Big Pete
International Captain
- Mar 12, 2008
- 32,097
- 25,712
It's the off-season, I'm starved for Rugby League action so let's discuss some history and get some general thoughts on the last ten seasons. What worked, what didn't work, favourite matches, terrible matches, general impressions on each season - let's do it folks.
2004
Is one of the most underrated seasons in the club's history. After 03, we looked like we were well and truly on the way down with a lot of our players ageing and not a whole lot being done on the recruitment front. In fact, before word of Lockyer's move to five eigth, our halves combination looked like a makeshift pairing between Motu Tony & either Berrigan or Seymour.
However, Bennett made some bold choices and they paid off. The biggest of which was the move of Lockyer to five eigth. If I was an active member on here back then, I reckon I would have written that move off - Lockyer was the world's best fullback and was on track to becoming the Greatest of all Time - why mess with that, especially when the alternative is a utility in Motu Tony...and whatever the hell a Karmichael Hunt was.
Seriously, when I heard of this newbie called Karmichael Hunt, I thought we had signed some pretty-boy hairdresser straight from some posh school (Churchie, close enough) and his opening ten minutes in first grade did little to change my mind. To his credit, he kept getting back up and would go onto have a marvellous year - seriously, who could have predicted that? The 16 year old Australian Schoolboys lock becoming the NRL rookie of the Year, in a year that included SBW - amazing.
Back to Lockyer and while it was clear that he needed some work, particularly with his defence - he really gave us another option in offence and provided Seymour with the support he needed. It's a shame what happened to poor Brett that year - he appeared set for a good season, especially with the performances he put in when Lockyer had that short stint on the sidelines but before we knew it, both he and Barry Berrigan were gone for the season and we were really caught short in two key positions at the business end of the season. I thought Casey McGuire in particular performed an admirable job in the halves but basically any chance we had of being genuine contenders was lost when those two were ruled out.
It was the year we also bid farewell to the Raging Bull and Chief De Vere. While it was sad to see Gordie retire off the bench in his final game in a move that I think caused a bit of bad blood between him and Wayne - I thought he put in a very solid season for us and his leadership during the Origin period was very valuable. One of my favourite memories of that season was this barnstorming try he scored against the Storm in the Round 4 clash at Suncorp - I was there that afternoon and it's still one of the sweetest victories I've experienced @ 18-4 late in the first half, we appeared little chance of taking that one. Losing De Vere when we did sucked too, always a very handy player to have outwide, although his absence did lead to Corey Parker of all people kicking the match winner from the sideline against the Tigers at Suncorp.
Seriously I could write another 20 poorly structured paragraphs around 04 and every other season for that matter. Reminisce with me folks!
2004
Is one of the most underrated seasons in the club's history. After 03, we looked like we were well and truly on the way down with a lot of our players ageing and not a whole lot being done on the recruitment front. In fact, before word of Lockyer's move to five eigth, our halves combination looked like a makeshift pairing between Motu Tony & either Berrigan or Seymour.
However, Bennett made some bold choices and they paid off. The biggest of which was the move of Lockyer to five eigth. If I was an active member on here back then, I reckon I would have written that move off - Lockyer was the world's best fullback and was on track to becoming the Greatest of all Time - why mess with that, especially when the alternative is a utility in Motu Tony...and whatever the hell a Karmichael Hunt was.
Seriously, when I heard of this newbie called Karmichael Hunt, I thought we had signed some pretty-boy hairdresser straight from some posh school (Churchie, close enough) and his opening ten minutes in first grade did little to change my mind. To his credit, he kept getting back up and would go onto have a marvellous year - seriously, who could have predicted that? The 16 year old Australian Schoolboys lock becoming the NRL rookie of the Year, in a year that included SBW - amazing.
Back to Lockyer and while it was clear that he needed some work, particularly with his defence - he really gave us another option in offence and provided Seymour with the support he needed. It's a shame what happened to poor Brett that year - he appeared set for a good season, especially with the performances he put in when Lockyer had that short stint on the sidelines but before we knew it, both he and Barry Berrigan were gone for the season and we were really caught short in two key positions at the business end of the season. I thought Casey McGuire in particular performed an admirable job in the halves but basically any chance we had of being genuine contenders was lost when those two were ruled out.
It was the year we also bid farewell to the Raging Bull and Chief De Vere. While it was sad to see Gordie retire off the bench in his final game in a move that I think caused a bit of bad blood between him and Wayne - I thought he put in a very solid season for us and his leadership during the Origin period was very valuable. One of my favourite memories of that season was this barnstorming try he scored against the Storm in the Round 4 clash at Suncorp - I was there that afternoon and it's still one of the sweetest victories I've experienced @ 18-4 late in the first half, we appeared little chance of taking that one. Losing De Vere when we did sucked too, always a very handy player to have outwide, although his absence did lead to Corey Parker of all people kicking the match winner from the sideline against the Tigers at Suncorp.
Seriously I could write another 20 poorly structured paragraphs around 04 and every other season for that matter. Reminisce with me folks!
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