SpaceMonkey
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Whoa steady on with the "was", Manu hasn't retired yet. I'm still holding our some hope he can get fit and have the swansong he deserves in his last 2/3 of a season (if not longer).
Whoa steady on with the "was", Manu hasn't retired yet. I'm still holding our some hope he can get fit and have the swansong he deserves in his last 2/3 of a season (if not longer).
Would love to see it also, not convinced it will happen though.
Regardless, we've seen his best and his best was pretty awesome.
So am I, but to be fair it's been a whileWhoa steady on with the "was", Manu hasn't retired yet. I'm still holding our some hope he can get fit and have the swansong he deserves in his last 2/3 of a season (if not longer).
Whats wrong with old beast? I don't even know if he's injured or what.So am I, but to be fair it's been a while
Whats wrong with old beast? I don't even know if he's injured or what.
Hurt his knee in his comeback match and need to have some cartilage cleaned out of it. Can't be too far away.
He didn't seem right, either mentally or physically, throughout the whole of last season.
This game against Melbourne is going to be interesting from a tactical point of view.
I'm not at all convinced by Kearney as a coach and this to me will be somewhat of a litmus test.
Eight rounds in and a pretty healthy squad.
Kearney has clearly dictated a conservative game plan based on minimizing errors and maximizing time with the ball. 2nd phase play has all but been banned as he tries to implement discipline and structure.
But you don't usually beat the Storm by playing structured footy - by playing their game ( perhaps 2011 semi-final was an exception). Unlocking their defence usually requires a power game we simply don't have, or 2nd phase ball - lots of offloads.
Good teams and coaches adapt game tactics depending on the opposition.
Our best chance of winning surely has to be with a bit of 'jungle ball,' but will we do that?
I doubt it. Not until the game is lost anyhow (if even then).
Our error stats are near the worst in the league despite shutting shop on offloads. Dropping bombs, tits for hands, and Issac luke dummy half scoops are too blame. We have had second least offloads so far this season, usually we are top 3.
If we win by playing the same tactical approach as Kearney has promoted so far, than all kudos to him.
If we lose closely in a grind well then, Kearney tactics can't be judged either way.
If we get smashed playing conservatively, then Kearney can shove his tactics where the sun don't shine.
If we get smashed playing jungle ball, then more conservative tactics, ala Kearney, are justified.
If we win with some jungle ball, then we need more jungle ball.
I predict we will play conservatively and either get smashed or get over run in the second half. 30-12 to Melbourne.
That's it in a nutshell - along with having a great (or at least good) defence - unfortunately we don't really tick any of the boxes, and when we get into the 2nd phase play we can't do it with control (and our defence remains a huge worry anyway)Unlocking their defence usually requires a power game we simply don't have, or 2nd phase ball - lots of offloads.
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Looks like Matulino back.
Will be a bit underdone.Big bonus against the storm.