Match Discussion: Round 22 vs Canterbury @ CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal

[Nutz]

Just imagine, if you will . . .. the amount of lathering that the media would have given to Galvin, Ciraldo, Gould, the bloke who cleans the dunnies at Belmore station, and all of the doggies bro fans . . . . if they would have won.
It would have been vomit inducing, and we would have been forced to watch it for days on end.
Now the phrase " eat a dick" is honestly childish and beneath me as a 60+ yr old bloke.
But, eat a big fat one, all you doggies people.

They can't find any doggy fans to grill. They're still walking home from the S Harbour Bridge.

 

[Tiger05]

I liked Benji in the presser trying to finish the season as well as they can. We played well today. We need to do that consistently.

 

[Marshall_magic]

Feels like we are back to the mediocre days. Start the season well, have a collapse somewhere along the way then pick up the pieces and finish in an underwhelming but not disgraceful position.

There are some wins that are just that little bit more satisfying, this is one of those. Feel the last one was the Jackson Hastings field goal vs Parra in 2022. Prior to that it was probably Penrith at Magic round in 2019 (20-0 up after about 10 minutes).

 

[Nutz]

I liked Benji in the presser trying to finish the season as well as they can. We played well today. We need to do that consistently.

You picked up on that too hey. I like it.
I think Benji was trying to develop Latu's mindset and protect him somewhat.
We don't have a good track record with emerging players so maybe Benji is learning from this I guess.
If, and only if we fall out of finals contention, I'd like AD at lock, and Latu and Luai as halves.
If this is how we are going to be next year then a couple of games with this team before preseason would be great.
If there's a difference plan then the same principle applies, just different players.
Today is not a game to base next year on imo. Today was wet and required a different approach and Benji nailed it.

 

[WA Tiger]

It’s not the weather. It’s the experience and composure of AD at half back as a playmaker..it’s taking the pressure off Luai, it’s the added leadership so Luai can just focus on what he’s good at..…AD did the same with Latu in the dry when Twal was captain ..AD’s staying right where he is. Why wouldn’t he. Btw, Where did that speed come from? Naden was only just keeping up with him. And also, from Luai’s reaction about working with AD you can see he loves the combination. Latu just needs to be patient . He was having a ball out there today whatever position he was playing. He doesn’t care. He will learn from Luai and AD with AD at halfback..

 

[WA Tiger]

If Manly lose to the raiders and easts lose to dolphins next week and Dragons lose against sharks then that’s a massive boost for our top 8..Then we play manly next. Penrith may have done us a favour last week with the speed they went about things. It’s a pretty simple formula

 

[glockers]

If Manly lose to the raiders and easts lose to dolphins next week and Dragons lose against sharks then that’s a massive boost for our top 8.

The Dolphins and Sharks need to lose for us to have any chance. They are the teams in 7 and 8. The Roosters and Dragons are outside the 8.

Ideally we wouldn't want any of them to gain points. But the teams already in the 8 are the ones we really want to lose every week.

 

[WA Tiger]

The Dolphins and Sharks need to lose for us to have any chance. They are the teams in 7 and 8. The Roosters and Dragons are outside the 8.

Ideally we wouldn't want any of them to gain points. But the teams already in the 8 are the ones we really want to lose every week.

Yea your prob right

 

[AKA Das Hassler]

A thought on an elephant i can see in Galvin's room....last year...his debut season,he was playing well enough to have been handsdown the rookie of the year if it wasnt for the hipdrop charge. He was killing it right from round 1 .He started this season the same way. This was under benji's coaching who i believe instilled a level of confidence and self belief in him where he played with no fear or hesitation. Now he's being nurtured into the bulldogs "system" which so far looks to be fitting him like an oversized suit. It wouldn't surprise me if he has the odd moment of reflection on the creative freedom he gave up for something "better" (he's hoping is) down the track.
* couldn't actually care less...just a thought

 

[Tigerm]

Man of the match for sure. To put the game into perspective he didn't play a classic ½ back's style of game. He actually did a lot of short passing and very much like a lock.
Often being close to the action he was very much an opportunist.
His goal kicking gameevery good. Kicks a lot further that anyone else on 5th tackle.
I'd like this to happen.
1. Get another bookend middle.
2. AD to play lock
3. Eventually settle on Latu and Luai as our halves
4. Bula at the back.
Tura and Skelton on the wings.
As far as reserves go, I'd like to have them to be position preferred. Eg. Naden, a clasic centre, played great today.
This gives us more strike all over the paddock, just like today. AD can also cover every backline position, something that is very valuable in the game these days.

As can Naden, we have lacked depth forever, that seems to be slowly turning around.

 

[Nutz]

As can Naden, we have lacked depth forever, that seems to be slowly turning around.

I don't know about Naden at lock but I agree, he can cover every outside backs position.

 

[Tiger05]

Btw, Where did that speed come from?

In the centres he looks slow but geez he was great yesterday. The only concern to me is Luai is on too many dollars and AD will want a good salary.

I think AD has to play in the halves or lock but play that running game first. His kicking game has been awesome for us. The only question if we retain him is what do we do with Latu. I really like Latu and I think he is a guy who can win games for us.

 

[Nutz]

In the centres he looks slow but geez he was great yesterday. The only concern to me is Luai is on too many dollars and AD will want a good salary.

We have budgeted Luai and Galvin into the cap so now Galvin has gone I can't see Luai being a problem. Luai is a recruiting drawcard.
As much as I like AD, it's my concern that he could squeeze our cap.
I want to keep him as a utility lock/⅝ but at the same time, I want us to have max dollars around Nov 1 to secure any guns who are part of the merry go round, especially a middle.
Benji has already stated that Latu is our long term ½. He is a natural half. AD isn't really, and that's not an insult.
It wasn't that long ago when AD played half and was terrible. People were calling for his head but it wasn't his fault.
AD didn't play a classic half's role yesterday because of the wet, he played more of a lock role, often getting in close.
His kicking game was strong and his D is getting better to play lock. He has the hands to play that link role/out the back plays that locks do these days.
On a clear hard track, the dogs may have played better.
Ciraldo outclassed by a notice
I think Latu is being eased into taking over as fulltime ½ so where does that leave AD....
Short term contract to ease Latu into ½, or
Long term lock/utility back which I'd be happy to pay a decent contract.
Either way, AD will demand bigger dollars so I hope Richo isn't silly.
On a side note, the dogs are playing good footy this year on the back of a powerful, mobile fwd pack.
Ciraldo said in his presser that the Wests Tigers pack outplayed them.
That's a great accolade to our boys

 

[Tigerm]

We have budgeted Luai and Galvin into the cap so now Galvin has gone I can't see Luai being a problem. Luai is a recruiting drawcard.
As much as I like AD, it's my concern that he could squeeze our cap.
I want to keep him as a utility lock/⅝ but at the same time, I want us to have max dollars around Nov 1 to secure any guns who are part of the merry go round, especially a middle.
Benji has already stated that Latu is our long term ½. He is a natural half. AD isn't really, and that's not an insult.
It wasn't that long ago when AD played half and was terrible. People were calling for his head but it wasn't his fault.
AD didn't play a classic half's role yesterday because of the wet, he played more of a lock role, often getting in close.
His kicking game was strong and his D is getting better to play lock. He has the hands to play that link role/out the back plays that locks do these days.
On a clear hard track, the dogs may have played better.
Ciraldo outclassed by a notice
I think Latu is being eased into taking over as fulltime ½ so where does that leave AD....
Short term contract to ease Latu into ½, or
Long term lock/utility back which I'd be happy to pay a decent contract.
Either way, AD will demand bigger dollars so I hope Richo isn't silly.
On a side note, the dogs are playing good footy this year on the back of a powerful, mobile fwd pack.
Ciraldo said in his presser that the Wests Tigers pack outplayed them.
That's a great accolade to our boys

I think AD has to be signed.
Hopefully he's not lifting for a contract, though I don't think he does.
3 ball players is reaping rewards. His role in the 13 jersey has been a revelation.
And of course, his GK.
I am just watching the replay, their try just before 1/2 time is our curse.
I noticed that Sam F got reported after 1/2 time.

 

[Nutz]

3 ball players is reaping rewards. His role in the 13 jersey has been a revelation.

All the top teams have them. No better example than that of Yeo. How many straight grand final wins was it
Every time you watch replays we pick up more and more.

 

[Tigerm]

I thought Naden had a good game.

 

[Tigerm]

‘Talk about good timing’: Tigers urged to up contract offer by ‘$50k’ for star as Dragons close in

‘Talk about good timing’: Tigers urged to up contract offer by ‘$50k’ for star as Dragons close in

www.foxsports.com.au

It's started.

 

[Nutz]

...
Short term contract to ease Latu into ½, or
Long term lock/utility back which I'd be happy to pay a decent contract.
Either way, AD will demand bigger dollars so I hope Richo isn't silly.

Because of our original 1 year offer, it sounds like option 1 is where we are at. But that was before yesterday. Option 2 might now be considered

 

[Nutz]

I hope this "Khod” gesture accusation doesn't ring true. If it is true then we as a club need to jump on it. It is dumb stuff to do such a thing.

 

[Tigerm]

No idea what it means, but it seems everyone was doing it?
Maybe it means hello.