OutOnTheFull
James Goulding
My thoughts exactly. Lets start negotiations...I've got $3.40, that should get him halfway to signing
Ciraldo in RLW
- Thread starter Ms.Nobody
- Start date
My thoughts exactly. Lets start negotiations...I've got $3.40, that should get him halfway to signing
If I win on the punt this weekend I'll pay his air fare to go over and play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Just looking at Big League (RLW still hadn't arrived at the newsagent for some reason) and noticed that last week Ciraldo played more minutes than any other forward, other than De Gois. That's all, just thought it was interesting. I never thought I'd see him get more minutes than Houston.
Edit: Did Stoney just give him more minutes because the game was pretty much in the bag with a while to go?
Edit: Did Stoney just give him more minutes because the game was pretty much in the bag with a while to go?
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Nobody on here will ever agree with every selection the coach makes, but I personally think Stone has done an outstanding job this year. Our defence is as good as it's been in years, and the way we've put the team being rebuilt for 2012 and locked ourselves into the finals comfortably with five rounds remaining is very impressive.
We don't have the best side on paper and I think he has done an excellent job of 2011. The team has played with 100% effort on most occasions this year, and the fitness is vastly improved from 2010, which shows Stone has picked up and improved on his deficiencies from last season, as well.
Novocastrian90
Brock Mueller
Don't jinx it now. :crazy:
I will pretty much deserve to walk the plank if we miss out.
Very touching from you James, considering you are a Stone critic!
More a critic of his results and the team's performance under him last year, than anything against Stone personally. Although those factors did lead me to conclude that he couldn't coach.
It's definitely improved out of site this year. We were already out of contention for the eight, this time last season.
Although that said, I'm looking forward to Bennett coming in.
I have seen nothing to change my mind about Stones coaching ability. We are where we are on the ladder more so because of other teams' mediocrity rather than our great performances. I believe we had the roster at the beginning of the year to make the 8 and anything less should be considered an F for fail.
Joshhh
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Yeah with the roster we had at the start of the year. Think of the injuries. The crisis that we've had this year with injuries, it's impressive to be in the 8 at all. I don't think Stone is a world class coach, but he has got some really good parts of his coaching game, the next 4 years will be great for him.
The fact that he's got us into the eight means he's improved from last year, it's a fact you can't really argue with.
I believe all up we have had more injuries this season as well. Plus definitely more disruption with players being released for 2012. So while he's certainly no Wayne Bennett, he has done his job this season.
I'm worried though. We raelly haven't beaten any class sides this year while they're at their peak. Think of all the top teams we've played. Manly we got walloped twice (first one fair enough because we were beaten senseless with injuries), NQ we only beat at the start because they were useless and second time round we should ahve won but didn't, St George we only beat because of Origin (although we were depleted, I'm sure a full side NEW vs STG team would be a different story...at the start of the season anyway!), don't remember much of what happened in the Tigers game...but we lost that, closely though, can't remember if they played well), got trounced by NZ, trounced by Melbourne, beaten by a Broncos side playing crap...
Pleasing thing is we are winning the matches we should win. Disappointing thing is we haven't won against a full strength side in form which is what we need. I'm not saying it won't happen, but it's something we need to do to win the premiership...unless every team we play in the finals is in shocking form.
Pleasing thing is we are winning the matches we should win. Disappointing thing is we haven't won against a full strength side in form which is what we need. I'm not saying it won't happen, but it's something we need to do to win the premiership...unless every team we play in the finals is in shocking form.
Josh - I as a rule don't bet on rugby league. It is the sport I have been involved with for 44 years and I enjoy watching a game without the influence of my wallet. That being said I had a wager on the Knights to make the top 4 this season before a ball was kicked. With a better run with injuries and the benefit of hindsight on a couple of occasions I believe we could have been higher up the ladder. Given the injuries and other distractions the team has done well and I do give Stone credit for holding the team together however I look forward like most to seeinh a proven winner in charge next year.
Novocastrian90
Brock Mueller
Beaumont does make some good points tho. You have to look at the bottom 8 to see that. last years 2nd place Penrith is running 10th after a dismal first half the year, last years pelim finalists Titans a shoe in for the spoon, last years finalists the Roosters running 2nd last, and Canberra who made the 8 and were a strong team last year sitting down in 14th this year. not to mention the Bulldogs who were due for a big year (given their whole good year bad year and repeat cycle) and were pemiership contenders for the last 10 or so rounds. A lot of teams that in the space of a new year started playing pretty average footy. If that hadn't been the the case the knight probably would be battling to make the top 12. So they have hit some good luck with the other teams, allowing them to improve up the ladder.
In saying that they have been some aspects that Stone has improved on, but not by enough that i would say he have played particular better this year then last year, given the average state of the competition this year.
Their still lost a game against the Tigers they should have won. Their still let a 4/6 point deficit against the Storm in the last 15minutes, were they were still in with a chance of winning, turn in to a 30 point loss. They still let the cowboys beat them in newcastle. Their still lost to the, at the time, last placed roosters earlier in the year. Their still played a dimsal first half against manly a couple weeks back, and on several occasionals where they could have put 25-30 even 40 points on a team they stuff it up countless times and scored barely 10. Even a couple of their wins their almost lost by letting the other team back in. And they still have yet to beat a top 8 side that wasnt severely depleted.
The defence has improved tho. Otherwise the knights are playing marginally better then last year and stone is coaching marginally better.
In saying that they have been some aspects that Stone has improved on, but not by enough that i would say he have played particular better this year then last year, given the average state of the competition this year.
Their still lost a game against the Tigers they should have won. Their still let a 4/6 point deficit against the Storm in the last 15minutes, were they were still in with a chance of winning, turn in to a 30 point loss. They still let the cowboys beat them in newcastle. Their still lost to the, at the time, last placed roosters earlier in the year. Their still played a dimsal first half against manly a couple weeks back, and on several occasionals where they could have put 25-30 even 40 points on a team they stuff it up countless times and scored barely 10. Even a couple of their wins their almost lost by letting the other team back in. And they still have yet to beat a top 8 side that wasnt severely depleted.
The defence has improved tho. Otherwise the knights are playing marginally better then last year and stone is coaching marginally better.
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MBQLD
Adam Woolnough
Well maybe wait and see knights play with a fully fit side befor we start making dramatic scenarios of doom and gloom. I might be crazy, but I honestly believed befor we we kicked off round 1 this season that Rick Stone had a side capable of the trophy... stranger things have happened my friends!
Well maybe wait and see knights play with a fully fit side befor we start making dramatic scenarios of doom and gloom. I might be crazy, but I honestly believed befor we we kicked off round 1 this season that Rick Stone had a side capable of the trophy... stranger things have happened my friends!
No I have complete faith in the team. It would just be a very nice reassurance if we'd beaten Manly, Melbourne or St George at full strength so we know we're very much capable.