For the trainspotters like myself there is some interesting stats, or alarming stats, of last year and this year.
At our peak last year when we had our strongest squad (ie., Foran, Peats and Jr) and prior to losing our points we were running:
2016 - 4th in Defence and 12th in Attack.
Things were going well at the time last year and it looked certain that we would make the 8 and possibly end up in the top 4. Then the roof collapsed in and we all know the rest.
With 3 games to go in 2017 and with a sprint to September footy what has changed from last year? Well, we have slipped in Defence and nothing has changed in Attack.
2017 - 8th in Defence and 12th in Attack (Current).
With Semi moving on and arguably our best attacking weapon I am concerned for next year with how we will improve in attack. Yes, Evans and Meehan (possibly) could give us more power and grunt in the middle but how are we going to become a top 8 or dare I say it a top 4 team in attack? What outside backs are we looking at that can score points? This leads me onto my next blog - Recruitment 2018 & Onwards.
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Fair points there Dave. its a bit of a worry actually mate.
Defence was awesome last year, losing Scott & Gordon has had a role there. As has our right edge which has changed from Taka/Hoff > Auvaa/Hoff > Jennings/French, Jennings/Auvaa. This has also influenced the left as Semi and Taka aren't as strong as Semi/Jenko. All things considered, we're doing pretty well to be 5th.
Don't forget, stats can lie. Our losses are what causes our differential to be poor. Losses to the Roosters, Cows & Knights have been big ones. These don't reflect defence overall, but individual game circumstances. We have had poor match ups out wide in those 3 games and got pumelled as a result (Davis vs Cows, Auva'a vs Latrell for Roosters, Auva'a vs Knights + Smith at fullback).
Who can possibly fill this void.
I know....
Sending an SOS to a Mr Jarryd Hayne.
Yes, I would sign Hayne in a heart beat, but how much money do we have and is that amount of money acceptable to Hayne and the NRL. Don't forget the NRL have notional values of players and they will not register a player at a very low value re: Issy Folau.
Great blog dave and good points.
Whilst on for and against, it is going to cost us big time. Maybe not re getting into the finals but definitely the final position if a lot of teams finish equal on points-which I think they will.
Looking at the ladder predictor I think up to 4 teams could finish on 34-parra being one of them and we'll have the worst for and against relegating us from top 4 to possibly 7th
http://www.nrl.com/draw/telstrapremiership/ladderpredictor/tabid/10...
Cheers Slip, look forward to the new signings :)
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