What Are We Expecting In 2016? What Do We Need?

[HaroldBishop]

All-in-all we comfortably over-achieved in 2015 based on my expectations, but where to next year? Before our semi-final loss I was a bit guilty of thinking the inclusion of Maloney and Chad will automatically make us a real contender, but I'm not so sure now.

I can’t see too many weaknesses with our 1-5 assuming Bird starts at centre and Ricky is depth. They should get more quality ball next year with the inclusion of two real halves.

The halves speak for themselves, obviously a huge upgrade on what we’ve had this year. It will feel like a luxury having a good kicking game next year.

The forwards worry me a bit. We’re obviously ageing so it’s realistic to think guys like Gal, Toops, Heighno and Lewy will regress next year. We will be relying massively on Fifita which given his record of injury/suspension may not be ideal. I really believe we need to throw some coin at Marty Tapau who has apparently asked for a release from Wests. We will have a heap of forwards leaving after 2016 so we should be able come up with a decent offer.

Failing that, who else can we target in the forwards?

One last thing, if we sign Robson to another year I will lose a bit of faith in our football department. Even as depth it is a crazy decision. Maloney and Chad starting. Bird, Barba and Nu could all do a better job of filling in if required. **** me, even Wade, Lewy or Ennis woiuld do a better job.

Who signs off on contracts? Is it Lyall? The Board?

 

[snowman]

we need a decent prop and a bit of prop depth, id be hitting the rabbits up for tim grant

also think we need a bit of wing depth, thats about it

robson cant re-sign either or the season is ****ed

 

[HaroldBishop]

we need a decent prop and a bit of prop depth, id be hitting the rabbits up for tim grant

also think we need a bit of wing depth, thats about it

robson cant re-sign either or the season is ****ed

Grant has been given permission to leave Souths so agree, we should be into him. Would be cheap.

 

[Great_White_Shark]

Go after Tapau and Grant and I'll be happy

 

[Tiger Shark]

We need to start planning for the future in regards to the forwards. it's as you said ageing and only going to get worse. We could be without Gallen, Lewis and Heino in 2017 so some foresight is needed. Who there is I don't know.

We do need more prop depth though, that's a given.

And we need some more outside back depth, I think we've picked up one of the Robinson twins haven't we, not the Eels one. He'll be handy. Hopefully a fit Gagan can push but we need more options still.

I really wouldn't mind us getting Toovey in some capacity to instill some hard edged resolve. We can't keep losing the big games and choking like we did. Manly and the Cowboys game come straight to mind. We need to win the must win games. Hopefully Lyall is on top of that.

 

[ABshark]

I know the size of our forwards thing was a bit of a running gag Harold but Saturday night was a good example of why I bring it up. Good big guys beat good little guys. Also why I wanted Dave F in the team.

With that in mind we're still a starting prop short. I like Grant and would back the forward whisperers to get the best out of him. Mates with our Penrith imports too. Other options on the radar must be Seumanufagai who is solid and has his best footy ahead of him but may never be a particularly dominant NRL prop. I don't see Ikahahifo as a starter yet.

It will be interesting to see whether any hard calls get made on the oldies. If Tupou stays we're looking at having 6 of our 8 forwards from Saturday night off contract at the end of next season. Dubious roster management IMO but an opportunity for renewal if they're proactive about it.

There'll be talk about the interchange pushing big props out of the game (and it may in time) but the first guys to get less rest will be the edge backrowers. We're lucky with Wade but replacing Lewis with someone of quality - and who can contribute both strong lines and ball play - will be hard. No juniors look ready to me.

Aside from the roster they still need to bring in an attack/skills coach. Johns is on the outer at Manly after developing the best attack in the comp. Get him here. Has experience developing junior halves too and could be invaluable to Tracey, Brown and the Ball kids.

Other names I would be interested in bringing in would be Jason Demetriou and Brett Hodgson.

On that note, I'd like to see some evidence of the coaching group being better resourced and taking a more proactive approach to development. The AFL clubs are so far ahead in how they develop talent and use their senior players and past players in welfare and teaching/mentoring roles. There's no reason for NRL clubs to not do the same.

Beyond that I think this good season needs to be converted into another jump in membership and an effort to really lock ourselves in as a non-inconsequential Sydney Club. Others have disagreed with me but a medium run focus has to be the 'stadium' and working towards upgrades to compete with other sides who will be playing out of State Gov funded returns. Big challenge for Lyall. Similalry, dealing with likely A-League expansion is a big opportunity that can't be missed.

 

[ABshark]

Other areas to look at: using the NSW Cup and Newtown better, developing a new generation of leaders to replace Gal/Lewy/Ennis and support Wade, finding a permanent spot for Bird and developing some cohesion between Barba and Maloney.

 

[Tiger Shark]

Some nice points there AB.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Yes good points as always, AB. I'm only teasing when I have a gentle dig at you re Pauli Pauli and the like.

Next year will certainly be interesting.

 

[evertonshark]

Would like to see us buy an explosive impact forward to come off the bench. We've got plenty of steady forwards like hino prior and boogs where you know you'll get a 7/10 performance every week, toops has done a good job of providing spark off the bench but we need to be looking beyond next season as well with the likely retirement of gal lewis and hino.

But toops has done more than enough to earn a new contract so it's a tough one.

 

[Loyal Shark]

Should chase Sam hoares at the Cowboys , wont get a statr as long as tamou and scott are there , great prop , can play 60 minutes

 

[Sutty]

I think we're really well set. Our forwards recruitment has been very good in recent years, things will fall into place for 2017. We just need good value first grade and depth players that are coming to their prime, Seumanufagai and Ikahihifo are the obvious ones to target. People will say we need more size and stuff, I really think it's a load of garbage, if we're going to target a decently waged forward I reckon we need a workhorse that is willing to put the hard yards in defense. Like Tolman. But that's a 2017 goal.

So yeah look around for cheap second rowers (because the quality around NSW Cup is really good in that role), a little more prop depth to cover our ageing pack. Also make sure we have outside back coverage. Ennis is getting older as well, he's never really been injured in recent years, but with age it might start. Might need to make sure we have coverage if we are worried that Brailey and Nu Brown are not ready yet.

 

[Paul C]

I think we need more real depth In many positions AND more Importantly, a coach who understands that players need to fear being dropped to keep them on their toes an

performing at their best every week. Did anyone get dropped this year? There sure were some games where players deserved to get dropped but Supercoach kept faith with the out of form player.

It wouldn't hurt to drop a few occasionally just to fire them up and give a youngster or NSW Cup player a go.

Man management has never been a Supercoach strength. He is too close to the players. What would Bennett do?

 

[sharkyboy]

I think we need more real depth In many positions AND more Importantly, a coach who understands that players need to fear being dropped to keep them on their toes an

performing at their best every week. Did anyone get dropped this year? There sure were some games where players deserved to get dropped but Supercoach kept faith with the out of form player.

It wouldn't hurt to drop a few occasionally just to fire them up and give a youngster or NSW Cup player a go.

Man management has never been a Supercoach strength. He is too close to the players. What would Bennett do?

Super post

 

[sharks2010]

He dropped brown and also taga and look what happened there, he came back with a better attitude. To be fair on flanno we don't exactly have players in reserve grade screaming 'pick me'

 

[vicsharkfan]

Agree would have been interesting if gagan was fit, but really Mitch brown was the only other possibly Samula (?), we could argue bird n Holmes were nearly forced on flanno, but at least it happened and it got us back on track.
More than anything just want the young guys to keep as good if not better than they are now no 2nd year blues, and hope like hell barba finds his mojo again, not expecting the giddy heights of his dally m year, but just super solid with a chunk of X factor. No injuries or illness to them or us, and 2016 can't get here qik enough.

 

[Fozzym]

I think we need more real depth In many positions AND more Importantly, a coach who understands that players need to fear being dropped to keep them on their toes an

performing at their best every week. Did anyone get dropped this year? There sure were some games where players deserved to get dropped but Supercoach kept faith with the out of form player.

It wouldn't hurt to drop a few occasionally just to fire them up and give a youngster or NSW Cup player a go.

Man management has never been a Supercoach strength. He is too close to the players. What would Bennett do?

Uhh, the exact same? Boyd played terribly for a year or more and Bennett didn't drop him.

 

[Weaponhead]

The ageing forward pack is a real issue. Having that many players exiting at once is not great roster management. My view is that we need to target power runners who can bend/break the line. They might only play 20 minutes next season but be capable of moving up towards 40. We have enough workers but lack real power runners.

Taukeiaho and Evans from Easts is a prime example of having power runners in the pack. They might not play massive minutes yet but they make an impact.

Agree with those who point out that results were achieved with no recognised halves and no kicking game. This has been addressed through recruitment.

The development of young players is now critical. No point winning junior comps unless NRL players are produced. We have already lost the highest rated back in Scott. The pathways need to be made clear and the kids need to be in the system and known. Also agree about specialised coaching (especially attack). Our attacking skills have been **** for years and needs to be addressed.

 

[deano the p]

I would like to see us sign a big bopper of a front rower that bends the line on a regular occasion. Outside of that depth is all that's really needed.

 

[Proud Shark]

Lots of posts regarding the aging forward pack. Whilst we have lots that will be leaving after 2016, there are also many quality forwards off contract then too. I expect us to be active next year in filling that void so I don't think we need to worry about that.

As for next year the only real opportunities for decent recruitment it seems are Seumanufagai and Ikahihifo, if we can grab one or both of these guys, plus resign prior our depth should be covered for next year.

With our 2016 squad, the thing I want to see change is how we use the bench. I don't think the reduced interchange is going to make that much of an impact, and I don't think we need a utility player as I'd start barba at fullback.

I would like to see us carry 4 forwards and switch up someway similar to below:

8. Fifita
10. Taga

50 minutes or so each. First and last 25.

9. Ennis.
12. Graham.

Playing 80. Given.

11. Lewis
13. Gallen

Playing about 60 or so in a similar fashion to our starting props, coming off 10 before half time and going back on 10 or 15 after.

14. Prior
15. D fifita.
16. Bukuya
17. Heighno

I think prior and d fifita have enough size to hold the forward battle whilst our starters rest and boogs and heighno can adequately cover for Lewis and gal respectively.

Alternatively boogs could come on with 25 or so to go in order to keep one sub up our sleeve incase of injuries.