Will 2025 be 2016 all over again

[ChookMaster]

Now that 2024 campaign is over my mindset has immediately switched to 2025 which NORMALLY brings excitement and hope however this year I am feeling anxious and nervous.

Our spine is a huge problem leading into the year.. do we have any confidence in Sandon and Townsend? Where do you think they can take us realistically?

Our forward pack seems to have a few on here worried… Collins our new leader has gone backwards??

If 2025 is something similar to 2016 will it be the last of T Robbo?

[Mr Whippet]

I think 2025 will be astonishing, and that's an absolute truth.

[FlamingRooster]

There’s a big difference between Sandon and Townsend and Guerra and Hastings as halves pair.

[worldbe3]

It is what it is, sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards. I’d rather they give game time to
young players like Toia, Elliott, Va’a etc than sign a bunch of mediocre vets and try and tread water.

16 was terrible but at least it saw the emergence of Latrell, Manu and others

[Bates]

So what happened to the war chest and that $3.5 million we had to spend according to Buzz and Co?

[BTRD]

I have zero confidence in the coach - to much talk. He seems to of learnt nothing these past 5 years. I could be wrong thou.

Fingers crossed we can do alright. Just gotta get the defense sorted big time.

How good were the Panthers in stopping J Hughes - against us he ALWAYS cuts us to shreds.

[Vasco]

So what happened to the war chest and that $3.5 million we had to spend according to Buzz and Co?

I reckon that will be spent for 2026.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I can't remember what happened in 2016, but if we make the top 8 next year we will be doing well.

[caz]

there are definite comparisons between 2016 and 2025. in 2016 we had a lot of players leaving - jenko, rts, maloney etc and lost pearce for the first 8 games and lost cordner for the first 7 games. in 2025 we're losing a lot of experience and walker and brandon smith will be out for longer then pearce and cordner.
but i'm hoping it will be like 2021 when we made the finals despite injuries.

[ChookMaster]

I can't remember what happened in 2016, but if we make the top 8 next year we will be doing well.

Played shithouse most of the year. Got hammered by the better teams and ended up finishing second last.

[Chook2]

We lost 8-10 games by less then 6 points that year If we had one those we would have finished top 4
we had no goal kicker and lost some very influential players who weren’t filled by good players
we were one of the best 2nd last teams ever

[Bates]

I reckon that will be spent for 2026.

I thought clubs had to spend at least 97% of their salary cap every season.

[Rooster_6]

I thought clubs had to spend at least 97% of their salary cap every season.

They'll just front load contracts if needed.

[Rooster_6]

I can't remember what happened in 2016, but if we make the top 8 next year we will be doing well.

[Bates]

They'll just front load contracts if needed.

How does that work?