3-2-1 v Knights

[shinobi]

Anyone see that lazy effort from Leiataua where he went in on the decoy runner and let in a try??
Farrrrrk i was angry

CNK to centre. Leave Taine at the back.

Also:
3. Boyd
2. Ford
1. Barnett - was like he never left.

 

[Izz]

3 - Boyd - how can I not? The forwards laid the platform but he took the team on his shoulders again - hope his ankle is okay
2 - JFH - he’s been immense to begin the season, and was again this game
1 - Barnett - 9 month layoff? Really? Looked just as good, if not better, than the weeks last season before his injury

HMs

Ford - another immense game. Only didn’t give him points because I felt like (which might sound strange) he didn’t have quite the punch in his hit-ups as he has the last couple weeks

TT - very nearly gave him points, too. He’ll probably be back to the interchange next week, but he’s got both x-factor and great footy IQ

Niukore - very busy effort. Hunting for a contract will do that to someone, I guess lol

RTS - very rare to see him not win the ruck nowadays

Laban - he’s making that starting spot his own

Clark - great to see him finally get a try in a Wahs jersey, and I felt like his pass/run choices were also pretty much on-point

Vaimauga - his best effort so far this season, imo


Don’t think anybody played badly, really. Ali did make that one poor defensive read that led directly to a try but he dealt with everything else the Knights threw at him pretty well, and they directed a lot of traffic his way. He made 27 tackles, compared to Leka’s 12 on the other side.

I hope we can keep using Healey off the bench. Egan usually starts the season strong but fatigues in the second half because of overuse. But having Healey there to play 20-30 mins a game should keep him fresh.

Felt sorry for Gannon, to only last 5 minutes in his debut. That injury and the subsequent bench usage reshuffle might’ve contributed to the cramps our forwards started suffering from in the last quarter. We obviously didn’t have enough pickle juice on hand!


Next week, the Tigers at home. Luai apparently gone for a month according to Benji, and concerns over Doueihi, too. If both out this could be another banana skin game.

 

[ozenzud]

3: Boyd
2: Ford
1: Tauapiki

Loved the fact our forwards dominated. Barney was intimidating! Vaimauga, Fish, Clark were hitting with power and winning that ruck. Fords work where he gets into marker and works from there is also a big part of our effective defence. Boyd did miss a lot of tackles. Hansen surprisingly effective on his side. The plan was to cut out the wide plays which is working. Somebody is going to break that down soon.

 

[marlins2.0]

3 Ford
2 Boyd
1 Clarke

 

[Blair]

...The plan was to cut out the wide plays which is working. Somebody is going to break that down soon.

...(cue scary music)... Melbourne await.

 

[Meth]

...(cue scary music)... Melbourne await.

I hate that Melbourne game

 

[Blair]

I hate that Melbourne game.

True and lately we don't even have the Anzac Day stuff to distract us, or get philosophical about, a potential hiding.

This year though I'm feeling better about our prospects.

(Remember 70-10? In this context it's hard to talk to a lot of the 23ers I meet at games. They don't grasp seventy to ten at all. They think I've come up from a dark cave).

 

[Izz]

Ford only got 5 Dally M points this week...

Boyd also got 5, while JFH & TT got 1 each

 

[marlins2.0]

Is this a contract year for him?

 

[Izz]

Is this a contract year for him?

For Ford? Nope, signed until 2027

 

[marlins2.0]

Keep playing like this and he might be worth an early upgrade.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Keep playing like this and he might be worth an early upgrade.

There will be clubs circling, I'd be upgrading now. I guarantee we're in the negotiation process. His next contract may well be his most productive as he rounds towards 30 and what I presume is the peak years for a middle?

I'd hate to see him lost to a Sydney club. Again I know it's three weeks of form but a middle who can play 70 minutes with his output, you don't replace it. And it gives you such huge flexibility in how you run your interchanges

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I hate that Melbourne game

I have mostly good memories, having gone to the 2014 game. But I also remember 70-10, the last minute Coates heartbreak, and so on.

I really think we're going to compete this year. Melbourne are decent but we have such a fit, committed, skillful group. I'm not saying we'll win but I think we'll be in it up to our eyeballs

 

[Izz]

I really think we're going to compete this year. Melbourne are decent but we have such a fit, committed, skillful group. I'm not saying we'll win but I think we'll be in it up to our eyeballs

Good litmus test, for sure

 

[vvvrulz]

3. Boyd - Seeing the ceiling of his potential: a complete kicking game, direction, playmaking, a decent turn of speed and solid goal-kicking boot. Has folded under pressure last year, but he's possibly sewn up the 7 if he keeps this going.
2. Barnett - I honestly thought he was in even better nick than last year, an inspired comeback and was smashing hitups with purpose and carry.
1. Tuaupiki - Surely has taken the FB spot, another complete player with backline speed that's otherwise lacking.

As with most weeks, the likes of Ford, Fish, Laban, Egan easily score points in a 'normal' world.
The whole team has just somehow elevated to another level and it's totally insane - I love it.

The strangest thing that's happened is three of our 'depth players' have been our best this year.
I always liked all of Ford, Boyd and TT, but never dreamed they'd be competition leaders (TT perhaps).

We've prepped outstandlingly this year.

 

[Big Marn]

1. Tuaupiki - Surely has taken the FB spot,

dont say things like this. You know how spiteful Webby can be when it comes to this forum's opinions

 

[Penrose Warrior]

It'll be interesting eh? I think the only way TT gets the No.1 jersey is if Charnze goes to centre and Ali is dropped. I don't think Ali has done enough to get binned yet

 

[Meth]

CNK seems to me to be a great player to have on a 6 man bench

 

[ozenzud]

I have mostly good memories, having gone to the 2014 game. But I also remember 70-10, the last minute Coates heartbreak, and so on.

I really think we're going to compete this year. Melbourne are decent but we have such a fit, committed, skillful group. I'm not saying we'll win but I think we'll be in it up to our eyeballs

Long time supporters have all sorts of coping mechanisms. I am permanently pessimistic so as not to be disappointed. Even on Saturday and we were leading like 24-6 or something and they scored. I was like, here we go. The amount of carpet I've worn out, pacing the lounge room during the last 10 or 15 minutes of a game. This year, 3 floggings. You think it would be boring! Hell no! This is what its like to be a Melbourne supporter. I tink we even got the refs calls on the weekend!

 

[Meth]

Warrior of the week is Tanah Boyd

Boyd 53
Ford 31
Barnett 11

Tuaupiki 10
Fisher Harris 6
Clark 2
Laban 1

19 voted