3-2-1 v Dragons

[Izz]

Hmm, thought I'd done this already...

3 - Ford

No, just kidding...

3 - CHT - had several big moments, as mentioned by posters above
2 - RTS
1 - Clark

HMs

Boyd - seemed to have a lot more confidence this week, took the line on. He's always going to be a defensive target, but while he wasn't great on that side of the ball, he never lacked effort
TT - Yeah, maybe not killing it on kick return metres, but made some crucial defensive plays, including one in the early minutes which did enough to put the Feagai in two minds, and TT's resulting ankle tap caused him to bomb a certain try. And he also had crucial touches in the tries that got us level and ahead. That being said, if Berry is fully fit and CNK fit enough, CNK has to go back to fullback, imo
DWZ - felt like that was his best game of the season
Vaimauga - he's become really consistent, imo - runs hard, tackles hard, goes looking for work

I know we only scored 14 points, but let's remember that this Drags team held the Sharks to 14 and the Raiders to 12 in the preceding weeks, two very good attacking teams. Yeah, they were at a severe disadvantage after 30 minutes with only 1 forward on the bench, but they're a really tough team and probably unlucky not to be in the finals mix (did we officially end their season?).

I don't think Fish was quite as bad as everyone making out. Sure, he wasn't great, but I don't think he was bludging.

Niukore played the full 80, which was something, I guess, but man he frustrates me. As an example: after Feagai's bombed try, DWZ raced back to the 20 for a quick tap, with about half the Drags still retreating. But he couldn't take it because Niukore was still strolling back to an onside position - the only player who hadn't retreated.

TSS is growing week by week. Real chance for him to shine now with Ford suspended. And for Vaimauga to step up even further, too.

It was good to see the halves getting the centres more involved.

DM - Webby's bench use. He just likes to play guys like Ford and Egan until they're exhausted, rather than giving them a 10-20 minute spell mid-game. I get that he's trying to have some experience on the paddock all game, but surely there's a way to do that that doesn't involve guys getting super fatigued. Look at the spark Healey provided in that last 10. Imagine what he could bring either side of halftime.

 

[Rich102]

3 - CHT
2 - RTS
1 - Clark

 

[Blair]

3 - CHT
2 - RTS
1 - Clark

This, from me too.

 

[Meth]

He’s not great in wet/slippery conditions where his lack of size works against him. On a dry track he’s way more elusive and effective.

Yeah, I get this

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Reviewing the highlights I was a bit harsh on TT in that while I still think by and large his attack is quite meh, he was clever defending those big breaks, and had two try assists. I don’t think he did much more than you’d expect of anyone on those try assists really, but probably a bit of credit for seeing the opportunity on the second one.

 

[Meth]

And just to say again, he is great under the high ball. Which, if he wasn’t, on that night, I think we would have been screwed

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

As I said elsewhere, the 'not a starter' thing is shorthand for saying 'he's not very good'. Like, Stowers Smith and Vaimauga coming off the bench is way more appealing than Ford.

He definitely plays too many minutes. That seems to be appealing to some because Barnett used to do it and so I think we all just assumed that, while Barnett is clearly better than Ford, we obviously needed somebody to play those big minutes. But now, I'm not so sure we were right about that.

And for whatever reason, we seem to always want the ball getting into Ford's hands. Again, people say 'look at how many carries he has. Look at how many metres he made'. But the reality is that they are generally slow as shit and shit as shit.

But you'd expect me to say all of that.

Ford will get dropped once we have a solid prop forward rotation available from injuries and promotion to join the likes of Barnett/JFH/Vaimauga. Will it be Niukore TSS, Laban or EiT to convert to Prop or someone else?

Ford is handy until we sort ourselves out and he's used properly. Once we have a locked in 4th prop most of the people that dislike Ford will rejoice.

 

[ozenzud]

I thought we were caned in the penalties early and made things worse by crap play. That decision to say Roger had dropped the ball in the kick was marginal at best.

I agree with posters that CHT was on. One of his best games when we needed it, but he has gone missing in other games.

3. CHT

2. Vaimauga

I also thought Vaimauga had one of his better games and I think, though not sure, he got more minutes

1. RTS

Really consistent, good hard metres so good runs. Still got that step, just not the pace out of it.

DWZ was much better. His carries are typically good, but better this week. Was the defensive system working or didn't St George exploit it? Not sure which.

I disagree to some degree with Ford criticism I see here. Definitely agree that he was left on and he fatigued and made errors. Webster is using him to soak up energy and preserve other players. That's his role and its different from impact players. He makes a lot of tackles in the middle and works his arse off. Though this does lead to mistakes. We will see what his value is in the last 3 weeks of the season when he is gone.

I also disagree that CHK was ordinary at centre. Definitely not the involvement he gets from fullback, but I recall thinking in the game he is working out the centre role. Defensively good I thought. A little more involvement in attack.

Fisher Harries is being preserved. I suspect he is still carrying injury.

 

[Meth]

Ford will get dropped once we have a solid prop forward rotation available from injuries and promotion to join the likes of Barnett/JFH/Vaimauga. Will it be Niukore TSS, Laban or EiT to convert to Prop or someone else?

Ford is handy until we sort ourselves out and he's used properly. Once we have a locked in 4th prop most of the people that dislike Ford will rejoice.

Ford won’t be dropped. Webster loves him

 

[JJ]

Ford won’t be dropped. Webster loves him

yep, but he's also burning him out a bit with big minutes - maybe unavoidable atm

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Ford will get dropped once we have a solid prop forward rotation available from injuries and promotion to join the likes of Barnett/JFH/Vaimauga. Will it be Niukore TSS, Laban or EiT to convert to Prop or someone else?

Ford is handy until we sort ourselves out and he's used properly. Once we have a locked in 4th prop most of the people that dislike Ford will rejoice.

I don't think Ford will get dropped. Webby absolutely loves him. He was still playing big minutes, wasn't he when Barnett, JFH etc were fit and available?

I know we only scored 14 points, but let's remember that this Drags team held the Sharks to 14 and the Raiders to 12 in the preceding weeks, two very good attacking teams. Yeah, they were at a severe disadvantage after 30 minutes with only 1 forward on the bench, but they're a really tough team and probably unlucky not to be in the finals mix (did we officially end their season?).

Fair enough and each to their own, but I thought we were really disjointed and should have made a lot more of that second half and been smarter. The Drags were absolutely rooted, you could see it in their shape. But we kept making errors, we weren't composed, patient build-up and making the Dragons work out of their own end would have eventually opened the floodgates.

 

[Meth]

Ford aside, I often don’t understand Webster’s use of the interchange. Not sure why Clark was off and Ford stayed on

 

[Izz]

Fair enough and each to their own, but I thought we were really disjointed and should have made a lot more of that second half and been smarter. The Drags were absolutely rooted, you could see it in their shape. But we kept making errors, we weren't composed, patient build-up and making the Dragons work out of their own end would have eventually opened the floodgates.

For sure, if we were a better attacking team, ala Sharkies or Broncos, we probably would've piled it on in the second half. But we are an injury-riddled team down on confidence after a poor month, and without a settled spine (2nd choice fullback whose wife gave birth the night before the game, a halfback who's been up and down between FG & reggies, a hooker first game back from injury). The Dragons were playing for their season. TBH, if we had put 20-30 on in that second half I would've been majorly surprised (happy, of course, but still surprised lol).

But we got the win, and did so while trying out a different attacking style. Hopefully that translates to improved confidence and better attack this week. I hope Boyd keeps his place in the team, too. I thought he looked much improved over his last couple outings.

 

[Meth]

Hmm, thought I'd done this already...

3 - Ford

You laugh, but

 

[Izz]

You laugh, but

That's funny!

 

[Meth]

Warrior of the week is Roger Tuivasa Sheck

Tuivasa Sheck 30
Clark 28
Harris-Tavita 25

Watene Zelezniak 10
Tuaupiki 9
Stowers Smith 5
Boyd 3
Egan 2
Vaimauga 2

19 voted

 

[Grizzman]

5 points between 1 and 3. Looks like we all pretty much agreed on who were our best.