The next 7 games...

[TheFrog]

Maloney was atrocious but Cordner was pretty average in a good team.

I thought we had an awful lot of trouble putting the anus-chinned one to the ground.

 

[Kilkenny]

The home game against the Sea Eagle is a must win as the two games following while home games are going to be very tough.

The game against the Warriors we will be without our origin players and they will be at full strength with origin not an issue for them.

The game against the Sharks is a Friday night game backing up after origin.

We will probably know after the Sharks game whether we are still a chance of competing for the top four or destined to finish somewhere in the 5-8 positions.

 

[franklin2323]

The home game against the Sea Eagle is a must win as the two games following while home games are going to be very tough.

The game against the Warriors we will be without our origin players and they will be at full strength with origin not an issue for them.

The game against the Sharks is a Friday night game backing up after origin.

We will probably know after the Sharks game whether we are still a chance of competing for the top four or destined to finish somewhere in the 5-8 positions.

We have the draw to make a run for top 4 regardless. The problem is we want to have a few wins in the bank to squad manage for the GC, Canberra and Knights games

 

[Kilkenny]

It has reached the point where we can no longer afford the luxury of playing two specialist hookers.

If May is not required to play in the halves then he can take Egan's spot in the 17 and can play dummy half for 20 minutes or so against the Sea Eagles.

 

[OldPanther]

It has reached the point where we can no longer afford the luxury of playing two specialist hookers.

If May is not required to play in the halves then he can take Egan's spot in the 17 and can play dummy half for 20 minutes or so against the Sea Eagles.

That doesn't improve anything. We're still playing a second hooker for 20 mins he just has a bit more utility value.

 

[Kilkenny]

That doesn't improve anything. We're still playing a second hooker for 20 mins he just has a bit more utility value.

Yes Tyrone May provides the utility value and if only playing 20 minutes I suggest offers much more of an attacking threat than young Wade Egan currently provides.

Egan needs to spend the rest of this season in NSW Cup playing big minutes to develop his game and put him in a better position to compete against Katoa for the starting dummy half role next season.

 

[franklin2323]

It has reached the point where we can no longer afford the luxury of playing two specialist hookers.

If May is not required to play in the halves then he can take Egan's spot in the 17 and can play dummy half for 20 minutes or so against the Sea Eagles.

I'd even consider starting him. Katoa's defence is giving up 5 or so metre due to hitting in the wrong spot. The problem is can we have Peachey and a hooker on the bench. I say yes other's may not

 

[OldPanther]

Yes Tyrone May provides the utility value and if only playing 20 minutes I suggest offers much more of an attacking threat than young Wade Egan currently provides.

Egan needs to spend the rest of this season in NSW Cup playing big minutes to develop his game and put him in a better position to compete against Katoa for the starting dummy half role next season.

I'd even consider starting him. Katoa's defence is giving up 5 or so metre due to hitting in the wrong spot. The problem is can we have Peachey and a hooker on the bench. I say yes other's may not

I doubt anyone would agree but I'd put Egan as the #1 hooker. We improved against Roosters when he came on.

 

[Kilkenny]

I don't particularly care, one or the other but not both in the 17.

I guess what Griffin decides to with Waqa Blake when he returns will have some bearing on the make up of our bench.

 

[OldPanther]

I don't particularly care, one or the other but not both in the 17.

I guess what Griffin decides to with Waqa Blake when he returns will have some bearing on the make up of our bench.

The question then becomes what happens with Peaches.

 

[Kilkenny]

The question then becomes what happens with Peaches.

Given we are stuck with both current wingers until Mansour returns my personal preference would be DWZ, Crichton, Whare, Blake, Phillips, Maloney, Cleary, JFH, Yeo, Peachy, Tamou, Katoa, Merrin. Bench May, Leota (assuming he is fit), Kikau and Hethrington.

The club are nursing CHN along but I just don't know how much longer he can play with his groin injury if it is chronic.

I think the loss of Dylan Edwards as much as any of our injuries has really hurt our chances. Our backline is much stronger overall fielding the combination of Edwards, DWZ, Whare/Peachy, Blake & Mansour despite the great job DWZ does or can do at fullback. Every weekend we see the amazing work / tries scored by the wingers in this competition and we just don't have that strikepower with what we have currently.

 

[OldPanther]

Given we are stuck with both current wingers until Mansour returns my personal preference would be DWZ, Crichton, Whare, Blake, Phillips, Maloney, Cleary, JFH, Yeo, Peachy, Tamou, Katoa, Merrin. Bench May, Leota (assuming he is fit), Kikau and Hethrington.

The club are nursing CHN along but I just don't know how much longer he can play with his groin injury if it is chronic.

I think the loss of Dylan Edwards as much as any of our injuries has really hurt our chances. Our backline is much stronger overall fielding the combination of Edwards, DWZ, Whare/Peachy, Blake & Mansour despite the great job DWZ does or can do at fullback. Every weekend we see the amazing work / tries scored by the wingers in this competition and we just don't have that strikepower with what we have currently.

This is pretty much spot on for me.

 

[franklin2323]

I doubt anyone would agree but I'd put Egan as the #1 hooker. We improved against Roosters when he came on.

Couldn't of gone worse. As expected no Wallace has affected our defence

 

[franklin2323]

The question then becomes what happens with Peaches.

For me the pack would be:

JFH
Katoa
Merrin
Kikau
CHN
Yeo

Peachey
Tamou
Leota
May/Egan

Peachey be the 1st change of the 2nd half. Giving 30mins is enough time to do his stuff v tiring defence but also not too long he makes fatigue related errors

 

[PenrithPanther45]

Couldn't of gone worse. As expected no Wallace has affected our defence

I do agree to some extent but remember we held Tigers and Dragons tryless without him.

 

[franklin2323]

I do agree to some extent but remember we held Tigers and Dragons tryless without him.

which means we can fix it. More a technique then anything

 

[Sime_11]

some of those early roosters tries were sensational and hard to defend.... we did very well to hold them to 14 points after that period considering the possession & officiating that wasn't going our favour, a lot of defending screws any team let alone ours, not to mention losing our best forward, again that screws any team.

also had Phillips just flopped over and scored that try, our mentality & confidence would have grown for the rest of the game.

I'm not saying we would have won, but 26-10 (with a kick to come) with 20 mins left in the game would have been a big momentum shift for us seeing as we were constantly defending.

 

[pantherz9103]

Must beat Manly, who are gone for the year and as poor as they have been they are still a potentially dangerous opponent. It's not time to worry too much because of a convincing loss to Roosters, which is our first heavy loss all season and only 4th all up.. it's the injuries and rep burnout that could see us drop down the ladder.

 

[martielang]

some of those early roosters tries were sensational and hard to defend....

Their 2nd try was a cracker. Beautifully worked. Would of been great to watch if it wasn’t scored against us or by the Roosters.

 

[Frankus]

For me the pack would be:

JFH
Katoa
Merrin
Kikau
CHN
Yeo

Peachey
Tamou
Leota
May/Egan

Peachey be the 1st change of the 2nd half. Giving 30mins is enough time to do his stuff v tiring defence but also not too long he makes fatigue related errors

Kikau needs to start.

But CHN needs to be benched. I like him, he is an honest player who is often in the right place for attacking kicks but he doesn’t have the talent of some others. Deserves his top 17 spot though.

Tamou needs to start now RCG is injured. He played well against the Roosters. His defence and wrestling slowed down the ruck when he came on. We need that from the outset. We got rolled through the middle two weeks in a row against inferior packs in my opinion.

I would go with
Tamou
Katoa
Merrin
Kikau
Yeo
JFH

Bench
Peach
Leota
CHN
Egan/May