Looking back at the bottom 8

[I bleed Maroon]

16. Newcastle - Not that unsurprising I guess, although they certainly have improved since last year and maybe just maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel and they need to get the best out of the likes of SKD and their new recruit Herman Ese Ese. Many would argue they didn't deserve the spoon which is a plus worth walking away with. Also have one of the best supporter groups in the comp who refuse to turn on their club no matter how shit the weather gets.

15. Gold Coast - On the other end of the spectrum, the club that probably DID deserve it. Down a coach, up an arrogant cancerous has been on too much money, a nightmare situation for the club off field and a young halves pairing that is inevitably going to struggle under the weight of immense expectation. Their situation now is arguably worse than Newcastle last year, and that is a troubling thought.

14. Wests Tigers - Also down a coach, losing dead weight like Aaron Woods next year, however the loss of Tedesco is one that stings. Let's hope the club actually give Cleary a chance to clean up the mess instead of expecting miracles. Now that their best player is walking, now is as good a time as any for a comprehensive cleanout.

13. NZ Warriors - Basically repeating ourselves about this mob at this point. Every year you would expect things to get better, and they never do. Their predictability in being underwhelming is impressive in its own right. The culture stinks like a tip and they need help fast. Throw a couple of mill at a Bellamy or a Toovey to whip the place bloody.

12. South Sydney - Lol@$ouffs. Pinning all your hopes on a Burgess. What did you expect to happen.

11. Bulldogs - Terrible squad, equally terrible offensive ability and a coach who has well and truly switched off. Another side that needs a nice cleanout once Des inevitably throws the door off its hinges and walks. Lock up your daughters for a couple of seasons yet.

10. Canberra - Easily the most underwhelming side of the year. That squad should not be outside the 8, let alone in 10th, but such is the Sticky Stuart effect. The man is a ball and chain, and the club is held hostage in their own minds by the fact he's a club legend. Get rid of him fast and get a half decent coach in there to get that squad to where it should be. Going from 2nd to 10th is just laughable.

9. Dragons - Tripped at the last hurdle. Classic Dragons. The Northman owe you a few beers for that one. Oust the Doust indeed, and send his skinhead girlfriend off with him. Congrats on the April Premiership, I guess.

 

[Super Freak]

Knights won't win the spoon next year. They won't make the finals, but they won't win the spoon either.

Canberra, seems to me the problem extends beyond the coach. The players should be taking a hard look at themselves in the mirror because it's been nothing but boneheaded mistakes after boneheaded mistakes from their most experienced players.

 

[Foordy]

If Gagai does bring his origin form to clubland it will be at the Rabbitohs not the Knights

 

[JayPee]

Gagai never doesnt put in for the knights. Its just he is asked to do alot more at club level or tries to hard. I dont think particularly he is a great weapon just at qld his sole job is to finish tries and run like a mad man from his own end. Also a different kettle of fish getting the ball from qld halves.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

If Gagai does bring his origin form to clubland it will be at the Rabbitohs not the Knights

Noted

 

[BroncsFan]

10. Canberra - Easily the most underwhelming side of the year. That squad should not be outside the 8, let alone in 10th, but such is the Sticky Stuart effect. The man is a ball and chain, and the club is held hostage in their own minds by the fact he's a club legend. Get rid of him fast and get a half decent coach in there to get that squad to where it should be. Going from 2nd to 10th is just laughable.

Agree 100% and in its current state I can't say that I rate Canberra all that much... I just see them as an extremely streaky team with inability to defend in the tough times. I think they also read a fair chunk of hype, or maybe just BJ, as a lot of ball went his way and a lot of it was forced trying to manufacture something.

It's a typical Ricky Stuart team full of centres and second rowers and I have issues with this team top to bottom.

1. Wighton typical sticky selection. Picks an athletic strong centre then moves him away from his strengths and tries to turn him into a ballplayer. I'd have him in the centres
2. Cotric no issues with him. Apparently his preferred positions are centre and fullback. Might be a better option than wighton.
3. Croker. No issues although I think his defence is suspect
4. BJ appears a dickhead of the highest order also looks a cancer on the playing group, as evidenced by his on field abuse of Austin for not passing him the ball.
5. Rapana best winger in the comp and does absolutely everything in his power to get them across the line every week
6. Austin great attacking threat but needs to pick his moments and needs to add variety to his game
7. Sezer has gone so far backwards since moving to Canberra was one of the best halves coming through and has turned into a robot that offers zero attacking threat
9. Hodgson looks a quality player but it appears the offence was tinkered to move away from him as a focal point. Needs to be more involved but still provide some balance, at the moment he fluctuates from one spectrum to the other and is either in everything or nothing.
10. Boyd is massive but hardly seems to provide impact in defence or attack and doesn't play long minutes have no idea what Ricky's plan is for him.
8. Paulo see above although he's at least visible on the field at times
11. Papa absolute beast but is only utilised sporadically by their offence
12. Whitehead looks a solid player but again not involved enough in the attack
13. Tapine looks a prospect but again used poorly... Often given the workhorse role despite having great footwork and offload.

14. Bateman why just why... Way undersized to be playing in the middle
15. Dave one of the ones actually used correctly with short stints in the middle, but the big coal train didn't like it and has bailed to Toronto
16. Soliola again used incorrectly. Is an 80 minute forward who provides great work ethic, impact and quality all game long but is started from the bench
17. Baptiste why?? You've got a quality 80min hooker you don't need another one on the bench for 15mins

To me it appears Canberra for some reason moved away from everything that worked last year and decided to make their right side the focal point of attack. Whenever they were in trouble they forced it to the right and tried to manufacture trys. To me BJ would be gone he looks a sulking cancer out there; openly abused players on the field, constantly not passing to rapana and trying to go himself, showed poor work ethic bringing it out of his own end, gives away horrendous penalties and errors from forced offloads and was an absolute liability in defence (seriously Moga looks like bowman next to BJ).

I'd have wighton in centres where he could be a weapon and maybe cotric at fullback as I believe he was a standout there in the 20's.

Sezer, Austin and Hodgson need to work together to create a balanced attack. There is just no fluidity between them as a spine yet they compliment each other's game perfectly.

Forward pack just needs to be rotated better with Bateman gone from the middle. I'd have priest over him who looks a better size, and tapine on the bench (although he looks more a second rower rather than a prop). Their starting props can play more minutes and aren't providing any impact despite being absolute monsters

Soli should be starting and playing 80. I'd have him at lock, with tapine moulded into the role for the future.

Apologies for the monster post but I just hate how many plaudits they get when there are so many glaring issues in the strategy and lineups.

To me Ricky is just an absolute hack as a coach who buys body types and ends up with a team of athletic centres and second rowers and coached to have zero attacking potency. How they are the 3rd best attack must be purely based on individual brilliance, because they run around like headless chooks when they're on the field. Reminds me of sharks under Ricky when they had zero creativity inside the 20. Imagine how deadly they'd be under a functioning attack that plays to strengths.

They look mentally soft as well just a soft underbelly when a game gets tight. Headlined by BJ who appears happier to sulk in the corner and argue with everyone rather than actually putting in for his team

 

[tommy]

as evidenced by his on field abuse of Austin for not passing him the ball

When did this happen? Any footage of said incident?

 

[BroncsFan]

When did this happen? Any footage of said incident?

Below article might be referring to it and there is footage. Austin made a clean break and dummied to BJ and went himself only to get tackled. BJ then picks it up from dummy half and somehow gets a try but should've been spread along the back line.

BJ then appears to call Austin a fucking selfish ****. A couple weeks later Austin is playing on the other side of the field

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rug...-the-green-machine-cares-20170626-gwyfyi.html