Big letdown in 2012, But Good things to come

msd

Michael McKeirnan
The knights were indeed a major dissapiontment in 2012,
I dont think anyone thought at the start of the year that we wouldnt qualify for the final series given that we boosted our roster and signed a great coach like Wayne Bennett.
But with the season ending injury to Captain and playmaker Kurt Gidley it was always going to be an uphill battle.
But in my opinion the Knights are moving forward not backwards.

Yes it has been a painful season and some extremely frustrating games, but I think part of the plan for this season was for Bennett to weed out the bad seeds so that the strongest team possible can be formed.

There has been some shining lights this year including Some talent being uncovered in the form of Alex McKinnon, Robbie Rochow, Dane Gagai, and Kevin Naiqama who all look promising.

And also not to mention Darius Boyd starting to mould in well with the Knights, and the outstanding performances of Mason, Buderus, and Mullen throughout the year.

With Gidley coming back next year and the inclusion of Beau Scott and no doubt a couple more signings, the Knights will be no pushovers in 2013, their structure will improve, they will be even more disciplined and with master coach Bennett behind it all the Knights will be the strongest they have ever been.

And It will be good to see alot of the teams who ran over the top of the Knights this year get the smiles wiped off their faces next year when the Knights ruthlessly humiliate them and crush their hopes and dreams hahaha :)
 
People expected too much too soon. Remember when everyone was talking us up so much and those few people were saying they would laugh heaps if it never happened? Bingo.

You have big expectations, you come up with nothing.

Gidley was saying top 4 was priority, anything below was a fail. Like, that's pressure already.
 
Gidley was a big loss, when is back next year, he will change the attack abit like improve because gidley and mullen have a good combenation. Not to forget Roberts too but id give gidley halfback back, and mullen stays five eighth. Roberts will probably fit at incherchange? or maybe back to nsw cup or under 20's (if he is still under 20's age).
 
Before we can be a top side Bennett needs to fix the lazy mistakes made consistently by the same few players.. Is it just me or was Snowdens ruck defense a horrible failure all season, effortless and costly.

There's no point in having the best backline in the world if your players in the middle aren't making the tackles
 
People expected way too much too quickly in my opinion especially tinkler saying we could win at least 3 titles during waynes tenure here that put huge pressure on everyone plus the loss of gidley was massive if they work hard in the off season and stop the slow starts and stupid errors we can be at least a top 8 side we have some pretty good juniors coming through which we can utilise...still need some work in the player market too i think at least 1 or 2 big signings
 
People expected way too much too quickly in my opinion especially tinkler saying we could win at least 3 titles during waynes tenure here that put huge pressure on everyone plus the loss of gidley was massive if they work hard in the off season and stop the slow starts and stupid errors we can be at least a top 8 side we have some pretty good juniors coming through which we can utilise...still need some work in the player market too i think at least 1 or 2 big signings
Sarcasm mate, he was just having a laugh.

I personally wouldn't call this season a big let down like the OP suggests.
 
I'm definately guilty of expecting to much.

If someone told me at the start of the year that we wouldnt make the 8 i'd of laughed and said "yeah, and GWS are going to go undefeated in the AFL".

Consistency is the key. We can look unbeatable one week and sh!t house the next.
 
You aren't giving up yet are you, come on if we win by 47 points and the Broncos and Wests both loose we still have a chance of making the 8....Optimism wins :D
 
I think there is more positives than negatives to come out of this season.

The way guys like Mason, Boyd, Mullen, Uate, K Naiqama and Roberts have played especially in the back half of the season gives me some hope for 2013.
 
The biggest let down for me this season was Snowden, he was hailed as the next captain he was tinklers golden goose and i think at best he should be playing nsw cup, he looks so unfit and lazy out there
 
He was another who had a disrupted off season with his neck didn't he?

He has always been heavy on his feet and quite sluggish. He does need a big off season.

Guys that have impressed me this year are our centres Tahu and Gagai.

Tahu especially I think has been very underrated. Only missed two games and has been a real threat on that left side.

Gagai I don't remember the last time we had a right centre with speed and the ability to flick or set up his man. You may say Midley but Gagai has more speed than Mids.
 
Firstly anyone who didn't think we'd make the 8 is admitting to thinking we would go backwards. Give yourselves a triple. I'm very disappointed with the result but not the effort. Early in the season I was bagging Coach and players. As the season went on I found it hard to be critical of almost anyone who played. Sure most had the odd ordinary moment but up until now we have proven to be a very competitive side who plays right up until the full time bell.Especially happy with Mullen's year. Tahu was great and I like Cuthbertson although not many seem to. As a member I appreciate the effort Zeb Taia has put in despite the fact he's moving on.
 
It was supposed to be a rebuilding year - and that's what it was.

I'm glad it wasn't a halfarsed rebuilding effort, because I think the job is pretty much done and we are ready to go next year.

The only real thing that I think has been a mistake was getting rid of Brennan for Crawley as NYC coach. Penrith under Brennan has used players from Ball and even a couple from Mathews, and they are in 4th place and won 78-0 this week, which was the biggest ever win in NYC - while our team hasn't used a single player from outside the under 20s group and fell off a cliff mid season.
 
I had a look at the table and we are still mathematically a chance, but two roadblocks are in the way, both on Friday - Penrith's ability to flog Brisbane and our ability to flog Souths...but I'll give up hope On Tuesday morning still! :P
 
How many times have we been in this position with Souths now, last year we beat them to make the 8, think we beat them a couple years ago aswell to make the 8? Think we beat them in one of the final rounds to escape the wooden spoon in 05 aswell?
 
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