3-2-1 v Manly

[beefstew]

Just got back from the game, drove 2 hours each way for that shit. We were never on song today, the Stewart boys completely dominated us.

Neilson was an absolute passenger and looks like a plodder when your watching him live, might as well have Mannering in the centres.


Johnson was at least trying to get us back into the game and live at the ground was obvious that he was trying his guys out as opposed to someone like Mateo who slept through the whole game.


Hurrell and Laumape were awesome, I know Konrad made errors but he was a beast tonight.


Mannering, Friend, Locke and the props were solid without bring outstanding.


Manu was back to his rocks and diamonds.


Lowrie was mud and needs to be replaced/dropped/released.


No 3-2-1's from me today.

Thats pretty much exactly what it looked like on TV as well, i thought Locke was a bit better than solid but you had a better view of his off the ball work.

 

[Blair]

...Too many of our players are not putting in the effort required.

Back to where we were about ten weeks ago when we were in despair over players real or perceived lack of effort/caring.

Not a good sign for the business end of the season.

 

[WellsNZ]

Really hard to pick after that game, nobody really stood out to me beyond the usual suspect in Friend who as always tackled his ass off, with some bloody bandage over his eye half the game.

3. Friend
2. Mannering
1. Laumape

 

[ozenzud]

I have to admit, I was a bit surprised at the ranting about the warriors performance. I also admit, I was screaming at the TV about Lowrie and why he was in the team and so on. Me missus said I was setting a bad example........

Anyway, why I was surprised is I think people arn't giving that Manly team the raps it should be getting. They are big, they are experienced and they are fast. I was impressed.

The difference probably was however the kicking games of the halves. That DCE is a very, very good half. SJ is a good attacking player. A lot of difference there.

 

[vvvrulz]

Anyway, why I was surprised is I think people arn't giving that Manly team the raps it should be getting. They are big, they are experienced and they are fast. I was impressed.

The difference probably was however the kicking games of the halves. That DCE is a very, very good half. SJ is a good attacking player. A lot of difference there.

Agree with this, this game reminded me of the 2008 playoff where we were up for it but Manly just pummelled us with hard aggressive running and smashing our forwards by rushing out of their line. I thought we actually did really well to keep it to 10-6 at half time.

 

[Juju]

. I thought we actually did really well to keep it to 10-6 at half time.

I thought with the last set before half time we could go in with a unlikely first half lead, then super lowrie decides to lob it to the opposition. blahh...

 

[vvvrulz]

I thought with the last set before half time we could go in with a unlikely first half lead, then super lowrie decides to lob it to the opposition. blahh...

lol@superlowrie

Which was the bigger fail, this or Johnson booting away the ball on tackle one after a huge break?

 

[Juju]

Johnson booting the ball away was a massive face palm.

SJ was on twitter saying he was copping alot of hate post game. Must be tough for a young fella. He seems to get carried away on both the praise and feeling crap about the hate.

 

[Micistm]

Agree with this, this game reminded me of the 2008 playoff where we were up for it but Manly just pummelled us with hard aggressive running and smashing our forwards by rushing out of their line. I thought we actually did really well to keep it to 10-6 at half time.

I actually thought Manly were sub par and off their game. Had they been on song they would've given us a hiding. It does show how good they are though, that they can be off their game but still professional enough to wrap the game up. We did some reasonable things in the first half but the score line IMO was due to Manly not finishing when they should have, and should have really been ahead by 20 odd.
Just heard the assist coach on Radio Sport. Likeable sort of fellow, but used the standard 'disappointing' catchphrases and so on. I think they need to rev the players a little more than that. Losses are fine, when they are of the type vs Souths a few rounds ago. They hurt, but you can accept them. The last two weeks have been awful, and it's the lazy, playing without a purpose that gets you so much. You would think they weren't playing for eighth spot the last two weeks and had no chance for the playoffs, the way players were jogging around. The Warriors have always seemed a weird team, liking the chase to give them a chance and then lacking anything to offer once they get there. It's strange:crazy:

 

[Dav0c]

I was quite surprised to hear Matt Elliot saying the effort was there in the press conference. I must have been watching a different game.

 

[beefstew]

lol@superlowrie

Which was the bigger fail, this or Johnson booting away the ball on tackle one after a huge break?

Or Manu fumbling yet another easy ball right under our posts, requiring a brilliant tackle from Johnson to save a certain try.

Johnson makes a poor decision while in a good attacking position, but saves a definite try after yet another fail by the big dummy, more than evens the ledger in my book.

 

[TheDMC]

Johnson's commitment to defense has definitely improved, going in harder and lower - less jersey pulling. I don't really buy in to the defensive system where first two tacklers go high and then the third goes low, at least not for smaller defenders. It may slow the play of the ball down, but tends to give away another four or five meters as momentum is not arrested, which then means takes longer for the defensive line to get back the ten. I think Warriors are too soft in the tackle, after contact is made the attacker easily carries on for more meters. If you're a defender, and the attacker has 10kg plus on you, tackle hard and low...stop them immediately and if you get it right, you can drive them back on their arse. Worked for me for years when I was often smallest dude on the field...

On the upside re our Top 8 chances, while they hang on a thread, from Melb (hm) Sharks (hm) Manly (away) one win was always the most likely. We win the next four we will be heading into the finals in very good form...

 

[vvvrulz]

Johnson's commitment to defense has definitely improved, going in harder and lower - less jersey pulling.

Yep for sure. He's almost the complete package if he just cuts back on those miracle plays that either come off or don't. We have far too many rocks n diamonds players and need a safe halves pairing.

 

[The European Polynesian]

We have far too many rocks n diamonds players and need a safe halves pairing.

So who are our "rocks and diamonds" players?

 

[vvvrulz]

So who are our "rocks and diamonds" players?

SJ, Manu, Hurrell, Mateo... they will give the odd howler among great things.

The likes of TL, Locke and Laumape are safe in comparison and don't make too many mistakes.

 

[NZ Warrior]

But, I think we can all agree that Todd's new name is Super Lowrie. Agreed?

 

[beefstew]

SJ, Manu, Hurrell, Mateo... they will give the odd howler among great things.

The likes of TL, Locke and Laumape are safe in comparison and don't make too many mistakes.

When Johnson and Hurrell have been around as long as Mateo and Vatuvei in particular, and are still making schoolboy errors over and over again, they will deserve the title, at the moment they're just young players making errors that young players make; particularly when they have the pressure of being the teams main attacking weapons.

 

[Blair]

Matulino was quiet on the weekend, wasn't he? Unusually quiet, but he's been that way for two in a row now.

If SJ, Manu, Hurrell and Mateo are really 'rocks and diamonds' players then they'll be due for a diamond performance this weekend. I'd add Packer to that list.

Four from four, eh? We've finished strong before. If it comes down to a trip to the 'Gong then I can feel my first ever trip to that part of the world coming up.

I feel quite guilty sometimes when I see all these Warriors fans at games around Sydney and NSW. A lot of them travel huge distances to support their team, and often come away disappointed and out-of-pocket. Particularly as many seem to have families in tow.

Anyone know a good league-watching bar in the great city of Palmerston North? I'll be watching the Penrith game there.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Matulino was quiet on the weekend, wasn't he? Unusually quiet, but he's been that way for two in a row now.

I saw during the game Matulino standing a couple wide of the play, rather than looking for a hit up like Matagi was. Not sure what was up with that?

 

[TheDMC]

The whole forward pack is a bit soft - Matulino included. Tackle aggression is crap. We still need more mongrel. Mannering/Taylor/Mateo/Lowrie is a pretty soft combo. The only 'hard' nut is Lowrie and, well, he sucks. A JWH type prop wouldn't go astray either.