Surely there is just that modicum of hope that we will actually do well and that is within the realms of being realistic. It would be a big kick up from the Mick Potter team but probably no more than that was a kick up from the Trent Barrett coached team....certainly our lowest point. 

I don't tink the trials are anything but that....trials. It's about getting match fitness started and trialling players you will use during the season. Marki, I don't know how you can gauge anything from pre-season games. I have witnessed seasons where we went sh!t in the pre-season and won the comp.

I was surpised how little threat Agar was, I  don't remember more than the ood good ball every 5 overs or do. Beat the bat once or twice in about the 15 overs.

The fact that Agar got a run ahead of the other candidates shows how bad they are.

Indian conditions might offer a lot for spinners but Head, Smith and Labs looked more threatening than Agar.

IMO this is a season where predicting how we will go is very difficult.

New coach, significant number of new players, some important positions filled with better options.

Attack should be much improved by my question marks are all around defence.

If we don't concede 50 points in a trial or the opening 10 rounds, we probably don't concede 50 all season and make the 8.

In terms of posting a big score I think we now have the attacking fire power.

My only question mark is halfback, specifically Flanno, if Flanno plays the first 10 rounds and he isn't better tha previous seasons we lose 7 out of 10 and that is the semis gone.

I can't see that happening, I expect Flanno to be better and/or to be dropped if he doesn't cut it.
We have 2-3 good options for fullback, Averillo, Xeri, Perham.

Injuries can be a factor, especially to key players making the 8 requires minimal long term injuries to key players.

If Crichton is as desperate to stay at Penrith as is being reported, I would pass on him. Big money, long term, heart not in it, recipe for disaster. Spend the money elsewhere.

I don't know if we are even chasing Chrichton.

Particularly with a operator like Gus or Bullfrog running the show we often sign players the media  hasn't mentioned.

The media get about 1 in 10 right.

Clubs and players often gave discussions but that is just both parties exploring possible options to get an idea of what is possible.

I couldn’t agree more. Trials mean shit.
 

From all the talk I’m very confident we are after Chrighton. And I’m even more confident we will sign him. I think the talk now is just his management attempting to get more money out of us. 

Or out of Penrith. Back to the point, is his heart in it,would we get the best out of him?

Pretty much the case.

But when the best available team plays 30-40 mins against reasonable opposition, you can sometimes get a rough idea. More when they play bad or seem to lack energy.

Scoreline doesn't matter, bot 30 mins of linespeed, tackle technique, organisation and execution is better than 30 mins of the complete opposite.

And there is always a few guys playing for a spot and hoping to impress.

When a relative unknown impresses in a trial that is usually a promising sign.

I want to see how well we defend, linespeed, working together, execution and commitment.

In a trail that does need to be perfect but I want to see effort and intent.

Disorganised defence, poor one-on-one efforts and no scramble is what I don't want to see.

If the defense is 80% there in the trials I think CC can fix the rest for round 1-3.

If the attack is 50% there that is enough to jag a few early wins with good defence.

The attack should build as the season progresses.

In fact when the attack in round 1 is better than the attack in round 10, that is a very bad sign and it rarely improves.

I am still looking forward to this season.

If we are after him, concerns about where his heart lies amounts to zero. The NRL is full of players not playing for their childhood supported team or the team they want to play for as adults. It matters nothing in the end, the team they play for at the time is the team they want to win a comp with and seek higher honours with and put in performances to earn themselves more money with.

He’ll want to stay and play with Penrith right up until the minute he can’t. Then his heart will look elsewhere and he’ll give it his all.

Zero concern. Professional footballer.

And before you give examples, I bet every one you give will be players wanting OUT of their current club.

For more money or better opportunities elsewhere.

You don't think that maybe it's Penrith he's after more money out of?

Wouldn’t matter either. Either he’ll get it or not. And then give his best wherever he ends up.

He’s a professional footballer with a decade plus in front of him. A decade plus of opportunities for Premierships, honours (and the money that comes with it) and earning potential for performance.

Think he’a gonna sulk his way through that?

No one mentioned  sulking. I'm  just basically suggesting there's  a psychological side to be considersd in these things. As for premierships, honours etc without my blue and white glasses on i think Penrith are better placed to offer those things.

What the trials show is if the weaknesses of the team from year before have been addressed or not. 

We had trouble scoring points or adjusting to six again rule from 2020. We play trials last year and it's clear to me we haven't addressed the issue.

Come first 6 rounds, all it did was prove what I already knew. It's not just about the score. It's about putting to practice what you should have been focused on in the off season. If you have many changes to the team, the right thing to do is play a 3rd trial. Even if it's a non NRL team

Micko - 11 Jan 2023 10:38 PM

Bingo

Where he might lose interest is if the club doesn't address the halfback issue and if he feels there's no improvement in this area and it directly affects how wel  he can play, he could just end up going through the motions.

I feel there have been many players in the last decade that have felt that way playing for us.

I'm so glad we have brought Reed Mahoney in to fix one of our major problems which affects how the restvof the team plays.

Wherever he plays he’ll want Premierships honours and an increase in his value like every ither player in The Premiership, they all have hope and thats where their effort goes.

I bet he does want to stay at Penrith, dont mean shit though if he cant and I bet he knows that and he’ll get over it the minute he signs a contract anywhere else.

I bet Matt Burton wanted to play #6 at Penrith and probably wouldve settled for #4 GF nignt 2021. I bet Kikau wanted to stay at Penrith. I bet Mahoney…. Couldnt wait to get out of The Lemons.

They all get on with it or get weeded out of The NRL.

If silence was golden, this place would be worth a fortune.

Won’t be long until it swings back into action… we are all training the house down…

Gus is saying Flanagan is training hard and working on his game.

I never questioned Flanno's effort, just his talent.

But halfback is a position where hard work can be rewarded, and practice/rehearsal can make up for a lack of instincts.

Still I will not be surprised if after the trials we decide Rajab is the round 1 halfback.

The good news is that the fowards more or less pick themselves.

10. Thompson, 9. Mahoney 8. King.
12  RFM 11 Kicks
13 TPJ.

14. Topine
15. Patolo
16. Pele
17. Preston / Skelton

That is a great starting backrow and fans might be pleasantly surprised by Pele and Preston or Skelton off the bench.

Patolo and Topine had disappointing seasons in 2022.

We finally have a forward pack that takes a lot of pressure off the halfback.

Backline wise.
1. Averillo  (Perham, Xeri)
5. Foxy,  3, Alamotti (with kicks) 4 Kiraz, 5. Okunbor. (Just a hunch)

I think Alamotti will go well teamed up with Foxy, Kicks and Burto, hell anyone would probably go good playing with those 3.

My hunch on Ok is like Topine and Patolo he will bounce back. I left out Sutton who is a candidate especially if the young guys don't turn it around.

On the right side I would be practicing high kicks for Kiraz and Ok, when in form both are good at catching them.

Bring it on!!!!!!!!

The other options for halfback are Brown and BBO when he gets back.

Hayward a long shot, but still might be the long term answer.

Averillo and Perham also long shots.

With a new coach, a better pack of fowards and better service from dummy-half, the halfback has a chance to play well.

I’ll be interested to see who CC picks at #7 and other up for grab positions like centre ( Alomati or ?) for Rnd 1. Reason being with all reports of his “connection” with players, I don’t think he’ll pick anyone, form and injuries permitting, he doesn’t think will be in that position Rnd 26. I think he’ll want to work with them for the long haul.

I know you might say every coach thinks that, but I don’t think our last coach did. I think he was always… debating with himself. I think CC will have his core team in mind much earlier.

CC seems to be a good "man manager", so players that connect with the coach might find another gear, the coach will have a strong hunch about which players will respond.

The last couple of coaches never had the talent to work with, but good coaches get players to step up to a higher level.

And the coach has to find best player for each position. Some selections for 2022 might have had 2023 in mind.

I'm not sure why you think forwards take pressure off the halfback.

Numerous times we get picky back penalties hounddog - 19 Jan 2023 6:34 PM