A toast

[Captain Ibis]

I'm loving the new recruits.. We've got some guys who are coming to the Dogs that have done silly shit, but all n all nothing that bad, nothing that can't be worked on.. We have the likes of JAC who is a first pick at state and national level, we've got guys who on their day can win games for their team.. Warburton, Khoury and Trent are doing a really good job in selling the vision to the players they want, it's not just buying promising players for the sake of it.. it's been an average year but the reality is that this team has spent the last 5 years defending, and it was inevitable that they would get a spoon, that shit wears players down... but things are looking up with for the new year, not just on the back of new recruits, but also guys like Thompson, Cotric and Hetherington who are willing to lead the way, along with some young blood in Schoup and BBO who are willing to rip in for the jersey.

 

[spiritofaslan]

I think it's only up from here. I thought this year was going to be up though, so wont get too excited.

 

[BomberBurton]

Exactly, optimistic, yet was expecting to be there this year.

 

[Captain Ibis]

This year is just a write off imo.. I know I've been a harsh critic of Trent's, but in reality it was always going to be a spoon year.

 

[BomberBurton]

I expected positive signs.
Maybe off chance of scraping into finals footy, not going backwards in attack and defence and playing with ourselves for the wooden spoon and a plethora of shitty tarnishing records!

 

[Captain Ibis]

Yeah I was hopeful but I think what we have discovered is the guys who simply aren't up to NRL level and are not willing to do what it takes.. Baz is very lucky he came in at a time when we had money to spend otherwise he'd end up being another Pay.. it remains to be seen how Trent will go from next year but at least he's recruited players he wants and that suit his coaching, and he knows he'll be accountable if it doesn't work out

 

[boxer]

We will be a top 8 next year.
Hope I’m right

 

[Captain Ibis]

on paper it's a top 8 team, they just need to click early

 

[boxer]

Yeah agree hopefully they do by round 1

 

[Captain Ibis]

yeah, and get a much needed win to start the season!

 

[Aristotle]

You would assume Gus will bring a bit of accountability, and confidence, to the coaches and playing group so that should help, along with the improved playing roster....we're all hoping

Can't wait to see us score a few tries.

 

[Captain Ibis]

You would assume Gus will bring a bit of accountability, and confidence, to the coaches and playing group so that should help, along with the improved playing roster....we're all hoping

Can't wait to see us score a few tries.

Definitely.. the theme of struggling teams is weakness in the front office.. we've struggled ever since that's been a problem.. recruitment has been average, we've let quality go, we haven't turned many promising juniors into quality first graders... these are all things that the Dogs were once at the forefront of. It's onwards and upwards from here on

 

[boxer]

You would assume Gus will bring a bit of accountability, and confidence, to the coaches and playing group so that should help, along with the improved playing roster....we're all hoping

Can't wait to see us score a few tries.

We all can’t wait to be a powerhouse once again.

 

[Captain Ibis]

We all can’t wait to be a powerhouse once again.

This period could be a blessing in disguise.. time to reflect on the early 00s and the fact we should have won more prems.. the new recruits are buying into the hype and while it might take a while to get another prem, the main focus needs to be being competitive every season, and then the rewards will come

 

[BomberBurton]

JAC Naden Dufty Alamoti Cotric
Flanagan Burton BBO
TPJ Thommo JJ Hetho Vaughan

Topine Atoni Ogden Arvellio

Lewis

Allen Okunbor Schoupp
Wakeham
RFM Smith Doorey Roumanos Seumanufagai

3 more for next year's top 30.
Perhaps Crichton Elliott and a junior like Patolo or Karaitiana?
See who performs before the transfer deadline.

Might be a team with some depth of they actually believe and work together for next year?