Well I can't excuse the forwards.
We had Smith, Thommo and Ward missing (I stopped under rating Ward's contribution some time back) and the replacements just didn't carry it off.
Ryles looked dopy after coming back on following a rib injury... something wrong with the injection perhaps? I don't know... but why did he play the ball 180 degrees the wrong way? He was smashed early on and became the refs whipping boy for most of the match... Ryles has to stop whinging to the refs...protesting is the captain's job, not his.
Harrigan hates it when Rookies argue with him and he goes on a quest against them afterwards. Ryles needs to learn this.
Riddell was targeted depite his best efforts and Treacy was also under the hammer.
In short, our forwards were out gunned. Be it by hook or crook, they were all MIA by the 30th minute.
I was impressed with Cooper who depsite his white boots had a good game
Gasnier had a go and was unlucky with those knock ons. Once again. The forwards were just wall paper.
Blacklock put in his usual best effort and Barrett deserves a huge wrap for keeping us in the match at all.
And BTW, Amos was OK. But when things go bad , they go terrible and kicking out like that was just the topping on what was a miserable night all round.