Season over... positives for next season.

[Inflictor]

The attitude in defence is back. That’s the main thing.

We haven’t conceded more than 16 points in a game since July till tonight (and let’s face it 6 of them were a rort).

There’s clear attack issues that need sorting, namely WTF happened to Teddy this year, and can we get a full team on the park at any point?

We have to charge into the start of the season full steam for once. Prancing about going 5-5 (or worse) won’t work again. There’s no Cronk to save us.

A top 17 of something like

1. Tedesco
2. Tupou
3. Smith
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. Collins
9. Brandon
10. Leniu
11. Sitili
12. Butcher
13. Radley

14. Watson
15. JWH
16. Wong
17. Egan

That’s not even including Gus or Suaalii who I believe might both be shipped to union this off-season (seriously, who misses in that backline if Joey S is still here?) And Terrell who has been terrific recently.

Just get fit and ****ing stay fit, please boys.

I doubt May will play reserves.
Sandon will get first crack at 14.
Wong has jumped Sitili imo.
Suaalii the interesting one if he stays.
I think Gus is gone.

All I want for Christmas is no injuries next year.

[Steggles]

The attitude in defence is back. That’s the main thing.

We haven’t conceded more than 16 points in a game since July till tonight (and let’s face it 6 of them were a rort).

There’s clear attack issues that need sorting, namely WTF happened to Teddy this year, and can we get a full team on the park at any point?

We have to charge into the start of the season full steam for once. Prancing about going 5-5 (or worse) won’t work again. There’s no Cronk to save us.

A top 17 of something like

1. Tedesco
2. Tupou
3. Smith
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. Collins
9. Brandon
10. Leniu
11. Sitili
12. Butcher
13. Radley

14. Watson
15. JWH
16. Wong
17. Egan

That’s not even including Gus or Suaalii who I believe might both be shipped to union this off-season (seriously, who misses in that backline if Joey S is still here?) And Terrell who has been terrific recently.

Just get fit and ****ing stay fit, please boys.

I think you’ve got the backline right. Forward and bench for me are -

8. Collins
9. B Smith
10. May
11. Sitili
12. Wong
13. Radley

14. S Smith
15. Leniu
16. Nat Butcher
17. N Whyte

[Mad_Rabid_Rooster]

I just hope that we can play a little better during the regular season and not have to leave our run so late. We need to get back into the top four - it proves to be so important.

If we can manage that, and not have too many injuries, we should be there or thereabouts when the whips are cracking.

[King Salvo]

Surely their bad luck on the injury front will disappear and if so there will be competition for spots in the 17 each week in 2024

You Certainly need your best 17 to play the majority of the season and competition for these spots

26 signed for 2024

Backs

1. Tedesco - FB
2. Toops - WG
3. Suaalii - WG/CE/FB
4. Manu - CE/FB/FE/FB
5. Momirovski - CE/WG
6. Young - WG/CE
7. Murphy - WG * ACL Rehab
8. Billy Smith - CE/WG
9. Pauga - WG
10. Toia - CE * ACL Rehab

Halves

1. Keary - FE/HB
2. Walker - HB/FE

Forwards

1. Collins - FR
2. May - FR
3. JWH - FR
4. Leniu - FR
5. E Butcher - SR/FR
6. N Butcher - SR/LK/FR
7. Crichton - SR
8. Sitili- SR
9. Wong - SR/LK
10. Brandon Smith - DM/LK
11. Moriarty - DH
12. Whyte - FR/SR/LK

Utilities

1. Watson - LK/DH
2. Sandon Smith - HB/FE/DH/FB

Others in Contention for Contracts

1. Allan - CE/WG
2. Napa - FR
3. Xavier Va'a - FR
4. Henare-Schuster - WG/CE
5. King - FB

Development Contracts

1. Alex Young

[HunchoRooster]

MUST tie down May long term. The bloke bends the line every single time he runs. Offloads every 2nd run. So unpredictable with his footwork.

Him and Spencer will be awesome next year. I would genuinely only bring JWH out for the big games and keep him on ice throughout the season.

Sandon is excellent. He should get first crack at the 6 jumper when Keary goes. Must be in the 17 next season.

Wong ahead of Sitili but Sitili ahead of Angus for a spot in the 17 for mine.

[TumutChook]

Sandon ahead of Watson imo

Shame we can’t keep Baker and send E Butcher up to the Broncos

Agree on both points. Sandon has early his spot now & Watson needs to step up if he wants it back. I also think we let the wrong one go as I don’t think much of Egan, he’s pretty vanilla & seems to stop easy ball every game.

[TumutChook]

I think you’ve got the backline right. Forward and bench for me are -

8. Collins
9. B Smith
10. May
11. Sitili
12. Wong
13. Radley

14. S Smith
15. Leniu
16. Nat Butcher
17. N Whyte

No JWH?
Absoloutly kidding yourself, he’s far superior to the 20min man Leniu & while May & Wong finished the year string they’re still kids in their footy lives so the big dog is 100% & they play minutes around him. I can see JWH either starting & going hard for 30mins, or starting bench & bringing him on just before half time where he will put the fear into teams when he smashes their back up forwards.

[Funky Chicken]

A top 17 of something like

1. Tedesco
2. Tupou
3. Smith
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. Collins
9. Brandon
10. Leniu
11. Wong
12. Butcher
13. Radley

14. Sandon
15. JWH
16. May
17. Egan/Whyte

I just made a couple of small changes, but it looks like a great team and if we can stay fit and play like out last few weeks will give the 2024 comp a real shake!!

[Steakface]

Umm, we got found out big time tonight.

Absolute rubbish.

We were missing our entire first choice 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10.

If there was a referee controlling the game who was actually at a professional level we win.

fk me dead.

[Steakface]

No JWH?
Absoloutly kidding yourself, he’s far superior to the 20min man Leniu & while May & Wong finished the year string they’re still kids in their footy lives so the big dog is 100% & they play minutes around him. I can see JWH either starting & going hard for 30mins, or starting bench & bringing him on just before half time where he will put the fear into teams when he smashes their back up forwards.

JWH for bench.

It's the only way to keep him fit for the whole season. He is an old bloke now.

He'll be brilliant terrorrising the tired opposition, but is put at risk by exposing him to the early clashes against fresh legs.

Let Collins and May/Leinu take charge starting, as that will prep them nicely for 2025 onwards.

[HunchoRooster]

JWH for bench.

It's the only way to keep him fit for the whole season. He is an old bloke now.

He'll be brilliant terrorrising the tired opposition, but is put at risk by exposing him to the early clashes against fresh legs.

Let Collins and May/Leinu take charge starting, as that will prep them nicely for 2025 onwards.

Agree with this. I'd almost use him as a special attraction at this point. Use him in games as a momentum changer but the days of JWH playing huge mins are over. May and Leniu need to share the load for the future.

[MKCS]

I think there is plenty of positives next year, this year was a pleasant surprise even making the 8 let alone being 6 minutes or so away from a prelim.

For next year:

- Holbrook will be a good addition to our coaching staff, he brings 168 games of head coaching experience on board plus he's been with us before so knows our club quite well.

- Lots of players found form over the past 2 months, if that moves into next year (Which it should) we should be a very dominant force.

- Our recruitment is good with the additions of 2 time grand final winner (Maybe 3 by the time he gets to us) in Leniu plus Dom Young who is carving up the finals right now and is an English international. Don't know too much about Lewis Murphy but am interested in having a noted speedster in the reserves. We will probably pick up another player or two during the off season as well and hopefully we cut some fat also.

- If we remain injury free we will be grand final winners, I feel strongly that if tonight we had our full backline plus JWH we win and win well, injuries are part of footy but we suffer them more than most, get that under control and we win the comp.

[ARD]

JWH for bench.

It's the only way to keep him fit for the whole season. He is an old bloke now.

He'll be brilliant terrorrising the tired opposition, but is put at risk by exposing him to the early clashes against fresh legs.

Let Collins and May/Leinu take charge starting, as that will prep them nicely for 2025 onwards.

Club has prepared well for the old bull. My attention is now on Keary succession planning - I know many will call Sandon and Manu which is fair but it’s not shown yet

[FlamingRooster]

Sandon ahead of Watson imo

Shame we can’t keep Baker and send E Butcher up to the Broncos

wow... i agree with you

[FlamingRooster]

Looking at everyone's team for next year, we have a problem... We have 24/25 first grade talent trying to get into a first team of 17. I suppose it's a good problem to have, but at the same time, we will most likely lose a few players. I see a lot have written off Suaalii and Crichton for next year, but I reckon they'll play out their contracts, and Gus is yet to sign with RA, so he might yet re-sign; after his end of season form I'd be more than happy to take him back on board. My team to start Rd 1 (assuming JS and Crichton are still here)
1. Teddy
2. Tupou
3. Suaalii/Young
4. Manu
5. Suaalii/ Young
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. JWH
9. Cheese
10. Lindsay
11. Crichton
12. Wong
13. Radley
14. Smith... (really tough for Watson)
15. N. Butcher
16. Leniu
17. May
18. Watson

The unlucky few: Sitili, Naufahu, Billy Smith, Connor Watson, Egan Butcher, J.Pauga, L.Murphy... not to mention any young player that might burst onto the scene. Possible mentions could be Tyler Moriarty, Ethan Roberts, Xavier Va'a, Henare Schuster (who I believe is actually 19 not 20 and already playing NSWRL). Toia would have also obviously been here if not for his ACL.

Though I wouldn't be surprised to see Egan get an undeserved spot there, Robbo see's something in him obviously.