'14 // R3 // Mon // Storm 28-20 Knights // AAMI

[mxlegend99]

Even then i think your misguided. You talk about how hopeless the knights were and how the panthers looked much better. The knights only lost by 8 points and that was with a hugely lopsided penalty count (which i recall you and a few others blaming the loss on last week).

That's ignoring the fact that we were talking about a team getting the wooden spoon. Do you think the panthers are going to go close to the spoon this year? If not then how does them putting in a better performance than the knights mean anything in relation to that conversation?

Knights were talked up as a potential top 4 side this year, and building on the side that was in the grand final qualifier. 2 injuries doesn't (or shouldn't) turn a team that is supposedly that good into wooden spoon contenders.

Those 2 players might be great players. But what about the other 15 guys from the top 17? In a Wayne Bennett coached side, 2 injuries shouldn't break a team entirely. No matter what two players they are.

I don't think the Knights will go close to the spoon though. Not because Boyd and Mullen will improve them when they come back (which, they obviously will). But because the other 15 guys along with their replacements are still nowhere near the worst 17 man squad in the competition. Knights have Sharks this week and should be able to grab a win against them based on the opening 3 rounds.

 

[macavity]

McKinnon two fractured vertebrae. the Storm have been trying to cripple someone for years, looks like they finally succeeded.

 

[Noname36]

Knights were talked up as a potential top 4 side this year, and building on the side that was in the grand final qualifier. 2 injuries doesn't (or shouldn't) turn a team that is supposedly that good into wooden spoon contenders.

Those 2 players might be great players. But what about the other 15 guys from the top 17? In a Wayne Bennett coached side, 2 injuries shouldn't break a team entirely. No matter what two players they are.

I don't think the Knights will go close to the spoon though. Not because Boyd and Mullen will improve them when they come back (which, they obviously will). But because the other 15 guys along with their replacements are still nowhere near the worst 17 man squad in the competition. Knights have Sharks this week and should be able to grab a win against them based on the opening 3 rounds.

Our whole game plan for years has revolved around getting field position and possession off the back of Mullen's kicking game and taking advantage of that. With him gone we suddenly need to try and find a new way to win. Add in the fact that we've also lost our other main playmaker and organiser and yeah, sorry to break it to you but that's going to have a huge effect on the team. You seem to want to point out how great Penrith are, hence bringing them up to begin with, so well done to you guys if you don't think losing 2 players that are as crucial as Mullen and Boyd are for us would effect you guys...but not all teams are built that way. You talk of who's meant to be a top 4 team, well take Inglis and Luke out of Souths or DCE and Foran out of Manly for a while and see how they go.

We're not even nearly as bad as you or the table are making out. We've had some awful luck on and off the field, have given away too many stupid penalties and are missing our playmakers. I've seen nothing to suggest it's all doom and gloom. You accuse us of making excuses, but in my mind we don't even need to. We haven't been all that bad anyway. We're trying our guts out. The only thing that's concerning me at the moment is McKinnon's condition.

 

[TheFrog]

Knights were talked up as a potential top 4 side this year, and building on the side that was in the grand final qualifier. 2 injuries doesn't (or shouldn't) turn a team that is supposedly that good into wooden spoon contenders.

They are nowhere near wooden spoon contenders.

You have to remember that last year they were just a middle of the table team for the majority of the competition. They were 8/8 when they came to Penrith in Round 19 (as also were the Panthers) but kicked on from there.

They do miss Buderus though, I think that's the biggest difference this year.

 

[perverse]

We lose to Melbourne by 8 in Melbourne and we're spoon contenders? We've shown a lot of improvement every week without our 2 star players, and if it wasn't for Captain Stupid out there last night we might well have snatched a win.

 

[northwest9]

McKinnon two fractured vertebrae. the Storm have been trying to cripple someone for years, looks like they finally succeeded.

:roll:



Beau scott was trying to kill hampton last night, i assume your equally as concerned?