I think most of the mental problems being talked about exist with our supporters.
Anyone around in the late 70's that watched our development would remember all those criticisms being now talked about.
A blogger mentions Penrith as the real thing along with Storm, they have been going through the same mental throes untill last year finally emerging.
Yes, we lack that x player, and someone like a Coates or JAC is all that is needed to compliment the good players we have. Two occasions at least yesterday showed that those wingers would have scored two to three tries and saved the equivalent. Changes the game enormously, can you imagine Semi not scoring when Sivo twice got into the clear and showed his decisive lack of pace. Look at the two Manly wingers from yesterday, reverse them with our two and we win the game......its about ability and the reality is we are not accepting that we do not have enough in those key areas.
I am getting the feeling as I watch the bottom clubs rebuild that we are potentially going to be in further trouble, unless we address the issues that we can all see. We win ugly and on heart, we lack class!
One of the mental problems that really shows through with our supporters is that we play above ourselves to get where we are now, but do not identify the fact that we are simply a team in the 3/5 bracket that is playing well. Our supporters keep looking for something we are not........we could be another 5 years away from our potential to be the dominant that Penrith are now showing.
The reality is that we may have a hooker that might get picked for Qld and the that's about it, the rest are fringe players who may or may not be selected in rep football.
When you start to see our reserve grade side emerge, then you will see our next crop of young players coming through. Looking at Penisi and Dumpster, if they are the best backs we have, there is a lot longer to wait than some may expect.
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Next year, next year...
maybe 5
Okay, so 40 at least all up for the second CBD of Sydney, team.
I'd be looking at Will Chambers as a stop gap and also court pending , offering De Belin a fresh start .
Chambers has been horrible at sharks.
We have said that about almost every signing we've made . The guy has class but is stuck at a shambles of a club .
De Belin is locked in already Wiz, no pun!
Mental health issues and the stigma will follow him even when this is done . He will need a new start in a fresh area . Wollongong is a very small place .
Poppa good story thank you. However as you know in the late 70's we were denied our first grand final victory ( v Manly ironically) by bad luck owing to winger nifty nev glover dropping a pass with line open. If memory serves me correct, it took us 4 years after that game until 1981 to win our first grand final however in the meantime we drew equal with St George in another grand final in the meantime after extra time before losing replay mid week ........................ I watched the replay of yesterday's game this morning. IMO Manly beat us by their good luck , firstly by 2 forward pass tries , plus little things not going right for us with a few of our try scoring opportunities which alone could have have caught up the difference , and Manly cheating when they had the opportunity to do so ( no issue there - replay clearly shows several such occurrences and I am not talking about holding down in the ruck) ...... It was a game where not a lot of luck came our way .... I have not changed my opinion of our chances this year and do not believe we have to wait years . Re your last paragraph - what about aspiring Jake Arthur from the reserves - he had a good game again . Hardly missed a tackle and tried to get involved as much as possible. And new players we have are making such a difference and in that regard Tom Opacic yesterday had a great game ( he keeps improving ) and my best and fairest . Go the Eels in 2021 . LOL
Love your optimism Driza
PS I was standing behind Glover on the SCG Hill and I still believe if he caught it, he still had some work to do. In saying that he was a very good player and he might have got there on his ability. Still not a catch and he is over, not by a long way.
The St George draw and loss was the culmination in the mentality stakes..... Harry Bath (Saints coach) out thought us with a HUGE help from the referee Gary Cook. i.e. Rod Reddy should have been sent off on 3 seperate occasions.
For the sake of the unwashed readers, Gary Cook worked for Penfolds......guess who St George's sponsors were?? Yes your right!
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