Both had coach changes. I know this is the second year for Payten at NQ but in his first year he let go of some dead wood like McGuire to make way for some outstanding young players. In the first season they understandably struggled but have come good this year. Compare that to what Griffin did in his second year at the Dragons
.
You just hit on the head " their one chance " Exactly one chance in the halves ..... Hunt has had 4 years and only one or so good years ..... The young blokes need to be around first grade they will learn nothing playing lower grade , the game is different in a lot of ways .... I have said before if it's going to cost 850,000 to keep a aging half and lose a talented young bloke , then Hunt can go ....
They definitely should have gotten another chance. Like in the last 3 rounds when making the finals wasn't even a mathematical possibility. But Griffin was much more interested in Hunt winning the Dally M and figured he's a better chance of doing that at halfback.
No-brainer for anyone but #+@*= Anthony Griffin. Now Hunt will be re-signed, Sullivan will leave and we will be left wondering what might (or might not, to be fair) have been. The problem is not knowing because a perfect chance to test it was ignored by the coach.
Yeh dummy me. Wallace is a good half prospect. Herring has been getting all the hype but this kid looks better with ball in hand. Herring looks a running 5/8 and we hope to have a along term one of them with Junior Amone. I'd like us to hold onto Wallace with a development contract asap.
Agree. Be terrific to blood all three. Blow waiting until '25. Problem is, if they extend Ben and Griffin stays then no way will he play him anywhere other than half. So Wallace will have to wait three more years. Meanwhile the club has lost Sullivan as the kid has also made it clear half is where his future lies. We had better hope Sloan does not follow him as Ramsay seems to be the preferred long term fullback.
To nurture our rising young stars
I thought I was wrong once but I was mistaken.
Time will tell if I still retain the ability to read the game, the clubs and the current teams. Under this coach next season with no additional front rowers I fear 2023 will be worse than this year.
Love the player has the best tackling technique in the competition in my view but let's not get too carried away with $1m. The facts are he starts next season as a 32 yr old if his body and mind stay fit he has 2 more good years in him depending on if he is asked to play prop or lock. We should be looking at who is going to step up when we become competitive again in 2025.
In fairness, he had a record of bringing a lot of outstanding young players through the juniors and into first grade at both clubs. He has gone the other way at the Dragons. Thought he could squeeze out a few more good years out of journeymen no other club wanted. Failed miserably!
Couchman in my view has the look of a good JDB replacement.
You forgetting he missed two/half seasons. That is what about 60 games he was not getting smashed around the head and his body generally being mishandled in a brutal manner.
His defence was excellent but I didn't think he looked to have a lot of pace. Certainly not as much as the best edge forwards. But has the making of an excellent lock or front rower depending how big he gets.
With the same coach and no new front rowers, I fear you are right. We have Lawrie and Molo. Hunt might be able to step up next year and Coric will almost certainly be in the top 30. Given he has in the extended reserves bench for first grade in the last 3 games. Maybe our front row situation isn't as dire as you think.I thought I was wrong once but I was mistaken.
How could anyone forget that terrible time
I still can't believe the club didn't take a much firmer stance. It should have reached the point of forfeiting games. Did the NRL pay off the front office? They let the NRL rub out without question the club's best forward shortly before the season started and then for a second season due to events outside of anyone's control. And they let it happen so meekly. You think if the Rorters lost Tedesco under similar circumstances, the Rorters would just accept it?
It's a poor policy in my view. The law is crystal clear every person is entitled to their innocence until proven guilty by a group of their peers. Standing someone down from their workplace is a very big call for such an extended period of time. Especially when it is to placate sponsors.
Was piss weak for sure. They left it up to JDB to challenge it on his own.