Official Craig Fitzgibbon

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We all are pretty sure that Fitz will shore up our defence as that's what he did at the Roosters.

But will he be able to take our attack to a new level as well?

What do you all think?
 

Jaz

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We all are pretty sure that Fitz will shore up our defence as that's what he did at the Roosters.

But will he be able to take our attack to a new level as well?

What do you all think?
We'll have to adapt a little without SJ's pinpoint passing and kicking game.

I'm hoping a slight change in tact and the addition of McInnes and Finucane will help us generate more quick play the balls, with Hynes and Kennedy to capitalise on retreating defences.
 
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HaroldBishop

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We all are pretty sure that Fitz will shore up our defence as that's what he did at the Roosters.

But will he be able to take our attack to a new level as well?

What do you all think?
Are you doubting the Great One? How dare you!
 
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I actually don't think our attack is that bad when you consider how many halves we chopped and changed. Sounds like he doesn't want to tinker with the attack too much anyway, atleast for the first year. Only so much you can change in one off season.

Focus on the defence and minor tweaks to the attack. Then for the 2023 off season the defensive systems will be in place and go spend more time on attack.
 

bort

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I actually don't think our attack is that bad when you consider how many halves we chopped and changed. Sounds like he doesn't want to tinker with the attack too much anyway, atleast for the first year. Only so much you can change in one off season.

Focus on the defence and minor tweaks to the attack. Then for the 2023 off season the defensive systems will be in place and go spend more time on attack.
Better defence should naturally help our attack a little anyway as our attack itself was reasonable and defence will improve ball in hand time (and subsequent less fatigue) and field position.
 

apezza

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Yep defence and fitness should be main priority to start with.
 

Capital_Shark

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We averaged 21.6pts a game with 23.1 against. Missed the finals (low bare this yr) by pts diff of 39 (1.6 per game). Our D was horrid & usually let one in at specific & key moments like right on half time. We're not a hopeless, heartless bunch. We got some good blokes willing to put in, I really feel our D can improve to where our offense isn't an issue.
 
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If McInnes can provide a Radley like roll in he 13 and allow us to spread the ball quick and crisp our attack will have more time to play off the front foot and ice chances.

The defence is a much bigger priority though.
 
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We all are pretty sure that Fitz will shore up our defence as that's what he did at the Roosters.

But will he be able to take our attack to a new level as well?

What do you all think?
Didn’t realise that Fitz accepted a captain coach role!
 

BurgoShark

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If McInnes can provide a Radley like roll in he 13 and allow us to spread the ball quick and crisp our attack will have more time to play off the front foot and ice chances.

The defence is a much bigger priority though.
I’m not sure he is going to play a Radley role tbh. He is effectively playing halfback. I think we should (hopefully) see a lot more ball movement between forwards and some more offloads though with the two new guns in there.

It seems like the last 3 years have been a real movement away from having forwards who can use the ball. Graham injuries, Lewis retirement haven’t helped - but guys who have a capable passing game (e.g. Woods, Prior, Paulo, Soro, Magoulias) have all been moved on in favour of guys who just provide simple go-forward.

In some cases these ball-playing guys just weren’t up to the defensive side of the game (Billy) but some of those go-forward guys have been given a long leash with their defensive issues.

Imo the 2019-2021 Sharks have been sorely lacking in having players in the middle who can hold defenders and then start that shift. Having two who can potentially do it - plus a healthy Graham and a well-coached Brailey - is exciting.

Getting the ball back from the left touch line to the middle of the field was also an issue this season. Once Townsend and Graham were both out of the lineup there was nobody on the left side of the field with a decent long left-to-right pass. Every time they ran that play after about round 12 it was slow and clunky.
 

Sparkles

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I’m not sure he is going to play a Radley role tbh. He is effectively playing halfback. I think we should (hopefully) see a lot more ball movement between forwards and some more offloads though with the two new guns in there.

It seems like the last 3 years have been a real movement away from having forwards who can use the ball. Graham injuries, Lewis retirement haven’t helped - but guys who have a capable passing game (e.g. Woods, Prior, Paulo, Soro, Magoulias) have all been moved on in favour of guys who just provide simple go-forward.

In some cases these ball-playing guys just weren’t up to the defensive side of the game (Billy) but some of those go-forward guys have been given a long leash with their defensive issues.

Imo the 2019-2021 Sharks have been sorely lacking in having players in the middle who can hold defenders and then start that shift. Having two who can potentially do it - plus a healthy Graham and a well-coached Brailey - is exciting.

Getting the ball back from the left touch line to the middle of the field was also an issue this season. Once Townsend and Graham were both out of the lineup there was nobody on the left side of the field with a decent long left-to-right pass. Every time they ran that play after about round 12 it was slow and clunky.
That's interesting to think about our attack in that way. When we were looking slick I can remember seeing Brailey do a good job of taking a few steps before passing, then we sometimes had Woods in that distributing forward role going to Chad/SJ, who were good at straightening up the attack and stalling the defensive line. Then quick hands through someone like Moylan/Kennedy for the outside backs to take advantage.
 
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I’m not sure he is going to play a Radley role tbh. He is effectively playing halfback. I think we should (hopefully) see a lot more ball movement between forwards and some more offloads though with the two new guns in there.

It seems like the last 3 years have been a real movement away from having forwards who can use the ball. Graham injuries, Lewis retirement haven’t helped - but guys who have a capable passing game (e.g. Woods, Prior, Paulo, Soro, Magoulias) have all been moved on in favour of guys who just provide simple go-forward.

In some cases these ball-playing guys just weren’t up to the defensive side of the game (Billy) but some of those go-forward guys have been given a long leash with their defensive issues.

Imo the 2019-2021 Sharks have been sorely lacking in having players in the middle who can hold defenders and then start that shift. Having two who can potentially do it - plus a healthy Graham and a well-coached Brailey - is exciting.

Getting the ball back from the left touch line to the middle of the field was also an issue this season. Once Townsend and Graham were both out of the lineup there was nobody on the left side of the field with a decent long left-to-right pass. Every time they ran that play after about round 12 it was slow and clunky.
I'm not as up on the intricacies of each role as you, but I guess I just mean to say that first reciever 13 providing quicker shifts to the backline whist going to the line a bit. Freeing up the spine for more creative play/options.
 
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