3-2-1 vs Broncos

[Meth]

3- Johnson
2- Mannering
1- Kata

HM- Lolohea, Luke, Lillyman

 

[WithTheDawn]

3 SJ
2 Tui
1 Kata

Really amazing effort from everyone though. You could just SEE it from the opening exchanges that we were fired up. Now let's see if we can do it again next week.

 

[Rich102]

3. Mannering - Huge game
2. SJ - Finally
1. Luke - thought he really went well too, got the forwards on the front foot..

What a difference it makes when they all sing from the same songsheet.

Cappy must have learnt something in the last fortnight.

 

[One Warrior]

3 Johnson
2 Tui
1 Kata

Best game by Luke, great from whole team.

 

[TheDMC]

.

Cappy must have learnt something in the last fortnight.

What do you think he learnt Rich?

Probably only that this team operates randomly on a spectrum ranging between awesome to utter dog shiite.

 

[Blair]

...Funny how Johnson makes the first two tackles of the game and then runs the ball into the line first touch (or thereabouts) and then boom, whale of a game...

There's no question he was fired up. At one stage he made another sizzling run to the line, fell one tackle short for a solo-try but might've still got a team-try if he'd had someone up in support.

He blew up at all and sundry for not being there. I'm liking this Johnson a lot. He must carry this 'angry-ant' attitude into next week and beyond.

 

[Auckland4ever]

There's no question he was fired up. At one stage he made another sizzling run to the line, fell one tackle short for a solo-try but might've still got a team-try if he'd had someone up in support.

He blew up at all and sundry for not being there. I'm liking this Johnson a lot. He must carry this 'angry-ant' attitude into next week and beyond.

It also helps that for once this season, the pack actually did their job, like they should be doing for us every week. Amazing what Johnson can do when he actually has something to work with. Tons of TL haters out there, but I thought he was good, too.

 

[jaseg]

Nah, TL threw 3 or 4 absolutely woeful balls, including one that turned over possession on their try line when we should have had a 3v3 with Tui coming around behind as an extra on the left edge, and another that should've cost us possession in the same(ish) area if not for some twinkle toes from Manu. Really, really bad stuff. I think his best play of the game came when he jumped into dummy half - surprise!

 

[Auckland4ever]

Nah, TL threw 3 or 4 absolutely woeful balls, including one that turned over possession on their try line when we should have had a 3v3 with Tui coming around behind as an extra on the left edge, and another that should've cost us possession in the same(ish) area if not for some twinkle toes from Manu. Really, really bad stuff. I think his best play of the game came when he jumped into dummy half - surprise!

I generally don't mind his passing game and I don't mind how he straightens our attack, giving those outside him a little extra time & space. But each to their own.

 

[jaseg]

Yeah generally that effect can be good... but when a guy who should be the stabilizing effect who doesn't create much himself at all is giving the opposition lots of extra chances at the ball it just doesn't fly for me.

Particularly when we have a guy sitting in reserve grade who eats those exact left edge multiple passing option situations up.

 

[Meth]

I will say that Leuluai's work in the lead up to Thompson's try was superb

 

[Auckland4ever]

Yeah generally that effect can be good... but when a guy who should be the stabilizing effect who doesn't create much himself at all is giving the opposition lots of extra chances at the ball it just doesn't fly for me.

I guess this is the crux of it - how different fans interpret what a good performance consists of. To me, he had a positive involvement in a number of our tries, he often got himself into positions where he was there to support the ball player, the vast majority of his passes were well timed and accurate - i'll forgive mistakes if the player is energetic, involved and having an overall positive impact on the game.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Leuluai had a mixed game. I remember one really stupid pass from him, I say STUPID cos he looked at the Bronco jersey and passed it to the Bronco jersey!!

 

[Rich102]

What do you think he learnt Rich?

Probably only that this team operates randomly on a spectrum ranging between awesome to utter dog shiite.

He now knows that the squad is capable of playing attractive, winning football.

Now he has to concentrate on getting them to produce it every week.

 

[vvvrulz]

3. Johnson
2. Luke - finally!
1. Mannering

Plenty of hon mentions across the board.

What a great performance, so frustrating seeing what we are capable of knowing that we won't do it every week.

Is this something genuine, or our token origin streak?

I mentioned last week that if we're going to carry Leuluai, we either need Johnson to do all his work for him or Tui & Luke to majorly help out. By some miracle both things happened, and Thomas was allowed to just be serviceable.

Kudos to McFadden for showing faith in selections. I still don't like TL in there but everyone else seems to be working into their roles.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

3- Johnson. His first try he almost took to the line by accident, and it seemed to inspire something in him. Keep playing angry SJ. Take control like we know you can.
2- Kata. I absolutely love this kid. I was a critic last year but it seems through sheer hard work, he has become a top notch NRL player and the sort of player that Konrad could have been if he had a professional bone in his body. Absolutely made Roberts his bitch. He's my POTY through this half of the season.
1- Mannering. Encompassed everything this guy is when he absolutely rocketed through to clean up Boyd ingoal after Luke's very good kick. When he's not forced to defend and clean up everyone's shit, he's got skills on attack and D.

Quite a lot of honorables, Tui/Luke/Fusi (wow he is an incredible athlete/finisher - Maranta must be still waking up in cold sweats) even Hoffman was good and everyone showed energy.

Still a long, long way to go until we know whether it's just same shit, different year.

 

[Meth]

Congratulations Shaun Johnson

Johnson 50
Lolohea 26
Kata 15

Mannering 13
Luke 11
Lillyman 1
Vatuvei 1
Fusitua 1
Thompson 1
Matulino 1

20 voted