2018 Rd 8 V Cowboys: Teams and Previews *Teams p1*

[Raider47]

I don't think I've ever seen as much hopelessness on the GH apart maybe from the final days of David Furner. At least though then you could smell change in the air and that things would turn around with a fresh approach. Now however we realise that simply sacking the coach won't do, unlike back in 2013 when we were naive thinking that the dreadful culture in the club was simply down to Furner.

Now we know this team under Ricky has reached their ceiling and there are no signs of him leaving. And the continual acceptance of mediocrity, lack of accountability from board to coaching staff to players and horrible attitude is here to stay.

We're going to lose fans fast and I hope that if that is what it takes for a change in culture at the Raiders, then so be it. There is absolutely no optimism within the fan base at the moment and it is so depressing to see.

[-PJ-]

Well the only people happy with Brake Austin in #6 are Ricky, Brake and Jason Tumorlolo..

And Tumurlolo can't wipe the smile from his face.

I'll be at a wedding..god bless all of you.

[reptar]

Well the only people happy with Brake Austin in #6 are Ricky, Brake and Jason Tumorlolo..

And Tumurlolo can't wipe the smile from his face.

I'll be at a wedding..god bless all of you.

Who you marrying?

[-PJ-]

Well the only people happy with Brake Austin in #6 are Ricky, Brake and Jason Tumorlolo..

And Tumurlolo can't wipe the smile from his face.

I'll be at a wedding..god bless all of you.

Who you marrying?

Not me, I've done it once. Still going strong..

My niece is getting hitched up at the Hunter Valley Gardens on Satd arvo. Hey the game starts at 7-30 right ? I may be able to sneak out of the reception and watch it...

[-PJ-]

Interview with Cows coach Paul Green goes something like this -

Journo - So Greeny your up against a pretty desperate Raiders side this week. They have a massive pack, some very exciting outside backs and have been competitive but unlucky in some of their games this year. What will be the game plan ?

Green - Run at Brake Austin..thanks guys, the boys are off go-carting.

[Northern Raider]

Its now round 8 and Sticky still hasn't worked out that playing a half at hooker for 2/3 of a game is a dud approach. It didn't work with Sezer. It isn't working with Hingano yet still he persists. Is this another example of Sticky knowing more than anybody else and there is some cunning long term benefit we are yet to realise?

[-PJ-]

Its now round 8 and Sticky still hasn't worked out that playing a half at hooker for 2/3 of a game. It didn't work with Sezer. It isn't working with Hingano yet still he persists. Is this another example of Sticky knowing more than anybody else and there is some cunning long term benefit we are yet to realise?

Ricky said he thinks real deep, real real deep, deeper than any other...

There is no one on this entire planet who thinks deeper about the game than RStuart.

[reptar]

Well the only people happy with Brake Austin in #6 are Ricky, Brake and Jason Tumorlolo..

And Tumurlolo can't wipe the smile from his face.

I'll be at a wedding..god bless all of you.

Who you marrying?

Not me, I've done it once. Still going strong..

My niece is getting hitched up at the Hunter Valley Gardens on Satd arvo. Hey the game starts at 7-30 right ? I may be able to sneak out of the reception and watch it...

I'd stay and have the drinks at the reception.

[-PJ-]

Well the only people happy with Brake Austin in #6 are Ricky, Brake and Jason Tumorlolo..

And Tumurlolo can't wipe the smile from his face.

I'll be at a wedding..god bless all of you.

Who you marrying?

Not me, I've done it once. Still going strong..

My niece is getting hitched up at the Hunter Valley Gardens on Satd arvo. Hey the game starts at 7-30 right ? I may be able to sneak out of the reception and watch it...

I'd stay and have the drinks at the reception.

That would be better for the blood pressure..

[Green eyed Mick]

Hingano is the worst performed option for the top 17... yet he keeps being selected. I don’t understand it.

No he isn't. Austin is clearly and by a considerable margin the least deserving player in our 17. It isn't even close. His disgusting lack of effort in last weeks game was an embarrassment to the jersey.

Hingano at #6 with Garvey on the bench is both the most deserving and the most likely to succeed.

[LP Raider]

EDIT.

My argument is we have on field issues and they should take precedence.

Every man and his dog wants Hingano 6 Garvey 14.

[Northern Raider]

Hingano is the worst performed option for the top 17... yet he keeps being selected. I don’t understand it.

No he isn't. Austin is clearly and by a considerable margin the least deserving player in our 17. It isn't even close. His disgusting lack of effort in last weeks game was an embarrassment to the jersey.

Hingano at #6 with Garvey on the bench is both the most deserving and the most likely to succeed.

I don't know if Hingano has really done enough to warrant a starting halves spot but I completely agree with Garvey at 14. If Havili is only playing half a game at most then we need a specialist hooker to back him up. Garvey is in good form for Mounties and done everything necessary to earn a shot.

[reptar]

Its now round 8 and Sticky still hasn't worked out that playing a half at hooker for 2/3 of a game. It didn't work with Sezer. It isn't working with Hingano yet still he persists. Is this another example of Sticky knowing more than anybody else and there is some cunning long term benefit we are yet to realise?

Ricky said he thinks real deep, real real deep, deeper than any other...

There is no one on this entire planet who thinks deeper about the game than RStuart.

[Brisbane Raider]

Now we know this team under Ricky has reached their ceiling and there are no signs of him leaving. And the continual acceptance of mediocrity, lack of accountability from board to coaching staff to players and horrible attitude is here to stay.

Agree the team has reached its ceiling under Ricky and is not going to get better. Need a new coach with a fresh outlook. However, like you said, does not look like happening any time soon.

[1992]

The worst thing about this week is not the picking of Blake Austin or the continued crappy use of a good bench, it is the fact we all know how crazy the papers will go over the JT masterclass that is no doubt on it's way. It is all there in front of us, we can see the whole damn thing like it has already happened.

THURSTON IS BACK!
JT STILL #1
JT PROVES HATERS WRONG
JT TOO OLD YOU SAY?
THURSTON DEMOLISHES CANBERRA

Next week....Bateman to start and Papa back on the bench.

Remember 2016? Good times.

[Green eyed Mick]

Hingano is the worst performed option for the top 17... yet he keeps being selected. I don’t understand it.

No he isn't. Austin is clearly and by a considerable margin the least deserving player in our 17. It isn't even close. His disgusting lack of effort in last weeks game was an embarrassment to the jersey.

Hingano at #6 with Garvey on the bench is both the most deserving and the most likely to succeed.

I don't know if Hingano has really done enough to warrant a starting halves spot but I completely agree with Garvey at 14. If Havili is only playing half a game at most then we need a specialist hooker to back him up. Garvey is in good form for Mounties and done everything necessary to earn a shot.

Whether Hingano has done enough is irrelevant. Austin's performance against the Bunnies should have been his last in Green. It was unforgivable and a disgrace to the jersey.

At this point, I would sooner see literally anyone in our squad wear the #6 jersey ahead of Austin.

[BadnMean]

EDIT.

My argument is we have on field issues and they should take precedence.

Every man and his dog wants Hingano 6 Garvey 14.

EDIT - they were saying he was the the fittest bloke (or one of) in the team with low body fat but plenty of strength around pre-season/trial time EDIT

[The Nickman]

I don't think I've ever seen as much hopelessness on the GH apart maybe from the final days of David Furner. At least though then you could smell change in the air and that things would turn around with a fresh approach. Now however we realise that simply sacking the coach won't do, unlike back in 2013 when we were naive thinking that the dreadful culture in the club was simply down to Furner.

Now we know this team under Ricky has reached their ceiling and there are no signs of him leaving. And the continual acceptance of mediocrity, lack of accountability from board to coaching staff to players and horrible attitude is here to stay.

We're going to lose fans fast and I hope that if that is what it takes for a change in culture at the Raiders, then so be it. There is absolutely no optimism within the fan base at the moment and it is so depressing to see.

I actually disagree with this. I think a new coach could genuinely still save our season.

It’s incredible the amount of times over the years a coach gets replaced and a team starts to win instantly.

The talent is still there, it’s just the coaching, team selections, game tactics and use of the bench rotation letting us down.

[Green eyed Mick]

I don't think I've ever seen as much hopelessness on the GH apart maybe from the final days of David Furner. At least though then you could smell change in the air and that things would turn around with a fresh approach. Now however we realise that simply sacking the coach won't do, unlike back in 2013 when we were naive thinking that the dreadful culture in the club was simply down to Furner.

Now we know this team under Ricky has reached their ceiling and there are no signs of him leaving. And the continual acceptance of mediocrity, lack of accountability from board to coaching staff to players and horrible attitude is here to stay.

We're going to lose fans fast and I hope that if that is what it takes for a change in culture at the Raiders, then so be it. There is absolutely no optimism within the fan base at the moment and it is so depressing to see.

I actually disagree with this. I think a new coach could genuinely still save our season.

It’s incredible the amount of times over the years a coach gets replaced and a team starts to win instantly.

The talent is still there, it’s just the coaching, team selections, game tactics and use of the bench rotation letting us down.

All we need is a few reliable replacements for Paulo and Austin who can elevate our defence from abysmal to average. Our edges will do the rest.

[Green Taipan]

A team selected to fail! Like all Raiders supporters I want them to win, if for no other reason than everything is rosy for at least the next week. However, the coach is more concerned with proving his infallibility or more aptly his inflexibility.

[greeneyed]

'Superman' Shaun Fensom back to face the Canberra Raiders

He was once the Canberra Raiders' Man of Steel, so it's fitting Shaun Fensom will make his NRL return from a broken leg against his old teammates. After just one Queensland Cup game, the North Queensland Cowboys forward returns to the bench for the clash against the Raiders at Townsville on Sunday.

“The lungs were burning there at certain stages, but I’m confident in my leg,” he said on Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-l ... 4zbfx.html

[scotchberry]

VIDEO: Canberra Raiders forward Elliott Whitehead: We'll be doing everything we can to win"

English international Elliott Whitehead says he's wary of the Cowboys after what they produced last year.

"You can't write the Cowboys off, if you saw what they did last year with all of their injuries and they went all the way. We know its going to be a tough test but we will be doing everything we can to get the two points" Whitehead said.

"We just gave too many penalties away where they got set after set and we'll be looking to fix that up this week so we can show what we can do with the ball."

Video: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2018/04 ... an-to-win/

Yep - right on que

Every Wednesday we have the “we are wary of (insert team name here) article”

[reptar]

'Superman' Shaun Fensom back to face the Canberra Raiders

He was once the Canberra Raiders' Man of Steel, so it's fitting Shaun Fensom will make his NRL return from a broken leg against his old teammates. After just one Queensland Cup game, the North Queensland Cowboys forward returns to the bench for the clash against the Raiders at Townsville on Sunday.

“The lungs were burning there at certain stages, but I’m confident in my leg,” he said on Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-l ... 4zbfx.html

Fensom for a double

[Peter]

Fensom, Vaughan. When their mother's told them "everything happens for a reason" when they were dropped by Ricky. Ain't that the truth.

[magoo]

The worst thing about this week is not the picking of Blake Austin or the continued crappy use of a good bench, it is the fact we all know how crazy the papers will go over the JT masterclass that is no doubt on it's way. It is all there in front of us, we can see the whole damn thing like it has already happened.

THURSTON IS BACK!
JT STILL #1
JT PROVES HATERS WRONG
JT TOO OLD YOU SAY?
THURSTON DEMOLISHES CANBERRA

Next week....Bateman to start and Papa back on the bench.

Remember 2016? Good times.

I've made JT my captain in supercoach this week

[MS_1302]

I don't think I've ever seen as much hopelessness on the GH apart maybe from the final days of David Furner. At least though then you could smell change in the air and that things would turn around with a fresh approach. Now however we realise that simply sacking the coach won't do, unlike back in 2013 when we were naive thinking that the dreadful culture in the club was simply down to Furner.

Now we know this team under Ricky has reached their ceiling and there are no signs of him leaving. And the continual acceptance of mediocrity, lack of accountability from board to coaching staff to players and horrible attitude is here to stay.

We're going to lose fans fast and I hope that if that is what it takes for a change in culture at the Raiders, then so be it. There is absolutely no optimism within the fan base at the moment and it is so depressing to see.

I actually disagree with this. I think a new coach could genuinely still save our season.

It’s incredible the amount of times over the years a coach gets replaced and a team starts to win instantly.

The talent is still there, it’s just the coaching, team selections, game tactics and use of the bench rotation letting us down.

All we need is a few reliable replacements for Paulo and Austin who can elevate our defence from abysmal to average. Our edges will do the rest.

IMO we need Paulo to stay - why build a team then let them leave. He is not our problem, it’s the fringe defence.

Bring on Norman


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse mobile app powered by Tapatalk

[Green eyed Mick]

Paulo at his best would be a huge asset to the club but currently Paulo is a defensive liability and someone the club should be looking to move on.

[MS_1302]

Paulo at his best would be a huge asset to the club but currently Paulo is a defensive liability and someone the club should be looking to move on.

I’d pay him - good player who racked like a machine in 2016 - once he signs he will return to that form


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse mobile app powered by Tapatalk

[InFernos_Raiders]

God I'm just so damn dejected at the moment!

Did anyone watch Ricky on the Matty Johns Show the other night? When asked what the best attribute of his coaching was and he replied 'I really don't know'. I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

However, he said he is proud to say that he's still friends with some of the players he's coached. STILL FRIENDS. THAT'S IMPORTANT!

Honestly, this guy is making a mockery of our club. Why he refuses to make the calls that every single person can see need to be made, I just don't know. We are on a fast track to the wooden spoon.

Get rid of Austin now. He won't be here next year anyway. Get Hingano in the 6, get Garvey in the 14. Get guys to buy in to a team first culture and occasionally make a tackle.

Can anyone tell me what Papalii did last week to deserve a promotion to the starting side?

This might also seem completely ridiculous, but I'd love to see Beej have a go at 13. I feel like he could be a Lolo type player in the middle. Great footwork, huge upper body strength, great hands and skills. Been thinking about that a lot lately. Of course it'd never happen, but something has to give.

You aren’t the only won angry and just over it....This year will be no different then 2017, even after Stuart said he hasn’t been hard enough on the guys so what does he do, nothing.
He drops Austin and Pappa like so what where’s the players from the Mounties ?

Why does Stuart persist with putting the same team in with players in the same positions week after week expecting a different outcome. He won’t move Wighton to centre or Croker to wing Couric to FB. I’m just totally over it we won’t make the Finals not like this. And the idiot Club has virtually half the team off contract at seasons end. Stuart must go he can’t take the team to the next level, what a waste.

[InFernos_Raiders]

Paulo at his best would be a huge asset to the club but currently Paulo is a defensive liability and someone the club should be looking to move on.

I’d pay him - good player who racked like a machine in 2016 - once he signs he will return to that form


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse mobile app powered by Tapatalk

Paulo to Eels, Austin to South and Pappa probably to Titans. We have half the bloody team off contract at seasons end.

[InFernos_Raiders]

I don't think I've ever seen as much hopelessness on the GH apart maybe from the final days of David Furner. At least though then you could smell change in the air and that things would turn around with a fresh approach. Now however we realise that simply sacking the coach won't do, unlike back in 2013 when we were naive thinking that the dreadful culture in the club was simply down to Furner.

Now we know this team under Ricky has reached their ceiling and there are no signs of him leaving. And the continual acceptance of mediocrity, lack of accountability from board to coaching staff to players and horrible attitude is here to stay.

We're going to lose fans fast and I hope that if that is what it takes for a change in culture at the Raiders, then so be it. There is absolutely no optimism within the fan base at the moment and it is so depressing to see.

I actually disagree with this. I think a new coach could genuinely still save our season.

It’s incredible the amount of times over the years a coach gets replaced and a team starts to win instantly.

The talent is still there, it’s just the coaching, team selections, game tactics and use of the bench rotation letting us down.

All we need is a few reliable replacements for Paulo and Austin who can elevate our defence from abysmal to average. Our edges will do the rest.

IMO we need Paulo to stay - why build a team then let them leave. He is not our problem, it’s the fringe defence.

Bring on Norman


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse mobile app powered by Tapatalk

Raiders won’t be able to match Eels offer on Paulo. If Paulo stays it’ll be for loyalty but he won’t he’s got a family. The Raiders have a load of top players off contract at the end of the season there’s no chance they can give everyone more money so many will go.

Off Contract 2018: Blake Austin, Luke Bateman, Shannon Boyd, Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Craig Garvey, Siliva Havili, Dunamis Lui, Michael Oldfield, Josh Papalii, Junior Paulo, Aidan Sezer, Iosia Soliola.

[RedRaider]

Bateman not named for FG or Mounties. Perhaps that head knock was more serious than first thought and his long term health demands he have at least this week off. Meanwhile the perpetrator gets a $1500 fine and is free to play this weekend for swinging the arm that did the damage.

[kiwi raider]

Bateman not named for FG or Mounties. Perhaps that head knock was more serious than first thought and his long term health demands he have at least this week off. Meanwhile the perpetrator gets a $1500 fine and is free to play this weekend for swinging the arm that did the damage.

Batemans been named on the bench, he's swapped positions with Papalii

[RedRaider]

Hingano is the worst performed option for the top 17... yet he keeps being selected. I don’t understand it.

I can't agree with this GE while Austin is being picked. Every side targets him because they get results. If a team is a confidence team lacking defensive grit, like the Raiders are, then Austin cannot be on the field early on. Souths showed what everyone in the NRL knows. Target him and rack up a good lead. If he comes on as a replacement, target him and chase down the Raiders.

Hingano is a Tongan International HALF back. He is being selected to play hooker. We bought 2 hookers to replace Josh Hodgson. One is being selected and playing well, but the coach doesn't think he can play long minutes although he proved with a 78 minute effort that he can. The other hooker, Garvey, is playing well for Mounties but cannot get a bench spot for FG???

The side has just been flogged by Souths but there is the team sheet which looks like the only change is due to injury. I will watch it because I am a Raiders fan, but I watch with no confidence. This is not because of the opposition it is because of the Raiders team as selected. Sticky has had nearly 5 years to fix our defensive woes and still we struggle. He showed earlier this year he could sack Austin. Why on earth is he picking him after last weeks performance? Some players are laughing at him because he chooses sides where performance doesn't count.

[Canberra Milk]

Some halves can play ok at hooker (Joey, Cronk both spent time there), other's can't. Hingano can't.

However, he said he is proud to say that he's still friends with some of the players he's coached. STILL FRIENDS. THAT'S IMPORTANT!

The self-branded "player's coach".