Effort Areas

[DJDL]

Effort areas, or 1 percenters, is something of a buzz word these days.
The last try last night is a glaring example of just how poor we are in this regard.
Far too often it's a case of "The ball's shifted one wide of me. Job done. Clock off".

Have a look at these screen shots.
There are only 4 players who chase hard.
One of who is a big, lumbering prop.

The rest? Job done.





Compare this with the effort on the last play of the 2016 GF.
It's embarrassing.

Now have a look at how many Raiders are around the ball from the first shot to the second.
They came from everywhere.

This is simply not good enough, and it all comes down to the coach IMHO.

I'm no Ciraldo fan, but he has achieved far more in 2 seasons at the Dogs, with an arguably weaker squad, than Fitz has in 3 seasons at the Sharks.
And it's all built on effort.

Watching this last night, I feel exactly like I did after Rd1 against the Bunnies in 2023 - resigned to the fact we are not winning a thing this year.

5 rounds in, that's a bitter pill to swallow.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Not only that what about the basic thing of wrapping the ball up when you make the tackle and get enough tacklers in the tackle to stop the forward progress happening. Too much “Oh they should have it covered” especially when one of the tacklers is a small guy. You need to make sure that the tackle won’t be broken.

I thought Tuku’s energy was great as was baldy’s when they came on. Was not impressed with Ramiens play or Billy Burns. Stonestreet under the high ball looked amateurish. How the f**k can he get this far in his career and still look this vulnerable under the high ball. It’s not First Grade standard.

 

[Craigshark]

Hiroti needs to be given Katoa’s jersey until he is back. At least he doesn’t get folded in almost every tackle. Stonestreet is a liability.

the effort is awful. Fitzgibbon says almost every week about how he is at least pleased the effort is there. I’m not so sure it is in a lot of plays. Look at Kaufusi’s lazy attempt at tackle on Nicholson for their first try.

 

[DJDL]

Hiroti needs to be given Katoa’s jersey until he is back. At least he doesn’t get folded in almost every tackle. Stonestreet is a liability.

Yep, I'm down with that.

the effort is awful. Fitzgibbon says almost every week about how he is at least pleased the effort is there. I’m not so sure it is in a lot of plays. Look at Kaufusi’s lazy attempt at tackle on Nicholson for their first try.

That was glaring. Not to mention Brails' feeble attempt.
5 minutes in, no less.

I seriously doubt the coach has the cojones to address either one though.

I thought Tuku’s energy was great as was baldy’s when they came on.

Agreed, and we need more of it.
Sadly, I'm starting to feel Tuku will be the next Royce - poorly coached to only be able to churn out short bursts.
Then when the time comes that we are short on troops and need more from him, he's incapable of providing it.

It beggars belief he's had 2 full pre-seasons to get up to speed but is only considered for 15 minute stints.

Pillock.

 

[jc155776]

Watch a lot of the plays. Players dropping off to get into position before plays are even over. Attacking and defensive plays. Watch Nikoras tries, no one followed him in his first one, players were running backwards to get into position while he was still charging forward, what if he got an arm
Free? No one would be there for an offload. His second one every literally standing as he crabbed sideways and got lucky kick bounce.

 

[Weaponhead]

But they weren't feeling well so don't be too hard....

 

[Feej 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Argh! You're living in Cowards Castle, the lot of ya!!

 

[Inferno]

I thought Burns had a decent game, especially for an irregular first grader being asked to play 80 minutes.

I thought he offered a bit more variety and movement than we get from Wilton who is far more straight up and down.