2022 NRL Round 15 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs. Gold Coast Titans @ C.ex Coffs International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Saturday 18th June 3:00pm

snowman

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No probably not but we have a way better roster a more heralded coach and we still produce **** , we have had a ridiculous easy draw so far this season , we are pretenders at present

The players need to improve but coach Fitzgibbon needs to improve moreso
being pretenders is what we were picked pre-season.

our betting odds were 8th best, 50% of experts in league circles had us out of the 8

we are 4th with a favourable draw, but you can only beat what is in front of you

this game is better for us than a 40 point win

the only thing a 40 point win does is shadow over the cracks, there were no excuses in this game for poor erros ect, but we still did it

so now instead of fishing and laughing for 2 weeks, we have something to work on

if we come out against the dogs with the same level of performance, then yes, i will start sharpening the knives on fitz, however, this is the majority of the same squad for the last 3 seasons that have been ill disciplined and poor with the ball, so we are getting exactly the same and climbing the ladder
 

snowman

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The one with 4 mins to go is what I was talking about mate, was in my post.
i'd take a guess that the titans knew our ball control was **** and were hoping we would make an error on the 1st or second tackle, further upfield. a short drop out they have to go 90m on 4 tackles, an error and they have to go 60m in 5
 

Sparkles

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being pretenders is what we were picked pre-season.

our betting odds were 8th best, 50% of experts in league circles had us out of the 8

we are 4th with a favourable draw, but you can only beat what is in front of you

this game is better for us than a 40 point win

the only thing a 40 point win does is shadow over the cracks, there were no excuses in this game for poor erros ect, but we still did it

so now instead of fishing and laughing for 2 weeks, we have something to work on

if we come out against the dogs with the same level of performance, then yes, i will start sharpening the knives on fitz, however, this is the majority of the same squad for the last 3 seasons that have been ill disciplined and poor with the ball, so we are getting exactly the same and climbing the ladder
So the carry over players haven't improved after a full (and longer than usual) pre-season and 4 months of footy.
We're climbing the ladder because of the new blood, and when they're out we're the same team we used to be? You'd think that's a massive concern. How long does Fitz paper over that issues?

We'll have to recruit our way out of this by that reckoning, and a lot of blokes will need to have some serious chats with their managers very soon...
 

snowman

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we have 3 new players in the squad, so 14/17 on game day that were in the squad last year

we made 16 errors as a team, nicho 1, finucane 0, mcinnes 0 - 15 errors amongst the 14 remaining players

so yeh, we are basically getting the same results as last year from the same players, and people are expecting different

the difference is, we have better defensive structures and a better attacking structure, allowing us to win games we wouldnt have last year

i agree, we need to recruit, and recruit well

how long does fitz have? i'd say more than likely next season

once he stamps himself with more players from his mould and selects the ones he wants to persevere with, then it becomes his responsibility to make them better
 

bort

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we have 3 new players in the squad, so 14/17 on game day that were in the squad last year

we made 16 errors as a team, nicho 1, finucane 0, mcinnes 0 - 15 errors amongst the 14 remaining players

so yeh, we are basically getting the same results as last year from the same players, and people are expecting different

the difference is, we have better defensive structures and a better attacking structure, allowing us to win games we wouldnt have last year

i agree, we need to recruit, and recruit well

how long does fitz have? i'd say more than likely next season

once he stamps himself with more players from his mould and selects the ones he wants to persevere with, then it becomes his responsibility to make them better
We also have better players on the park, which is partially due to having full cap back but also some older contracts, which for the most part you'd say didn't really work out, off the books.
 

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Saying we haven’t improved is a stretch.

Moylan, Sifa, Noodles, Ronaldo, Katoa, Wilton, Braily have improved on last year, our half back is better than last year.
We can’t change everything in 1 season
 

snowman

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Saying we haven’t improved is a stretch.

Moylan, Sifa, Noodles, Ronaldo, Katoa, Wilton, Braily have improved on last year, our half back is better than last year.
We can’t change everything in 1 season
we have improved in a lot of areas, which was my point, but handling is one area we havent so it shouldnt come as a shock, despite everyone being shocked
 

apezza

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we have improved in a lot of areas, which was my point, but handling is one area we havent so it shouldnt come as a shock, despite everyone being shocked
I think overall we have improved except for handling errors and dumb penalties (could also argue goal kicking).

Unfortunately these two (or three if you include goal kicking) are crucial to whether we win or lose. Luckily, our improved attack has helped us win some games we would have lost last year.
 

Wiz

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Saying we haven’t improved is a stretch.

Moylan, Sifa, Noodles, Ronaldo, Katoa, Wilton, Braily have improved on last year, our half back is better than last year.
We can’t change everything in 1 season
Players have improved sure but the team performances haven’t which is the point there is no point in players improving if the team doesn’t... that’s actually a worse look for the coach.

Our defence lately has been woeful and our attack has been clunky despite the better players we have - we are just lucky we have faced the warriors and titans twice already too, let’s just hope it’ll get better in time
 

HaroldBishop

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Players have improved sure but the team performances haven’t which is the point there is no point in players improving if the team doesn’t... that’s actually a worse look for the coach.

Our defence lately has been woeful and our attack has been clunky despite the better players we have - we are just lucky we have faced the warriors and titans twice already too
We've won 9 games vs. 6 last year at the same point in the season.

Look, I'm as frustrated as you but we're all expecting too much, too early.

We're top 4, I reckon we all take that at the start of the year.
 

Wiz

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We've won 9 games vs. 6 last year at the same point in the season.

Look, I'm as frustrated as you but we're all expecting too much, too early.

We're top 4, I reckon we all take that at the start of the year.
True
 

HaroldBishop

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Like I said, I agree we're bloody frustrating to watch atm but we're on the right track imo.

The big one for me is do we have the guts to let Wade go or keep him on something like $300k max.
It's the fact that we started hot and then faded that is frustrating.

If we had lost our first 3/4 and then gotten to where we are now it would feel very different.
Yeah agree 100% with that. That good streak got our hopes up.
 

Sparkles

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we have 3 new players in the squad, so 14/17 on game day that were in the squad last year

we made 16 errors as a team, nicho 1, finucane 0, mcinnes 0 - 15 errors amongst the 14 remaining players

so yeh, we are basically getting the same results as last year from the same players, and people are expecting different

the difference is, we have better defensive structures and a better attacking structure, allowing us to win games we wouldnt have last year

i agree, we need to recruit, and recruit well

how long does fitz have? i'd say more than likely next season

once he stamps himself with more players from his mould and selects the ones he wants to persevere with, then it becomes his responsibility to make them better
We've (Morris/Fitz/Mooney) recruited well in respect to the squad we had, that's for sure.
But if we can't see improvement in the current crop, that's a lot of recruitment for next year... based on fundamentals improving, there's not a lot of issues in the current crop off contract (Thanks for the lists @burgess1978) but a few we're sticking with for a while:

This lot has a few glaring issues in their games they haven't improved (you could accept some areas have, just not around the above) and we have them for a while. It's these guys you feel Fitz needs to get the most out of.
6. Jack WIlliams (2024)
7. Toby Rudolf (2024)
11. Braydon Trindall (2023)
12. Jesse Ramien (2023)

Then there's these guys in the wings (I've no idea how ready they are) to offset recruitment needs.

- Ryan Rivett (2023) (u21) (NRL.com says 2022. Ryan said in an interview that he is signed for 2023)
- Jack Martin (2022) (u21)
- Kade Dykes (2022) (u21)
- Jonaiah Lualua (2022)
- Tom Hazelton (2022)
20. Franklin Pele (2022)
23. Jensen Taumoepeau (2022) (Club Option 2023)
25. Mawene Hiroti (2022)
27. Jayden Berrell (2022)

I'd be interested in hearing how people see those emerging players plugging holes and what's left to recruit. You'd assume we'll recruit from within where possible. Those decisions will go a long way towards how we look at our 10 year coach.
 

bort

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We've (Morris/Fitz/Mooney) recruited well in respect to the squad we had, that's for sure.
But if we can't see improvement in the current crop, that's a lot of recruitment for next year... based on fundamentals improving, there's not a lot of issues in the current crop off contract (Thanks for the lists @burgess1978) but a few we're sticking with for a while:

This lot has a few glaring issues in their games they haven't improved (you could accept some areas have, just not around the above) and we have them for a while. It's these guys you feel Fitz needs to get the most out of.
6. Jack WIlliams (2024)
7. Toby Rudolf (2024)
11. Braydon Trindall (2023)
12. Jesse Ramien (2023)

Jack was one of our most well rounded forwards last season but has had a very inconsistent start to 2022. Played rounds 5-10. We lost to Storm (Dale injured early), Brisbane & Canberra (Jack injured after 6 mins, Dale after 32) during that time. You'd hope with better injury luck we at least win the Canberra one (also had 11/12 man game against Warriors week before).

Rudolf ideally wouldn't be starting every week but basically has been. With 58 NRL games to his name I'd love to see him start to clean a few things up but always brings energy. Would be great to see him kick on to another level.

Trindall is a tricky one - not like we are really using him right. Seems to have settled into the role in recent weeks rather than thinking he has to be an X factor. Sometimes he looks like he has potential to kick on as an NRL half, other times he runs himself at the line or kicks into legs every chance and shows he's not ready.

Ramien, take a couple brain fades / bad contacts off him and improve his passing 5% last weekend and he has been one of our best players.
He's close to bringing it all together, but can he? Time will tell.

Then there's these guys in the wings (I've no idea how ready they are) to offset recruitment needs.

- Ryan Rivett (2023) (u21) (NRL.com says 2022. Ryan said in an interview that he is signed for 2023)
- Jack Martin (2022) (u21)
- Kade Dykes (2022) (u21)
- Jonaiah Lualua (2022)
- Tom Hazelton (2022)
20. Franklin Pele (2022)
23. Jensen Taumoepeau (2022) (Club Option 2023)
25. Mawene Hiroti (2022)
27. Jayden Berrell (2022)

I'd be interested in hearing how people see those emerging players plugging holes and what's left to recruit. You'd assume we'll recruit from within where possible. Those decisions will go a long way towards how we look at our 10 year coach.

Rivett has shown some good signs in highlights and seems well rounded. At least a couple years off but an interesting prospect. Dev deal
Jack Martin as I noted previously I don't really know how he's going. Maybe keeps a dev deal, maybe doesn't.
Kade is killing it and will need a top 30 contract for next year if we want to keep him. A potential half 3 or 4 and successor to Moylan.
Lualua has looked decent in some glimpses, probably stays on dev deal
Hazelton we probably need to upgrade to top 30 if we want to keep. Is the bargain priced squad replacement for a Fifita, Tolman or Pele
Pele seems to have not grabbed NSW Cup by the scruff of the neck. Might hold a top 30 spot with us but doesn't seem worth fighting for at this stage. Seems to have been jumped by Hazleton and Colquhoun in pecking order.
Never seen Jensen do anything.
Hiroti was bumped down a spot by Ikuvalu in the pecking order (centre/wing #7) and I think he is a decent player for that role... but there are some youngsters coming through which could challenge for spot 7 at likely cheaper price.
Berrell always looks good in Jets highlights. Think he is a keep if he can't get a better offer elsewhere. McInnes can cover 9 but I'd rather not start him there and not for multiple weeks. Berrell's backup Woolford now starting for Raiders and going decent.
 

Gards

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We have shown the massive potential in this team from those opening rounds - we didn't show that level of potential in previous seasons, not for a sustained period of weeks and not to the same extent. The fact we won those opening games is why we are 4th and not battling for 8th spot. We hadn't look that good in 5 years.

We are a more balanced team and have good performers across the park. In previous seasons alot hinged on SJ and if he would turn up a mong or a decent player that game. We have better depth too.

Beating up on pleb teams and putting on 40-0 scorelines is not a given unless perhaps you are the Panthers.

If anything the last month or so has shown that the teams in the bottom 8 sometimes turn up and put on a good performance (Dragons, Dogs, Tigers ect.)

Not saying Titans were good (they weren't) but end of the day we got the job done with a win, it doesn't mean improvement is no longer coming or that we are happy with that performance.

Fitz seems stubborn but most coaches are, you can't throw away a whole off season of planning and structures on a whim. He is backing it to come good again and sticking by his team selections - if it doesn't work out by the time September comes around then he will need to cop some criticism for that.

He will take alot out of season 2022 regardless of where we end up and with those learning's hopefully brings us back even stronger in 2023 and with a better understanding of where he needs to make changes (and when) and when to stick to his guns and when he needs to ask for help!

It's not beyond the realms of possibility we get back to playing some really good footy with and without the ball - just gotta ride the wave in the meantime
 
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