Re: craig murdock : Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:57 pm
Mild mannered Janitor wrote:
I agree with everything you have posted here.
Having been supporting the club for over 35 years, there were a fair few of those years I would have happily accepted mid table mediocraty. I can also accept being beaten by the better team, provided the players don't give in.
Fonua, IMO was replaced, with Faraimo. It may only be my opinion, but with ball in hand, he is equal if not better then Fonua.
Ellis! We knew he was retiring yet don't appear to have planned very well around that, which is a huge cause of concern given the retention of the back rowers of 2019. It needs to be freshened up. Granted Westerman is a good addition and I appreciate that replacing Ellis' presence on the field was going to be tough, but we are in need of new, younger and hungrier faces in the back row.
What we have noto really recovered from, compounded by injuries, its the departure of Watts. Irrespective of personal opinions (and I do not profess to know the real reason for his release) he was our most effective front rower. That is yet to be replaced.
Our attack is in desparate need of help. We have not really put a team away for a few years now. Bigger picture is, there are many fans who have not been around the block as long as others and are a little used to us being in SL and competing for trophies. Its those I fear may need some convincing of our ambitions with a signing (player or back room) or two.
Having been supporting the club for over 35 years, there were a fair few of those years I would have happily accepted mid table mediocraty. I can also accept being beaten by the better team, provided the players don't give in.
Fonua, IMO was replaced, with Faraimo. It may only be my opinion, but with ball in hand, he is equal if not better then Fonua.
Ellis! We knew he was retiring yet don't appear to have planned very well around that, which is a huge cause of concern given the retention of the back rowers of 2019. It needs to be freshened up. Granted Westerman is a good addition and I appreciate that replacing Ellis' presence on the field was going to be tough, but we are in need of new, younger and hungrier faces in the back row.
What we have noto really recovered from, compounded by injuries, its the departure of Watts. Irrespective of personal opinions (and I do not profess to know the real reason for his release) he was our most effective front rower. That is yet to be replaced.
Our attack is in desparate need of help. We have not really put a team away for a few years now. Bigger picture is, there are many fans who have not been around the block as long as others and are a little used to us being in SL and competing for trophies. Its those I fear may need some convincing of our ambitions with a signing (player or back room) or two.
I cannot agree with that at all. Fonua was exceptional, playng in the tough right centre position. How many tries did he set Michaels up for. Farimo has been a let down for me. Fonua was a two time super league dream team centre, Farimo will be absolutely no where near. I genuinely think we miss his X factor more than we miss the Ellis leadership, we don't look like scoring, Fonua looked capable of scoring everytime he got the ball near the opposition line.
