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The Manly hooker rumour is probably BS, but it is the only position we would try to strengthen before June 30th.

Parra will copy theTigers game plan, try to slow our play the balls, get up fast on Burton in numbers.

We have the edge in size in the forwards, their halves are weak defenders. Run our backrowers at their halves seems like a good plsn.

Their halves have footwork that can worry backrowers, I'm only worried about Toups, Curran, Salmon and Spinks are mobile.

Critter may drop out with Tracey playing fullback interchanging with Kiraz who would play a mix of wing and fullback.

Critter might be on the bench becuase he may need to get on the field to be elegible for SOO selection, that might cost Spinks a debut. Critter deciding to give up on SOO, and put the club first wouldn't surprise me.

Critter will know that for SOO and club he needs to be fully fit, he can target SOO3, especially if it is a decider.
 
Recruitment and retention is mainly focused around 20-30 young players we are developing.

So far we have seen AJ, Underhill, Sua and Readon.

Sua may be signing with Perth, but so far that isn't official.

Todd, Hayward and Rinakama in the last few years. Also Hopoi.

We recruited Galvin and Dykes who i think we will extend.

Woods, Spinks, Alatani not far away from NRL. (If fit)

Young, Conti, Teapua, Cocherane perhaps NRL next season.

Young guys will initially provide the depth, eventually they will provide the class.

That is how the Dogs used to operate, how Gus operates and how i like the club to be run.

Young guys at fullback, hooker and in the halves are not yet ready, some of our good young outside backs left. Injuries in positions where we lacked depth cost us.
 
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I am not expecting a lot of change we have a 29 man squad listed on the NRL website. I am expecting Curran, Turpin, O'Sullivian and possibly Mann to leave.

Underhill, AJ and Readon and possihly Spinks to be promoted to top 30.

Gordon CKT may be promoted to top 30, we may sign another hooker who will be top 30 or development squad.

Zyron, Sua,Hopoi and Todd are the guys least likely to be extend. I hope that we keep Todd and I like Hopoi. Sua and Zyron are going ok.

Since we lack depth in the outside backs Sua would be very handy.

We are not going to see major changes, each season a handful of locally developed players will transition to top 30,

Players off contract in 2027 are Salmon, King, Xerri, Burton and Preston. I can see 1-2 of them leaving. I hope that we keep Preston and Burton. Salmon probably isn't on big money. King will want to stay and we will want to keep him.

My point is, I'll be surprised if we have a massive cleanout of players or sign a high profile star player in any position in the next 2-3:years.

Critter 2031, Kiks 2028, Thompson 2029, Hayes 2029, Latu 2028, Hayward 2028, Galvin 2028, Kiraz 2028, Tracey 2028, Toups 2028

These guys are the core of the squad, and we probably want to extend another 8 players.

Gus isn't going to change his formula.

Do the Panthers turn over half of their squad or sack the coach every second season? A lot of their players were locally developed, and often played their best footy at the Panthers before signing for big money elsewhere.

I'm glad our fans are not in control of the club, we would be a basket case.
 
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Poor Critter Dogs might become a rep Career killer for him , he tries so hard I think too much to get the team going . More prone to injury . Hoping Burto has a big game on Monday . He may do so knowing SOO position in the line .
 
Too many of our players play injured far too often,

This poor season may have a sliver lining, becuase we may be able to extend many of our players on reasonable deals.

Guys I defenately want to extend who are far better than fans think include Tuala, Dykes and Hughes.

Woods is known to be good, but we should be able to extend him.

Not many people outside of the club know who our other good young players are, other clubs know, but there is talent at all clubs.

Teams like Perth are looking for established talent and names people will recognise. Burton, Xerri and Preston are the guys who clubs like Perth will want to sign.

We didn't deliberstely have a bad season, but it slightly incresses the chances of keeping some players. Critter missing SOO2 will not end his rep career.

I'm sure Gus is working on sxrending our players and mainly on extending our players. Most players will want to stay, but money talks.

Established talent big $$$$, home grown talent little $$$$.

Most ot our guys will stay for a bit less, guys sith young kids might not want to move to Perth or PNG.
 
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Readon and Alatani being backrowers who can play centre is a big plus. Capewell is a well known slightly bigger and probably slightly better player.

This can help with depth. Guys like Dykes,Tracey, Kiraz, Tuala, Critter and Burton who can play multiple positions help with depth.

Hayward is a very versitile player, he is off contact in 2028, but we might extend early. Negative fans are completely wrong about Hayward. They should try playing 80 mins at hooker in the NRL. At our prime, most of us would be lucky to last 1 minute.

Ennis has the memory of a goldfidh, his career started out coming off the bench playing in the halves and hooker. It was a long time before Ennis played 80 minutes at hooker and the game was slow in that era with lots of wrestle, it is much faster now.

The main thing wrong with our club is, fans are too willing to believe media critics intent on creating drama who often have a agenda against the club or Gus.

Hopefully a better end to the season starts on Monday.

Hayward and Galvin will be a lot better players in a few years time, they will peak around 2030.
 
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We haven 't had much luck this season, but at least our 2 byes come at a good time.

It will count for nothing if we don'f beat Parra.

After the bye we play Manly at home and 2 of their better players should be backing up from SOO or rested.

Then Titans away on a short turnaround with travel.

3 wins and 2 byes would have us back in the hunt.

Soon after the second bye we should get Kicks and Presto back.

Then it is on to part 3 of the season.
 
I think our best chance of beating Parra is.

1. Start well..
2. Dominate
3. Execute
4. Score points
5. Keep the intensity up.

If we get on top, their season is effectively over.

We are at home and we should have good crowd support, now or never.
 
Manly really playing for Foz . Definitely a Manly guy through and through. He actually wanted to stay with us play on but the club had no alternative but to move him on his injuries were a massive liability.
Parra game must win at all costs . Playing Manly has always been an even call both teams never really had the edge over the other in recent years . During the Barrett years they flogged us in a few games .
Roosters looked good esp their centre Hugo and winger Smith . They have that great physical tall body which is suited in today's game . We need some more players like that .
 
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