Andrew Webster

[Manu Vatuvei]

Is it possible that Ali has just been dropped because he's a bit of an iffy defender and Webster is very focused on that?

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned much, but did anyone else notice how we seemed to be using the ball a little bit more coming out of our own end on Saturday? Generally we play a very disciplined style, but a handful of times we either got ourselves out of trouble or got ourselves on the front foot by going wide early, either through the back 3 from the kick return, or just going through the hands mid-count. I was quite encouraged by that. We don't have the fastest or most explosive backs but some of what we did was quite clever, dare I say even skillful.

 

[Meth]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned much, but did anyone else notice how we seemed to be using the ball a little bit more coming out of our own end on Saturday? Generally we play a very disciplined style, but a handful of times we either got ourselves out of trouble or got ourselves on the front foot by going wide early, either through the back 3 from the kick return, or just going through the hands mid-count. I was quite encouraged by that. We don't have the fastest or most explosive backs but some of what we did was quite clever, dare I say even skillful.

Yeah, I assumed that was a Cronulla-specific tactic.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Is it possible that Ali has just been dropped because he's a bit of an iffy defender and Webster is very focused on that?

Maybe, though I haven’t really thought he’s an obviously iffy defender- he can certainly put a shot on. Maybe there are some positioning/system issues that Webby isn’t satisfied with though. The good thing is with Capewell, Berry, Pompey and Harper we do actually have plenty of options there. I wish we had the same depth on the wing.

 

[nswarrior]

Webby”s use of the bench last night was great and very unlike him. He brought on the debutant early rather than giving him just 5 minutes at the end.

The team plays better than you expect including last night.

He is in the top 2 of the coaches we have ever had. He has done well with the players we have.

Hope we get atleast a winger and a quality centre next year to improve the team next year.

 

[Meth]

I wouldn't say last night skyrocketed my opinion of Webster.

 

[JJ]

Webby”s use of the bench last night was great and very unlike him. He brought on the debutant early rather than giving him just 5 minutes at the end.

The team plays better than you expect including last night.

He is in the top 2 of the coaches we have ever had. He has done well with the players we have.

Hope we get atleast a winger and a quality centre next year to improve the team next year.

Top 2? You’re putting him ahead of Anderson or Cleary?

 

[Big Marn]

definitely need more strike in the centres. Its a shame Ali is so injury prone at the moment. But it happens a lot in professional sports.
Players can be injured for multiple seasons then finally come right and they dont get injured for ages. Hopefully thats the case for him.
The same may apply to Berry but hamstrings can be very niggly things and easy to reinjure if theres a history. His main issue has been hamstrings iirc.

Benji Marshall didnt have an injury free season ( he kept dislocating his shoulders) until his 6th full season. He ended up playing 346 NRL games and 31 tests. Champion player though and sometimes its the mind that is the biggest factor, not the body

 

[nswarrior]

Top 2? You’re putting him ahead of Anderson or Cleary?

Clearly #1 ofcourse.
Anderson got us into the grand final but he blew the club up - poor and unsustainable people leader

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Cleary>Anderson *daylight* Webster. Honestly, I feel like McFadden would be in that league, too, but got the job at the wrong time and still did a pretty reasonable job.

 

[Blair]

lol, not really. Not yet anyway.

But surely we all agree the golden boy sheen is starting to wear off, after watching us capitulate to a team destined for the wooden spoon, battling away with the most predictable of attacking plans and looking defensively shit.

For some reason I landed on the opening post. You might need to put in brackets at the bottom that the thread was originally titled 'FO Webster'. As it is the edited title doesn't fit with the first post!

 

[Meth]

Whatever the issue is with that right side defence, Webster has failed to address it

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Whatever the issue is with that right side defence, Webster has failed to address it

Yup. Teams are filling their boots that way

 

[Scott]

Whatever the issue is with that right side defence, Webster has failed to address it

It’s Boyd. No connection.

 

[nswarrior]

It’s Boyd. No connection.

It not just Boyd - it was more Pompey today. He is slow of the mark and gets skinned

 

[Penrose Warrior]

It not just Boyd - it was more Pompey today. He is slow of the mark and gets skinned

Yep Pompey was the major reason for those first two tries, his opposite scored them and he was the guy who caused them.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

We've said this before but Webby needs to prove his coaching chops more than ever in the next 3 weeks. This side has a serious, serious points scoring issue but it now also has a major right side defensive issue, that only resolved itself because the Dragons were fatigued and couldn't keep their shape.

 

[nswarrior]

Don’t forget we are in the top 4 as you criticise Webster

 

[Burns]

I think its moreso that Webby has supreme trust in proven players and as a match evolves won't perhaps adopt. Ford was gassed out there, but played 66min straight. Healy as all the ability to be a spark, but comes on for a near token 10min (similar to what any player in the number like a TMM would do I suppose).


When it works - great! But it does seem to have been found out a bit.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Don’t forget we are in the top 4 as you criticise Webster

I didn't criticise him, I just pointed out this side has a points scoring issue and a right side defensive issue, and said he has a job on his hands. I'm sure he'd admit the latter.

Our last five outings in terms of points: 14, 14, 18, 16, 20. I know Metcalf is out, we've had numerous injuries elsewhere but surely we have to demand more