A leopard never changes his spots.

[westie]

You can't bag or praise the guy for his selection based on whether he wins or not. Either put up a call now or don't bother post-match.

I think we have very few options and realistically, it will probably come down to defence, with the the regular left to do most of the good work in attack. Our right defence sucks and every one knows how potent they are down that side. Are we really confident in Ayshford, Daniella and Ryan holding out their main attacking play? I can't really think of who else to put in, besides a second rower to 5/8th... but that's mostly because it's too late to be bringing in a reserve bloke to learn the trade against the top team.

The f**k ups were made earlier in the season... it's about getting through this little bit well and hoping the troops are fit and firing for the semis.

 

[Reek_Havoc]

First of all, you've got no right tell me to put up or shut up, with some of the dumb a$$ comments you have made.

Secondly, It's very easy for farkwit coaching winning footy sides with a full squad, but once he gets a few injuries, he really shows his super coaching abilities.

I just can't stand him, win or lose. I cannot forget what he has done to this club over the last 5 years, some of you may have, especially after a few wins, but I won't.

I'm not privvy to seeing the whole squad (BRET, MAGPIES and NYC) so I am not going to make a call just for the sake of it. I have not even seen the FG side go around over the last couple of weeks.

Let's just see.

 

[Magpies Forever]

It will be interesting to see what the final line up is when they run out on to the field tonite. True injuries have provided a testing time but I hope the team at least remains competitive. I'm 50/50 whether WT can win, but if they put in the effort in defense anything is possible- even if Farah doesnt play.

Final thought- pity Taumata has been let go.

 

[meltiger]

Agree, I am one of the first to knock Sheens BUT with the combination of players going down (Assuming they all don't play), what on earth was he supposed to do this week?

You can't bag or praise the guy for his selection based on whether he wins or not. Either put up a call now or don't bother post-match.

I think we have very few options and realistically, it will probably come down to defence, with the the regular left to do most of the good work in attack. Our right defence sucks and every one knows how potent they are down that side. Are we really confident in Ayshford, Daniella and Ryan holding out their main attacking play? I can't really think of who else to put in, besides a second rower to 5/8th... but that's mostly because it's too late to be bringing in a reserve bloke to learn the trade against the top team.

The f**k ups were made earlier in the season... it's about getting through this little bit well and hoping the troops are fit and firing for the semis.

 

[innsaneink]

It may just work, Saints would find it hard to make a defensive plan against the re arranged backline and it could work in our favour. Ayshford always seems to be able to draw and pass , so having either Daniela or lawrences speed to offload to could create plenty. Im feeling way more confident the more i think about it.

Whenever ive watched him he always seems to pass when he should hold it, and he hangs onto it when he should offload
He should be ok taking on the line though, maybe for a while

 

[blackandwhite]

Do people actually still think we play our halves as half and 5/8? They play left and right and have done so for years. You could stick Benji in 6, 7 or 264 and he'd play the exact same game. How did Morris' game change when he changed from 7 to 6, and vice versa? It didn't. He played as our right side play maker.

Stop thinking Benji is a sh*t halfback just because he wears 7. There's no difference in his game when he's wearing 6 or 7. He plays exactly the same regardless, we were just rubbish as a team overall when he was wearing 7. The main problem here is moving someone like Ayshford into a more crucial position, let alone playing him at all.

Didn't see any left or right half play tonight just a first and second receiver....Benji is obviously not a halfback or a goalkicker for that matter !

 

[andrew9148]

It was pretty sh*t but Saints are good. Lawrence was great. f**k he is a good player.

 

[Magpie Nick]

I wanted to get in first before anyone challenges my post about Benji being a crap halfback despite our team playing our halves left and right, but it didn’t happen due to replies when I was writing this.

Benji was sh*t tonight because he's been sh*t for a few weeks. Last week Benji did the same rubbish offloads that resulted in turn overs and lost possession much the same as tonight. Last week Benji was putting in awful kicks because of his positioning. The only difference is that Farah had an awesome game and we were playing against a fairly ordinary team.

This week we had an absolute nuffy playing in a crucial position in Ayshford. Lui at least knows our plays and can throw Benji and Farah the ball and not put them under pressure (well sometimes when you take into account Lui’s destruction of at least three fifth tackle plays in a row against Canberra). Ayshford's football brain is extremely limited. Playing him in such a crucial position was an awful decision that was highlighted be Benji's bad form.

When Benji is in a bad run of form and we make him the sole focal point of attack against a decent team like we did tonight, then his bad form is highlighted and we lose. He has been playing with the same form he showed tonight for a few weeks. The difference between our team being shown up and beaten tonight and our win against Canberra last week is the fact that Farah dominated last week against an ordinary team.

Playing Ayshford as our right side play maker was a horrible decision. His football brain is extremely limited, which is highlighted by the fact that he has barely trained in the position this year so his pass and running selection was horrible. When he did pass more often than not put the receiver was put under pressure and any momentum we had was killed. With Benji in sh*t form and Farah required around the ruck, it meant that Benji, in rubbish form, was made the focal point of our attack and we suffered.

The main point of this post isn’t to bag Ayshford for being rubbish, but to say that Benji would have played no different tonight (and has been playing no different in the past few weeks) whether he was at halfback, five-eighth, or water boy. We play our halves left and right, the difference between tonight and the past few games has been the quality of the opposition and Farah’s involvement (as well as other elements such as our bench and rotation).

Benji did nothing tonight that he hasn’t been doing the past few weeks, the difference was the opposition and the rest of our team. Tonight we didn’t play our halves left and right, we played our halves as Benji and Benji, and Benji only.

Anyone who thinks we don’t play our halves left and right or that we played first and second receiver tonight either doesn’t watch or listens to blokes like Rabs who more often than not calls players by the wrong names because he can’t see. Benji was sh*t tonight because he’s been sh*t for weeks, the difference is that Ayshford was extraordinarily sh*t.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Lawrence was crap last week but our best tonight. mckinnon went well.

Ayshford does 10 things wrong for everything he does right.

 

[blackandwhite]

Anyone who thinks we don’t play our halves left and right or that we played first and second receiver tonight either doesn’t watch or listens to blokes like Rabs who more often than not calls players by the wrong names because he can’t see. Benji was sh*t tonight because he’s been sh*t for weeks, the difference is that Ayshford was extraordinarily sh*t.

Are you OK ? Unfortunately I don't have the time or the whiteboard to explain the intricacies of NRL halfback play to you at the moment ....get some sleep.... it will all be better in the morning :lol:

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

I wanted to get in first before anyone challenges my post about Benji being a crap halfback despite our team playing our halves left and right, but it didn’t happen due to replies when I was writing this.

Benji was sh*t tonight because he's been sh*t for a few weeks. Last week Benji did the same rubbish offloads that resulted in turn overs and lost possession much the same as tonight. Last week Benji was putting in awful kicks because of his positioning. The only difference is that Farah had an awesome game and we were playing against a fairly ordinary team.

This week we had an absolute nuffy playing in a crucial position in Ayshford. Lui at least knows our plays and can throw Benji and Farah the ball and not put them under pressure (well sometimes when you take into account Lui’s destruction of at least three fifth tackle plays in a row against Canberra). Ayshford's football brain is extremely limited. Playing him in such a crucial position was an awful decision that was highlighted be Benji's bad form.

When Benji is in a bad run of form and we make him the sole focal point of attack against a decent team like we did tonight, then his bad form is highlighted and we lose. He has been playing with the same form he showed tonight for a few weeks. The difference between our team being shown up and beaten tonight and our win against Canberra last week is the fact that Farah dominated last week against an ordinary team.

Playing Ayshford as our right side play maker was a horrible decision. His football brain is extremely limited, which is highlighted by the fact that he has barely trained in the position this year so his pass and running selection was horrible. When he did pass more often than not put the receiver was put under pressure and any momentum we had was killed. With Benji in sh*t form and Farah required around the ruck, it meant that Benji, in rubbish form, was made the focal point of our attack and we suffered.

The main point of this post isn’t to bag Ayshford for being rubbish, but to say that Benji would have played no different tonight (and has been playing no different in the past few weeks) whether he was at halfback, five-eighth, or water boy. We play our halves left and right, the difference between tonight and the past few games has been the quality of the opposition and Farah’s involvement (as well as other elements such as our bench and rotation).

Benji did nothing tonight that he hasn’t been doing the past few weeks, the difference was the opposition and the rest of our team. Tonight we didn’t play our halves left and right, we played our halves as Benji and Benji, and Benji only.

Anyone who thinks we don’t play our halves left and right or that we played first and second receiver tonight either doesn’t watch or listens to blokes like Rabs who more often than not calls players by the wrong names because he can’t see. Benji was sh*t tonight because he’s been sh*t for weeks, the difference is that Ayshford was extraordinarily sh*t.

Do you or your brother Westie have an independent thought?

 

[Magpie Nick]

Are you OK ? Unfortunately I don't have the time or the whiteboard to explain the intricacies of NRL halfback play to you at the moment ....get some sleep.... it will all be better in the morning :lol:

While you're at it you might as well explain the intracacies of NRL halfback play to Sheens and Royce. They've said plenty of times that we don't play our halves as 'conventional' halves. We play left and right. If you don't believe we do then you're so delusional that you probably shouldn't even be watching football.

You're probably one of the people that believes that second rowers and locks still play the way they did a few years ago, roaming across the whole field and roaming around the whole park and cleaning up defence.

You don't get it, any of it. We play our halves left and right, we play our whole back row left, right and centre. Sheens has said so numerous times. It doesn't matter what number they wear, their role is defined by the type of player they are. Numbers defining roles disappeared a few years ago, particularly in our case.

 

[tigers_are_premiers]

While you're at it you might as well explain the intracacies of NRL halfback play to Sheens and Royce. They've said plenty of times that we don't play our halves as 'conventional' halves. We play left and right. If you don't believe we do then you're so delusional that you probably shouldn't even be watching football.

You're probably one of the people that believes that second rowers and locks still play the way they did a few years ago, roaming across the whole field and roaming around the whole park and cleaning up defence.

You don't get it, any of it. We play our halves left and right, we play our whole back row left, right and centre. Sheens has said so numerous times. It doesn't matter what number they wear, their role is defined by the type of player they are. Numbers defining roles disappeared a few years ago, particularly in our case.

Benji has been drifting over to the right every now and then over the past couple of week... Although, he prefers the left.

 

[Magpies Forever]

While you're at it you might as well explain the intracacies of NRL halfback play to Sheens and Royce. They've said plenty of times that we don't play our halves as 'conventional' halves. We play left and right. If you don't believe we do then you're so delusional that you probably shouldn't even be watching football.

You're probably one of the people that believes that second rowers and locks still play the way they did a few years ago, roaming across the whole field and roaming around the whole park and cleaning up defence.

You don't get it, any of it. We play our halves left and right, we play our whole back row left, right and centre. Sheens has said so numerous times. It doesn't matter what number they wear, their role is defined by the type of player they are. Numbers defining roles disappeared a few years ago, particularly in our case.

And there my friends is the problem. Where has not playing traditional roles got us in the last 5 season? I'm all for tradition.

 

[macnaz]

Did anyone notice the coments made by Gus Gould and Wally Lewis about Benji? They said they dont like when Benji plays half, he needs to be playing wider and not first reciever. Hmmmm who's right and who's wrong here.

 

[blackandwhite]

While you're at it you might as well explain the intracacies of NRL halfback play to Sheens and Royce. They've said plenty of times that we don't play our halves as 'conventional' halves. We play left and right. If you don't believe we do then you're so delusional that you probably shouldn't even be watching football.

You're probably one of the people that believes that second rowers and locks still play the way they did a few years ago, roaming across the whole field and roaming around the whole park and cleaning up defence.

You don't get it, any of it. We play our halves left and right, we play our whole back row left, right and centre. Sheens has said so numerous times. It doesn't matter what number they wear, their role is defined by the type of player they are. Numbers defining roles disappeared a few years ago, particularly in our case.

:shock: Really.....OMG....When did that happen ?...next thing you will be telling me that a fullback has to have a passing game.

Tell you what I will print out your very insightful comments and give them to the coaching staff when I see them next week...I'm sure it will solve all our problems.....keep up the good work.

 

[madunit]

Do people actually still think we play our halves as half and 5/8? They play left and right and have done so for years. You could stick Benji in 6, 7 or 264 and he'd play the exact same game. How did Morris' game change when he changed from 7 to 6, and vice versa? It didn't. He played as our right side play maker.

Stop thinking Benji is a sh*t halfback just because he wears 7. There's no difference in his game when he's wearing 6 or 7. He plays exactly the same regardless, we were just rubbish as a team overall when he was wearing 7. The main problem here is moving someone like Ayshford into a more crucial position, let alone playing him at all.

Idiot.

So, as you said, Benji plays exactly the same when wearing 6 as when he wears 7, but when he wears 7 the teams plays like sh*t.

You've gone very close to figuring out why we play sh*t when Benji wears the 7. I reckon if you think hard enough you might be able to join the dots on this one.

You muppet.

Your halfback needs to provide direction and structure for the backs.

Benji couldn't organise a rock fight in a quarry. Everyone knows that.

As much as he may play his same game at 7 as he does at 6 is the problem. When he plays at 7 he has more responsibility, which deluded dimwits like you who have never played the game wouldn't understand.

And don't try and tell me you have played the game. Anyone who has played the game will know what role your halfback plays.

Benji playing his normal game when at 7 is detrimental to our side. we end up with no direction, no structure and more often than not, no win.

Not surprising at all really.

Your hooker, no matter how bloody good he is, cannot organise the whole team from dummy half.

 

[madunit]

Numbers defining roles disappeared a few years ago, particularly in our case.

lol

 

[Magpie Nick]

Idiot.

So, as you said, Benji plays exactly the same when wearing 6 as when he wears 7, but when he wears 7 the teams plays like sh*t.

You've gone very close to figuring out why we play sh*t when Benji wears the 7. I reckon if you think hard enough you might be able to join the dots on this one.

You muppet.

Your halfback needs to provide direction and structure for the backs.

Benji couldn't organise a rock fight in a quarry. Everyone knows that.

As much as he may play his same game at 7 as he does at 6 is the problem. When he plays at 7 he has more responsibility, which deluded dimwits like you who have never played the game wouldn't understand.

And don't try and tell me you have played the game. Anyone who has played the game will know what role your halfback plays.

Benji playing his normal game when at 7 is detrimental to our side. we end up with no direction, no structure and more often than not, no win.

Not surprising at all really.

Your hooker, no matter how bloody good he is, cannot organise the whole team from dummy half.

You are a deadset spastic. You've just got no idea.

While you're explaining to me how our halves work, please do it to Sheens and Royce. They've said numerous times and as recently as when discussing Tuiaki's return that our halves play left and right. It's obvious this is the case as well.

How did Benji or Morris' game change when Sheens changed them from wearing 7 and 6 to 6 and 7? They didn't. If you honestly believe they did then you're got less of an idea than I thought.

Benji has been our main play maker since Prince left. Do you think our team has run off the back of Morris, Lui and Moltzen organising us, particularly when they've chopped an changed so much? Wouldn't that make Benji our halfback? According to you it does.

Wearing or playing in 7 doesn't give Benji more responsbility, unless you've got someone like Ayshford playing the other side of the ruck and not doing anything. Our team is principally run by Farah, with Benji having a major role as well. The difference between Canberra with Benji at '6' and the Dragons with Benji at '7' was Farah and not having anyone doing something on the other side of the ruck.

We lost on the weekend because Benji has been playing sh*t for weeks, not because he was playing halfback. The difference was Farah's involvement and the quality of the opposition. Ayshford would have been more involved cutting up fruit for half time.

I wouldn't have thought you would need to resort to using lines such as not having played the game before. That's up there with 'you're not a real fan'. Regardless of whether I've played or not, it doesn't take a genius to work out that we play our halves left and right, especially when the two guys running our team have said so numerous times.

Benji playing his normal game at '7' isn't detrimental to our game, it's Benji playing his sh*t game that is detrimental to our chances of winning.

 

[Magpie Nick]

lol

Great contribution...

Since you've proven yourself to be a little lost, I'll spell it out to you. The numbers our halves wear don't mean a thing. They play left and right. How did Morris' and Benji's game change when they swapped numbers?

Our backrowers play left, right and centre. This is another thing Sheens has said a number of times, particularly when he's played Payten at lock. Lets look at this years games for examples. When we had Fulton, Ellis and Heighington playing we had Ellis playing left, Heighington playing tight and Fulton playing right. When we've played either Payten or Flanagan in 11, they've played tight and Heighington went and played left, yet still wore 13.

Please continue to tell me that our halves play first and second receiver and that their numbers mean anything and that the numbers our backrowers wear mean anything, you're doing so well.