Cotric looks like he can play centre better than Reimis. Reimis is simply lost out there and cant setup his winger. For mine, hes either on the wing or playing reserves. 

With OKKA occupying one wing spot, I'd say Cotric will probably end up in the centres leaving Smith Meaney, DWZ and Hoppa to work out who plays fullback, centre and wing.

After 2021 we have to decide who out of Hoppa or DWZ we want to keep. 

He is coming to the dogs becasue he wants to play centre, Remis Smith was poor most of the season but got the hang of it the last few games.

Smith and Cotric in the centres with 2 big wingers would definitely have a lot of speed, size and ball catching ability. But centre is an important defensive position, decision making can stop tries or concede tries.

Villi was right, Cotric was having a shocker for first 25mins. But he redeemed himself as game went on. 

Not sure if we play him at centre or wing. I feel he is a far better winger than centre as he has good return carries. 

Raiders definitely looked better when Starling came on.

Storm certainly racked up points early, I'll need to see a replay...

I think with Storms fast start, Stuart made the wrong decision to keep Starling benched till the last 25mins.

Starling is a gun and simply HAD to come into dummy half in the last 15mins of first half when Raiders had good possession on the Storm line.

Havilli just did not want to pass to Wighton and took him out of the game.

Old man Bennett is now deliriously happy for the first time ever.

I missed most of the first half, but from play I saw Cotric was good.

Canberra apparently had no ball in the first 20 mins,  hard to believe that was all Cotric.

He has got size, tackle bustling ability, speed and can kick.

In the centres the question marks are passing and defence. 

Not sure why sticky played Rapana in the centres,  he blew opportunities  at a critical stage.

Please no to Souths.....

Ohh you’ve done it now Marki.... put your houses on either Penrith or Souths peeps to win it

So let me get this right.....
Melbourne Storm GF appearances in the last 15 years are:
2006 (lost to Broncos)
2007 (won it against Manly)
2008 (lost to Manly)
2009 (won it against Parra)
2012 (won it against Dogs) - bastards
2016 (lost to Sharks)
2017 (won it against Cows)
2018 (lost to Roosters)
2020 ............

9 GFs in 15 years.....

9 FFS

Probably would have been 10 if they weren't struck out in 2010 when done for SC breaches too!

Soooo.... you liked my post is what your saying?

FMD can u at least wait til the blokes wearing blue and white before u start bashing him...

Cotric doing his best DWZ impersonation tonight....

I take that back....
There is no substitute to knowing you have speed and have the brains to fekking use it to your advantage!

There is no substitute for speed.
None.

It's as funny as Hinn going "pfffft to covid" & there'd have to be something wrong with you if you didn't get a laugh out of this :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abYd4T9XQrc

Can't believe people used to complain to the TV station wanting it off air...now that's blasphemy.

Hinn or Hill???...

Mate you sound as though you have been listening to the same motivational tapes as Marki....."Let Benny Hinn Show you Where To be on the Fifth Tackle."

This is exactly right. 

You have to get better or have someone with the likelihood of being better to unload.  As for the gap widening or not you need to take into account the starting point.  A player may be 100 miles behind the best and go to 99 miles or 6 inches behind and go to 7 inches behind. Do you keep the one that's light years behind and getting marginally better or the one that's close to the top and getting marginally worse.  Judgement, team requirements, player availability and salary cap limitations all play a part, it cannot be a simplistic application of a criteria.

That's why it's important to compare them relative to the best players in those positions. The guys you mentioned were arguably the best in their respective positions and so couldnt or didnt have to show continual improvement.

But even if players are not the best in their position, if the gap between them and the elite is not widening, they are still keeping up with the Joneses and probably good enough. 

But if the gap is widening, get rid of them. 
Tolman was classic case. And its not just me saying it. I have yet to hear of any team tripping over themselves to sign him....

only true up to a point.  All players peak and many remain good for extended periods.  Thurston, Cronk, Smith etc. surely you wouldn't punt them as soon as they peaked.  Many more examples of giving value after peaking.

The things to consider regarding the players and coach is the following:

+ has the team advanced itself on the ladder from previous season(s)
+ has the team advanced itself relative to the top 4 teams
+ have the players advanced themselves as individuals from previous years
+ have the players advanced themselves as individuals relative to the top players in the same positions
+ have the players advanced themselves as a team

The top 2 relate to the coach more than the players and should provide enough insight on whether you have the right coach or not.

The other ones are all player related. I acknowledge some players may not improve individually as they are playing a role for the team but this should be limited to very players under special circumstances. 

Basically, if a player is not improving as an individual and relative to best players in the position they play,  im afraid the writing is on the wall for them. 

We cant have a team full of honest toilers. 
Players need to show improvement year on  year or be flicked.

DWZ and Hoppa I am less patient, they are older experienced players probably on more money.
Hoppa needs to play centre and DWZ centre/wing, and they need to perform.
Both are capable and Hoppa is almost certain to deliver, DWZ needs a much better season tan 20, but I think he knows that and again should deliver.

Poor team selections, played some of our team out of form in 20, being out of contention early and just not having the cattle or the coach were a factor. Overall our team is a bit better than it appeared to be in 20.

My thoughts are similar. We need another option at 9

The Panthers want to keep Burton, we will not easily get him for 21, even 22 is no certainty.

Say we sign Burton for 22 and Flano is going great, we can always move Averillo to fullback.

I can never work out what to do with Lewis, however he may turn the corner and demand selection in the halves.
Otherwise he may make a good centre or lock, in  both cases leg speed is important and he was to work on that.
So passing and running need work wherever he plays, kicking game and defence are assets.

Wakeham has all of the raw ingredients, but he needs to adjust to the NRL and make an impact, I'm happy if he has to earn an opportunity, competition for places and depth is handy.

You are missing the brains part... . 
We need a leader in the backs that has footy brains and can impart it on the other backs and we need another player in the forwards (ideally hooker) who has footy brains.

There is a genuine lack of footy nous in our team and I dont know who in our roster can provide it. 

Ben Ikin made a hypotheticsl comment on NRL 360 the other day about whether the panel thought Titans getting Cam Smith would make them a top 4 proposition or not? 

At first I thought No Way. But in retrospect, I think it does. Smith as focal point will transform the players around him and most of all relieve the pressure on Ash Taylor, Fogerty and AJBrimson. 

I think Ikin could be right. And I think we need a Cam Smith to get us on right track

Meany reminds me of a poor mans Luke Patten.
Avo reminds me of a poor mans Bill Salter. 

Very much agree on your last line.
DWZ offered that bit of x-factor that we sadly lack but since his move to the wing has been nullified. 

MickO, as I said earlier, I don't mind Meaney at FB. He is good under the high ball, has a bit of pace about him and easily chimes into the backline. The only thing he needs to do is put his body on the line when required.