Match Discussion: Round 20 vs Roosters @ Allianz Stadium

[Hardcore_Fan]

What about

8. Barnett
10. Ese ese
11. Sione
12. Buhrer
13. Guerra

14. Jaifiti
15. Daifiti

 

[Apey]

Lamb is really slow. So is Hodko. It's not what you want in a halves combination. They both seem to love throwing it to people who are about to get smashed, too.

 

[Glendale]

Decent halves tonight and we aren't having this conversation. Our kicking, running and passing game was effing disgraceful. Horrible. Shite. Provided us with nothing.

I think, although I want an experienced prop or 2 here, we have enough up front to do the job. My concern is the halves and outside backs now. The outside backs are a huge issue. The Roosters wingers toyed with us tonight. Offloaded at will and powered over everyone. Fergo goes alright but I can't stand watching that cat Tupou dominate anyone.

I dont reckon outside backs will be an issue next year. This is the reason Moga and SKD were recruited, they are big and strong and won't get dominated, our backs this year and all short and weak; Gags, Sio, Pete, Ross, Elliot. We'll be alright out wide next year IMO.

 

[Glendale]

I hope Ponga has a decent kicking game just waiting to be used. If not we'll have a 1, 6, 9 who don't kick. And a 7 who doesn't kick well.

Yeah this is a legitimate concern but theres got to be some sort of plan there... Browny wanted Jack Bird as #6 earlier in the year and now we've got Watson, neither posses any sort of kicking game. It's clear he wants a running #6.

 

[K-Man]

Yeah this is a legitimate concern but theres got to be some sort of plan there... Browny wanted Jack Bird as #6 earlier in the year and now we've got Watson, neither posses any sort of kicking game. It's clear he wants a running #6.

Indeed. He actually said exactly that during the week: "We want a running #6". So it's not simply a case of throwing cash at any player available, which as you've pointed out, must mean it's part of a plan.

I'm just wondering what that plan is. Don't get me wrong, I was leading the call for Watson to be signed, because we need a massive injection of talent, speed, energy and x-factor, which he has plenty of. And I'm pumped about Ponga, and a fan of Levi.

So it's not that I don't like how the spine is shaping up as a huge improvement on this year, but at the same time I'm genuinely keen to find out what Brown has in mind regarding the kicking and general organisational aspects of the game plan. There's no way you can set up a team around one playmaker and 3 all-out running specialists in the spine. I have to assume the people who matter know more about both Ponga and Watson than we do. Ponga might have a massive boot on him and generally be a talented kicker of a football, but has no reason to show it at the Cowboys. Watson might be half decent at short attacking kicks, and again has so many other senior players doing the job that he's coached not to get involved.

Then again, it's not only about kicking. It's our ability to execute a strategy out there. That should be Trent's job, but he's not doing it. Lamb needs to become that player for his career to continue, because he clearly isn't a runner or dynamic footballer, so he's got to turn himself into a serious game manager. Not sure he can. It's weird, because in the juniors Lamb looked like he was a lot sharper and he even played some fullback one season and went well. He wasn't an old school ballplayer in the 20s, but now he appears to have zero spark to his running game and nothing but a ball distributor.

Phythian remains the wildcard. I wish we could fast forward a year and see what he's like injury free and playing in the halves. Seems like a lot of us have the same hunch that he's a natural football player and would add some value at 6 or 7 with a sustained go at it, but I have to admit it that a hunch is all it is.

 

[Alex28]

Interesting clash between Browny and Rob Dillion in the presser tonight...

 

[Trent91]

If we get Watson, he and Ponga are instantly our best players next year.

Do you reckon that is a good thing or a sad indictment on the talent currently on the roster?

 

[Pedge1971]

Interesting clash between Browny and Rob Dillion in the presser tonight...

Didnt quite get that on both sides. Clearly not a lot of love.

But why would Dillon/Newc Herald pull out the story on Dane Laurie and localise it as a Newy thing?

 

[Frederick]

I used to think that Lamb was in a lose-lose situation because he is playing behind a badly beaten pack most weeks, but tonight it just looked like he was playing in slow motion. I lost count of the amount of times he got the ball, stood still, dummied a good 3-4m in front of the defensive line, and then lumbered up to only get tackled. It was like he was telegraphing the play and it asked absolutely no questions of the defence at all.

And yet some people don't want us to get maloney because Lamb might get offended

Lamb is not the answer. Just another above average reserve grader who gets found out big time in first grade

 

[Frederick]

Didnt quite get that on both sides. Clearly not a lot of love.

But why would Dillon/Newc Herald pull out the story on Dane Laurie and localise it as a Newy thing?

Dillon is a butt-hurt, cricket-loving little bitch. He fell out of favour during the tinkler-bennett regime and has held a grudge since.

 

[macavity]

Do you reckon that is a good thing or a sad indictment on the talent currently on the roster?

Both.

I think they are both genuinely talented players, but unfortunately we can count the number of "solid first graders" we have on one hand at present.

Watson was exciting last night - he obviously is much more comfortable in the front line than at FB, but when was the last time you saw a Knights player with that sort of energy? Ross... and that's about it.

 

[Johns Magic]

Watching at the ground last night I was proud of the team. The effort was there especially from our forwards. As expected we lack the class in 7 and 6 to do anything in attack and as K-Man and others have said this has perennialy been our downfall this season. Our attacking sets in their 20 were so clunky and robotic. Zero spark. Watson and Ponga are a godsend and let's hope like hell that Cronk wants to play Origin next year.

SKD needs to stay on his winger in defence if he is going to play wing for us. I couldn't understand what he was doing. But he was strong in other areas so encouraging.

Josh King really stepped up against a tough pack. He has a way to go but he tackles with intent and is getting better.

Chanel I'm still not a fan of. Sio please.

We had a couple of really poor lapses in defence where our line just parted like the Red Sea. Not sure what that was about.

Those bagging Yates for losing that ball...he was the only one pushing hard to support. Good on him, where were our halves or fullback on that crucial play? Yates probably beats our halves for pace actually...

 

[Frederick]

.

Those bagging Yates for losing that ball...he was the only one pushing hard to support. Good on him, where were our halves or fullback on that crucial play? Yates probably beats our halves for pace actually...

Yates may not be the fastest or strongest on the team, but he's got a merkinload more heart and enthusiasm than a lot of the others out there. You know that when he's out there he's never gonna half arse anything

 

[Burwood]

Is it too late for Yates to switch over to a hooker/utility, similar to what Kostjasyn's role in the side would have been? I know that he was training there earlier in the season when Buhrer was injured.

His size wasn't such an issue in the lower grades, but it's just not possible in the modern game to make a career out of prop or lock when you're giving up 20kg and 3-4 inches to the opposition each and every week.

The only chance I see for him is to develop into a different position- I just don't know if he will ever be able to develop his game that way?

It sucks when you have guys with all the talent in the world, but no drive, and then you have guys like Yates who are the exact opposite. If only he had the physical attributes of someone like Korbin.

 

[Noname36]

I used to think that Lamb was in a lose-lose situation because he is playing behind a badly beaten pack most weeks, but tonight it just looked like he was playing in slow motion. I lost count of the amount of times he got the ball, stood still, dummied a good 3-4m in front of the defensive line, and then lumbered up to only get tackled. It was like he was telegraphing the play and it asked absolutely no questions of the defence at all.

Careful, this is exactly what I said concerned me about Lamb a couple of weeks ago and I was attacked from all angles...apparently it's "bagging" the kid.

I get he's playing behind a poor pack but he's certainly not the first young half to do that and even in those instances you can usually at least see if they have the skills to make it someday. I just don't see it with Lamb at the moment. I hope I'm wrong. It's not just the limited passing game/non existent running game that concern me though. The lack of vision is my major cause for concern.

 

[Glendale]

Careful, this is exactly what I said concerned me about Lamb a couple of weeks ago and I was attacked from all angles...apparently it's "bagging" the kid.

I get he's playing behind a poor pack but he's certainly not the first young half to do that and even in those instances you can usually at least see if they have the skills to make it someday. I just don't see it with Lamb at the moment. I hope I'm wrong.

I think there's been glimpses, he's had good stuff and bad stuff. In the early part of the season he was getting plenty of praise around here. As the seasons gone on he's got worse and worse, feeling the effects of a full season of NRL. Brown did the right thing dropping him back to reserves for the Tigs game, unfortunately Feeney is just hopeless and everyone was calling for him to come back. The kid wasn't meant to be playing a full season this year remember, but Mullen gone meant he had to.

 

[Spot On]

There's no doubt he has come a long way re his defence. Much, much better than the start of the year. However it's the other parts of his game that were looking like his strengths that have now gone off the boil big time. As Glendale has correctly pointed out ..... we can't really give him a decent spell as Feeney is attrocious.

Does Cogger get a few game before season's end???

 

[Glendale]

Does Cogger get a few game before season's end???

Yep I'd be giving him a game or 2. Since he's been back Reserve Grade haven't lost a game.

 

[slotmachine]

Lamb has been pants since the dogs debacle. Give him the rest of the year in cup to build some confidence and see how cogger goes.

 

[stubbs8611]

ross is not a fullback his reading of the the play is terrible great winger but not fullback give meaney a crack at it