Around the Grounds

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Surely no one doubts that the footy gods absolutely hate us, right? Lol

 

[Reflector]

Relying on the Tigers for anything is foolish.

IIRC back in 2007 the Tigers just needed to win their final game of the season against the Knights (who were in a spoon battle with Penrith) to qualify for the finals. They appeared to be cruising with 10 minutes to go then the Knights piled on a bunch of tries to snatch it at the death, kill the Tigers finals hopes and also avoid the spoon when Penrith lost the next day.

 

[Zoidberg]

Courtesy of Simpsons related NRL memes on FB

 

[Yosh]

Um.

Wow... Seriously did not think it would be possible after watching the first half...

 

[Loose Cannon]

Wow... Seriously did not think it would be possible after watching the first half...

You may be experiencing some hyper-focused pessimism. It can and does happen outside the Knights bubble.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Relying on the Tigers for anything is foolish.

IIRC back in 2007 the Tigers just needed to win their final game of the season against the Knights (who were in a spoon battle with Penrith) to qualify for the finals. They appeared to be cruising with 10 minutes to go then the Knights piled on a bunch of tries to snatch it at the death, kill the Tigers finals hopes and also avoid the spoon when Penrith lost the next day.

Almost 20 years later, that seems remarkably dubious.

Recency bias is very persuasive, though.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Titans winning today, therefore forcing us to win tomorrow, is the most predictable thing ever. Luckily I had $$$ on it happening… but still it’s such a kick in the guts.

That being said we’ve been getting progressively more shit over the last couple of months. Maybe part of that is because we assumed we were safe from the spoon but it’s coming back to bite us now.

I’m not sure what to expect from tomorrow. It’s quite possible that we could put on a really good performance but in all likelihood I expect us to be insipid and as lacklustre as usual.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Relying on the Tigers for anything is foolish.

IIRC back in 2007 the Tigers just needed to win their final game of the season against the Knights (who were in a spoon battle with Penrith) to qualify for the finals. They appeared to be cruising with 10 minutes to go then the Knights piled on a bunch of tries to snatch it at the death, kill the Tigers finals hopes and also avoid the spoon when Penrith lost the next day.

I was at that game. We came up with some really nice play to steal the win. Pretty sure it was about to go to GP and Kurt Gidley kicked a penalty goal to win.

 

[Knight Tales]

The Dogs fanbase realising there is a massive difference between boasting and reality crashing in around you.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Honestly it’s all a bitter pill to swallow. After the three consecutive spoons we all thought we’d left those days long behind us, but to be back in spoon-territory again now is just absolutely shit. I really feel shattered as a fan.

 

[TooheysNew]

I literally dont care.

You reap what you sow.

 

[Nuke]

I never want us to 'win' the spoon, but I would have tolerated it if the club hadn't already decided to change things up in the coaching department. If a spoon meant change, okay, I can handle that. Except the change has already been decided upon ... therefore a spoon does nothing except bring more shame.

 

[Zoidberg]

I’m actually surprised we are likely to get the spoon. For three quarters of the year we were playing pretty good in most games, close to winning, waiting for our attack to come together, just not quite good enough. But the last 2 months have been pitiful.
Wonder if there has ever been a team to win the spoon without having 50 points scored against them in a game?

 

[Knight Tales]

I’ll be happy if Dylan Brown aims up and shows no mercy. Cos him hitting the ground running and full of intent is better than avoiding a spoon as some
Sort of half arsed token gesture. It is this attitude we need from him. Winning without prejudice.

 

[Reflector]

I’m actually surprised we are likely to get the spoon. For three quarters of the year we were playing pretty good in most games, close to winning, waiting for our attack to come together, just not quite good enough. But the last 2 months have been pitiful.
Wonder if there has ever been a team to win the spoon without having 50 points scored against them in a game?

The pitiful form over the past 2 months is partly down to form, partly down to having a run home that's pretty much been nothing but playing some of the toughest away fixtures in the league, then "gifted" home games against a who's who of the top 6. I can't think of another side who's had a tougher draw over the past 8 weeks...

 

[Zoidberg]

The pitiful form over the past 2 months is partly down to form, partly down to having a run home that's pretty much been nothing but playing some of the toughest away fixtures in the league, then "gifted" home games against a who's who of the top 6. I can't think of another side who's had a tougher draw over the past 8 weeks...

Definitely a rough draw, which we could see from day 1, but our defence has not held up like it did earlier in the year. I get it. Lots of injuries and out of finals contention, but our hearts have not been in the games for the full 80 each week.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Honestly the decline in our form has been really noticeable since we lost that heartbreaker to the Warriors. We did enough to win that game and the Wahs did a lot to lose it and somehow we ended up with an L and them with the W. That one felt really unfair and it seems like it knocked the stuffing out of the players. If we won that then it wouldn’t surprise me if we won a couple more on the run home, but it’s like we put everything into that one and to come away with nothing basically crushed whatever fight the players had left.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Are we really bitching about a tough run home without mentioning the rails run we were gifted for the first half of the comp?

 

[Reflector]

Are we really bitching about a tough run home without mentioning the rails run we were gifted for the first half of the comp?

One big issue with the draw is that teams can play each other twice in the space of a month, but then not play other sides once until near the end of the season.

Injuries and form can change dramatically during a season, so not getting a chance at playing easier fixtures when squad health/ morale is good makes a big difference. In the case of the Knights, getting a side like the Titans over the past month, or playing Parra or the Cowboys at home (rather than on the road) could not just equal a win, but a big kick-on in terms of morale and, with it, form.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I’m not sure what to expect from tomorrow. It’s quite possible that we could put on a really good performance but in all likelihood I expect us to be insipid and as lacklustre as usual.

A loss, expect a loss.