2024 Rabbitohs Round 20 - Vs Tigers

[assess5]

Not a bad afternoon in the end, winning both grades and both scoring over 40. I'll settle for that.

Souths lose an enormous amount in defense without Murry and especially Jai Arrow and it showed out wide.

 

[Eric the great]

Good to see Pete the Greek and 50 shades score

 

[Steenson123]

Despite never have won anything, Cook has been a stellar combatant. Always fit, athletic and prepared to defend. Now we see he is an excellent place kicker too. That wind was swirling yet he nailed one conversion after the other. Sans Cook today, we likely lose to a poor Balmain Gypsies squad. One wonders why Burt was so keen to release Damien.
It will probably be up to young Humphries or that dude Gray with the head gear to play #9. Gray looks like an A Grade starter, good size, aggressive runner and can pop a pass. Mamezolous likely falls short, the guy has to run more and become a threat. He has not really developed an identity or displayed enough skill.

 

[speedster]

Souths lose an enormous amount in defense without Murry and especially Jai Arrow and it showed out wide.

A better side would have put us away today. Next week we play a better side. We will need to be a lot better defensively because we will again be without captain Cam.

 

[speedster]

Despite never have won anything, Cook has been a stellar combatant. Always fit, athletic and prepared to defend. Now we see he is an excellent place kicker too. That wind was swirling yet he nailed one conversion after the other. Sans Cook today, we likely lose to a poor Balmain Gypsies squad. One wonders why Burt was so keen to release Damien.
It will probably be up to young Humphries or that dude Gray with the head gear to play #9. Gray looks like an A Grade starter, good size, aggressive runner and can pop a pass. Mamezolous likely falls short, the guy has to run more and become a threat. He has not really developed an identity or displayed enough skill.

As much as I love Cookie and celebrate his contributions for us today and over the years, his defence at marker for the Tigers 1st 2 tries shows he is slowing up a fraction. He has missed some bad tackles this season - he let Brooks breeze by him in Vegas and there's been plenty of those types of bad mistackles that are a hint as to why Wayne has been prepared to see him off, along with the salary cap space we need to spend elsewhere.

 

[Steenson123]

Souths lose an enormous amount in defense without Murry and especially Jai Arrow and it showed out wide.

The squad is missing two starting centres, and one is Graham, our best player in recent years. Plus Mitchell is out. That leaves a giant gap in the squad. Cook had to fill in out wide which exacerbates the existing absentee problem. Let's not be too hard on the squad.

 

[Steenson123]

Canberra is

A better side would have put us away today. Next week we play a better side. We will need to be a lot better defensively because we will again be without captain Cam.

Canberra are a pure Knuckelhead squad, led by a Knucklehead in Stuart. Balmain thumped them recently and @ domicile, they have been ordinary. Plus Wighton will be very keen to torpedo them.
I would be giving that #3 with three names from Reserve Grade a start here. He is big, looks promising and runs hard. We need to find if he or Myers can play A Grade. If Campbell Graham is done, that becomes an even more pressing issue.
Against dopey Stuart we shall need to play guys with size across the park and play with aggression.

 

[Steenson123]

Mitchell is apparently back in Rd 23.
Murray needed a break and will return shortly too.
Expect some more Vs before this abnormal season is completed. Do not be surprised if that happens against Canberra too. They are nothing special. Ben needs to select a big side, a new big center too.

 

[BotanyBorn&Bred]

Souths lose an enormous amount in defense without Murry and especially Jai Arrow and it showed out wide.

Very true

 

[BotanyBorn&Bred]

The squad is missing two starting centres, and one is Graham, our best player in recent years. Plus Mitchell is out. That leaves a giant gap in the squad. Cook had to fill in out wide which exacerbates the existing absentee problem. Let's not be too hard on the squad.

There is no doubt that this is true.
However, Cook's defense has been suspect for quite a while now, going back to that missed tackle on Papali'i that cost us the game and an appearance in the GF, and it is getting worse of late.