Wouldashouldacoulda

[Since 73]

Gotta love that numb feeling when the realisation your season is over hits.

I seriously thought we would win. Strange being so confident for an away game against the storm, but I thought we would roll them in a big way.

But, no surprises. Once again - Bellamy gets a team out of form up in a final.
Hughes and munster and paps who have been in miserable form, plus season ending injuries, find a way to get the job done.

And thats just it....
They get the job done.

Us?
We struggle to get the job done.
Again.

However, a prelim.
I'll take that.
We've had a ride the last 3 weeks and played top shelf.
And thats what hurts...
If we just reproduced that tonight we coulda shoulda been playing next week.

Cannot be bothered analysing the who and the what from tonight, the season is done and no matter what happened somebody had to lose.
And once again it was us...

But 2 things for me stand out:
1. The loss came down to 2 plays. The try on halftime. Grant to munster to kick for paps. That right there is X factor players. Guys who earn top dollar because they pull those winning plays out of their bum when needed.
I can accept that - getting beaten by better players. Also Hughes. Bellamy knew he needed him, so the guy plays with a busted arm and does what we all feared he would do. I was 100% on us beating them but when I saw him selected I posted on here this is what stops us going any further. That's why storm are who they are.

2. The vast difference between the finals and the regular season.
In preseason you need to identify and prepare for what it takes to win finals.
Canberra and dogs were both standouts in the 27 rounds. The most consistent teams.
Both out in straight sets.
Penrith were last after 12 rounds and rested players in surrendering a top 4 spot. They realise its all about getting to the 8 because they know they have the game once that new comp begins.
Storm have been woeful. Thrashed in the last 2 rounds but when the finals arrive they become a different side.
Whatever it was we found the the last 2 weeks, whatever we did or the way we thought, we have to find that in preseason and that becomes our culture.
f**k the regular season. Do enough to be there- but we need to find the game that once September begins we become that beast that these other 2 become.

 

[Feej 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Great wash up.

 

[shaggs]

It’s like in boxing. You can dominate the Australian scene and think you are the next big thing, but go overseas and get beaten by a career sparring partner.
There are levels.

Majority of our team are at their level. There is nothing higher.

We need a game breaking spine player. The only open spot is the fullback, unless nicho drops 5kg and goes there.
Is Trindall stuck as a serviceable 7, with there highlight reel play.

 

[glenmoresharkie]

We’ve definitely seen us play worse in big games than what we did tonight. Sure it absolutely sucks to lose and this one hurts more than last year, for me, because we were much, much more competitive.

 

[Since 73]

We’ve definitely seen us play worse in big games than what we did tonight. Sure it absolutely sucks to lose and this one hurts more than last year, for me, because we were much, much more competitive.

We were in that game up to our eyeballs.
With 20 odd to go only 6 points behind.
In a prelim. With storm.
6 weeks ago that was Narnia stuff.

I felt no good going into any negative analysis on our guys on why they didnt do this or couldn't do that...it was Melbourne in Melbourne. They dont let you when the big 4 get back together.

2 plays. One by Hughes. One by the other 3.
Both over in the twinkling of an eye.
Bang bang.

12 points.

Don't care who wins it just not the broncs please.

 

[shaggs]

This season has shown how important the spine is, when games matter.

By rep level below I mean origin, Australia or NZ.

1. Canberra - no rep level spone players
2. Storm - 4 rep level, including 2 of the best in their position, pappy may not have played but he is that good.
3. Dogs - no rep level spine players
4. Broncos - 1 in Walsh, but maybe add Reynolds
5. Sharks - no rep level spine players
6. Panthers - 2 this season
7. Warriors - no rep level spine players
8. Roosters - 1 Tedesco. I don’t think Watson is rep level as a hooker

From the rest, the dolphins have hammer, eels have Moses, cows have Robson and Dearden, knights have pings.

Eagles, Tigers, rabbits, dragons, titans have none.

 

[Griffoshark66]

This season has shown how important the spine is, when games matter.

By rep level below I mean origin, Australia or NZ.

1. Canberra - no rep level spone players
2. Storm - 4 rep level, including 2 of the best in their position, pappy may not have played but he is that good.
3. Dogs - no rep level spine players
4. Broncos - 1 in Walsh, but maybe add Reynolds
5. Sharks - no rep level spine players
6. Panthers - 2 this season
7. Warriors - no rep level spine players
8. Roosters - 1 Tedesco. I don’t think Watson is rep level as a hooker

From the rest, the dolphins have hammer, eels have Moses, cows have Robson and Dearden, knights have pings.

Eagles, Tigers, rabbits, dragons, titans have none.

Completely agree with this. However, if we had Weekes or Kini at the back, I believe we would become instantly better. Not a knock on WK, but they provide X factor. We have none.

 

[bad boy bubby]

I said this many Moons ago, and now it is about to come to light.
Fitz has committed to the majority of the playing group. He is loyal and will not budge.
I have said many times maybe the change needed is in his coaching staff to get some fresh ideas in.
With Hannay going this opens up a true possibility for a different perspective on the game.
If Fitz just promotes Holdsworth I will be disappointed.
It's time to bring someone totally fresh in to be the attacking coach.

 

[Cheese sandwich]

I said this many Moons ago, and now it is about to come to light.
Fitz has committed to the majority of the playing group. He is loyal and will not budge.
I have said many times maybe the change needed is in his coaching staff to get some fresh ideas in.
With Hannay going this opens up a true possibility for a different perspective on the game.
If Fitz just promotes Holdsworth I will be disappointed.
It's time to bring someone totally fresh in to be the attacking coach.

That's been my worry too, fresh ideas and eyes are needed or stagnation sets in. Playing group and coaching staff.

 

[DJDL]

Completely agree with this. However, if we had Weekes or Kini at the back, I believe we would become instantly better. Not a knock on WK, but they provide X factor. We have none.

I had similar thoughts watching last night.
Will has been great, but we definitely need something more.

It is blindingly obvious, and has been for a season or two, that to take our game to the next level we need an out and out game breaker.
The most obvious spot for that to happen is fullback.

It's a tough call on Will, but that's where's it's at.
Likewise with Ramien.
Those are the two areas I'm looking to improve next season.

 

[shaggs]

Completely agree with this. However, if we had Weekes or Kini at the back, I believe we would become instantly better. Not a knock on WK, but they provide X factor. We have none.

Someone else needs to be that spark.
One of those electric feet fullbacks that can make a hole from nothing.

A kini or weekes type behind our pack, with nicho playing each side of the ruck (with a 6 on her back) would be great.

For all of pappys injury troubles, he still has that zip. Which saves Melbourne a lot. Replace him with Sua and there is no change in attack.

 

[bad boy bubby]

I think some are over looking the fact that the Sharks reserved their best football for their last 3 games against the Dogs, Roosters and Raiders.
It was a high intensity plan, one which is not able to be played all season.
It's possible to play that style against top 8 teams for three weeks in a row, but to play it again against a fresh Storm side, who themselves brought their own high intensity, that's a big call.
The fact the score wasn't too shabby is a testament to the teams effort.

 

[DJDL]

I think some are over looking the fact that the Sharks reserved their best football for their last 3 games against the Dogs, Roosters and Raiders.
It was a high intensity plan, one which is not able to be played all season.
It's possible to play that style against top 8 teams for three weeks in a row, but to play it again against a fresh Storm side, who themselves brought their own high intensity, that's a big call.
The fact the score wasn't too shabby is a testament to the teams effort.

And this is where we blew it.
The trophy is there for the taking, but doing it from outside the top 4 is just way too hard.
That week off would have been nice.

 

[bad boy bubby]

And this is where we blew it.
The trophy is there for the taking, but doing it from outside the top 4 is just way too hard.
That week off would have been nice.

I was going to put more in the post but decided to leave it open for interpretation, and what you said here is exactly what I was getting at.
That loss wasn't just from the game played last night, it was what was deserved from how the whole season played out.

 

[Stake Removed]

I think some are over looking the fact that the Sharks reserved their best football for their last 3 games against the Dogs, Roosters and Raiders.
It was a high intensity plan, one which is not able to be played all season.
It's possible to play that style against top 8 teams for three weeks in a row, but to play it again against a fresh Storm side, who themselves brought their own high intensity, that's a big call.
The fact the score wasn't too shabby is a testament to the teams effort.

That's an interesting statement, can it be done for 4 weeks is the question and the Panthers are a good team to see if it can, should they produce a miracle and win the comp it will show that, the key is to peak in finals and to be able to win from 7th would be a great performance

 

[Go Nulla]

And this is where we blew it.
The trophy is there for the taking, but doing it from outside the top 4 is just way too hard.
That week off would have been nice.

the opportunity for the week off that we blew against the Dargons?

 

[DJDL]

the opportunity for the week off that we blew against the Dargons?

Or the Donks, Tigers, Raiders etc

 

[Since 73]

It can be done from outside the 4.
The irony is that the teams good enough to do so dont end up outside the 4.


...until this year.

Gotta love the way Penrith have gone about it. Rested players throughout. Even allowed themsleves to drop to last as they developed new players in key positions.

And then rested a whole team and forsook the top 4.

I love this attitude.
This arrogance.

 

[PJ]

I think some are over looking the fact that the Sharks reserved their best football for their last 3 games against the Dogs, Roosters and Raiders.
It was a high intensity plan, one which is not able to be played all season.
It's possible to play that style against top 8 teams for three weeks in a row, but to play it again against a fresh Storm side, who themselves brought their own high intensity, that's a big call.
The fact the score wasn't too shabby is a testament to the teams effort.

This is true.

Also why I was so shirty with some of the games thrown away during the season.

Should never have lost to reserve grade rorters nor Dargons.

Win those and we were a decent chance to a week off then who knows.

 

[bad boy bubby]

That's an interesting statement, can it be done for 4 weeks is the question and the Panthers are a good team to see if it can, should they produce a miracle and win the comp it will show that, the key is to peak in finals and to be able to win from 7th would be a great performance

They have been in the GF the las 5 years and won the last 4. If anyone is going to do it it is them.
They are the best rugby league team of any era. I cannot accept a team out of the handicapped salary capped era as being the best. Penrith are worlds above all of them