Parra v Manly LIVE game day thread, March 18, 2018

[Chipmunk]

We are a smart, skilful side that plays some complicated footy. In defence we are mobile and aggressive. Obviously round two in the heat isn't the place for all this to come together.

Who was the last team to win an NRL competition playing complicated footy?

 

[Sphagnum]

Hayne has lost all his acceleration and lateral movement. He seems to read and communicate well at center in defense but will be very susceptible to opposition centers putting footwork on him.

Dunno whether he has an injury, is unfit or is just getting old but he isn't half the player he once was atm.

Our forwards need an attitude adjustment. They weren't big enough to compete last year but they did anyway with some serious attitude and commitment to the cause. Haven't seen that from any of them so far.

Prepared to forgive a terrible performance after copping the worst of the conditions in the first two rounds (heatwise). This start will also wake up any of the players who bought into the hype pre season.

They have a lot of work to do to prepare for Cronulla. These were the guys who got us there last year so there's no reason they can't do it again.

Not panicking just yet.

 

[Chipmunk]

We smashed the Knights, the Knights beat Manly, Manly smashed us. It's round two. There have been four finals type performances so far this year (the Knights last week, both Tigers games and Manly today). Plenty of teams are off their game this early in the year, and one of them (us) ran into one of these finals type performances. Manly completed at 90% today. In 38 degree weather FFS. It was a bad day to not have our shit in one sock, but at the same time, if you are going to be off your game, the early rounds are the time to do it.

We smashed the Knights because our depth of forwards in a 23 man unlimited rotation is better than what the Knights 23 man unlimited rotation. We struggled in the first 20 minutes against the Knights Top 17, until we could bring on fresh players.

 

[Chipmunk]

It's round two. Nobody has shown anything yet. A couple of teams have gotten the jump on the premiership ladder but that's about all that is relevant at this stage. Form is meaningless this early on.

Agreed, but to suggest we've got more of a change of winning the comp than most of the other 12 teams outside of Roosters, Cowboys and Storm is absurd.

 

[Chipmunk]

That describes Billy Slater IMO.

I think that's just stupid.

 

[Chipmunk]

Why can't they be fixed quickly? This is a team that won 16 games last year. Why wouldn't they be able to sort their shit out now?

Well if we're aren't having a go because of what Emjaycee is suggesting, that the coach bought The Plane back or he believed that Kenny Edwards isn't in our best 17, or a loss in the finals to Mebourne has damaged us, then that is some serious wrong attitudes and issues that won't be fixed easily.

I don't agree that Emjaycee's possible causes are actual issues, I just don't think we could be arsed on the day.

 

[Chipmunk]

Our goal line defence was good all game last week. Penrith only scored three tries (the same amount as us) despite dominating possession for 50 minutes.

I did ask that, and the answer I came up with was that the team wasn't fatigued so much as the middle defenders were fatigued, including three that came off the bench and decided it was too hot to move up in defence.

Today we decided it at kickoff rather than after 25 minutes.

Teams with that attitude aren't ever going to be Premiership contenders for mine. A team from the Western Suburbs of Sydney should be able to cope with a 40 degree day better than a team from the Northern Beaches.

 

[Chipmunk]

Anyway it's four in the morning. I have to get up at lunchtime!

Ninite merkins. Good chat.

Slow night in the cab Pou Bear?

 

[Gronk]

Reading this thread is like groundhog day. BA has gone from the greatest coach since Jack Gibson to having NFI again.

 

[Chipmunk]

Next week we will at least get to see how a team who's success at the back end of 2017 was built on deliberate and systematic incorrect play the balls that are currently being penalised goes against a teams who's success in 2017 was built around being deliberately and continuously offside in their own red zone, a tactic that is also being penalised.

Should be an interesting contest...hope we bring a better attitude.

 

[TheParraboy]

Ivan Cleary on the Mathew Johns show last night mentioned the heat when asked about the loss and that it would have had an effect, said would have been hard once your behind on the scoreboard

We also had to travel, that Zapps energy out of you in the heat.

I guess we are a side that mentally is fragile in the heat, and something we probably didn’t spend our pre season preparing for. Penrith and Manly had better bal control , and in the heat that is gold

I’m expecting the real Parra to stand up on Saturday night. The sharks are no muggs and if we do well here then we are on track.

I’ll give the boys till then to prove it, otherwise if we get belted then we are in trouble, for now I’ll back us.

 

[hineyrulz]

I reckon there is a fine line between winning and losing and that momentum carries sides.

So we are a top 4 side apparently by most experts. Our roster has improved.

I reckon that was an old fashion fail by a team who just thought they had to turn up and go through the motions. Suddenly they had a team running at them who were prepared to work hard and had their angry faces on.

They ended up with 70% of the ball bc we turned it over or gave away soft penalties whilst they were in possession.

It is not about team selections on the day or poor roster, it is about the playing group and complacency.

They will turn it around.

Whoever said our roster has improved are dead wrong.

We lost the best destructive back in the comp and replaced him with yesterday’s man and our pack seem to have fallen off a cliff. They all look old, slow and unfit. And the worst thing is totally unmotivated. And our only signing of any note is making Justin Poore look like a. Inspired signing.

 

[hineyrulz]

Well if we're aren't having a go because of what Emjaycee is suggesting, that the coach bought The Plane back or he believed that Kenny Edwards isn't in our best 17, or a loss in the finals to Mebourne has damaged us, then that is some serious wrong attitudes and issues that won't be fixed easily.

Agreed, just more lame excuses which is what this club does best.

Our captain had dropped his head by 12 nil, he’s not a captains arsehole and sadly he was the only forward I thought that really put his hand up.

 

[Chipmunk]

Agreed, just more lame excuses which is what this club does best.

Our captain had dropped his head by 12 nil, he’s not a captains arsehole and sadly he was the only forward I thought they really put his hand up.

I thought Moeroa went pretty well just playing in the middle yesterday, but the game was effectively over by the time he came on.

 

[hineyrulz]

Reading this thread is like groundhog day. BA has gone from the greatest coach since Jack Gibson to having NFI again.

Hypobole from Gronk????

And watched the game yet??? The score line flattered us.

 

[hineyrulz]

I thought Moeroa went pretty well just playing in the middle yesterday, but the game was effectively over by the time he came on.

Yeah he had a dig as well. But the rest the less said the better.

 

[eel01s]

Pathetic. Inept. Hopeless. One of the worst performances I have seen from a "top eight" team.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Ivan Cleary on the Mathew Johns show last night mentioned the heat when asked about the loss and that it would have had an effect, said would have been hard once your behind on the scoreboard

We also had to travel, that Zapps energy out of you in the heat.

I guess we are a side that mentally is fragile in the heat, and something we probably didn’t spend our pre season preparing for. Penrith and Manly had better bal control , and in the heat that is gold

I’m expecting the real Parra to stand up on Saturday night. The sharks are no muggs and if we do well here then we are on track.

I’ll give the boys till then to prove it, otherwise if we get belted then we are in trouble, for now I’ll back us.

Yeah, while we were crap and were never going to win with how poor we played, that heat would have contributed massively to the big score. Once we only had 1 set in the first 13 minutes or so, the players would have been stuffed!!

Playing in 40 degree heat can really f**k with you mentally and effort levels!!

Yes I know the boys are professionals but there is a limit to what the "body" can handle. Plus add the previous week's game in the heat!!

But this doesn't take away just how poor we started.

 

[emjaycee]

Well I stopped watching after about 24 mins when Manly were up 24 nil. I've read a great deal of the comments and the usual few on here are offering lame excuses for our second poor showing.
We lost because of two things, the shit team selected and apparently we won the toss (so commentators said) and elected to run into an absolute gale in 38 degree heat. Now who decided that, Mannah or BA? If Mannah he should be consigned to reserve grade never to see NRL again or if BA he is an idiot and should know better!
Now I'll reserve judgement until after round 5 for the team prospects for the season but we play Sharks, W-T and Penrith for the next 3 games and we will most likely be 0-5 by then.

There was a wind out there but i wouldnt call it an absolute gale.

 

[hineyrulz]

Pathetic. Inept. Hopeless. One of the worst performances I have seen from a "top eight" team.

Are we even a top 8 team???