To create a squad worthy of a premiership you have to get your dynamics right and 2017 was all over the place. Injuries played a part as they always do but a good squad can cover these with the right contingency plans.
A big problem we faced in 18was the uncertainty in the fullback role. These days it’s crucial you have a settled custodian to one add cohesion to your attack but more importantly coordinate your defence. Depending who you preference for fullback is directly influences who you put on your flanks. For instance if Bevs your fullback you must go for size and punch in your wingers to offset Frenchs weakness from starting sets inside your own 20.If you opt for Guth you need one big body as well as speed . This option I’m not a fan of because your trying to be all things without creating any fluidity with your back three in attack and the opposition will kick to the side away from your stronger carrying winger.
In the modern game your back three are instrumental in getting you to the big dance and it’s no surprise to see the big dogs this year all with a quality back field, which brings me to Hayne . If this is your option for fullback, for team cohesion a half must pick up the slack with the support play through the middle which is missing from Haynes game. A perfect example is a Keary type player who follows his ball runners adnauseum and is the best at his craft in the modern game. His support play is superior to Slaters.
For me next year Ferguson would be my fullback , Hayne on the wing and hoping Sivo can push for first grade giving us a big dynamic back three which allows Gutherson to work on his passing , particularly a Gidley style flick and creating overlaps for his wingers in the offseason as well as interchange Jennings with Hayne in attack.This allows us to better utilise our roster strength and negates any weakness the opposition can exploit.
For the moment I’ll assume our halves remain the same so it brings us to our pack. We have plenty of leg speed in our forward pack and at the moment it’s not supported by ball carriers that can start our sets or bend the line. Juniors a start and I’d be spending the off season working with him on his play the balls. If he can scatter defences and get to his feet quickly our forwards like Brown , Terepo ,Alvaro and yes even Evans can capitalise with thier leg speed. He’ll need help though and without a further quality signing it’s of greatest concern moving forward. Tapau here would solve our problems, the ability to play the minutes Junior can’t , offloads , bending the line and staunch defence it’s the key signing for us and we have to get it done.
If this occurs Mohoneys game will improve exponentially, he reminds me of Benny Elias , he’s got everything a quality rake needs to gain representative honours except for a forward pack to enable him. This off season working on his kicking game from dummy half should be a priority focussing on 40/20s and grabbers close to the line.
Shaun Lane can be our Gavin Cooper if he can work up a rapport with Moses, a big body close to the line running an angle with Your Ferguson’s chiming into the backline with Hayne engaging the defence should see him crash over for plenty of meat pies. Those two need to be inseparable in the off season.
The all important bench , another signing we need to get done is a utility. Not a makeshift utility but a genuine player that can cover your backline and hooker. Mahoney is not quite an 80 min hooker but his close and you need to cover an injury. Peachey would have been perfect. It’s slim pickings for off contract players and this will be a reacurring problem in 19. It’s where our bench will change weekly depending on the opposition.Ill be interested in our recruitment for 19 , our bench really lacked spark this year and your simply not a genuine premiership threat without a quality bench to add thrust after 20 mins.
Currently for me 2019 our back three is pretty much settled as well as our centres and halves. I can’t see us offloading any. We’ve added some size but lacking one more damaging ball runner and we’re short second phase play. Marty’s the man here and I’ll be supremely disappointed if we don’t make it reality. I’m well happy with Mahoney and if he stays injury free big money on another first grade hooker would be better spent on securing Tapau. Looking ahead for 2020 players to compliment what we have Tapine, Fischer-Harris and Waqa Blake should be a priority .
When you have a settled spine it’s easier to attract a marquee signing and BA needs to work out his best 17 and stick. Cohesion brings confidence in both attack and defence and if we want to improve next year combinations are everything. So what’s the plan. Over to you gentlemen.
Replies
Quality blog Bup, for me Hayne has to be fullback, we need his ball playing skills and the fact that Fergo does such a great job at carting the ball out of our danger zone from the wing means he needs to stay there. If i'm BA i'm making Norman the dominant half and getting Moses to play a role similar to Keary, he is capable of doing it but will need to work on it during the off season plus Fergo can also become a support player in the middle of the field from his wing position just like Luke Burt did during our great run in 09, go back and watch the highlights of that run and you will notice just what a great job Burt did supporting up the middle.
The tigers pack were much stronger this year. This was due to the addition of 2 powerful front rowers. We have already signed one front rower, another one will make us competitive. People under estimate what a quality front rower can do to a team. With more time on the ball, and not playing on the back foot, norman and moses will be fine.
I'll echo what's been said here a very good analysis and quality blog BUP.
I mentioned this in the last off season I think the key to everything is having stability in your spine.
I'm still a Bevan French fan and I believe we need to find a spot for him and I believe F/back should be that spot.
The other key point you bring up is that other big bopper if they can land Tapau it gives us that go foward and brings the leg speed we have into play.
Reserve Hooker and bench impact from what I saw out of Chazz Tevanga last night he's a utility type player I'm warming upto a lot.I believe he could possibly cover Mahoney at Hooker aswell.
Some good thoughts there bup, a good read mate
While everyone tosses names around that the club should sign, they can ony be signed if they are not under contract.
i am in no way excusing Bernie as I thinkk he has been a major disappointment, but all these names put forward would have to be releasedby their current club. Why do we carry on as is if Klemmer and Tapau are on the open market, they are not and their own clubs obviously don't want to release them.
We need to have some patience and look to the young forwards coming through to provide the size and energy needed, if somehow the players mentioned become available then we should do whatever the club can to sign them.
if BA has any sense, we will get new assistant coaches as different voices and better attacking and defensive structures are needed to refresh the team.
I completely agree on Tapau. He’s an absolute MUST but the trouble is the the club is refusing to meet his asking price. At this stage he’s definitely not coming. Which I think is crazy. We absolutely need him!!
Also agree wholeheartedly on the back three. Every club up the pointy end have beasts in the back 3, speed and skill. We absolutely need to get those three positions settled.
Great blog
What makes you think we can even afford Taupau's asking price?
Ha obviously I don’t. But we have been negotiating so I’m sure we aren’t miles apart. I just hope we aren’t squabbling over a few hundred grand for a bloke who I believe could turn this side into a top 8 team.
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