Round 6 versus Bulldogs

[Kilkenny]

Full credit to the Dogs, they ran and tackled harder, better completions and great line speed. We were second best in all departments so no complaints.

 

[Girds89]

Nathan misses tackles like that quite often

Nathans defensive struggles have never been tackling a bigger man one on one...

Hes a great one on one defender on bigger men.

His decision making at times is his issue.

 

[The Realist]

Nathan misses tackles like that quite often

Only in the last few years where his defence has shifted from Elite to “merely’ very good.

Nathan generally doesn’t miss the same way as Blaize did. He usually slows players down enough that his help has time to scramble and close in.

Blaize is a turnstile especially when it really matters. TBH at times that is an insult to turnstiles.

 

[Chins]

Nathans defensive struggles have never been tackling a bigger man one on one...

Hes a great one on one defender on bigger men.

His decision making at times is his issue.

Has issues in both areas. He was a better defender at 18 years old somehow

 

[Girds89]

Has issues in both areas. He was a better defender at 18 years old somehow

God you talk absolute trash.

Like this is just so dumb.

He has never had issues one on one with bigger men.

Hes generally been a great defender but in our defensive struggles last year and to an extent before that him and marto and tago didnt combine well at times.

But i can 100% say without doubt that nathan wouldnt have missed all those tackles on preston.. preston may still have got an offload or made good meters but blaizes contact was just terrible..

 

[Chins]

God you talk absolute trash.

Like this is just so dumb.

He has never had issues one on one with bigger men.

Hes generally been a great defender but in our defensive struggles last year and to an extent before that him and marto and tago didnt combine well at times.

But i can 100% say without doubt that nathan wouldnt have missed all those tackles on preston.. preston may still have got an offload or made good meters but blaizes contact was just terrible..

You really struggle to understand the game at anything deeper than surface level but that's ok mate.

 

[hindy111]

Nathan misses tackles like that quite often

Nathan missed a few big ones in the 2023 grand final but his possitives out weight those misses. Blaizes positives aren't anywhere near Nathans so he cant get away with poor defense.
The rest of his game is coming along very nicely and his huge boot and bomb is a possitive many we're not aware of. Nice passing game (Not Galvins level) but needs to learn when to not throw sometimes cause those become 50/50 turnovers , But great link play in general. Good support player and always around dropped balls etc so good game awareness.
He is a strong runner of the ball and needs to do it more. I can see him putting his head through the line but just can't bust it yet. There is a lot to like but he needs to mostly work on his defense. The rest is solid NRL level.

Galvin is another level at this stage for me. He looks topshelf when on. Blaize plays a very limited role in comparison. But it will be interesting watching how both develop.

 

[The Realist]

Luai was a handbrake on our attack for his last 2/3 years here. I know the Cogger thing is a bit of a meme but imo we lose the 23 gf if he stays on the field. You can talk about his shoulder but he'd played like that for a lot longer. He looked like a guy who was ready to lead a team and in some sense was already out the door. However, his defense was elite during all this and contributed in no small way to our overall stability. That shouldn't be downplayed. But I think people have rose coloured glasses about his work with the ball for at least half his career here.

Can’t disagree with that. His attacking ability seemed to have dropped off a cliff in 23/24.

I think the rules changes had something to do with that, with Luai severely reducing his short kicking close to the line. Without the threat of a short kick, the rest of his game suffered, that AND losing Kikau.

What can’t be contested though is that he was an Elite defensive half the entire time.

 

[Girds89]

You really struggle to understand the game at anything deeper than surface level but that's ok mate.

Haha what a meaningless post..

Nathans a hooker..

Dyls shit critta to fb...

Kennys not good enough...

The amount youve embarrassed yourself on here over the years is laughable. I commend you for still being here.. smug enough to believe in yourself..well done.

Naths probably one of the best defensive halfs of all time.. and thats not me saying that. Ex greats in cronk thurston and joey have said that in commentary many times.

Dream on smuggy

 

[Chins]

Haha what a meaningless post..

Nathans a hooker..

Dyls shit critta to fb...

Kennys not good enough...

The amount youve embarrassed yourself on here over the years is laughable. I commend you for still being here.. smug enough to believe in yourself..well done.

Naths probably one of the best defensive halfs of all time.. and thats not me saying that. Ex greats in cronk thurston and joey have said that in commentary many times.

Dream on smuggy

Yeah I've been against any mention of Nathan is a hooker from day dot till now.

Kenny is very VERY limited.

I'll cop the Dyl one

 

[Kilkenny]

I’m not sure I understand a lot of the stuff suggested on here off last nights loss, albeit it highlighted legitimate concerns.

Im not going down the path of singling out individuals, one minute we’re flying and after one loss some are throwing the toys out of the cot.

Clearly we need to regroup and put on a much better showing this Friday night in what will be a difficult contest.

 

[snickers007]

I've always thought Nathan's worst attribute in defence is rushing out of the line.

In fact, I think a lot of Tago's problems in 2024 were due to miscommunication between him and Nathan in regards to when to push up vs hang back.

Martin is a bit the same actually.

 

[Chins]

I've always thought Nathan's worst attribute in defence is rushing out of the line.

In fact, I think a lot of Tago's problems in 2024 were due to miscommunication between him and Nathan in regards to when to push up vs hang back.

Martin is a bit the same actually.

I think Nathan was rushing out after Tago never improved defensively

 

[Kilkenny]

I think Nathan was rushing out after Tago never improved defensively

Your hate for Tago just clouds all of your assessments, there is no objectivity.

Seriously, Nathan’s occasional defensive lapses are not on Tago, nothing to do with him. Halves by there stature and size are prone to more missed tackles than most other players particularly when isolated one on one that’s the nature of the game. If Nathan’s defence is not as good now as it once was it is probably more about his significant shoulder injuries than anything else.

 

[Chins]

Your hate for Tago just clouds all of your assessments, there is no objectivity.

Seriously, Nathan’s occasional defensive lapses are not on Tago, nothing to do with him. Halves by there stature and size are prone to more missed tackles than most other players particularly when isolated one on one that’s the nature of the game. If Nathan’s defence is not as good now as it once was it is probably more about his significant shoulder injuries than anything else.

Hate? He can't read defence coming at him at centre and hasn't improved. Just facts mate.

I've been louder than anyone saying he should be coming off the bench in the middle. I'm cheerleadering the bloke more than anyone.

 

[Kilkenny]

Hate? He can't read defence coming at him at centre and hasn't improved. Just facts mate.

I've been louder than anyone saying he should be coming off the bench in the middle. I'm cheerleadering the bloke more than anyone.

Your facts are an opinion. Your opinion.

I will say this, objectively, while I’ve never advocated for Tago to be played in the forwards, thru the middle or whatever you want to call it is perhaps an experiment worth trying.

In his couple of NSW cup appearances this season he has churned out big metres most of which were tough carries up the middle so just perhaps I wouldn’t be adverse seeing him getting a crack off the bench as a back rower.

 

[Frankus]

There are few certainties in life.

Death finds us all at some point.

The tax man always comes calling.

And a short ball to Jacob Preston.

Targeting our left surely wasn’t a surprise for our coaching staff. They should have prepared for it…better.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

There are few certainties in life.

Death finds us all at some point.

The tax man always comes calling.

And a short ball to Jacob Preston.

Targeting our left surely wasn’t a surprise for our coaching staff. They should have prepared for it…better.

you're right maybe they should have. After all the cheers and beers of the first 5 rounds though it gives the coaching staffs and players something to work at.

I also think they some of the cheers and beers probably got into their thinking and they believed in a small part of their brain it would happen without laying a platform........

I'm sure the tackle bags will be out this week.

What day do we go to Darwin. That will hep bring everyone together too.

 

[Fangs]

Nathan Cleary to hooker is now an all time meme. But one of the reasons it was brought up is because the bloke can defend very well.

I've seen him fold much bigger forwards in half plenty of times. Coen Hess knows it all too well.

 

[Oldpanther86]

Nathan Cleary to hooker is now an all time meme. But one of the reasons it was brought up it because the bloke can defend very well.

I've seen him fold much bigger forwards in half plenty of times. Coen Hess knows it all too well.

Yep. Talagi just needs some weight/strength which unfortunately takes time.