Charity Shield 2018 - Rabbitohs vs Dragons

[Souths Till I Die]

I missed the first 20 mins but the rest seemed pretty good for a trial game in high heat.
I was at the Wigan game last week and I thought we were decent enough with a second string side.
But this is the internet so everything’s needs to be over the top.

It’s completely normal for teams to be underdone in a trial match. If trial results really do matter then penrith should be freaking the f**k out. They lost to a reserve grade dogs side.

 

[southsport]

It’s completely normal for teams to be underdone in a trial match. If trial results really do matter then penrith should be freaking the f**k out. They lost to a reserve grade dogs side.

Bye, bye Griff.

 

[Rabbits20]

Can't keep all the old guys and let the young ones go.

I just watched it. Cheers STID

Righteo...

Now my summary:

AJ: Did his job well while he was out there. His support play was good and that trysaver he made on Dufty was good to see.

Kennar: Just made 1 blew early on rushing in but apart from that if he came in he scrambled well. Also when the Dragons threw a long pass at about the 55th-60th min attacking he did stay on his wing which was great. I thought he was our best at the shit work. He really got his hands dirty and I'd say his stats are good. Lots of carries from him. He will be there Round 1. I don't get all the criticism as I thought he made up for it in his strong work ethic.

GI: Well how great was it seeing him back... he looked solid and strong but a bit slower but he just needs time...

Gagai: Very good overall and he showed his class.. was solid defensively and just made 2-3 rusty errors!

Jennings: He was poor. Made a schoolboy error coming out of trouble plus runs in too much like 3-4 times off his wing when it's not needed. Even when he played the last 20mins at centre at the 68min mark when the Dragons were coming out of trouble he unnecessarily bolted in creating a 3 on 1 and leaving poor Gagan with no hope.... then just before he was sin binned he was out of position once more creating space for them and then missed the tackle... I'd be sending him to Norths for a few lessons... in regard to his try I could've fallen over the line for that.

Cody: Well it was great watching him... he was very free flowing and he's got class. A big season ahead.
Doueihi: Needs to work on his defence but he was really good and played with maturity beyond his years.

Tom: Was solid but I wasn't impressed with how he was slapping instead of tackling and just slapping at thin air.

Cook: Was dynamite and he got us going forward quickly and with direction. 31 tackles in 49mins was the most impressive thing and his defence was fine which should show a few of the doubters... he's coming of age. A couple of times he threw a bad pass but that's all he has to work on... he put in a couple of good kicks too!

Nicholls: I wasn't impressed. Early on gave a cheap penalty away and missed a tackle in the middle leading to their first try. He was also arm slapping at tackles and when he came on for his second stint he gave a penalty away again.. due to how he went last week maybe you give him the benefit of the doubt for round 1 but he should be on notice that he must get better!

Fuimaono: didn't play many minutes but his defence was very very good plus a few strong carries...

Sutton: Looked fit and strong. Did his job well and showed he's hungry for a big last year!

Sam: What we have come to know of him plus maybe not as many hit ups but more ball playing in his game.




Hunt: I think he went off with some kind of injury at 53min mark! Not sure but maybe a HIA... heavy contact on Nightingale preventing that try was great and he was solid. I'd like him to do more shit work though.

Farah: Was poor. Silly errors and killed our momentum. Norths oval awaits.

Clark: I thought he did his job defensively.

George: Much like Tom except not as many hit ups as I wanted plus a silly penalty plus arm slapping... gotta pick his socks up.

Tatola: What an offload and a few good charges. Quite good defensively and is a bolter for round 1.

Britt: Looked solid in his few minutes. A handy back up for our bench.

Burns: Looked quite solid. Not convinced re his defence yet.

Gagan: Didn't do too much.

Musgrove: Was poor missing a couple of tackles he should've made and his defence on Ah Mai was shocking. I wasn't impressed. The potential is there but he needs to snap out of it. I guess he was a bit rusty though so maybe I'll give him the benefit of the doubt being his first game back.

Crichton: Looked pretty good. Not as busy as I thought he would be but probably rusty!

 

[Rabbitoad]

If AJ is out Gagai goes to fullback as GI can't handle the load...

If AJ is there he plays fullback.

That's your opinion.

There's been zero talk of Gagai playing fullback, but plenty of talk suggesting Inglis will.

I'd say it's far more likely that Hunt was used at centre because he's expected to get some game there.

So this "poor, poor, poor coaching" crap just makes you look arrogant and ignorant.

 

[Rabbits20]

Last nights match proved to me why Sam has to be in the middle at prop once Murray is back.

George can't handle big minutes and I wouldn't be playing the likes of Musgrove, Clark, Tatola/Nicholls on big minutes either.... not at this stage.

Sam will be that guy at prop that plays big minutes and he can still do ball playing as well...

Our back row is covered anyway with Sutto, Crichton, Fui and also when he's back and had a trot an Norths to get rid of the cobwebs I'd bring Turner back on the bench as he can play both prop and second row...

 

[English Rose]

Last nights match proved to me why Sam has to be in the middle at prop once Murray is back.

George can't handle big minutes and I wouldn't be playing the likes of Musgrove, Clark, Tatola/Nicholls on big minutes either.... not at this stage.

Sam will be that guy at prop that plays big minutes and he can still do ball playing as well...

Our back row is covered anyway with Sutto, Crichton, Fui and also when he's back and had a trot an Norths to get rid of the cobwebs I'd bring Turner back on the bench as he can play both prop and second row...

I agree with this take Sam out of the middle and I think you are in trouble because not only are you limiting Sam's involvement in games but th other players in them positions just don't seem up to it.

 

[Rabbits20]

I agree with this take Sam out of the middle and I think you are in trouble because not only are you limiting Sam's involvement in games but th other players in them positions just don't seem up to it.

Spot on.... glad someone else see's it.

It'd be bad bad coaching from Seibs if he moves him to an edge on what I saw last night.

 

[callmack1]

Last nights match proved to me why Sam has to be in the middle at prop once Murray is back.

George can't handle big minutes and I wouldn't be playing the likes of Musgrove, Clark, Tatola/Nicholls on big minutes either.... not at this stage.

Sam will be that guy at prop that plays big minutes and he can still do ball playing as well...

Our back row is covered anyway with Sutto, Crichton, Fui and also when he's back and had a trot an Norths to get rid of the cobwebs I'd bring Turner back on the bench as he can play both prop and second row...

100% mate, this is what I've said all along.

 

[callmack1]

Yes, our performance was pretty decent but it's important we don't get carried away. We'll have to keep it going for the whole season and that's not going to be easy.

 

[JetRider]

I think the most positive outcome of the match was the way we played, our style will be much more enjoyable to watch. Defensively we still have issues and consider Hunt as having the best chance to take any vacant position in the backs. Kenner for me is worth persevering with and is ahead of Jennings and Burns, I would also like to see Campbell develop in the North’s side. Douhie should be given an opportunity and would be good off the bench. Farah has been poor and would not even give him the hooking job for North’s as that would take time away from a very good backup hooker we already have.

 

[Souths Till I Die]

I think the most positive outcome of the match was the way we played, our style will be much more enjoyable to watch. Defensively we still have issues and consider Hunt as having the best chance to take any vacant position in the backs. Kenner for me is worth persevering with and is ahead of Jennings and Burns, I would also like to see Campbell develop in the North’s side. Douhie should be given an opportunity and would be good off the bench. Farah has been poor and would not even give him the hooking job for North’s as that would take time away from a very good backup hooker we already have.

I think it’s fantastic that everyone loves Doueihi. I love him too but his first grade path is completely blocked this year until origin. We already have 5 second rowers in the squad who are musts for the 17. Those being Murray, Surgess, Fuimaono, Crichton and Sutton. That means 2 bench spots go to second rowers and the other 2 have to go to props. Until Sutton and Crichton go there is no way you can fit him on the bench without only having 1 prop and that would weaken us much more than it’d benefit us. So ultimately Doueihi is in the starting 13 this year or not in the side at all.

UNLESS Sam is moved to prop and then it could happen. But that means either Sutton, Crichton or Fuimaono have to play 80 and I’m not a massive fan of Sutton or Crichton playing 80.

 

[Rabbits20]

I think it’s fantastic that everyone loves Doueihi. I love him too but his first grade path is completely blocked this year until origin. We already have 5 second rowers in the squad who are musts for the 17. Those being Murray, Surgess, Fuimaono, Crichton and Sutton. That means 2 bench spots go to second rowers and the other 2 have to go to props. Until Sutton and Crichton go there is no way you can fit him on the bench without only having 1 prop and that would weaken us much more than it’d benefit us. So ultimately Doueihi is in the starting 13 this year or not in the side at all.

UNLESS Sam is moved to prop and then it could happen. But that means either Sutton, Crichton or Fuimaono have to play 80 and I’m not a massive fan of Sutton or Crichton playing 80.

Sorry mate but I wouldn't be moving Sam from the middle.

Turner can play off the bench and cover second row...

When he's back that is!

 

[callmack1]

Richard Kennar Post-Match reaction: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2018/02/26/richard-kennar-interview/

 

[Rabbits20]

Anyone found player stats from the CS??

 

[callmack1]

This makes for very interesting reading.

Stat attack - Rabbitohs defy the odds: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2018/02/27/stat-attack---rabbitohs-defy-the-odds/

 

[Souths Till I Die]

This makes for very interesting reading.

Stat attack - Rabbitohs defy the odds: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2018/02/27/stat-attack---rabbitohs-defy-the-odds/

I’m quite shocked we outran the dragons in metres. They have some big metre eaters in their side.

 

[Different kind of Rabbit]

A lot of people read those stats and think we had a blinder...

I read them and think that they are a terrible sign for our season ahead.

Sure, you're going to beat the odd team from time to time with less ball and less attacking sets in the opposition half, but as a rule in the NRL, if you don't dominate those statistics week in, week out then you will lose far more games than you win.

All it shows me is that the Dragons execution was poor. They certainly put themselves in a position to win the game and laid a very good platform. They just didn't make the most of their opportunities and we made the most of ours.

Plenty of other teams would have put us to the sword the other night. We were just plain lucky we came up against one that couldn't.

 

[Souths Till I Die]

A lot of people read those stats and think we had a blinder...

I read them and think that they are a terrible sign for our season ahead.

Sure, you're going to beat the odd team from time to time with less ball and less attacking sets in the opposition half, but as a rule in the NRL, if you don't dominate those statistics week in, week out then you will lose far more games than you win.

All it shows me is that the Dragons execution was poor. They certainly put themselves in a position to win the game and laid a very good platform. They just didn't make the most of their opportunities and we made the most of ours.

Plenty of other teams would have put us to the sword the other night. We were just plain lucky we came up against one that couldn't.

That’s a pretty pessimistic way of looking at it. Sometimes a lot of 50/50 calls don’t go one side’s way and it results in a lopsided possession count. The fact that we had such low possession and consistently defended our line with a pretty inexperienced side shows plenty of character.

I think you’re right in regards to our poor completion rate. The only excuse I can give the team there is that it’s a trial and both teams weren’t exactly lighting the world on fire. I don’t think we’re going to consistently see a below par completion rate otherwise we’ll be bashed out of games. You also have to take into account the shuffling around of the backline in a trial. That isn’t going to help team cohesion.

I don’t think Dragons supporters would be taking any consolation in the fact that their execution was poor so technically they should’ve won. The article is ultimately trying to convey that we shouldn’t of won but we did. I know it doesn’t fill you with confidence, but I can recall so many games that we should of won but lost than vice versa. I’m not shitting on Madge but it’s mostly because we only went into the game with Plan A and if that didn’t work we looked lost.

 

[Rabbits20]

That ref didn't do us any favour at all either..

 

[Stan Dabovetherest]

As you all know I have always been COOK's No.1 supporter

Love your work Doyen.
Perfect 10's for the landing.