???????
Your guys have been training together since October/November, all players were passed medically fit. I am curious as to why it was expected JW.
LOL
True to form - I know you're looking to bring in the Pig Flu angle mate, but I expected this loss prior to that rubbish.
Despite our decent position on the ladder and a good start to the year, our defense has been piss poor all along. Slowly and surely it is becoming more and more exposed, and despite the usual disruptions around this time of year (which shouldn't be an excuse for us, we do it all the time), that progression is accelerating. A Dog's attack in half-decent form was always going to bring out our weaknesses.
We have a good team and they are certainly capable of being a show in this comp, obviously. But this year they have lacked consistency in defense and their intensity can never be sustained.
Unless there's a distinct improvement by the time we come out of the Origin period, this will just end up being another of those years where we make the 8 reasonably comfortably but are never a real chance of making a push for the title.
Eager to see how we're traveling a few more weeks down the track. We'll need another 2006 effort by the look of it if things continue as they have been in recent times.
I'm hoping they'll get it together. Earlier on in the year in particular I think the forwards were doing a great job in the face of criticism that they were/are lightweights. But the team's defense and defensive attitude has been the one thing that's always needed fixing. Big test for Ivan to see if he can get 'em moving.
As Andrew said, we can probably on go up from here. We'll see.
