I had an hour to kill yesterday in the sauna, so I re-watched the second half of the GF for the first time.
Here's my thoughts:
- Leniu's first up contact was really poor to start the half. Couple of times he bounced straight off, and then travelled 15m crabbing alongside the tackle trying to grab an arm to assist.
- Cleary didn't deserve the Clive. He kicked one dead, and off that 7 tackle set Brisbane scored. Got burnt defensively on Mam's second, and rushed out of the line badly for Mam's third. Also wasted our challenge on an obvious strip.
- The narrative around the JFH and Leota combo winning 26-0 is wrong. Leota came on after Mam's first. JFH came on after Mam's second. And Leota was off for Cleary's match winner, and the penalty goal in the first half. So JFH was 26-6, and Leota was 18-12.
- Critta came up with all the biggest plays of the game. Massive tackle to force the 6th tackle turnover after Mam's 3rd when they were right on top. Dived on a loose ball in our red-zone, and offloaded to Leota for the counter attack. 2 forced drop-outs. 1 try. There was also another try-saving tackle when he kicked it straight to the Staggs close to their line. He was my MOTM.
- It's incredible that we were able to stop the bleeding when we did. In the 5mins following Mam's third, we lost both Yeo and Sorenson to HIA, burnt our challenge, and they brought Carrigan back on the field.
- Kenny's ball playing is really underrated. The crash-line play to Leota late in the game was absolutely the right play despite it not coming off. And in the match-winning set of 6, Kenny did the dummy-right, pass left 2 tackles before the try.
- Tago, Luai and Martin were all clearly not fit to play.
- Ivan Cleary has showed incredible patience and belief in Lindsay Smith throwing him back in to replace Yeo during his HIA. Would have been easy to leave him off and let him stew in his thoughts after leaking 2 tries - but he didn't. Great leadership.
- The Fox commentators are so much better than Ch9. The level of excitement in the moment was so genuine, and the analysis from Cronk before the comeback is scarily accurate.
Critta came up with all the biggest plays!! Stephen, you are at the Dogs now, just let it go and count your cash.....
It should be noted in your analysis that Cleary played most of the game with a bad knee injury inflicted on him by Haas and which resulted in a suspension (too light) for Haas. An injury that has required a knee brace for a month and ruled him out of playing for Australia. His mobility was affected, which is why he missed Mam so easily and looked tentative laterally.
You have missed the point of the JFH, Leota debate. It is about the points scored against us. We don't need them on the field to score. They set up the defensive pressure that stops team advancing.
JFH and Leota were off when Flegler (didn't) scored.
Mam try 1 - Leota and JFH both off
Mam try 2 - JFH off
Mam try 3 - both on. It should be noted though that JFH had been on the field 48 seconds when this try was scored. He barely had time to get in position.
18 points were scored against us and 12 of them when both were off the field. Six points were scored before JFH had time to get involved in the game. Correlation doesn't prove causation, but add in what your eyes can see when they are both on the field and throw in the recent battering the two of them gave Australia (Haas again, a great athlete. Not sure you want him in the trenches though) and a pattern emerges. The pattern does not involve Critta, just so we are clear.
I agree about players not being fit. Tago and Luai were a shadow of what they can be when fit.
Critta had a fantastic game. But no 40/20 he doesn't get down the field to make his line dropout play. No pass from Cleary, he doesn't get to score.
