After watching the teams making impact thus far, we are so far off the pace that it is embarrassing. The vast majority have us pencilled in for the spoon. Our forwards lack balance, regarding the ability to make impact and intimidate. Ryles appears to be making a statement about effort and mobility which is great, but that simply has to be balanced with forwards with both heart, aggression and the size to be able to make impact. Without that ability, our backs will never succeed. There is no doubt that some need to aim up and do their job better, but we have gone from having one of the best prop rotations in the game to one of the worst. Yes, early days. We need a mindset change and sorry, not seeing it thus far despite all the waffle about culture change. It is like listening to Albo and Chalmers with their spin. In fact the spin that spews forth from all politicians. Forwards like Haas, Tino, Saifiti brothers, Olakau'atu, NOS, Tarpine, Fonua Blake, McClean, Paseka to name a few. Why is it that these Clubs persist with monsters and can get them to perform and we can't? Frustrated, fix the forwards or our backs will not be able to do their jobs!
Gees, JR is a monster of a man and , I and I am really starting to wonder what is going on?
EE
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Well culture is developed at training, on the field, when evaluating performance etc - we definitely are short 1 middle, we lack that 1/2 punch, RCG wanted to leave for secure his future so I won't point the finger for that call. Ryles and his coaching staff have been operating since NOV 2024 - can you blame Ryles/the club for allowing RCG to sign with the Titans? What change do you want to see? I'm disappointed in the results, I'm looking at the bigger picture, Riley Smith, Samrani, Katouga, Tuvaita & Iongi all get fast tracked - this benefits Ryles coming into next season, promoting juniors hasn't been one the cluba strengths so it's a refreshing change and I'll back that approach 💯. Volkman is a rookie plauged with injuries, Dean Hawkins makes his debut and partners DB, JAC and Lomax are new additions to the backline - I'm not surprised theres isn't cohesion the combination Haven't settled.i was really impressived with our defence last week , it was gutsy and all players rolled up their sleeves and emptied the tank. All stats from last week suggesta we should have put the dogs away, we did match them in a lot of areas even run metres - 3 areas that were od concern, Hopgood is too exhausted and that affects his ability to have an impact in attack - we desperately need his ball playing and second please cause DB is not cutting it, Dylan walker is a handy addition that ball in the middle and around the ruck. I wonder what's happening with Matto? Also, Lane is not really have a major impact. I see the change Ryles is trying to implement and I'm backing him in - we have to trust the process simplw as that .
I really don't think we are lacking that 1 middle, it's the edges we are lacking. We have enough middles, Paulo, Joe O, Williams, Morreti, Greig, Tuivati, Mataele just to name a few, then you have Hopgood, Lane and Matterson who are more suited to the middle than an edge. Look at most of the top teams, they have genuine edge forwards like, Kikau and Preston for the dogs, Olakatau for Manly, Katoa for Melbourne, Chrichton for the chooks, Martin for Penrith, even the Titans have Fifita and Fermor.
Your halfs don't play in the middle, they play on the edges and these are the type of players that make or break your halfs. Our only truly recognised edge is Cartwright, Lane and Matterson can fill in but are better suited to the middle. Do you really think if we picked up a player like Terell May would have made much of a difference, yes, he would have improved our pack but not enough to turn around our defeats so far this year. 3yrs ago we tried to sign Briton Nikora, and again last season, can you imagine if we got him and another good edge, how much better our team would be, good edges gives our halfs something to work with.
'Your halfs don't play in the middle, they play on the edges" that's abvious I'm looking at the whole picture not just or middles or our forward pack in general - lot's of these players haven't played together both in attack and defence, combinations defensively are probably more important than attack - but agree we lack strike edge backrower , Briton Nikora probably the form backrower so far and looks super fit. I still think this we need another quality Middle without breaking the bank, although the game has changed the enforce role hasn't
I think we need energy players, players who will dive for the loose balls, will get up quickly to play the ruck, players who will not just lay down on the ground sfter making a tackle,mplayers who will run back to the defence line and not just jog around. I think this is what is missing in the present team's attitude - energy plays.
Observe big Lane after doing a tackle, he goes for the legs tackle and will always lie down after and will take him a long time to be back in defence. Players like this should not play in FG until thye have changed their attitude or just get punted.
Great post TolEIIts, totally agree - energy is the key word and that's what a mobile pack offers, also it provides the team with versatility which is another benefit. All that being said Ryles has to find a balance, having an enforcer that can intimidate his opposite number is important - aggression is a big part of the game both physically and mentally, Lane type players are becoming obsolete, getting left on the ground, basically inviting the opposition to attack the ruck- stuck on one side of the field, only effective while while running off certain players and playing the same attacking shapes - seriously what type of game planning and coaching is that ??
Just wondering NM that if us simple fans are discussing these gaps with the team, don't the coaching staff, the FO executives and especially MON have anticipated these needs in the pre-season or do they honestly believed that we have the right roster.
I think if Ryles has his way 4 or 5 of our forwards will be moved on. We need hard running aggressive edge forwards. We haven't realy got junior's coming through that fit the bill.
I hope Ryles chases Wishart and 2 or 3 edge forwards. Dylan Walker is a good buy for 25 and 26.
Agree GP, how about Nikora in eels colours??
Have you seen the Dolphins tonight? I reckon we would be a chance. They are dreadful.
Yeah I was thinking the same and they have a decent squad
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