So Roosters lose Taukiaho, have Waerea-Hargreaves ageing along with Radley who is either injured or suspended every week, they will be top 4 next year.
Penrith lose Kikau and Koroisau, don't worry they'll be right.
Melbourne lose Bromwich brothers, Kaufusi and Smith. They have another year in them.
We lose Mahoney, Niukore, Kaufusi and perhaps Papali'i, they wont get close.
How does that work? We have bought players, Melbourne buy Sims who is ageing it is brilliant, we get Hodgson who is ageing it is ridiculous.
I reckon we make another 2-3 signings before year is done, salary cap is still being worked on that is why others havent signed.
But look at this team list for 2023 so far, sorry for team list but proving my point.
1. Gutherson
2. Sivo
3. Penisini
4. Blake
5. Dunster/Simonsson
6. Brown
7. Moses
8. RCG
9. Hodgson
10. Paulo
11. Lane
12. Papali'i/Murchie
13. Matterson
14. Arthur (Let's be frank he will be there)
15. Makatoa (or another middle like Taupau)
16. Cartwright/Ogden
17. Hopgood
The bench is a bit sus, if we get say Taupau type forward and put Cartwright at 14 with Ogden and Hopgood, that is a pretty good bench.
Again, if we get done on Friday or in the GF, that is not our last chance, this window thing is a joke now, look at Melbourne lose Slater, Cronk, Smith every year there was talk of this is their last go and keep going, granted Munster has become world class but Brown and Moses are getting better also.
Our spine is in tact, minus Mahoney, Hodgson comes in, he has been to a GF and countless prelims, he knows what it takes to get there and can assist that. Rein also is good enough to take that step if called on. Gutho, Moses and Brown are our keys, with Paulo and RCG infront of them and Matterson at 13, we are every chance of still matching Penrith forwards.
Another thing is Trent Barrett, and whoever we get as defensive assistant. Barrett is a wonderful pick-up, content being an assistant and giving his all. He is a wonderful brain in attack, Luai and Cleary are where they are in their career from Barrett's coaching, players adore him. Our attack has been pretty good the last few weeks, with Barrett it can be the best in the comp. Barrett will be licking his chops at the prospect of working with Brown and Moses, where he doesn't really need to do much grooming or developing, they are developed it is fine tuning. With all due respect to Steve Murphy but Barrett is a legend of the game with a great resume minus his stints at Manly (which was not as bad) and Canterbury. Just hope BA knocks his defensive assistant hire out of the park.
Finally, if we lose Papali'i i think our team does drop a little due to limited supply of back-rowers around, Muchie has been mentioned but not sure if he is the answer as a full-time starter, Hopgood maybe but is more of a middle forward. But Penrith lose Kikau and are replacing him with Garner so take that for what it is worth. Is Garner and Murchie on same level? Well at the moment they are bloody close, but that doesn't fit the narrative that Penrith could struggle next year. Koroisau is a bigger loss than Mahoney is for us, Kenny is the replacement and has played a bit of NRL hasn't set the world alight. Hodgson has only one question mark on him, can he stay healthy, if he can then we are sweet. If someone said you can have Hodgson for 2023 and he will be 100% healthy for the entire year would you take him at 33? Most would say 100% as he is still a top 6 hooker in ability. Many would take Hodgson over Kenny most days of the week. Penrith's engine relies on quick balls and momentum started from the hooker, Koroisau does that by moving around the ruck slightly then handing it to Yeo. You slow down the ruck from dummy half, you slow down Yeo, slow down Yeo you slow down Cleary and Luai.
For us, Hodgson would be a different kind of hooker, who has a better kicking game than Mahoney, believe is a smarter player than Mahoney, Mahoney has a better pass and continuity with Moses and Brown but Hodgson off the ball will be incredible in keeping the peace and sticking to game plan mid game, we need that vocal leader in the forwards, Paulo is a lead by example forward, Hodgson will speak in the huddle as a captain without being named captain. I am not saying i would rather Hodgson over Mahoney, but for 2023 i think it is a fair swap. Nobody knocks Penrith for losing Koroisau an Origin hooker and an important part of that Penrith attack, Kenny is one dimensional, but no it's fine they will be ok. We lose Mahoney and we are treated as idiots. All the top teams are losing pieces, some are lacking experience (NQ, CRO) while the lower teams aren't getting better besides perhaps Canterbury. We will be up around top 4 again and the teams we need to stress about are the same teams with mainly the same players with an added year. But Brown will be better too, Barrett will
I have knocked this team for a while, especially BA, but i have always said no matter who coaches us for 2023 they will have a great roster to win now, even when i campaigned Ciraldo i said he can win now. BA can continue and take confidence and lean it into 2023. They are mentally ready for a GF, if they lose on Friday they will take it as motivation for 2023. As Brett said, disregard us at your own peril
Replies
We are potentially two days away from making a Grand Final and this is all you are worried about???
What's with the negativity?
How is this negative? Really John? This is negative what i said?
If we make it great, but i feel we can make it again in 2023 when others have already it seems written us off as this is our last chance so to speak.
This post is as badly timed if not worse than the Nepotism articles from the reporters last week.
We are on a high and your trying to drag us down.
Ok i am at a loss how this is dragging us down? If anything the talk of this being our last chance is gonna drag us down when i think the talk shouldn't happen. Saying this is our last chance due to this squad moving on, that adds pressure. What i am saying is that is not the case.
Where is the issue in what i said? I am trying to lift it as it is not an issue. If you think this is worse than Nepotism articles then the Nepotism articles weren't that bad in general.
I am purely stating this is not our last chance and saying it is adds pressure.
Not sure on Hoeter, think there are better options on the market, Talau being one from Wests. But let's trust O'Neill and BA. But i would think Dunster could be an option at least, since he has signed til 2025.
Relax John.
I don't think he's doing any such thing.
I don't think this is negative at all - it's being annoyed at all the naysayers in the media. No matter how well Parra do there's always a "Ohhh but they're only doing well because of XYZ, but here's why they'll suck again tomorrow!".
I agree with the frustration of LB - we deserve to be recognised as a club that has sustained success through starting to develop good systems, and the media need to get a new narrative with this whole doom and gloom BS.
@LB Totally agree with you - folks who write us off for next year are strangely wanting to find any narrative that show the Eels in a negative light. I think we have the base for some continued success. Everyone wrote the Rabbits off after saying goodbye to Reynolds...now apparently it was a masterstroke.
Yes Cap, Souths example is a big one, had they had Latrell all year they would have been top 4. But now people are congradulating Souths for going with Ilias over Reynolds when 8 weeks ago it seemed Brisbane was going for top 4 while Souths were hanging by a thread.
NQ another example, tipped them for the spoon.
This is Hardly negative from LB I feel the exact same as him. I read a story yesterday saying this is our last chance and won't get close again after this. LB is spot on we are in no worse shape then other teams losing players
Your team isint exactly right. Hodgson has been brought in to teach Jake Arthur the art of replacement Hooker for two years, so he can come on in the second half , the added bonus us that Hodgson will groom young Mathew Arthur to take over as starting Hooker in two years.
That one is going to light up the 1EE nutters. hahahahahaha
By the way just a touch early LB, we have a grandfinal to make yet this year.
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