Great White Shark
Hammerhead
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2007
- Messages
- 302
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- 4
Sharkies....what do you think about this, especially Ricky's comments about our lack of depth??
Daily Telegrapgh 05 March 2008
"SHARKS coach Ricky Stuart says Cronulla fans should not be alarmed about their inconsistent preseason form, but admits he is concerned with their lack of depth heading into the NRL season.
The Sharks surrendered a 20 point second-half lead to Newcastle in their 26-24 trial loss in Cessnock last night, the result following last week's 44-0 shut-out at the hands of South Sydney.
The Australian Test coach isn't concerned with the results, but rather the lack of depth the two games exposed for the Shire club.
Stuart played mostly a second-string outfit against the Rabbitohs, while his regular first graders had scored five tries to one in the first 45 minutes over the Knights before they were rested.
Skipper Paul Gallen made a successful return from injury, playing most of the first-half before he was replaced with the Sharks up 24-4 early in the second-half.
While the Sharks best 17 showed promising sides, Stuart can't overlook the fact his fringe first graders have conceded 66 points in one and a half games of football.
"Our depth is something we have to improve at this club, I don't make any excuses for that but it's certainly something at this club that we have to keep working at," he said.
"When we've got our healthiest, fresh team on there we're obviously confident and it's my job to keep working on the fringe players to get them up to first-grade."
Stuart said he was satisfied with the workout given to his top players against the Knights, resting them to avoid risking injury two weeks out from their round one clash with Manly at Brookvale Oval.
"(The trial) certainly served its purpose, we got our main squad some good footy for 50 minutes," said Stuart.
"It was five tries to one at half-time and I was very happy with that.
"It wasn't going to prove anything to me by having the nucleus of the team that is going to be playing game one for anymore (minutes) than what I had to.
"I achieved what I was after tonight in the first-half and basically got out of there."
Like Stuart, Knights coach Brian Smith was also left with some concerns from their final trial match.
While Newcastle are undefeated in the preseason - they came-from-behind to beat New Zealand Warriors two weeks ago - early defensive lapses have not been forgotten.
Newcastle were the worst defensive team in the NRL last season, conceding 708 points, and it's an area Smith knows needs immediate addressing.
"I'm not sure if we got questions or answers tonight," Smith said.
"(We) probably got a few answers but we've certainly still got some questions and some issues yet but I think every team has at this time of year and we'll try to get across them in two weeks time."
Daily Telegrapgh 05 March 2008
"SHARKS coach Ricky Stuart says Cronulla fans should not be alarmed about their inconsistent preseason form, but admits he is concerned with their lack of depth heading into the NRL season.
The Sharks surrendered a 20 point second-half lead to Newcastle in their 26-24 trial loss in Cessnock last night, the result following last week's 44-0 shut-out at the hands of South Sydney.
The Australian Test coach isn't concerned with the results, but rather the lack of depth the two games exposed for the Shire club.
Stuart played mostly a second-string outfit against the Rabbitohs, while his regular first graders had scored five tries to one in the first 45 minutes over the Knights before they were rested.
Skipper Paul Gallen made a successful return from injury, playing most of the first-half before he was replaced with the Sharks up 24-4 early in the second-half.
While the Sharks best 17 showed promising sides, Stuart can't overlook the fact his fringe first graders have conceded 66 points in one and a half games of football.
"Our depth is something we have to improve at this club, I don't make any excuses for that but it's certainly something at this club that we have to keep working at," he said.
"When we've got our healthiest, fresh team on there we're obviously confident and it's my job to keep working on the fringe players to get them up to first-grade."
Stuart said he was satisfied with the workout given to his top players against the Knights, resting them to avoid risking injury two weeks out from their round one clash with Manly at Brookvale Oval.
"(The trial) certainly served its purpose, we got our main squad some good footy for 50 minutes," said Stuart.
"It was five tries to one at half-time and I was very happy with that.
"It wasn't going to prove anything to me by having the nucleus of the team that is going to be playing game one for anymore (minutes) than what I had to.
"I achieved what I was after tonight in the first-half and basically got out of there."
Like Stuart, Knights coach Brian Smith was also left with some concerns from their final trial match.
While Newcastle are undefeated in the preseason - they came-from-behind to beat New Zealand Warriors two weeks ago - early defensive lapses have not been forgotten.
Newcastle were the worst defensive team in the NRL last season, conceding 708 points, and it's an area Smith knows needs immediate addressing.
"I'm not sure if we got questions or answers tonight," Smith said.
"(We) probably got a few answers but we've certainly still got some questions and some issues yet but I think every team has at this time of year and we'll try to get across them in two weeks time."
