Is this a rebuilding year?

[froggy]

We all know that we won't win the comp this year with the side and depth we have. (Or don't have for that matter).

So, is this a rebuilding year?

To rebuild you need to lay foundations for the future. Where are those foundations? Where is our Kaylin Ponga or Trbojevic brothers? A player young enough that we can build a side around.

Most of our backline has seen better days. As for our forwards, well there is no SBW in there that's for sure.

Not a lot of juniors coming through either.

If the club is not careful we could end up in this cycle for a number of years. They will be in the position of trying to buy players for the now rather than plan for the future.

Buying players to add to a good squad is fine. Saints have done that. They had an OK squad and over the last couple of years have added pieces to it and now have a squad capable of challenging. Could we honestly say we are two players away from a force. I actually think we need a complete overhaul.

We might need to bite the bullet and just buy four or five of the best young talent on the market and build a side from scratch. To do that supporters, sponsors and the club itself will have to cop a couple of years of not challenging because a true rebuild starts from the ground up.

 

[Wahesh]

This year plus next. We need Dean to work with the disaster he has this year then work his magic for next year as 2018 unfolds.

 

[KiwiDog7]

We all know that we won't win the comp this year with the side and depth we have. (Or don't have for that matter).

So, is this a rebuilding year?

To rebuild you need to lay foundations for the future. Where are those foundations? Where is our Quentin Ponga or Trbojevic brothers? A player young enough that we can build a side around.

Most of our backline has seen better days. As for our forwards, well there is no SBW in there that's for sure.

Not a lot of juniors coming through either.

If the club is not careful we could end up in this cycle for a number of years. They will be in the position of trying to buy players for the now rather than plan for the future.

Buying players to add to a good squad is fine. Saints have done that. They had an OK squad and over the last couple of years have added pieces to it and now have a squad capable of challenging. Could we honestly say we are two players away from a force. I actually think we need a complete overhaul.

We might need to bite the bullet and just buy four or five of the best young talent on the market and build a side from scratch. To do that supporters, sponsors and the club itself will have to cop a couple of years of not challenging because a true rebuild starts from the ground up.

Quentin Pongia retired 20 years ago

 

[GrogDog]

Treading water until Des's backdoor deals are gone................

 

[Deathspell]

Problem is we have a lot of deadwood still on long contracts so a complete overhaul is not easy thanks to Des and his merry band of thieves. So we either hold tight (investing in a pub will help) and let Pay rebuild the team over a few years or break the bank to entice Bellamy over. Players might be willing to take unders as he's a career builder.

 

[Dogzzz of War]

Well it certainly ain’t a premiership year.

 

[Baseball Furies]

It certainly is, we are going to have lean heavily on McDonnell and his connections to bring some quality through then cherry-pick some key guys off-contract.

We should have the proverbial "war chest" to get some blue-chip players.

Pay is no miracle worker, we all know that, our roster is a shambles.

 

[GA45]

You should never have to rebuild in the nrl. Yes the talent isn’t there because of Des but you should never completely rebuild in the NRL like the knights. You can make contracts all end at the same time and start fresh if you need to but you should be trying to compete with the best players you have every weekend.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Doesn't look like we're building much atm.

 

[Deathspell]

You should never have to rebuild in the nrl. Yes the talent isn’t there because of Des but you should never completely rebuild in the NRL like the knights. You can make contracts all end at the same time and start fresh if you need to but you should be trying to compete with the best players you have every weekend.

Manly were left in same position thanks to Hornblower Des.

 

[Trafford10]

I'm ok with rebuilding.
However at the same time I think we can all demand that the team is competitive.
I think commitment has been lacking by a lot of players in the last two games.

 

[Gabe]

If the rumour about Tolman going to the Sharks this year is true, without some serious talent coming in at the same time. Then this year is 100% a right off year.

 

[Horse]

Lol. If you posed this question to the kennel 2 weeks ago, the majority would've told you we were top 4 bound, premiership threats

 

[GDR]

Eastwood and the Morris bros should free up a lot of money at the end of 2018, if we can also offload Tolman then 2019 could look promising with the right purchases

 

[silva]

Looks like we are on the slide

 

[GoTheDoggies]

The positive is that in this rebuilding year Souths are garbage. They are the worst team in the comp, between their spine & the feet for hands Burgess brothers they are finished. If we can't beat Souths this year we are in huge trouble.

Titans could also implode with Laurie Daley as coach.

 

[Papa Emeritus]

I guess you could say bringing in Foran, Woods and Pay is the start of a rebuild, but quite frankly we need a lot more changes to become a force again. We have too many guys at the end of their lifespan and on way too much money. We also have very poor juniors so no one is challenging for those positions.

Hopefully I am wrong and the team just have not gelled yet, but honestly I think we have a few years before we have a chance at being on top.

 

[GrogDog]

I'm ok with rebuilding.
However at the same time I think we can all demand that the team is competitive.
I think commitment has been lacking by a lot of players in the last two games.

Hate to say it but I think commitment has been lacking for about 3 1/2 years.

 

[_G-Dog_]

I dont believe in rebuilding years

There are many examples of teams winning the comp (or going close) after great recruitment & missing the 8 the year before

03 Penrith 1st
09 Eels (2nd)
05 Tigers 1st
11 NZ (2nd)
12 Dogs (2nd)
13 Rorter$ 1st
etc etc

 

[Ant2611]

Problem is we have a lot of deadwood still on long contracts so a complete overhaul is not easy thanks to Des and his merry band of thieves. So we either hold tight (investing in a pub will help) and let Pay rebuild the team over a few years or break the bank to entice Bellamy over. Players might be willing to take unders as he's a career builder.

Or get uncle Nick we all know all his players sign on for nothing actually they pay him to play for the rorters