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Zoz2025 said:
Looks like Gus is talking to unwanted Titans Hooker. Maybe realising now that Hayward may not be the answer.. .
Storm finding bit of form now . Next week they will be without Munster and Grant but will be a formidable team .
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I think he is replacing Turpin.

We can't play Hayward for 80 mins and Young isn't ready. Our slim hopes of winning the comp this year definately require Young to be in tne team.

Turpin is good when he is on the field which seems to be 5% of the time. All this guy has to do is not get injured frequently,

People who think Hayward is a problem should try playing 80 mins of NRL hooket under the current rules, his fitness is elite. But he should be getting a rest after 20-30 mins.

Cirro waited far too long to roate our middles against the Sharks. And the Sharks version of Max King wasn't the Penrith version. 2-3 weeks King and Thompson should be back to their best.

Our margin for error in tne next 3 games is slim,
 
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The style of footy we play from here needs to be similar to the 2004 Dogs. Big men running hard and fast flat over the advantage line and winning the collision, wave after wave.

We have a squad that can do that, and that style of play suits Hayward. Galvin and Burton get more of a rest and pick their moments.

In yardage we need to throw more passes just to gain the initial monentum, play flat once we have a roll on. Backs need to run flat and fast up the middle with footwork.

Teams compress their defence, that is why we need to risk moving the ball.

Running run one out off the ruck in a very obvious fashion always gets what it deserves.

We might have thrown more passes in yardage last year and angled more outside backs up the middle.

Sticking to our style of play will yield no better results than sticking with team selection and bench rotation. Plan A mostly hasn't worked this year.

I'll settle for a bad season, if it teaches us some valuable lessons and we start with a new plan next season.
 
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The pump up video for Critter's 150th game was extordinary. The fact that the team couldn't win after that says plenty.
 
It is looking increasingly like the current rules have totally extinguished the era of the wrestle, and mostly extinguished block plays and structure.

Footy has reverted to how it used to be played in 2004.

We had smaller guys in our 2004 team that did most of the tackling, Hughes, Perry and Grimaldi.

In our current team we have bigger fowards who can make lots of tackles, Thompson, King, Underhill, AJ, Hayes, Preston, Toups, Curran, Hopoi.

I think we need 2 hookers who can tackle, but we might not need a specalist defensive lock. Even if we did, i would probably play Readon, or a 3rd hooker.

Parra are getting away with a lot more wrestle than we are . It is worth trying to work out why that is happening.

The refs know what winning the collision looks like. Flat over the ad line is mostly likely to get a 6-again for inside the 10.

Win the collisions and play fast, we will get plenty of 6-agains.
 
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I hope Coates isn"t back for the Storm.

They are going to try to score trys off kicks.

Kiraz back will definately help.

We need to pressure Hughes, i don't know who will play 5/8,for thrm.

Game wll probably be won in the forwards and in yardage.

The season is proably hanging by a thread, we need this one.

Needing to win and being confident about winning are 2 different things. Sometimes the more a team needs to win, the harder it is.

Our team didn't have more talent and it wasn't fitter and it wasn't trying harder last season. I actually think we have more talent and some better attacking plays this season.

Last season the team was more confident, the rules suited our style, we were working together in defence and passing a lot better.

All can agree that we need to work as a team in defence, players need to anticipate, finish the tackle they are doing, but not overcommit.

Passing needs to be a lot better, i was better last season and in a few games we displayed some of the best passing ability in the comp.

Under pressure the key requirements are, work together, stay composed, focus on the basics, don't force the play, don't overcommit and execute passes and tackles.

We haven't had an easy game this season and we will not get many. Just winning the easy games never makes the 8.
 
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If we do end up having a bad season, i don't think thst necessarily means that we are further away from a premiership.

If nothing else, we can develop players for 2027, learn what we need to fix for 2027 and learn where we need to recuit.

Signing Thompson and the development of Hughes, AJ and Underhill is progress. We have some other good young players and we may see some more of them this season.

Recuitment wise, hooker, wing and fullback seem like they should be a priority. I agree that we need an experienced hooker who has a reasonable injury history, replacing Turpin.

At least one tall winger who can also play fullback seems essential. We have lots of good young halves and young hookers.

I'm not sold on O'Sullivian and an expienced utility who can play half/hooker/lock would be ideal.

I would target Billy Walters, Jessie Arthurs, Trai Fuller, Tommy Talau, Heath Mason.

All of the players I have named are more likely to play regular NRL in their preferred position at our club.

Galvin, Hayward and Salmon are improving, Thompson still settling in. Tuala has showed us how good he is. Against the Sharks, Burton played his best game in a while. King was poor by his standards against the Sharks but will be better.

I'm still not giving up on this season, but if we lose to the Storm, my faith is going to be tested.

Players don't always come back fron injury in peak form.
 
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Our fans were a net positive the last 2 seasons, but so far they are a net negative and we haven't had many homes games.

Many our our better performances last year were with a big crowd cheering us on.

I know from personal experience that only the die hard fans tend to turn up when the team is struggling and a bad start can quickly turn the crowd negative.

A bigger crowed seems to give the fans more energy they can stay positive and loud longer and can get back into the game faster.

IMO Cirro is right that the team needs the fans, and the fans are right that the team needs some changes. Mostly at fullback and on the wing.

We have had some good performances without Chricton becuase often the rest of the team steps up.

I hope Hughes is back and partners Thompson as the starting props, otherwise I fear a slow start.

No team changes, King starting, a small crowd and a slow start is a nightmare scenario IMO, we might end up producing our worst performance of the season, especially in the crowd turns on the players early, and the players start to panic and lose faith in each other.

But if we get a decent crowd, we dominate in the forwards and start well, this time I think we will post points early and that will give us the confidence to defend well. It is possible that an unchanged team could start well, but the forwards have to make it easy for the backs and we need better execution in attack.
 
I hope Hughesy can play the next 3 games.

After that King and Thompson should be back to their best.

We will have multiple options to give him a rest for as long as it takes.

I would still shuffle the backline, giving Tracey and Sua a rest.

Too late for changes of we lose the game against the Storm.

But whatever lineup Cirro picks, I'll be happy with any kind of win.

And if we lose, it probably too late anyway.
 
No Grant no Munster for Storm on Friday , still they will be hard to beat . Hopefully the defence improves., unfortunate for Presto playing in a bad form team he would had been picked for Origin otherwise .
Critter I think lucky being picked considering Daley picked Teddy over Edwards.
 
Critter had a good second half against the Sharks and has been great for NSW in the past.

Preston is definately better than Young who should be on the bench.

Presto will play plenty of SOO, and we need all of the help we can get.

I am nervous about the Storm game, we can't afford to lose, team selection tomorrow might give me more confidence.

The NSW team selection also seems like a gamble that might go wrong. If they get an injury in the halves or backs and need to use Strange on McLean, they might be short of size or high workrate forwards.

QLD seems to have better forwards.
 
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I have a hunch that Cirro will make some changes on Friday.

The selected 23 man squad keeps his options open.

Making changes and losing will look better than not making changes and losing.

He will only make changes that increase our chances of winning.

The players and Cirro are learning a lot this season.

Both coaches have picked SOO teams with the assumption that SOO will be ref'ed the same as club games. If that is true SOO will be a more watchable entertaining contest, but it will be extremely punishing for the players involved.
 
Hounddog said:
Our fans were a net positive the last 2 seasons, but so far they are a net negative and we haven't had many homes games.

Many our our better performances last year were with a big crowd cheering us on.

I know from personal experience that only the die hard fans tend to turn up when the team is struggling and a bad start can quickly turn the crowd negative.

A bigger crowed seems to give the fans more energy they can stay positive and loud longer and can get back into the game faster.

IMO Cirro is right that the team needs the fans, and the fans are right that the team needs some changes. Mostly at fullback and on the wing.

We have had some good performances without Chricton becuase often the rest of the team steps up.

I hope Hughes is back and partners Thompson as the starting props, otherwise I fear a slow start.

No team changes, King starting, a small crowd and a slow start is a nightmare scenario IMO, we might end up producing our worst performance of the season, especially in the crowd turns on the players early, and the players start to panic and lose faith in each other.

But if we get a decent crowd, we dominate in the forwards and start well, this time I think we will post points early and that will give us the confidence to defend well. It is possible that an unchanged team could start well, but the forwards have to make it easy for the backs and we need better execution in attack.
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Unfortunately the horse has bolted mate....

CC's roster decisions and Gus's failure to address key spine position and depth has resulted in a massive revolt against them. I don't think it is unjustified. They are highly paid professionals but have proven to be caught out with their 1 plan only and what appears to be no succession planning.

I will be there on Friday but not because I think we can win (he fkn picked Tracey again) but just to experience the crowd revolt and assist in getting rid of what appears to now be a cancer to the team.

And I don't use that word lightly. I've gone through cancer.
 
Zoz2025 said:
No Grant no Munster for Storm on Friday , still they will be hard to beat . Hopefully the defence improves., unfortunate for Presto playing in a bad form team he would had been picked for Origin otherwise .
Critter I think lucky being picked considering Daley picked Teddy over Edwards.
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Would have been interesting if Latrell and Turbo were available.
 
Hounddog said:
I have a hunch that Cirro will make some changes on Friday.

The selected 23 man squad keeps his options open.

Making changes and losing will look better than not making changes and losing.

He will only make changes that increase our chances of winning.

The players and Cirro are learning a lot this season.

Both coaches have picked SOO teams with the assumption that SOO will be ref'ed the same as club games. If that is true SOO will be a more watchable entertaining contest, but it will be extremely punishing for the players involved.
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Underwhelming team list.

I would have played Kiraz or Tuala at FB with Monty or Jethro at wing.

We have lost the last 2 games at FB and wing, due to poor cover defence. It needs to be the primary fix.

Just having someone solid at FB might just be enough to stay in the game. From there it will come down to our attack posting enough points (4 tries minimum).

Salmon has improved in the middle with more runs than passes. I hope he captains the side on Friday. We have huge problems at hooker that cannot be fixed this year unless GCTK can play a starting cameo.

Mann looks like the only player in the middle with eyes-up football instincts. Unfortunately he makes many errors and is not in sync with players around him.

Galvin seems to be the only spine player constantly trying to create something. It's disgraceful for the 1, 6 and 9 to sit back and wait for others to create our attacking plays.
 
Hounddog said:
Preston is definately better than Young who should be on the bench.

Presto will play plenty of SOO, and we need all of the help we can get.
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No chance, young is the best second rower in the league.

though in saying that, Preston deserved a spot on the NSW bench in front of radley and saifiti
 
Marki said:
Unfortunately the horse has bolted mate....

CC's roster decisions and Gus's failure to address key spine position and depth has resulted in a massive revolt against them. I don't think it is unjustified. They are highly paid professionals but have proven to be caught out with their 1 plan only and what appears to be no succession planning.

I will be there on Friday but not because I think we can win (he fkn picked Tracey again) but just to experience the crowd revolt and assist in getting rid of what appears to now be a cancer to the team.

And I don't use that word lightly. I've gone through cancer.
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Fans not helping isn't going to help.

Fans are tne biggest problem with our club, they are driving talented players and coaches away from our club.

The players are well aware of the fans attitude and that has contributed to poor peformances.

Cirro has made some mistakes but this is the best coach and roster we have had in over a decade. Do we want to flush that, and start again fro ground zero?

There is still hope for this season if we win the next 3 ganes in a row. The Storm game is the hardest and a game where fans might make a difference.

Gus is already starting to recuit players to improve the squad. More fan support and more wins would make our club an atrractive destination.

If we don't win the next 3, all 3, we are preparing for 2027 and thst might be a good thing

To be clear, we have now a competive forward pack and good forward depth which will assist in bringing young talent into the team. But we need to sign a few players in key positions, mostly fullback and hooker

Fixing the forwards first is IMO the right way to do things, becuase young halves don't get smashed on NRL debut.
 
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Gus provided a lot of good answers on the Jimmy Graham podcast.

His hunch is now that the new rules will remain in place during and after SOO. We need to factor that into our recruitnent, retention and player development.

We can't completely overhaul the squad mid-season and our forwards plus around 5-6 other players are fine. We probably need 2-3 good players in the right positions who are suited to the new style.

AJ Brimson, T Fuller, J Arthurs, Billy Walters aee on my priority list.

Brimson and Walters worth a chunk of cap space and letting a few players go. Including some we all probably want to keep.
 
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The big picture makes sense, the Dogs did far better than we expected to do in 2024 and early 2025.

Signing Galvin was an attempt to drag our premiership window forward to 2025/2026.

At the time we expected Woods to debut in 2025 and play regular NRL in 2026.

We expected Thompson to play in round 1 and Todd to play some footy..

Before Tracey got injured last season, he looked like a good option.

We found out about the new rules just before round 1, I bet teams with coaches on the rules committee knew in advance.

Positions 3-8 on the table are clubs well suited to the new rules, Warriors and Panthers are great with any rules.

I didn't expect Tracey to be going this bad, or the club to struggle this much with the new rules.

At least the coaches are trying to work out where it has all gone wrong, most of the slide has happened in the last 5 weeks. The bad news is the drop off was steep and fast. The good news is some of it can probably be fixed quick enough to get a win. Get 1 win and the rest of it is a bit easier.
 
Marki said:
Underwhelming team list.

I would have played Kiraz or Tuala at FB with Monty or Jethro at wing.

We have lost the last 2 games at FB and wing, due to poor cover defence. It needs to be the primary fix.

Just having someone solid at FB might just be enough to stay in the game. From there it will come down to our attack posting enough points (4 tries minimum).

Salmon has improved in the middle with more runs than passes. I hope he captains the side on Friday. We have huge problems at hooker that cannot be fixed this year unless GCTK can play a starting cameo.

Mann looks like the only player in the middle with eyes-up football instincts. Unfortunately he makes many errors and is not in sync with players around him.

Galvin seems to be the only spine player constantly trying to create something. It's disgraceful for the 1, 6 and 9 to sit back and wait for others to create our attacking plays.
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Sometimes the 19 listed on Tuesday doesn't run out of Friday.

I also want to see Tuala at fullback, and Readon at centre.

Jethro on the wing. Montoya on the bench. Possibly playing some right backrow/centre/wing late in the game.
 
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If fans aren't happy with the way the club is run, then consider supporting anither club or sport.

Negative fans are the cancer, Cirro and Gus aren't going anywhere, but negative fans are welcome to piss off, you will not be missed.

If Cirro orGus are sacked, I'll piss off. Whinging fans have burned the club down once before and that resulted in 10 years in the winderness.

I will not hang around for that, you will deserve 20 consecutive spoons, and i will be hoping that you get them.

I love the club, but i hate a lot of our fans. I'm tired of fans blowing up the club.
 
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