3-2-1 v Panthers

[Meth]

Might as well finish off the year.

3- Vatuvei
2- Mannering
1- Peyroux

 

[vvvrulz]

3. Manu
2. Laumape
1. Tomkins

Hon mentions to Friend, Mannering, Lillyman, Peyroux & Johnson for at least clearly trying
Lots of passengers as usual

Leuluai the worst on the park tonight, not through lack of effort but he's just out of his depth.

 

[Izz]

3. Vatuvei
2. Laumape
1. erm, Mannering, i guess

Friend got through a ton of tackles, as per, but his delivery was really poor. Most of our forward pack were a bunch of useless pussies bar Mannering (though he was also down on his usual), and Henry who was very busy defensively (Matagi did at least hit it up with purpose, but he's a poor defender). I guess Lillyman was okay, but pretty effectively handled by the Penrith pack.

Refs were determined to get Brisbane into the finals, but even so, we just looked sluggish. I think 9th is a fitting place for us to finish this season. Still a fair bit of work to do to get us competitive week-in, week-out, but i still feel more positive than at the end of last year. And, all that being said, most years 28 would be enough points to easily get us top 8.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Vatuvei
Mannering
Tomkins

 

[vvvrulz]

Was Friend really that bad? He threw a few wild passes agreed, but his service was normally decent enough and he had a few good darts out of dummy half too (although one led to a tragic knock on). That dummy half running is clearly something he's been looking to bring into his game

I don't like criticizing Friend, he's not the greatest 9 in the world but he busts his balls every week for us
He wasn't at his best yesterday but he wasn't the problem

 

[Izz]

Was Friend really that bad? He threw a few wild passes agreed, but his service was normally decent enough and he had a few good darts out of dummy half too (although one led to a tragic knock on). That dummy half running is clearly something he's been looking to bring into his game

I don't like criticizing Friend, he's not the greatest 9 in the world but he busts his balls every week for us
He wasn't at his best yesterday but he wasn't the problem

Sure he wasn't the problem, but his service was poor, imo. No doubting he plays as hard as he can every week.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Friends solid but I would have thought that resigning TL has meant they have put their eggs in the basket of him playing hooker next season, I guess they can share the role but I think its a waste of a spot. Townsend has got to be given the 6 role for good next season.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Just to play devil's advocate (because I'm a dick like that), how do we feel about Manu arguably being responsible for 2 of the 4 tries conceded?

No doubt he was our most effective and involved attacking player but does that overshadow the defensive lapses?

I just find it interesting how sometimes he'd get bagged for a "rocks and diamonds" game like that, while sometimes it's all praise for his effort and industry.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Yeah I considered that, especially that first try but I feel like his overall game made up for that error. I think they are only considered 'rocks and diamonds games' to people when he makes a few obvious errors like dropping bombs or something along those lines that leads to tries rather than being caught too far in field, not sliding etc

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

I reckon that last try is almost undefendable...in situations when the edge defence are under pressure like that and the defending winger can't afford to hang back, and then a pinpoint grubber is put in behind the line, even the fastest and most agile winger isn't going to be able to turn and get to the ball first from a standing start. Reverse the roles and Manu outruns DWZ and scores himself. But inevitably any try scored from a kick behind Manu is going to be put down to him having "the turning circle of the Queen Mary" or one of those stupid cliches.

First try I thought the whole defensive line got a bit cramped, but Manu still pretty much stuffed his bit up.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Anyway, I'll go

3- Vatuvei
2- Mannering
1- Tomkins

Only because I'm really struggling to come up with anyone else. Lillyman was as ineffective as he's been all season. Laumape tried hard but came up with too many errors (not that he was totally culpable in all of them though).

 

[vvvrulz]

Friends solid but I would have thought that resigning TL has meant they have put their eggs in the basket of him playing hooker next season, I guess they can share the role but I think its a waste of a spot. Townsend has got to be given the 6 role for good next season.

Leuluai was disappointing and flat in his stints at hooker this season.
He's done nothing to displace Friend imo

 

[Fast Eddie]

Leuluai was disappointing and flat in his stints at hooker this season.
He's done nothing to displace Friend imo

Well obviously theres going to be other factors involved outside of purely on field performance. Not that I think there is much between them anyway. Hopefully Leuluai comes back much stronger next season with a pre season behind him. He did miss the best part of 6 months because of injury you have to remember.

 

[Rich102]

Vatuvei
Mannering
Tomkins

x2

 

[JJ]

He has done nothing to deserve being in first grade full stop.

3. Vatuvei
2. Tomkins
1. Mannering

The bagging of Friend is just weird tbh

 

[Izz]

Pointing out where you think someone was poor does not equal bagging, particularly if you've just complimented another aspect of their play. Just sayin'

 

[JJ]

Just meant he takes heat, but like Tomkins, he isn't the issue.

 

[Izz]

Fair enough.

 

[Mr Angry]

I would be calling Anthony Griffin.

The right fit IMO. Til Stacey is ready.

 

[JJ]

I would be calling Anthony Griffin.

The right fit IMO. Til Stacey is ready.

Griffin is a good idea, but another change isn't

Why do you think Jones would be good???