Reality - We're farked

[Rooster_6]

R6. I agree we can't be premiers every season, BUT how or what do you feel about our teams Prop shortage (i.e going backwards when the starting props get interchanged)? Also how do you feel about our weekly terrible defensive misreads on the edges, particularly by our young centers?
How do you feel about our clubs efforts so far to address these issues?

Like I said we can't be premiers every year, our edge defence is very vulnerable but this is the trade off from investing that time into the next generation. Latrell and Manu have the potential to be the most potent centre pairing in the game. I'm happy with this call by the club.

As for the prop issues I think this was accentuated yesterday because we were missing Cordner and SST. Our backrow was just way too lightweight. I think the clubs intentions here are pretty clear Robbo is in the market for an experienced prop and it looks like Butcher is going to be fast tracked. Again I'm happy with this call I don't think spending big money on another prop would get us value for money. I like the decision to let Evans go and I think they time we are investing into Tetevano will be repaid ten fold next year.

Even with Teddy, how are we going to 'fix' these glaringly obvious weeknesses to actually become a real threat in 2018? Because from what I've seen, 2017 is gone. I've been talking about our very poor go-forward for over a year now. As I have been going on about our terrible edge defense, especially against basic block plays in our 20m. Throw in very little line speed and we are inviting teams into our 20m to totally dominate field possession.

Tedesco will do wonders for us starting off our sets. Nothing against Gordon who has been a great buy but Tedesco is world class in this department. Yardage and momentum on kick returns since RTS left has been lacking and made it real hard work for our forwards. I think the club has a big decision to make on Blake Ferguson.

We are absolutely no chance of making the top 4, and the top 8 may be out of reach also.

You're speaking with pure emotion and no logic.

We are on 24 points, the bye takes us to 26.

To miss the top 8 we would have to lose 7 out of our next 8 games. Meaning your are tipping us to lost to either Newcastle or Wests, curious as to which one you think we can't beat in the 'horrendous' state we find ourselves in.

[Tommy Smith]

16 wins has been good enough to make the top 4 every year since 1999, and that's what we'll need this year in a top heavy comp.

A win this week minus our Origin stars would be amazing. If we lose then I can see a top 4 shoot out vs Manly in rnd 22 at Brookvale which would be tough.

[Guest]

Our players aren't clever enough to win a comp! We don't have a Jimmy, mini or SBW with a bit of smarts.
They had about 2/3 sets and we were hanging on and then JWH gets grubby sticking his hand in Gallen's head and they score from the next set after getting the penalty. We get back in it with a great try and then we give away another stupid penalty after defending for a few sets and they score again. The ref wasn't interested in giving any penalties until we played dumb and all of a sudden it's 5/1 in the count and they put three early tries on the board. Why do they do it? Especially in our own half which just invites pressure on our young edge defence. It was like watching a train wreck that you could see coming. I think we will get top 8, but I can't see us winning anything. Not enough smarts throughout the team to match the likes of Storm or Cronulla.

theyve already won a comp

[Andrew Walker]

Massive over reaction On our day we can beat any team Clearly the last two weeks have not been our days Yet we still won one

[Guest]

R6. I agree we can't be premiers every season, BUT how or what do you feel about our teams Prop shortage (i.e going backwards when the starting props get interchanged)? Also how do you feel about our weekly terrible defensive misreads on the edges, particularly by our young centers?
How do you feel about our clubs efforts so far to address these issues?
Even with Teddy, how are we going to 'fix' these glaringly obvious weeknesses to actually become a real threat in 2018? Because from what I've seen, 2017 is gone. I've been talking about our very poor go-forward for over a year now. As I have been going on about our terrible edge defense, especially against basic block plays in our 20m. Throw in very little line speed and we are inviting teams into our 20m to totally dominate field possession.
There is a very good reason Cronulla had 100% completion in the 1st half and almost as good in the 2nd, and that is little to no defensive pressure and aggression from us.
So taking into account what I've stated above, and couple that with a very tough run to seasons end, I still say 'we are farked', and 2018 is not looking very promising either

What shytes me the most is Cronulla making us look like a reserve grade team whilst they were in second gear. We are absolutely no chance of making the top 4, and the top 8 may be out of reach also.

the way you carry on people would be mistaken for thinking we were in the bottom 2 like last year not in the top 4 with 11 wins and 5 losses

[PeeGee]

the way you carry on people would be mistaken for thinking we were in the bottom 2 like last year not in the top 4 with 11 wins and 5 losses

You are 100% correct, BUT, who have we played that are a quality team and how did we go against them ???????
The run home is deadly. I've stated our weaknesses above. Sorry but I can't see light at the end of the tunnel. Yep we've gone very well so far against mainly average or similar teams. But wait till we play Melb, Sharks, Manly and even St Merge again. Also, other teams under us on the ladder are improving whilst we have been consistently hot and cold ALL SEASON. Like many people have said, we haven't played for the full 80 except for the miracle Parra game. Cows won't be easy either, nor Souths next week with our origin stars out.

[Tommy Smith]

We don't play St Merge again - and sadly, too - because they're playing like a busted ass.

We'll beat the Knights and Tigers at home. I'm super confident we'll beat the Cowboys and Titans too.

Don't get me wrong I was filthy at yesterday's performance too and didn't hold back but we've still come a long way.

Basically I'm confident that at a minimum we'll be 15-9 which after going 6-18 last year is a remarkable 9 win turnaround.

Yes we're a long shot to win the comp but I haven't felt for a moment that we'd win it; merely that we're an outside shot.

And after last seasons debacle that's a spectacular turnaround.

[Guest]

You are 100% correct, BUT, who have we played that are a quality team and how did we go against them ???????
The run home is deadly. I've stated our weaknesses above. Sorry but I can't see light at the end of the tunnel. Yep we've gone very well so far against mainly average or similar teams. But wait till we play Melb, Sharks, Manly and even St Merge again. Also, other teams under us on the ladder are improving whilst we have been consistently hot and cold ALL SEASON. Like many people have said, we haven't played for the full 80 except for the miracle Parra game. Cows won't be easy either, nor Souths next week with our origin stars out.

it doesnt matter who we have beaten cant you just enjoy actually watching wins unlike last year we arent going to win the comp and never were going to win it this year

[Rooster_6]

You are 100% correct, BUT, who have we played that are a quality team and how did we go against them ???????
The run home is deadly. I've stated our weaknesses above. Sorry but I can't see light at the end of the tunnel. Yep we've gone very well so far against mainly average or similar teams. But wait till we play Melb, Sharks, Manly and even St Merge again. Also, other teams under us on the ladder are improving whilst we have been consistently hot and cold ALL SEASON. Like many people have said, we haven't played for the full 80 except for the miracle Parra game. Cows won't be easy either, nor Souths next week with our origin stars out.

There's only 2 teams below on us the ladder who we have played this year and haven't beaten.

Raiders - Without our SOO players and;
Warriors - Who are a completely different team at home (6-2 at home and 1-7 away this year)

We have beaten every other team below us, but you say they are improving?

The Dragons are on a steep downward spiral. Undeniable.
The Broncos have slowly sliden out of the top 4 and are going to struggle without Boyd and Miflord for the next 2 months.
The Eels are consistently average and we already spanked them.
The Raiders are going no where quickly, they barely beat us without our SOO players and;
The Rabbitohs haven't improved on anything in years.

And then you have the bottom 4 which I wont even get in to.

The only sides you can claim have improved over the past month or so would be the Panthers and Warriors. And you know what they share in common? They don't have any players in Origin.

I don't think anyone is in denial over the fact there's a lot of improvement in us and it was a really disappointing result yesterday.

But look at it objectively and provide some proportion to your arguments because claims we will struggle to win 2 of our next 8 games is just downright stupid.

[PeeGee]

R6 you may call my psychotic rants stupid. I'd go further an call me delusional and ignorant, no worries......BUT........I guess out of all this friendly constructive banter, I would sum it up like this;

1 We will NOT make the 4 and that's for sure. YES we will make the 8, but it's game over from there.
2. Yep Broncos are wounded so I should have added 'at full strength' like I normally do.
3. I would not be confident about us beating any team in the 'middle' of the ladder based on our form over the last two weeks (that's IMO guys, please disagree and give me facts to the contrary as it makes me feel better. ) Actually, make that teams ANY position on the ladder.
4. We have glaring obvious weaknesses that the better teams will exploit and carve us up. Also, we seem to have no fixes for these.
5. Most of us predicted that 2017 would be better than 2016, but we wouldn't be a true threat. Yep people, we actually did. What I didn't see was the real possibility that 2018 will be another 2017.

I look forward to your bagging of my seemingly negative rants, when they are just realistic and constructive. Please fire away.

Cheers People.

[crikey chris]

Compared to where we were last year, I am pleasantly surprised how we have gone this year. But we are a massive work in progress! Top four will be tough.

To me, we are doing what the Raiders did last year.
Even though they have gone backwards this year, they surprised all in 2016 of how high they finished on the table after having a crap 2015.

[Thirteen]

Was expecting a huge improvement after the pathetic performance last week.

[John Corey]

We got hammered and he was talking like it was nothing. It's great that he tries to come across like it was a normal acceptable loss, but it was a shellacking. They were toying with us mate, and still smashed us. Watch wayne bennetts presser and you'll see a coach with comments that reflect the nature of his loss to the Storm. We've been out played in our last 2 games comprehensively, (even though we ended up beating the weakened storm in the golden point lottery).

My point is, neither of us were in the shed after the game and heard what he said to the players. He might have ripped them a new a$$hole.
I admit that I often feel the same and want the coach to rip their heads off in the presser. Only because it will make me feel better. Get rid of the frustration. But Robbo is too professional for that. He does the right thing and keeps it in house.

[Arties Pie]

As dissapointed as I am by that second half I console myself with the fact we ran second last in 2016 and my only hope this year was that the team made the eight, It seems that we most likely will so it was an improvement. Our young guys need another offseason defensively and we need another prop, a good one.

[chopstiks]

Were they given most of last week off, did I hear that right??