and with factions.

[Vasco]

It's the role our Nikorima was supposed to play. I wonder what happens to him now?

I reckon Nikorima will still be in the frame. Is he playing for Wyong Roos at the moment?

He has done his hammy twice this year.

[Bigchook]

But all those options in the halves don't give us a Maloney type of player who just plays off the cuff footy. He is a schemer. The blokes we have are all organisers. Where do the chance plays come from.

Nikorima.

[Johnny Tobin]

I reckon Nikorima will still be in the frame. Is he playing for Wyong Roos at the moment?

He has done his hammy twice this year.

I don't know if he is back.

[ism22]

That is correct.

2014 was a poor year. And yet we run the Minor Prem. Remarkable really.

That team was so ridiculously talented that we won the MP without playing close to our best footy for 90% of the season.

And I believe that was largely due to a drop in desire.

It speaks a lot to the greatness of Thurston that he hasn't allowed a similar hangover at the Cowboys. I believe he has been the single greatest driving force behind them getting even better in 2016.

IMO until recent seasons the Cows have been serial under-performers.

There were years when they had 5-6 Kangaroos plus bought out all our young talent, and nobody was really afraid of them.

This year I think the general standard of footy has gone downhill. I just wish our recruitment team hadn't shot us in the foot this season... because I reckon the contenders this year are all teams we can give a run for their money (despite being 15th).

[PeeGee]

We have genuinely forgotten how to win a game of footy. It bloody scary considering we have just about the same squad next year.
Or said another way, we seem to do just enough to lose a game of football. Recently, warriors, dogs, eels, storm and sharks have been off their game against us and yet we do enough to lose. WTF?

[Keith]

If we lose by 2 points tonight because we haven't got a goal kicker , I'll be wishing Hastings was playing.

[nikottam]

Would much rather see nikorima who I think has the better kicking and passing game than Watson. Watson seems to be getting the edge because of his physical size. I rate Pearce but don't think he's creative enough to carry Watson abd lead the team to 20+ points each week.

I agree, our Nikorima certainly has more natural skill than Connor in both kicking and passing, and he's probably just as quick. I'm fairly certain if Nikorima had've been given Connor's bench utility gig partway through the season instead of thrown straight into the halves, he would've been in the exact same position as Connor now: got his NRL start off the bench filling in, and is eventually moved into the halves. And instead of singing Connor praises, we'd been hailing Nikorima our hero. Just unlucky for Jayden that the timing was soooo wrong for him, bc if he had've been in Watson's position he'd probably be thriving just as much, if not more than him now. But because he was expected to lead the team to wins as a 19 year old rookie, and didn't do a crash hot job through no fault of his own (it was more of a team effort), he's been written off. And unfairly so.

[nikottam]

I reckon Nikorima will still be in the frame. Is he playing for Wyong Roos at the moment?

He has done his hammy twice this year.

Yeah he played for Wyong the other week, first game back after his hammy. I think it'd be a waste of a $200k signing for him not to be in the picture, but unfortunately there's only 17 spots in a FG team. And him and Watson are fighting for basically the same role. Not to mention Matterson, who probably needs more kicking repsonsibilities as the only member of our team capable of kicking something other than a bomb

[Bigchook]

I agree, our Nikorima certainly has more natural skill than Connor in both kicking and passing, and he's probably just as quick. I'm fairly certain if Nikorima had've been given Connor's bench utility gig partway through the season instead of thrown straight into the halves, he would've been in the exact same position as Connor now: got his NRL start off the bench filling in, and is eventually moved into the halves. And instead of singing Connor praises, we'd been hailing Nikorima our hero. Just unlucky for Jayden that the timing was soooo wrong for him, bc if he had've been in Watson's position he'd probably be thriving just as much, if not more than him now. But because he was expected to lead the team to wins as a 19 year old rookie, and didn't do a crash hot job through no fault of his own (it was more of a team effort), he's been written off. And unfairly so.

The players have a massive wrap on Niko. My mate is mates with a current player and said that he was super impressive at training and that they hadn't played with someone as naturally gifted. The side needs someone like that. He just needs to be persevered with which is hard when the team is losing and the fans are calling for immediate results.

[Steakface]

I agree that Nikorima is very skillful.

But what has bothered me ever since the early rounds is that he appears to be quite mentally fragile. He told a reporter publically that he is 'scarred' from his first grade experience. A bloke of his size can't afford to have that mentality and be successful in first grade.

Like I said, really hope he proves me wrong. But I can't see Nikorima setting the world on fire anytime soon and I think Watson is the far superior prospect.

[Thirteen]

The players have a massive wrap on Niko. My mate is mates with a current player and said that he was super impressive at training and that they hadn't played with someone as naturally gifted. The side needs someone like that. He just needs to be persevered with which is hard when the team is losing and the fans are calling for immediate results.

Who are these people you are referring to who demand immediate results?!

[bondi paul]

Niko the kiwi/ qld blow in may have all the skills but I am not confident with his mental capacity nor am I convinced with Lattrells In comparison to Watson his mental toughness streets ahead at this stage of the 3 debutants. Niko better suited to yawnion and its 7s game.