A good preseason effort. Many new combinations in attack and defence so things will improve in both departments as the season progresses.
Two plays that I really loved yesterday...
Here, nothing is really happening. Suli produces a damaging run and a quick play the ball. It won't be the last time you see that this year. Cook turns it back to Su'a, but still nothing is really on. Su'a puts a lovely little move on the defender and gets to the outside. Gutherson (who'll be an absolute game changer for us this year and will redefine the way we attack) from midfield instinctively sees that Souths are short and something might be on. He takes off and gets himself in position on the off chance he's needed in support. There were still plenty of defenders around the ball, and it was no given that he would be needed, but he makes the effort just in case. Gutherson's effort puts him in position, so much so that he's actually ahead of Feagai when he makes the break and has to slow down to get in position for the pass. Terrific effort and great anticipation, and we score off the back of that. Brilliant...
Here, Flanagan receives the ball. Guler, at full pace, runs a good decoy to hold up the defence. Flanagan throws a good pass to Ilias, who, with Faitala-Mariner and Gutherson as options, digs into the line and throws a lovely pass to Suli, who changes his line at the last minute to hit the hole created by the Souths defender getting caught flat-footed by the players in motion. If you watch carefully, Suli runs a lovely little out line to get in between the defenders. A really nice set piece.
That ball that Ilias throws is very difficult to get right, especially when he's straightening up into the defence. He anticipates that Suli will run into the created hole, and he hits him on the chest with a lovely ball out in front of him. Good stuff from the half and great line running by Suli.
Hunt probably would have turned the ball inside to Faitala-Mariner with a shitty pass and then blamed him when he dropped it. Remember, Ilias really didn't play any football last year. But a couple of little touches in this game show what he could do with continued game time.
Overall, there is still work to do, but we look fitter and faster, and things are changing. Really seeing the difference in the line speed and numbers in the tackle. That will keep improving as the season progresses, too. We'll play a different style of football this year. One that's not based around one man. That can only be a good thing...
