Here's my take. One thing is obvious. A good run with injuries, especially Tommy. But even this year, we were pretty close to full strength come the finals, and were a class below. We were 0 - 6 vs the Storm, Souths and Penrith this year. Sure, Parra and the Begerks will give us a good run, but you'd like to think we can beat the teams below this years top three on most occassions. The subject of this thread is a good one - what takes us to the next level. I don't want to bag Croker, as he tries his guts out, and I admire his efforts in 2021 in what was a fantastic year for us. But we need that crucial, spinal, different point of attack if we are to go to the next level. We have good defensive centres, and that works well against the lesser teams. But that lack of spark out of dummy half, that point of difference, that question mark from the defence, is what's holding us back. Otherwise they just swamp Tommy and we look like we did againt the scum and the rabbits in the finals this year.
Another interesting point about inuries. Dessie had a clause that he received a bonus if we made the top 4. But I believe he should of gambled and rested Harper, Guacca and Foz in that last game vs the Cowboys. They all looked fried, and it showed come the semi's. Sure we probably still don't beat the storm week 1, but the hangover from that poor performance showed in the game vs Souths (we beat the bergerks with Jye Mullane at 6 - they were shot).
Anyhow, that's my take. I was actually OK with us getting knocked out because we were just a class below the top 3. We were worthy 4th place recipients, in a year where we scored numerous long range tries, and the cheering from my man cave probably annoyed the neighbours, but got me through lockdown. Still, we don't want to just come 4th. We want to win, and until we have a hooker who adds another point of attack, I find it hard to see us going to the next level.
