2025 Positivity

[Brownrabbit]

Looking forward to our right side with CG and Ty I can see plenty of points there as well.

Club should work with CG during this offseason to develop a Gidley flick.

CGs a big lad who draws in defenders. Get Ty Ty in the clear and it’s Bye Bye

According to SEN League we didn't have a halfback in the top 17 for 2024. As there are only 17 NRL teams that is not good, especially for such an important position. Has that ever happened before? That will change for 2025 with Dodd at 7. Should be a good combo in our halves with Dodd and Cody and a good way to start our sets next season.

I think Dodd has the potential to work himself into the top 8 halfbacks by season’s end

I don’t expect a scintillating start. He will need to adjust to the NRLs speed and lack of space. But he has the skillset to succeed

The puzzle is do we sacrifice our left side attack by making him comfortable over there. Or does Wayne let Cody return to being Cody on the left?

Will be interesting to watch the first ball work sessions to see what Wayne runs with

 

[Brownrabbit]

Milne might get that gig?

This is the positivity thread.

There’s apparently another thread for pessimists like you

 

[Training_The_House_Down]

This has been an interesting thread to read.

It has reinforced the absolute shitshow our injuries have been over the last 18 months in particular.

I knew that Latrell only played 11 games this year but the number of games by Jai and Tats was telling.

I think we're all really wishing for a season where the discussion isn't "if only" around injuries.

And I think Trent Elkin will help deliver that. Parramatta looked fit druing his tenure there.

If we can get close to our top 17 on the field for extended periods next season, and we have a decent preparation (pre-season) then there's no reason that roster can't deliver a top 4 finish next year.

I mean:
Latrell
Ty Ty
Wighton
Stretch
Mellars(?)
Cody
Dodd
Tats
Mamo/Humphries (I'm still not convinced Mamo will be our starting 9 next year)
Koloa
Aitken
Duncan
Murray
Ilias/Humphries (one of these 2 will be our 14 next year IMO)
Arrow
Shaq
Schuster

That's not a bad team, with people like Keppie & Havili knocking on the door

(and I've probably missed someone in that 17)

I wouldn’t rule Ryan Gray out getting an opportunity, he seems to be steadily improving in reserves, a real standout last year, he could thrive under Wayne
He’d have to wait obviously because he’s outside the top 30

 

[olBj]

I wouldn’t rule Ryan Gray out getting an opportunity, he seems to be steadily improving in reserves, a real standout last year, he could thrive under Wayne
He’d have to wait obviously because he’s outside the top 30

He certainly has advanced his case, especially standing out in a rag tag cup side.
Surely some other DHD (dummy half deprived) clubs would have him on their radar at least as backup.
I hope he makes it to 1st grade ... unlikely for us but at least somewhere.
I only say unlike for us given our glut of 9 and 14 options.
But if Illias moves on, who knows eh?

 

[CCR]

I’m excited about Wighton’s second year here and him actually getting to play out a season alongside Graham in the centres.

For all intents and purposes, we have recruited 2 top 10 centres to the side for 2025. Given Graham didn’t feature and Wighton only lined up there for half a dozen games.

Then off the field, I like his ability to be a bit of a link between the Murray side of the squad and the Cody/Latrell side of the squad.

He’s good for culture and leading drills/setting a standard, etc, and considering how last year went, I’m sure he’ll be empowered to perhaps be more vocal through the preseason.

Using that thinking, on the new recruits front, in addition to Dodd, Aitken, Schuster, Humphreys and Hubner, you can theoretically add Graham, Tatola, Ilias, Munro, S Mitchell, Mellars, Fletcher, and Lovett as newbies in 2025 given they played 6 or less games in 2024.

Throw in Tass, Arrow, Wighton (as a centre) and Mitchell if you like, given they only lined up 8-11 times, so less than half the year.

Combined team, 2025 recruits and 2024 squad who played 11 games or less:

01 L Mitchell (11 Games)
02 Munro (4 Games)
03 Wighton (8 Games At Centre)
04 Graham
05 Mellars
06 Dodd
07 Ilias (2 Games)
08 Tatola (6 Games)
09 Humphreys
10 S Mitchell (6 Games)
11 Aitken
12 Schuster
13 Arrow (11 Games)

14 Hubner
15 Lovett
16 Fletcher
17 Tass (8 Games)

Pretty good side of reinforcements.

If Mitchell misses another half season I hope the club reviews the value we get out of him as our marquee player.

 

[olBj]

This is the Positivity thread.

There are a plenty of other threads to post this in.

While I dont agree with BossHoss's comment, to be fair to him he was replying to a comment posted in this thread.
So I dont think the black and white rule applies without exception?

 

[Kempy]

According to SEN League we didn't have a halfback in the top 17 for 2024. As there are only 17 NRL teams that is not good, especially for such an important position. Has that ever happened before? That will change for 2025 with Dodd at 7. Should be a good combo in our halves with Dodd and Cody and a good way to start our sets next season.

Those lists don’t mean much right now for 2025. Do a list halfway through next season and you’ll see it very different. If we are still down the list then we can have concerns.

 

[Pplspoet]

As things stand right now, we’ll go into close to every game next year with a weaker 7 and 9 than the opposition.

Sure 2 of our guys can fix that by going well, but that’s to be seen.

 

[Bruster]

While I dont agree with BossHoss's comment, to be fair to him he was replying to a comment posted in this thread.
So I dont think the black and white rule applies without exception?

I didn't agree either but the comment was fair. It is all about the place for it. Some food goes in the cupboard and some goes in the fridge.

 

[Bruster]

As things stand right now, we’ll go into close to every game next year with a weaker 7 and 9 than the opposition.

I think we will go a lot better in the middle next season, especially if we sign another big forward like Matt Lodge. That will go a long way to adding to the performance and effectiveness of our 7 and 9.

Sure 2 of our guys can fix that by going well, but that’s to be seen.

Isn't that like saying that we can fix our injury problems by not getting injured?

 

[BossHoss]

According to SEN League we didn't have a halfback in the top 17 for 2024. As there are only 17 NRL teams that is not good, especially for such an important position. Has that ever happened before? That will change for 2025 with Dodd at 7. Should be a good combo in our halves with Dodd and Cody and a good way to start our sets next season.

So you think Dodd will star in the NRL? That remains to be seen. I reckon Humphries will end up being our no. 7.

 

[Pplspoet]

Both Lewis Dodd and Jamie Humphreys aren’t sure things (if we’re being realistic - not negative).

We’re just as likely to be looking for a long term halfback in 12 to 18 months time as we are that one of them is ‘the guy’.

We’ve only had 1 of those (a long term 7) in what, 30 years?

Coleman and Reynolds are it since I’ve been watching the team.

So the assumption that whichever kid we throw in there will ‘probably be the guy’… history is certainly against that.

And it’s not like we’ve gone to the top of the barrel for either of them, so it’ll be fortunate if one of them does end up owning it (fingers crossed).

If they come up short and Matt Humphries doesn’t solve the situation after them, I hope the club just go to market and splash a mill on a sure thing.

Back on positivity - Ilias, Flanagan, and Croft, etc of late have shown that not having an elite 7 doesn’t need to stop a good side going deep into finals.

 

[Training_The_House_Down]

Both Lewis Dodd and Jamie Humphreys aren’t sure things (if we’re being realistic - not negative).

We’re just as likely to be looking for a long term halfback in 12 to 18 months time as we are that one of them is ‘the guy’.

We’ve only had 1 of those (a long term 7) in what, 30 years?

Coleman and Reynolds are it since I’ve been watching the team.

So the assumption that whichever kid we throw in there will ‘probably be the guy’… history is certainly against that.

And it’s not like we’ve gone to the top of the barrel for either of them, so it’ll be fortunate if one of them does end up owning it (fingers crossed).

If they come up short and Matt Humphries doesn’t solve the situation after them, I hope the club just go to market and splash a mill on a sure thing.

Back on positivity - Ilias, Flanagan, and Croft, etc of late have shown that not having an elite 7 doesn’t need to stop a good side going deep into finals.

On a positive note, a lot of clubs seem to be struggling to find that long term generational playmaker

 

[olBj]

Both Lewis Dodd and Jamie Humphreys aren’t sure things (if we’re being realistic - not negative).

We’re just as likely to be looking for a long term halfback in 12 to 18 months time as we are that one of them is ‘the guy’.

We’ve only had 1 of those (a long term 7) in what, 30 years?

Coleman and Reynolds are it since I’ve been watching the team.

So the assumption that whichever kid we throw in there will ‘probably be the guy’… history is certainly against that.

And it’s not like we’ve gone to the top of the barrel for either of them, so it’ll be fortunate if one of them does end up owning it (fingers crossed).

If they come up short and Matt Humphries doesn’t solve the situation after them, I hope the club just go to market and splash a mill on a sure thing.

Back on positivity - Ilias, Flanagan, and Croft, etc of late have shown that not having an elite 7 doesn’t need to stop a good side going deep into finals.

History does suggest you may be correct.
However, at least we have:
- good coach(es)
- potent backline
- plenty of experience to guide and support within the team
SO, as long as the forwards do their job and give us some dominance, it should be a great environment to step into.
If either of them have any talent (as they appear to), then one of them has a great chance to shine.
At least Dodd has some solid form in ESL.
I still in the very positive camp for halfback.

 

[Bruster]

So you think Dodd will star in the NRL? That remains to be seen. I reckon Humphries will end up being our no. 7.

My point was that we didn't have a 7 rated in the top 17 in the NRL, according to SEN. That is not great when there are 17 teams. Dodd will definately improve that but at this stage I wouldn't say a star, however we also didn't pay "star money" for him either. He definately has the kicking game for those last play options that we desperately need if we want to be a factor in 2025. With Humphreys, I wouldn't be surprised if he finished up our 9, but of course PM will get the first shot to impress.