how do you think we will go in 2013

[Hughesy215]

better than this year or fail

 

[JimBob]

I reckon it'll start the same as this year.

We'll lose our first 2-3 games whilst we work out our combinations and then hit some form. However instead of falling off after Origin we continue to play good footy.

It was my prediction for this year and I'll say the same for next. I reckon we'll finish 3rd.

 

[Mr Wright]

Didn't realise Elkin had gone.

I know some people have made remarks about him, but I've liked our teams strength and conditioning. I hope whoever replaces him can turn soft players into harder players.

I want us to sign whoever is in charge of fitness at Manly, Melbourne or Brisbane. They churn out the fittest and strongest teams year in year out.

 

[A.Snowden]

We will go alright.

 

[Mr Wright]

Won't win the comp, but I'll take a trip to the prelim final.

 

[Tank]

Can't possibly seeing us lose a game. No team will come within 20 points of us! We win in 2013 claim the world club challenge, FA Cup, European Cup, Bledisloe Cup,Davis Cup, Melbourne Cup and any other competition we desire!

 

[hitman124]

To be honest I'm on the fence. A couple of months ago I would be the first person saying we can win it, but look at the other teams, Raiders are only going to get better, Broncos are always good, Manly could win it next 3 years, Storm aswell. Cowboys have a strong squad, who knows about the Titans? And Wests who were supposed to win it this year still have huge talent. And I forgot about Newcastle, money can buy you anything these days.

Our backline is rubbish, our 6 is going to have a majorly disrupted pre season and we have some players getting older, I don't know anymore.

 

[Opeth]

Smith will be an enormous loss. Teams he plays in win. Luke Lewis? Chris Heighnington? Michael Gordon? They're clubs are barely any more successful than us.

Obviously we're bringing in more talent than we're losing, but don't underestimate the value of Smith. Why else would Bennett be giving him a 3 year deal at his age? And the Sharks wanting to extend him a few months ago?

lol Yes Smith will be a huge loss but it's absurd to say teams he plays in win.We had him in 2011 and we still lost. He has previously played under 2 of the best coaches in history followed with great squads , it takes a lot more then Jeremy Smith to win games. There are reasons why tigers and Panthers haven't been successful in recent seasons like ****ty coaches and terrible squads put Jez in either one of those teams this season and they still would have lost.

 

[ABshark]

lol Yes Smith will be a huge loss but it's absurd to say teams he plays in win.We had him in 2011 and we still lost. He has previously played under 2 of the best coaches in history followed with great squads , it takes a lot more then Jeremy Smith to win games. There are reasons why tigers and Panthers haven't been successful in recent seasons like ****ty coaches and terrible squads put Jez in either one of those teams this season and they still would have lost.

Its not causation of course. But its a lot more than a coincidence.

I'd add the World Cup to that too.

I don't know why it is exactly but I could hazard a guess:
(1) His ruck defence is the best in the game, and because play the ball speed is so important in the modern game, he's been crucial to his teams' successes.
(2) His attitude, his leadership, whatever- seems to rub off on those around him. He plays tuff and does whatever it take to win... and he demands that his teammates do the same.

I actually think that if the Tigers or the Warriors in particular had had Smith- probably the Raiders too actually- they would have gone a lot deeper than they did. He's a difference maker, same as Smith, Lockyer, Thurston, Slater, Hayne, Carney. He makes those around him better. He's just not as glamourous as the others.

When all the things that don't come up on the stats sheet are taken in to account, you realise that he's close to the best forward in the game. That's what we're losing. The only bona fide "winner" we've had in memory (mine anyway).

 

[sharks2010]

Nothing short of top 4 for me

 

[JimBob]

To be honest I'm on the fence. A couple of months ago I would be the first person saying we can win it, but look at the other teams, Raiders are only going to get better, Broncos are always good, Manly could win it next 3 years, Storm aswell. Cowboys have a strong squad, who knows about the Titans? And Wests who were supposed to win it this year still have huge talent. And I forgot about Newcastle, money can buy you anything these days.

Our backline is rubbish, our 6 is going to have a majorly disrupted pre season and we have some players getting older, I don't know anymore.

Our backline is a lot better than what it was this year.

Think of it this way if it helps reignite your faith:

If we can make it to seventh place with a horrid backline by mainly replying on our forwards/backrowers throughout the year, think of what we can do with quality first grade backs and an improved backline next year.


------------------------------------


I'll give you my prediction, we will finish 3rd. YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!

 

[evertonshark]

Can't possibly seeing us lose a game. No team will come within 20 points of us! We win in 2013 claim the world club challenge, FA Cup, European Cup, Bledisloe Cup,Davis Cup, Melbourne Cup and any other competition we desire!

Unless we can add a wimbledon title to this it's probably still a failure...

 

[Bundy Shark]

Unless we can add a wimbledon title to this it's probably still a failure...

Hey ES, off topic but are you spewing about the EPL game this morning?

 

[Thresher]

I reckon it'll start the same as this year.

We'll lose our first 2-3 games whilst we work out our combinations and then hit some form. However instead of falling off after Origin we continue to play good footy.

It was my prediction for this year and I'll say the same for next. I reckon we'll finish 3rd.

and that's the best time to get a few sneaky $$ on sharks for top 4, odds will then have gone up

 

[since1967]

Looks like some people are setting themselves up for disappointment.

Its one thing being optimistic- confident even- its another thing to throw out a lifetime's experience following the Sharks. Just when things seem to be going to plan... that's when they get ya.

The last few years have seen, without fail, one of the contenders drop out of the 8 altogether the following year. And its not always the team you think... Parra n(and the Dogs) in '10. GC (and Panthers and Raiders) in '11. Warriors (and Dragons) in '12. And they often aren't the ones you'd expect- they're often ones that significantly "improve" their rosters.

Smith will be an enormous loss. Teams he plays in win. Luke Lewis? Chris Heighnington? Michael Gordon? They're clubs are barely any more successful than us.

Obviously we're bringing in more talent than we're losing, but don't underestimate the value of Smith. Why else would Bennett be giving him a 3 year deal at his age? And the Sharks wanting to extend him a few months ago?

What's more... this club doesn't deal well with expectation. At all.

That said, any talk of moving Flanagan on is ludicrous- whether we come last or first. He sees out his deal. We overacheived this year and most of the on field improvement can be attributed to his coaching and recruitment decisions. Sacking him would be suicidal.

I rate Smith as highly as most people on here but i don't think anyone rates him higher than you AB. I agree there are massive shoes to fill with him leaving, but man i don't think we are going backwards in what we have bought in compared to what we are losing. Smith better then Heighno probably, but the other 4 recruits are massive upgrades on what we are losing.

I agree though, 2013 seems like 2009, roster looks great then bang we are sacking players, players getting boozy etc etc. I'll keep a lid on it and be quitely confident heading into 2013. As for Flanno, Tagatese is the only player i think he has made an error in signing. Every other player up until now have improved our squad. He definetly sees out his deal with us.

 

[since1967]

To be honest I'm on the fence. A couple of months ago I would be the first person saying we can win it, but look at the other teams, Raiders are only going to get better, Broncos are always good, Manly could win it next 3 years, Storm aswell. Cowboys have a strong squad, who knows about the Titans? And Wests who were supposed to win it this year still have huge talent. And I forgot about Newcastle, money can buy you anything these days.

Our backline is rubbish, our 6 is going to have a majorly disrupted pre season and we have some players getting older, I don't know anymore.

Raiders have done what they did this year at least 3 years in recent memory and the following year were nothing short of crap. I don't know if you noticed but broncos scored over 20pts in 1 of their last 11 games, and they have not recruited anyone. Halves are ordinary and fullback has gone backwards. they won't make the 8. Wests are in all sorts off the field, and i know for a fact 2 players in the current first grade side do not like Sheen at all. Knights and Roosters will improve and both make the 8.

Our backline is miles better for 2013 than 2012, and all the players we have recruited in the backs (coincidentally or not) are a rung under origin meaning they are very good first graders who will get overlooked and be playing when we need them most.

 

[josh11223344]

Broncos still have such a young backline. They'll go well.

 

[Opeth]

Its not causation of course. But its a lot more than a coincidence.

I'd add the World Cup to that too.

I don't know why it is exactly but I could hazard a guess:
(1) His ruck defence is the best in the game, and because play the ball speed is so important in the modern game, he's been crucial to his teams' successes.
(2) His attitude, his leadership, whatever- seems to rub off on those around him. He plays tuff and does whatever it take to win... and he demands that his teammates do the same.

I actually think that if the Tigers or the Warriors in particular had had Smith- probably the Raiders too actually- they would have gone a lot deeper than they did. He's a difference maker, same as Smith, Lockyer, Thurston, Slater, Hayne, Carney. He makes those around him better. He's just not as glamourous as the others.

When all the things that don't come up on the stats sheet are taken in to account, you realise that he's close to the best forward in the game. That's what we're losing. The only bona fide "winner" we've had in memory (mine anyway).

look at his past clubs melbourne and st george both of these clubs had great squads and epic coaches maybe that's the reason why he is in winning teams?...

Explain 2011 , we had him in the team we had a **** squad and we lost it's just how it works. It's like Carney this year we had **** backs and now everyone is saying he is underwhelming. He is a great forward and his presence makes the forwards play a lot better when he is on , but to say he is a difference maker like thurston , lockyer , and Smith is absurd these players can control and lead whole teams around to victory.

 

[egg]

NRL Official Site : reckon Gibbs and Joel Caine gettin a bit carried away,,, "" Sharks Favourites for 2013""

 

[ben]

top 2. sell out crowds week in week out. undefeated at home all year. i hook up with a mermaid. anything less will be viewed as dissapointing.