General Season 2024 summary and thoughts

[kos]

Slade Griffin replaced Morgan but Webby did away with the Attack based assistant coach/Defense based assistant coach and went with Backs focused/Forwards focused assistants.

As for Stacey, Webby compared him to a NFL Special Teams coordinator, and that he specialises with the Halves/Spine and 5th tackle options.. If that is the case, I have no fucking idea what Stacey has done all year

Dare I say Trent Barrett could be a worthy addition to the staff somewhere? By most accounts he is a good assistant, just can't be a head coach to save his life

Would be a real slap in the face to Brownie for us to win a prem with Barrett on the staff too

Bazz is heading to Bronco s to assist Kevvie as an assistant coach

 

[Beastmode]

If I learnt anything last night - it’s how bad our kicking is on attack.

The doggies schooled us on how to put near perfect grubbers on the 4th, and how to contest bombs.

We have absolutely zero imagination with how to use kicking as a weapon.
Our kicks are so one dimensional and predictable. So frustrating to watch us get taken apart through Flukey arse kicks. Three 50/50 tries from the doggies through Cricton from the bomb and two grabbers fucked us last night. Not to mention that ridiculously good 40/20.

Webster needs to sort this mess out in the preseason. Can’t afford another season of aimless pathetic kicks.

 

[Beastmode]

And while I am ranting when was the last time Marcello caught a ball from a bomb to score???? Can’t for the life of me remember. DWZ I remember the acrobatic display against the dragons last year. But that’s it.
Crichton contest and scored against us last night. Remind me what position he plays?? Center. When was the last time we saw Pompey or RTS contest a bomb on attack???? Asking. For a friend

Our strategy to hand over possession on the 5th and just pin them down in the 20 until they make an error is a flawed and stupid strategy from Andrew Webster.

What’s even worse is he openly shared that strategy and approach in various interviews

 

[Aman 2.0]

Worst season in living memeory.

The losses the Titans and Eels were absolutely devastating.

The injuries were just cruel and we had no momentum at any stage of the season.

Webster was caught between a rock and hard place all year with the constant shuffling.

The officiating was diabolical but made worse because the bad calls made it so much harder when we needed a break the most.

Constantly winning the arm wrestle and dominating for large parts of the game just for the opposition to score length of the field trys at will was heartbreaking.

RTS and CHT having nightmare return seasons will be forever seared in my memory.

SJ losing 10 straight games and playing the worst footy of the his career in his last season . Sigh.

Winning 3 of 10 sold out home games. Wow

Losing all the goodwill and momentum from last year with fans.

The whole fucking AFB thing and then Jazz leaving, SJ retiring, Bunty moving ona nd possibly Walker leaving as well like that. Sad.


Honestly - worst season in history for me

 

[Aman 2.0]

If I learnt anything last night - it’s how bad our kicking is on attack.

The doggies schooled us on how to put near perfect grubbers on the 4th, and how to contest bombs.

We have absolutely zero imagination with how to use kicking as a weapon.
Our kicks are so one dimensional and predictable. So frustrating to watch us get taken apart through Flukey arse kicks. Three 50/50 tries from the doggies through Cricton from the bomb and two grabbers fucked us last night. Not to mention that ridiculously good 40/20.

Webster needs to sort this mess out in the preseason. Can’t afford another season of aimless pathetic kicks.

Do you think it’s Webster or the 250 game veteran controlling the team out there?

Surely he can see the opposition jamming up in wet slippery conditions and he could try early grubbers behind the line.

 

[Beastmode]

Do you think it’s Webster or the 250 game veteran controlling the team out there?

Surely he can see the opposition jamming up in wet slippery conditions and he could try early grubbers behind the line.

Probably both Y

But the buck stops with the coach

 

[Inruin]

Probably both Y

But the buck stops with the coach

A few weeks ago we had a halve who apparently has a poor kicking game getting 3 try assists and a try from his kicks.... For some reason SJ has completely lost his ability to play what's in front of him.

 

[Buzz Killington]

2024 was an amazing season for about 20minutes into the sharks game..... Then it all just turned to shit!
We had some patches, both good and bad. But when it came to luck, man we had none! Injuries, injuries and more injuries!

Now I'm not about to blame the refs for our season. BUT the state of officiating for the entire NRL is abysmal!
Currently the NRL might be doing wonderfully financially, but as a completion t is soo broken.
I loved league because it used to be a game of strategy and skill. Now its a game of momentum and milking. Repeat set, repeat set, injured player.

Control of how the game is played needs to be given to a true blue league-mind and not a money hungry business man. The speed of the game and the load on the players is really too much. The way the rules are interpreted is too grey, so it looks very corrupt to some people.
There were some articles with Wayne Bennett during the year. He was trying to offer ideas to fix the state of the game. The NRL needs a boss like him, to look after game only. Who cares about Vegas when the game is so broken and rules can be bent to suit from moment to moment.

Wayne Bennett calls for major overhaul in NRL officiating standards

The veteran coach has highlighted the issues of fairness and consistency in refereeing in the NRL.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Beastmode]

2024 was an amazing season for about 20minutes into the sharks game..... Then it all just turned to shit!
We had some patches, both good and bad. But when it came to luck, man we had none! Injuries, injuries and more injuries!

Now I'm not about to blame the refs for our season. BUT the state of officiating for the entire NRL is abysmal!
Currently the NRL might be doing wonderfully financially, but as a completion t is soo broken.
I loved league because it used to be a game of strategy and skill. Now its a game of momentum and milking. Repeat set, repeat set, injured player.

Control of how the game is played needs to be given to a true blue league-mind and not a money hungry business man. The speed of the game and the load on the players is really too much. The way the rules are interpreted is too grey, so it looks very corrupt to some people.
There were some articles with Wayne Bennett during the year. He was trying to offer ideas to fix the state of the game. The NRL needs a boss like him, to look after game only. Who cares about Vegas when the game is so broken and rules can be bent to suit from moment to moment.

Wayne Bennett calls for major overhaul in NRL officiating standards

The veteran coach has highlighted the issues of fairness and consistency in refereeing in the NRL.

www.zerotackle.com

With sports betting there’s too much $$$$ at stake.
If people really wanted to fix the game they would take $$$ out of the equation. It will never happen until the underground racketeering is uncovered and stopped.
People would have to be absolutely clueless if they think refs and players can’t be bought.

 

[Wrighty]

Worst season in living memeory.

The losses the Titans and Eels were absolutely devastating.

The injuries were just cruel and we had no momentum at any stage of the season.

Webster was caught between a rock and hard place all year with the constant shuffling.

The officiating was diabolical but made worse because the bad calls made it so much harder when we needed a break the most.

Constantly winning the arm wrestle and dominating for large parts of the game just for the opposition to score length of the field trys at will was heartbreaking.

RTS and CHT having nightmare return seasons will be forever seared in my memory.

SJ losing 10 straight games and playing the worst footy of the his career in his last season . Sigh.

Winning 3 of 10 sold out home games. Wow

Losing all the goodwill and momentum from last year with fans.

The whole fucking AFB thing and then Jazz leaving, SJ retiring, Bunty moving ona nd possibly Walker leaving as well like that. Sad.


Honestly - worst season in history for me

The tone of this post is fine. Your posts dissing SJ on his retirement day yesterday getting stuck into him have been noted by everyone and will not be forgotten or forgiven.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

A few weeks ago we had a halve who apparently has a poor kicking game getting 3 try assists and a try from his kicks.... For some reason SJ has completely lost his ability to play what's in front of him.

I put it down to the body failing him

When your an older half and youve lost your speed and your step you fall back on structure. That bodies in motion structure worked wonders last year cause it worked to players strengths (and tbh probably hid a few deficiencies, particulary the lack of speed and strike out wide) and was the last thing opposition expected from a historically undisciplined side.

Problem with structure tho is it can get worked out. And oppositions did their home work over the off season by the looks of it and were shutting down our shifts with ease. Probably Webbys greatest misjudgement this season thinking he could just roll out the same plays as last season without any change up......rookie error but he seems grounded enough to address his failings.

But yes for a player who used to get a lot of shit for not being able to play to structure its quite ironic come the end of his career he's still getting shit for doing exactly that.....lol dude cant win,,,,,,still a champion warrior in my books tho.

 

[Aman 2.0]

The tone of this post is fine. Your posts dissing SJ on his retirement day yesterday getting stuck into him have been noted by everyone and will not be forgotten or forgiven.

Oh no, I'm absolutely shaking in my boots knowing you're out there, holding a grudge from the time I dissed SJ! Just waiting for you to come at me with that ancient cricket bat. How will I ever sleep at night!

 

[Beastmode]

A few weeks ago we had a halve who apparently has a poor kicking game getting 3 try assists and a try from his kicks.... For some reason SJ has completely lost his ability to play what's in front of him.

I say let the man retire in peace.
I will selfishly only remember the good things about SJ. Good memories are had to come by at this club.. A diamond in the rough. So cherish these good memories like your life depended on it

 

[Inruin]

I say let the man retire in peace.
I will selfishly only remember the good things about SJ. Good memories are had to come by at this club.. A diamond in the rough. So cherish these good memories like your life depended on it

You can't make comments about how bad our kicking game is when SJ is the player that is doing the kicking and then say leave the man retire in peace!

 

[Beastmode]

You can't make comments about how bad our kicking game is when SJ is the player that is doing the kicking and then say leave the man retire in peace!

I told you
It’s the coaches fault

 

[Wrighty]

I say let the man retire in peace.
I will selfishly only remember the good things about SJ. Good memories are had to come by at this club.. A diamond in the rough. So cherish these good memories like your life depended on it

Yes he has the common sense to realise that Father time has struck twelve o'clock. Would deserve flack if he played on next year and dished out the same. But he hasn't done that. He was great last year and he and everyone else have been caught off guard by his ineffectiveness this year. Part of which I am convinced was people studying tape of him ad nauseum. At the start of this season opposition players were keying on him in the red zone. They would sprint out of the line straight to him before he got the ball whether he was 1st receiver or 2nd receiver and make it impossible for him to operate. Things sort of affected his confidence from there.

 

[Beastmode]

Oh no, I'm absolutely shaking in my boots knowing you're out there, holding a grudge from the time I dissed SJ! Just waiting for you to come at me with that ancient cricket bat. How will I ever sleep at night!

Aman 2.0

You really remind me of my kids
So innocently stubborn.
Just take your punishment like a man and accept it

 

[Aman 2.0]

Aman 2.0

You really remind me of my kids
So innocently stubborn.
Just take your punishment like a man and accept it

Haha fuck not you again

 

[Davo]

Watching the post match presser it`s abundantly clear that Webster is seething with the inconsistencies of this group of players who despite long periods of territorial dominance throw the initiative away with lapses in concentration untimely errors and plain ineptitude in attack. Plus they have aside from a few close games been found out by more hungry and organised sides. I just knew this year that we weren`t going to make it. it was palpable.
Overall my feeling of this season has been of incredulity, aside from the horrible injury toll, bad officiating there`s been a lack of venom/ conviction in both our attack and defence. Something has happened to this squad , which maybe will never come to public light, but on the showing of last season ,the confidence, the will to compete, and composure shown has dipped. Luck wasn`t often on our side.
The spine didn`t fire and I think the bringing in of CHT, which I understood was as a backup, and outside in the backs of RTS, was in hindsight a mistake, admittedly driven by circumstances.
CNK and Egan`s dropping off in form is perplexing and frankly I don`t understand TMM`s game at all and where he features next year. Metcalf just looks lightweight for the rigours of a seasons FG.
SJ is a tough one to swallow. He`s a legend and will be remembered by all fondly for those great moments, but it`s definitely his time to move on.
I can`t see how the current backs select themselves for 2025. I can`t but hopefully Webby can.
On a side note. There`s something really special about this franchise that strikes to the core. When it`s on, it`s on and there`s not much that I enjoy more than watching at Mt Smart, home of rugby, or on TV. Great crowd of people.
Let`s back webby into next year and a hopefully much brighter 2025.

 

[Teets]

I feel like Tohu finally falling off the cliff has been an underrated aspect of our demise this year.

He conducted our 2023 gameplan as much as SJ. If he didn't like what was on outside, he tucked and carried. If the defence tried to push out early he put a prop through on an inside shoulder. Him and Egan shortened the middle up superbly, and Tohu was usually the spear of those diamond shapes. On top of all the warhorse stuff.

Walkz filled in well but didn't have the same command imo.

Besides that, a combination of everything everyone's already said.

-Too old.
-Too slow.
-Too many busted or banged up.
-Too many distractions (is AFB leaving, where's RTS playing etc...)
-A bit of 2nd year syndrome.
-Young guys not quite ready
- Over-reliance on AFB, Barney.
- Lack of top tier kicking game.
- Defensive resilience evaporating.