General Will 2025 be our year?

Never say never, as 2023 was pegged to be a disaster of a year and look how it turned out. However it feels like next year will almost certainly be a rebuild, unless we are able to buy some serious talent in the off season which is unlikely. Especially if we lose Walker and are unable to recruit in time to replace him.

Before we're too hard on Webby and the club, Covid was devastating to our club and we're still feeling its effects. In a couple more years if the club continues to be managed the way it has, we will have far more youth to draw on. Unfortunately as it is, the stocks are limited and especially the spine where we need it most.

What hurt most about the eels game is it was SJ's chance to come back and show he still has it. Since he doesn't, and no one else seems to either, we don't have a good half for next year so we're fucked.
 
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Before we're too hard on Webby and the club, Covid was devastating to our club and we're still feeling its effects. In a couple more years if the club continues to be managed the way it has, we will have far more youth to draw on. Unfortunately as it is, the stocks are limited and especially the spine where we need it most.
True.
We had no NSW team at any level and yes, bless Redcliffe for taking some of our not-picked-for-NRL-this-Round players, but rightly enough they chose their development and improvement as being more important than ours.
Never ignore comments about how players built up their playing combination starting Jersey Flegg/SG Ball/whatever.
You cannot expect young/inexperienced players who've not played together much/at all to suddenly click perfectly at NRL level. Even if they have played together - AL and MGT - things might not click for a while or ever...
 
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Not next year, but we need to show improvement. We need to be a top 8 team even if it’s just sneaking in.

We look like a team that believed it’s own hype coming off the back of last season. We look like a team that just thought we needed to turn up. There is a good team there. We proved it with good efforts against some top teams then we switch off against teams we should beat.

Hopefully some tough lessons will be taken from this. The arrival of JFH will likely see a attitude change across the playing group.
 
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Not next year, but we need to show improvement. We need to be a top 8 team even if it’s just sneaking in.

We look like a team that believed it’s own hype coming off the back of last season. We look like a team that just thought we needed to turn up. There is a good team there. We proved it with good efforts against some top teams then we switch off against teams we should beat.

Hopefully some tough lessons will be taken from this. The arrival of JFH will likely see a attitude change across the playing group.
I think you've hit the nail on the head there.
 
Not next year, but we need to show improvement. We need to be a top 8 team even if it’s just sneaking in.

We look like a team that believed it’s own hype coming off the back of last season. We look like a team that just thought we needed to turn up. There is a good team there. We proved it with good efforts against some top teams then we switch off against teams we should beat.

Hopefully some tough lessons will be taken from this. The arrival of JFH will likely see an attitude change across the playing group.
Well said.
I think we have enough quality players at the club to turn it around.
 
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Thats why the "hunter turning to being hunted" talk was premature. Noone hunts you for finishing top 4. Noone cares, especially after it occuring once every blue moon. The only team that is hunted are the champs. Noone else. Its certainly not a top 4 team who didnt beat any other top 4 teams last year.

Last year was an anomally.
I feel like we get hunted for an easy 2 points though.
 
Not next year, but we need to show improvement. We need to be a top 8 team even if it’s just sneaking in.

We look like a team that believed it’s own hype coming off the back of last season. We look like a team that just thought we needed to turn up. There is a good team there. We proved it with good efforts against some top teams then we switch off against teams we should beat.

Hopefully some tough lessons will be taken from this. The arrival of JFH will likely see a attitude change across the playing group.
Imo we have become a bunch of soft cocks. We as fans are also looking for excuses and reasons but ffs harden up.
Nothing wrong with old fashioned grit and determination which we are sadly lacking.
 
Imo we have become a bunch of soft cocks. We as fans are also looking for excuses and reasons but ffs harden up.
Nothing wrong with old fashioned grit and determination which we are sadly lacking.
100%. On Friday night after the first 20 the eels just ran harder and played with more desperation.
 
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Imo we have become a bunch of soft cocks. We as fans are also looking for excuses and reasons but ffs harden up.
Nothing wrong with old fashioned grit and determination which we are sadly lacking.
Attitude
Has AW lost the dressing room?
Similar to Gc Bronco s game
Broncos turned up for 30 min only apart from Carrigan
 
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After the year we had last year, I would've said this year was our window. I think that window has somewhat shut despite us gaining JFH. I don't think he's anywhere near the talent AFB is and I think the culture difference JFH will bring won't be immediate (could even take a couple years).

I think next year will be more of a rebuilding year. Zyon Maiu’u, Laban, Ali, Kali, Pasikala, Ieremia, Tafua and Taufa-Graham need make progress towards becoming first graders.

Halasima and Sifakula need to establish themselves as regular selections by mid season.

Luke Metcalf needs to take the leap into one of our best players and stay injury free. This team is not going anywhere without a good half.

Overall I'd expect a 9-12 finish next year.
 
With the spine and backs we have no.

Forwards will be fine in 2025 and the young guys coming through that look like they can play FG are mainly forwards. With our spine Egan has regressed. If he could get back to 2023 form then we have a better chance.

Our halves are just not good enough. Metcalf may kick on but he has only played 23 FG games so still has a shitload to learn. TMM plays some good in patches but he kicks like he has a carrot stuck up his arse. CHT is and likely always will be a journeyman. SJ looks like he has developed Obsessive-compulsive disorder and can only pass and kick the same way in every game.

With our Fullbacks CNK will give us lots of meters from the back but now seemed have forgotten about being a link on attack. RTS will dazzle everyone with his step and the meters he gains but the guy plays like Solomone Kata with ball in hand. I would like to say he sprayed way to much Griptec on his hands but the dude doesn't even look to see if there is someone to pass to. Taine looks promising but is just far too green.

For our backs our Centres are not that bad. I know Ali and MGT had not the greatest games last night but if they are serious about being NRL players they will learn from that. They definitely have the physical attributes to play FG. With our wingers though fuck me they can do some dumb shit. It is like we will only recruit wingers if they have been lobotomised. Both Monty and DWZ have had some brain explosions and our back up for them is a prop.....

I can only hope we recruit some good players but there doesn't seem like much available atm.
Disagree with your take on TMM, his kicking was fine and then off the boil his last 3 games and CHT was given more responsibility. Fuck knows why, was over the telegraph pole height bombs 3 years ago under Nathan Brown!

TMM if you weigh up games played and try assists has been amazing. I don’t think the coach trusts him and I don’t know why. We lack speed. Look at outsides at Dolphins and Titans, all there back 5 would smoke our quickest back, running backwards!

You can’t include the occasional centre VTW🤪 need another big body to replace AFB though.
 
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My problem is we have lost the hard edge required to win anything.
Doubt any teams fear coming across the ditch to play us like they used to.
We have lost our tough defence & ball playing attack.
Fisher-Harris hopefully can return some harmony but that usually needs a good clean out.
Would be a shame with the young talent coming thru ( although no halves as yet).
 
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