Match Discussion: Round 19 vs Melbourne @ McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

[NoSchitSherlock]

At least we have hope with the NRLW

 

[Burwood]

Probably been mentioned a million times in the thread, but god it was hard watching Hastings dink a little bomb from 30/40m out, giving no time for our players to get there. First time this year I’ve turned the game off with 20 minutes to go.

 

[macavity]

Probably been mentioned a million times in the thread, but god it was hard watching Hastings dink a little bomb from 30/40m out, giving no time for our players to get there. First time this year I’ve turned the game off with 20 minutes to go.

it is like he physically can’t kick any more.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

It sucked to lose but there was still plenty to like about that performance. We were simply out classed in the end and that was to be expected given our spine compared to theirs

 

[slotmachine]

Well put a fork in the 2025 cause it's done.

Don't hold much hope for 26 but it's going to be interesting watching AOB try and make brown/Sharpe/KP work. Potentially in the same way as a horrific train wreck.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Brown won't change anything for us. I'm still hoping his deal falls through and a better option comes along. I don't know what that option is.

 

[Walk On Home Boy]

Brown won't change anything for us. I'm still hoping his deal falls through and a better option comes along. I don't know what that option is.

We'd have won a few more games this year if we had Brown. He's not exactly what we need but he's far better than anything we have now and at least he can threaten the line. Its so easy to play against us when the defence knows both halves cannot run.

There's just not much out there tbh. I'd rather have Brown than no hope at all.

 

[Woody90]

Brown won't change anything for us. I'm still hoping his deal falls through and a better option comes along. I don't know what that option is.

One player usually doesn’t (unless they’re elite) but if the choice is between Brown or who we’ve already got I’d much prefer Brown. Definitely wouldn’t have been my first choice of half, but he’s the best that’s been available.

As Gus would say “if not him, then who?”

 

[slotmachine]

From a pure talent standpoint Brown is a huge upgrade in the spine (ignoring the questions about how he fits).

But then the forward depth chart is going backwards so he's going to be playing on the back foot for 80 minutes every week.

 

[Zoidberg]

Thing is, Brown doesn’t need to do much to look like a success next year. Kick long and/or accurate, get the ball to KP and our centres Best and Gags(?) to cause damage, and make your tackles.
Is that worth $1.3m a year, probably not, but it’ll make our team go better than it does now.

 

[Woody90]

I don’t actually think we need a top tier, big name forward pack. Our outside backs can literally win games on their own. We just need the pack to hold their own to allow them to do it.

Players like Saulo, Hola, Crouch, etc. aren’t world beaters or big names but they’re all bigger bodies than the likes of Jones, Croker, Cant, etc. and they’re not kids either. If they can have good off seasons and just hold their own while the juniors keep developing, i think we’ll be ok. Not great, but not the end of the world like is being made out either.

Middle forwards are an area you can “budget” a bit if you have strike in other areas.

 

[Burwood]

Anybody else find it a bit piss poor that the first two hit ups of the game were from our wingers? Imagine all that build up for a big home game against the benchmark side of the last 20 years, and then the forwards let Young and Marzhew take the opening crack. Can you Imagine that ever happening in origin?

 

[macavity]

From a pure talent standpoint Brown is a huge upgrade in the spine (ignoring the questions about how he fits).

But then the forward depth chart is going backwards so he's going to be playing on the back foot for 80 minutes every week.

Not sure I agree forward depth is going backwards next year.

Leo has been absolute trash this year (and has reportedly signed out).

KPP's good plays could be counted on one hand, plus he has had some terrible defensive moments.

As much as I love him, Frizz has also fallen off a cliff this year - getting steamrolled by Katoa for that try at the end will be plaguing his nightmares for a while. His whole game is based on explosiveness, and he doesn't have it any more. If he stays it needs to be as a bench level player, which I think he has probably been told and hence hasn't re-signed yet.

Sure, we aren't signing anyone that on the face of it gives us any excitement, but we aren't losing anyone who has been taking us forward either. Maybe a few of the new or young guys put their hand up - the current bunch hasn't for a while.

 

[Knight Tales]

The key is the money decision around the coach. This club is primed for a great developmental coach to take over. There will be a long line of people in wait. Sharpe, Hunt, ESL, Hopwood, McEwen, Brown, Best, Young all have their best football ahead of them.

 

[macavity]

The key is the money decision around the coach. This club is primed for a great developmental coach to take over. There will be a long line of people in wait. Sharpe, Hunt, ESL, Hopwood, McEwen, Brown, Best, Young all have their best football ahead of them.

Would also add Lucas, DeCourcey, hopefully both Arthur boys to that list (we need both to kick on).

We haven't had a bunch like that in a while.

To play devil's advocate, maybe AOB IS a development coach... he can bring kids through, he just can't create a cohesive style at the top level.

 

[Woody90]

To play devil's advocate, maybe AOB IS a development coach... he can bring kids through, he just can't create a cohesive style at the top level.

That’s exactly his issue. His player development is fine, evidenced by how comfortable all our juniors look in first grade.

If we don’t sack him we need to at least bring in a new attack coach IMO. I’m not sure if the attack issues are more AOB or Blake Green but they obviously need some help.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

From a pure talent standpoint Brown is a huge upgrade in the spine (ignoring the questions about how he fits).

But then the forward depth chart is going backwards so he's going to be playing on the back foot for 80 minutes every week.

How is the forward depth chart going backwards? We're losing Leo but we've signed at least 4x middles for 2026 as far as I can see. None are rep players but there's at least depth and comp for spots if they all stay fit

 

[perverse]

How is the forward depth chart going backwards? We're losing Leo but we've signed at least 4x middles for 2026 as far as I can see. None are rep players but there's at least depth and comp for spots if they all stay fit

Leo, Hetherington, KPP, Elliott, possibly Friz. All replaced with fringe first graders (and that might be generous - they're reserve grade players). In fact to my eye, going from Round 1 this year to Round 1 next year we may have JSaf and Lucas as the only survivors from the starting pack.

You can sit around and debate the value of these players, but it's hard to say we're moving forwards depth wise. We're going to be leaning on a tonne of youth and a few hope and prayers.

 

[slotmachine]

Losses: Thompson, Elliott, Hetherington, KPP, Frizell (maybe)
Gains: Saulo, Hola, Crouch

If you think that's an improvement good luck to you, but it's over 700 games of first grade experience being replaced by 70.

It looks a bit better if Friz hangs around obviously.

 

[Knight Tales]

if the aforementioned senior forwards leave then it has to be a literal reboot of the club. And we might as well give the job to a new Coach with new ideas. Go back to the day we came into the comp in 1988. Make it hard to win here again. There are no quick fixes. It is remembering who we are. This club has masqueraded as something it is not for over two decades now.