Thoughts on Season 2011

[Coxy]

He's definitely not going well this season, but that's not uncommon for someone who has such a dominant first season.

 

[Browny]

I think the case with Gillett is that he set the bar too high in his first year and we as fans are expecting him to reach those standards.

I would like him to start on the bench so he can add impact.

 

[Coxy]

I think the case with Gillett is that he set the bar too high in his first year and we as fans are expecting him to reach those standards.

I would like him to start on the bench so he can add impact.

Yep. I think in a way he tries too hard whenever he gets the ball. He feels pressure to do something with every touch. There's nothing at all wrong with taking the ball, tucking it under your arm and just running hard into the defence and getting a PTB fairly quickly. Doesn't need to beat 2 defenders, offload, step, swivel and score everytime he touches it.

Patience young padawan!

 

[Bucking Beads]

Will be interesting to see how gillett is going once our attack becomes more.fluent. He was running much wider last season but is certainly trying a bit too hard

 

[dukey]

Craig Bellamy looks about a decade older than he did in 2009.

 

[dukey]

Also, remember that time Cameron Smith was out in 2008 and Billy Slater was doing a bit of work out of dummy half? At the time, I thought his attempts at passing the football were hilarious. Watching him throwing perfect passes to the ground and Panthers players today, I'm not convinced he's improved any. Bellamy should apply superglue to his palms before he takes the field.

 

[Jeba]

I don't remember a season with such an obvious gap between the top side then the next 2 - 3 sides and the rest.

The Dragons will win this comp more easily than last year, barring injury of course, because the monkey is off their back.

All sides rely too much on structure and the lucky ones have a standout who can play off the back of it, the salary cap destroys every teams identity just that little bit more each year.

I disagree. I think 2010 was one of the worst in memory as far as competitiveness goes. The Dragons were just head and shoulders.

This year is a lot harder for them. Melbourne are the obvious contenders, but I think Tigers, Broncos, Manly, Bulldogs are all showing good signs that they can beat either of them on their day. The Bulldogs took it to the Dragons last week and it could've been a very different story had Boyd not taken that intercept.

As far as the rest of them go:

Eels - look ordinary, spoon contender for sure.
Titans - see above, but capable of upsets here and there
Warriors - they're better than their early season form but very hot and cold
Cowboys - on their day can beat anyone, should make a go of it in the finals
Raiders - look in all sorts, get the feeling they will make a late run but will be too late if they keep up their form
Roosters - look ordinary, will struggle IMO
Knights - could scrape in the 8 but probably easybeats in the first week
Sharks - will upset a few, as have done already, but in the end will be a bit too much for them
Panthers - lot of work to do
Souths - can't contend with their halves

Overall I think this year's competition is a big step up from last year as far as quality goes.

 

[Dexter]

I don't remember a season with such an obvious gap between the top side then the next 2 - 3 sides and the rest.

The Dragons will win this comp more easily than last year, barring injury of course, because the monkey is off their back.

All sides rely too much on structure and the lucky ones have a standout who can play off the back of it, the salary cap destroys every teams identity just that little bit more each year.

I disagree. I think 2010 was one of the worst in memory as far as competitiveness goes. The Dragons were just head and shoulders.

This year is a lot harder for them. Melbourne are the obvious contenders, but I think Tigers, Broncos, Manly, Bulldogs are all showing good signs that they can beat either of them on their day. The Bulldogs took it to the Dragons last week and it could've been a very different story had Boyd not taken that intercept.

As far as the rest of them go:

Eels - look ordinary, spoon contender for sure.
Titans - see above, but capable of upsets here and there
Warriors - they're better than their early season form but very hot and cold
Cowboys - on their day can beat anyone, should make a go of it in the finals
Raiders - look in all sorts, get the feeling they will make a late run but will be too late if they keep up their form
Roosters - look ordinary, will struggle IMO
Knights - could scrape in the 8 but probably easybeats in the first week
Sharks - will upset a few, as have done already, but in the end will be a bit too much for them
Panthers - lot of work to do
Souths - can't contend with their halves

Overall I think this year's competition is a big step up from last year as far as quality goes.

Interesting, but time will tell. I just think the Dragons are cruising, I'm not convinced about Melbourne or us, Dogs are a maybe after their horror last year and Manly are unconvincing too. Tigers can be the other side IMO mostly because Marshall is great



Intyeresting

 

[The Brizz]

My prediction about Widdop being rookie of the year look better all the time, he was absolute class on Sunday!

 

[Jeba]

My prediction about Widdop being rookie of the year look better all the time, he was absolute class on Sunday!

Would he be eligible though having played International League before playing NRL??

EDIT: Just remember he played a few NRL games last year, but still I would've thought playing International Rugby League would make you ineligible for rookie of the year. I could be wrong though!

 

[Anonymous person]

Melbourne are looking the goods this year, as are the broncos if they can get their attack up to scratch, and the dragons. Realistically, at this stage, they're the only teams that have constantly impressed (apart from the dragons in their loss to the sharks) so far.

The tigers could be there in the end if they can get back to a full strength lineup, and the cowboys are looking fantastic, but they have at times thought the last few years too.

 

[The Brizz]

My prediction about Widdop being rookie of the year look better all the time, he was absolute class on Sunday!

Would he be eligible though having played International League before playing NRL??

EDIT: Just remember he played a few NRL games last year, but still I would've thought playing International Rugby League would make you ineligible for rookie of the year. I could be wrong though!

That is why when I picked him I put (if eligible) coz I have no idea how it works?

 

[shaneomac]

april is not the finals though..

with 3-4 teams cruising through early it will take minimal wins in the run home for some of the lagging teams to scrape in the eight. if that team is on a streak of 3-4 wins at that time and playing good footy they are in with a chance.

i would rather broncos cruise the way they are now then hit peak attacking form after origin 3 and really put the pedal down on the run to the finals.

 

[Kimlo]

[quote="The Brizz":3lud0kf9]My prediction about Widdop being rookie of the year look better all the time, he was absolute class on Sunday!

Would he be eligible though having played International League before playing NRL??

EDIT: Just remember he played a few NRL games last year, but still I would've thought playing International Rugby League would make you ineligible for rookie of the year. I could be wrong though!

That is why when I picked him I put (if eligible) coz I have no idea how it works?[/quote:3lud0kf9]
I'm pretty sure it's just 5 1st graded games, super league or not.

 

[mrslong]

The on field Reffing in the majority has been So much better. Particularly because they haven't been sending it upstairs to the Video Ref.

There were two howlers by the Video Ref on the weekend that shouldn't happen. The first: Chris Heighingtons try. He clearly knocked it on. No Try. The second: Johnathan Thurston's try, again, a clear knock on. No Try. Why do they have to go the controvertial option all the time? The only video Ref that I have complete faith in and always makes the most logical decision is Tim Mander.

I was happy with the Yow Yeh no try even though it could have gone our way as you couldn't see him touching the line, it was a 50/50 call.

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if the Rabbits are to make the 8 they need to lose Wesser. I agree now that he is the worst Fullback in the game. [eusa_doh

 

[Porthoz]

if the Rabbits are to make the 8 they need to lose Wesser. I agree now that he is the worst Fullback in the game. [eusa_doh

Better late than never! [icon_razz1