Sir Chadley
Jaws
Not having an established number 9 this year means we are going to be dangerously close to missing the 8.
In fact, I'm no longer confident on this for 2017.
In fact, I'm no longer confident on this for 2017.
2017 World Club Challenge
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Mr Ryan
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BlackWhiteBlue
Jaws
Hahahaha
BlackWhiteBlue
Jaws
Brailey mortimer or brailey brown. Not sure where flanno is on the bench spot but its almost certain he'll use brailey as a starter.
CrankyShark
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We have the bulk of a premiership winning side. We'll make the eight.
CrazyMatt
Jaws
I think it'll be Brailey/Brown.
SharksMichael
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It was a really frustrating game, wasn't it? I thought we would monster them after the first set or two in defence. You just can't win games when you drop that much ball.
I hope the club didn't pre-order any world champions merch...
I hope the club didn't pre-order any world champions merch...
might be able to offload some of it to people who like to appear ironic
Capital_Shark
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I'd grab a cheap Word Champions polo for sure!
Sir Chadley
Jaws
No mate, I'm not conceding the season. I'm just saying that our top side is much weaker this year and I don't think we'll win as many games as last season.
No Ennis is the biggest one. He is irreplaceable. Brailey is impressive as a youngster but not anywhere near Ennis level.
Val slots in for Benny Barba but as impressive as Val is he doesn't have Barba's positional play and Val's nowhere near the talker Benny was in defence.
Gal, Lewy and Heigno are all a year older and are not as good as previous years.
There is little or no depth in the backline. Someone gets a long term injury and we are very light on.
I'm just saying our expectations for this year should not be high. If we make the 8 it will be a good effort with the roster we have.
BlackWhiteBlue
Jaws
Brailey....needs time. And he does have 1 M.Ennis behind the scenes
Val......will come too, all those things u mentioned barba did better are things to be learnt.
Gal for 60 minutes last year was still pumping out the same work he has for years
Lewis.....had his best season in a decade last year
Ennis is the biggest loss as its a mixture of skill class and experience that we've lost. But we've made the 8, and gone to week 2 with Degois and Morris in our side with robson, gordon and carney making up our spine. Its not over.
Not a premiership threat this year though
Sir Chadley
Jaws
Agree wholeheartedly mate. I don't mean to come across with doom and gloom, I'm just being realistic. We had a great year last year and we should still enjoy that.
Yes, we can still make the 8 for sure. There are a lot more weaker teams than us. But we'll have to work hard and have a bit of luck. If we do make it, I'd say it would be in the bottom half of the 8.
Mr Ryan
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There are couple of sayings that get thrown around in Rugby League a fair bit.
"The Finals are brand new completion" and "Peaking at the right time of the season."
I think we saw first hand last season how true those comments really are.
So for me all I wanna see is a decent start to the season. 3-3 Id be happy with. Way too early to be talking about premierships.
I also think that our lineup being up in the air is a bit of positive.
The Cowboys had the same 17 from the GF backin up.
Souths and the Cowboys both came out the blocks fast for their premiership defenses.
How'd that turn out?
"The Finals are brand new completion" and "Peaking at the right time of the season."
I think we saw first hand last season how true those comments really are.
So for me all I wanna see is a decent start to the season. 3-3 Id be happy with. Way too early to be talking about premierships.
I also think that our lineup being up in the air is a bit of positive.
The Cowboys had the same 17 from the GF backin up.
Souths and the Cowboys both came out the blocks fast for their premiership defenses.
How'd that turn out?
That may be true but unless you finish top 4 you're a long odds to make it.
Unless we sign Segyaro and a winger I cant see see us finishing top 4.
BlackWhiteBlue
Jaws
It turned out we knocked both of them out in fine fashion in the finals
Yep I agree with all of this. And while we've gone backwards, many of the opposition have improved on paper atleast. Warriors, Parra, Bunnies, Newy, Manly, Panthers will all be better, and the Chooks will not have a year like last year. On paper we're one of a few teams to go backwards. I know it's only "on paper", but it don't mean nothing.
How long did you get over there?
CrankyShark
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I want to see the first four rounds before I make up my about whether we can win the premiership.
The team has gone backwards no question, however that is bound to happen when you come first. In terms of being weakened, Val is unlikely to be as instantaneously brilliant as Barba and presumably the most damaging aspect of losing Ben will be in defence. However, I don't think it is far fetched that Val could have a Tedesco like effect in attack so it is not necessarily that fullback is going backwards in a big way The way I'm looking at it at this stage is that we are down a super star winger.
The hooker thing is a big problem, yet may yet be sorted if Segeyaro does turn up. This position is the biggest concern by far.
The old brigade, Gallen, Heino, Lewis, were outstanding last year. How far backwards can they go in a year? Time will tell, but if they stay injury free I don't think they will necessarily take us too far backwards.
Injuries/ lack of depth. Truth be told, it was the lack of injuries last year that went a long way towards delivering the premiership. It was an outstanding year injury wise last year and well may it continue.
I've still got enormous confidence in the team and expect them to make a very credible attempt at defending the premiership.
The team has gone backwards no question, however that is bound to happen when you come first. In terms of being weakened, Val is unlikely to be as instantaneously brilliant as Barba and presumably the most damaging aspect of losing Ben will be in defence. However, I don't think it is far fetched that Val could have a Tedesco like effect in attack so it is not necessarily that fullback is going backwards in a big way The way I'm looking at it at this stage is that we are down a super star winger.
The hooker thing is a big problem, yet may yet be sorted if Segeyaro does turn up. This position is the biggest concern by far.
The old brigade, Gallen, Heino, Lewis, were outstanding last year. How far backwards can they go in a year? Time will tell, but if they stay injury free I don't think they will necessarily take us too far backwards.
Injuries/ lack of depth. Truth be told, it was the lack of injuries last year that went a long way towards delivering the premiership. It was an outstanding year injury wise last year and well may it continue.
I've still got enormous confidence in the team and expect them to make a very credible attempt at defending the premiership.