GAME DAY THREAD - SHARKIES vs. THE RIFF in VEGAS

[Weaponhead]

Penrith nullify the Sharks game plan so well. Bomb to Ronnie then smash the back 5 to halt momentum. Their line speed and attention to detail are miles ahead. Middles had no momentum to work from. Win field position. Rinse and repeat. Always repeat.

In attack, Cleary and Yeo spot weaknesses and execute. They caught us on the edges at least 3 times on a narrower field. Poor spacing and counting from Cronulla.

The positive was staying in the contest and taking it deep. Could have rolled over at 24-10 but hung in. They took the foot off the gas but previously Cronulla have been mullered by Penrith's relentlessness.

I'm not sure Hynes is fit. Can't see why he is not goal kicking as he is better than Trindall at that skill.

Nothing to be overly alarmed about but who doesn't love a good round 1 wrist slit to brush away the off season cob webs.

 

[Quicksilver]

As far as I can see there is no official explanation of the captain's challenge query? When do they usually respond to this stuff? Tuesday?

 

[Craigshark]

As far as I can see there is no official explanation of the captain's challenge query? When do they usually respond to this stuff? Tuesday?

it’ll be some wishy washy bullshit about it was the referees call, it was discretion blah blah.. they won’t even comment on the fact they allowed their captains challenge after a deliberate penalty

 

[ragzouken]

Penrith nullify the Sharks game plan so well. Bomb to Ronnie then smash the back 5 to halt momentum. Their line speed and attention to detail are miles ahead. Middles had no momentum to work from. Win field position. Rinse and repeat. Always repeat.

In attack, Cleary and Yeo spot weaknesses and execute. They caught us on the edges at least 3 times on a narrower field. Poor spacing and counting from Cronulla.

The positive was staying in the contest and taking it deep. Could have rolled over at 24-10 but hung in. They took the foot off the gas but previously Cronulla have been mullered by Penrith's relentlessness.

I'm not sure Hynes is fit. Can't see why he is not goal kicking as he is better than Trindall at that skill.

Nothing to be overly alarmed about but who doesn't love a good round 1 wrist slit to brush away the off season cob webs.

Thought the only time either Penrith relented in the assault or we got a piggy back we took our chances mostly and played it with patience instead of panic

 

[Stinkfinger]

Have the same question, but don't think we raked it as I was pretty sure the count didn't restart

Tackle count was restarted but not zero tackle. Two Sharks in the tackle on Alimoti, it looked like he just lost it.

 

[Chimp]

After a re-watch of the game, I have a couple of thoughts;
1 - we really weren’t far off beating them, closer than I thought watching live
2 - and this is the big one, I think we’ve got more gears to go up than the Panthers. They weren’t at their best, but they played closer to their best than we did IMO. I think if we play at our best, and they play at their best, for the first time in a while, I still think we can win.

 

[2012....Sharks Year]

After a re-watch of the game, I have a couple of thoughts;
1 - we really weren’t far off beating them, closer than I thought watching live
2 - and this is the big one, I think we’ve got more gears to go up than the Panthers. They weren’t at their best, but they played closer to their best than we did IMO. I think if we play at our best, and they play at their best, for the first time in a while, I still think we can win.

Please f**k off with your positivity…. It’s not welcome around here

 

[shadowboxer]

We were pretty rubbish at times, so were they, but less so. Not much in it.
Main concern is they just dust it off and move on…. Not wallow in self pity

 

[bluefox68]

We were pretty rubbish at times, so were they, but less so. Not much in it.
Main concern is they just dust it off and move on…. Not wallow in self pity

I think they will - us fans take it harder after a loss - they have a job to do. They will just get up and start training again.

 

[Chimp]

Please f**k off with your positivity…. It’s not welcome around here

Oh, it doesn’t mean we WILL win, but I think the Panthers ‘best’ is probably a lower standard than it was last year, and our ‘best’ will be better than it was last year.
I think between us, Storm and Panthers, if we all played to the best of our ability, Storm and Panthers probably still beat us more often than not, but we are now in a place where we can go with them and all we need is the rub of the green with the odd call or bounce of the ball to go our way and we can snag a win. In the last few years, we knew if the Panthers were at their best, it really didn’t matter what we did, they’d beat us, and comfortably. Now, if the Panthers (or Storm) are at their best, if we aim up, we still have a fighters chance.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Not much has changed from 2024. Still getting pumped in first 20 minutes of game. Not 1 single hard run and never got out past 30 metre line, luckily got penalties. Cam with 131 metres was best in forwards, not good enough to win anything,but coach was happy we are getting closer..pfffttt

Yeah the comment from the coach that we are getting closer didn’t sit well with me either.

The reason we got closer Fitzy is because they no longer have Luai & Fisher Harris and T’oo sidelined and underdone spine players in Cleary & Edwards.

We didn’t get closer by any new play or tactics. Yes our star signing was a great change in the off season. He got us a bit closer but gee if we’re going to rely on just his barge overs for tries we aren’t going to worry the Storm and Panthers again this year. Trindall can’t do it all on his own. The rest of the spine need to pull their finger out or move aside.

Fitzy you need the team to play more footy especially in the first half of games not just when we’re 14 behind in the second half.

For all those calling anyone criticising the team wrist slitters well I’ll refer to you as Ground Hogs. Fans that pat the team on the back and say good try and except Ground Hogs Day. That ain’t me.

 

[bad boy bubby]

Yeah the comment from the coach that we are getting closer didn’t sit well with me either.

The reason we got closer Fitzy is because they no longer have Luai & Fisher Harris and T’oo sidelined and underdone spine players in Cleary & Edwards.

We didn’t get closer by any new play or tactics. Yes our star signing was a great change in the off season. He got us a bit closer but gee if we’re going to rely on just his barge overs for tries we aren’t going to worry the Storm and Panthers again this year. Trindall can’t do it all on his own. The rest of the spine need to pull their finger out or move aside.

Fitzy you need the team to play more footy especially in the first half of games not just when we’re 14 behind in the second half.

For all those calling anyone criticising the team wrist slitters well I’ll refer to you as Ground Hogs. Fans that pat the team on the back and say good try and except Ground Hogs Day. That ain’t me.

I was fairly positive after the game mainly because I could see that both teams were no where near their best but put in a cracker if a game, well way better than the dross that the previous games were.
There appears to me that in here there are now two new "Sacred Cows", Fitz and Tricky.
Your post touched on Fitz and I applaud you for that.
In the GF last year Penrith nullified the Storms back 3 with their kicks and defence, they did the exact same thing in this game.
Was there not a plan in place to counter it?
Or were they just so good that they could counter anything that was thrown at them? Maybe.
Other parts of our game were very good.
Tricky had a good game except for two glaring feck ups, the kick for touch and his terrible goal kicking, which both cost us badly. He kicks those goals and we are better than an even chance.
When Hynes didn't find touch last year, and missed the occasional goal, people were up in arms about it, how it cost us the games etc. Yet nothing about Trindall doing the exact same things.
I'm just putting it out there, if people want to choose to focus on some negatives that's their right, I ask them then to see all the negatives, not just the "chosen few" so to speak.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

I was fairly positive after the game mainly because I could see that both teams were no where near their best but put in a cracker if a game, well way better than the dross that the previous games were.
There appears to me that in here there are now two new "Sacred Cows", Fitz and Tricky.
Your post touched on Fitz and I applaud you for that.
In the GF last year Penrith nullified the Storms back 3 with their kicks and defence, they did the exact same thing in this game.
Was there not a plan in place to counter it?
Or were they just so good that they could counter anything that was thrown at them? Maybe.
Other parts of our game were very good.
Tricky had a good game except for two glaring feck ups, the kick for touch and his terrible goal kicking, which both cost us badly. He kicks those goals and we are better than an even chance.
When Hynes didn't find touch last year, and missed the occasional goal, people were up in arms about it, how it cost us the games etc. Yet nothing about Trindall doing the exact same things.
I'm just putting it out there, if people want to choose to focus on some negatives that's their right, I ask them then to see all the negatives, not just the "chosen few" so to speak.

I agree BBB.

We all made a big noise about Hynes dropping the kickoff. But no where near the noise about Trindall not finding touch. I think it’s because that he did contribute to the team more than Nicho.

You can probably make a case that Trindall’s error was worse in two ways.

1. It’s easier to drop a ball than not kicking a ball into touch.

2. If he kicks the ball into touch we’re on the attack into their half of the field. Instead they get the ball and start attacking us instead with a disjointed line of defence and immediately but our defensive line under stress.

The point some of us here are saying that yes there was some positives in the game but we are still making stupid errors or giving away stupid penalties from a lack of concentration and discipline. We won’t beat Storm & Panthers unless we cut this shyte out. And we’re not wrist slitters in pointing it out. This shyte continues to happen nearly every game it wasn’t a once off.

And why were we running it one out and continually getting smashed. Don’t be predictable. Even making one pass makes a difference. We have forwards with good hands to do this. You won’t beat the panthers playing safe.

 

[DJDL]

Tricky had a good game except for two glaring feck ups, the kick for touch and his terrible goal kicking, which both cost us badly. He kicks those goals and we are better than an even chance.

He kicked 3/4.
The one he missed was from out wide.
It was an ordinary kick, granted, but I wouldn't say a single miss "cost us badly".

The kick for touch is another matter though.
Far too much of that happening over the past 12 months or so for my liking.

As for lack of accountability in here, he's not on anywhere near the money Nicho is on.
That's the criteria, isn't it?

It's ok for a player to be sub-par provided they're not costing us a bomb.

 

[Feej 2: Electric Boogaloo]

It shouldn't be "okay" for a player to be sub-par no matter what they are costing us.

 

[DJDL]

It shouldn't be "okay" for a player to be sub-par no matter what they are costing us.

Precisely my point.

 

[shadowboxer]

I agree BBB.

We all made a big noise about Hynes dropping the kickoff. But no where near the noise about Trindall not finding touch. I think it’s because that he did contribute to the team more than Nicho.

You can probably make a case that Trindall’s error was worse in two ways.

1. It’s easier to drop a ball than not kicking a ball into touch.

2. If he kicks the ball into touch we’re on the attack into their half of the field. Instead they get the ball and start attacking us instead with a disjointed line of defence and immediately but our defensive line under stress.

The point some of us here are saying that yes there was some positives in the game but we are still making stupid errors or giving away stupid penalties from a lack of concentration and discipline. We won’t beat Storm & Panthers unless we cut this shyte out. And we’re not wrist slitters in pointing it out. This shyte continues to happen nearly every game it wasn’t a once off.

And why were we running it one out and continually getting smashed. Don’t be predictable. Even making one pass makes a difference. We have forwards with good hands to do this. You won’t beat the panthers playing safe.

Problem was on the TV - they didn’t even show or maybe glanced at Trindall fluffing it and missing touch.
However, Nicho knocks the ball on from the kick off - looks like he just crapped his dacks, runs his hands through wet hair and thinks sad thoughts.
Thats the difference - the media love it.
A holes

 

[bad boy bubby]

As for lack of accountability in here, he's not on anywhere near the money Nicho is on.
That's the criteria, isn't it?

Whose criteria? Not mine.
I'm tired of talking of this so it will be my last time in doing so.
We are a small club, our cap is not like the space other clubs can be at. Third parties, brown paper bags etc.
Unfortunately we have to take into consideration the fact Hynes brings into the club way more than the 1M he's on through being everywhere in advertising in the NRL competition, and what it does for aramex and their sponsorship.
Do I personally think he is worth that many in regard to the team? absolutely-fecking-not, 800k tops only due to his couple of decent seasons, on todays playing? back top his 600k.
As for Tricky, he has only himself to blame for not getting a higher wage.
I'll let you in on something, last years indiscretion was not his first, it was just the first to be public, and by far the worst. He had been a bit of a problem for a little while and it came to where it was always going to, and he did it in his contract year. Cost him a few hundred K in my opinion, and the club has taken a small gamble to see if he has taken control of his issues.

If we talk of playing ability just for the team, at the moment I see them as pretty even, if we talk of worth to the club as a whole than Hynes is way above, and I don't even like Hynes, these are the facts though.

 

[DJDL]

Whose criteria? Not mine.
I'm tired of talking of this so it will be my last time in doing so.
We are a small club, our cap is not like the space other clubs can be at. Third parties, brown paper bags etc.
Unfortunately we have to take into consideration the fact Hynes brings into the club way more than the 1M he's on through being everywhere in advertising in the NRL competition, and what it does for aramex and their sponsorship.
Do I personally think he is worth that many in regard to the team? absolutely-fecking-not, 800k tops only due to his couple of decent seasons, on todays playing? back top his 600k.
As for Tricky, he has only himself to blame for not getting a higher wage.
I'll let you in on something, last years indiscretion was not his first, it was just the first to be public, and by far the worst. He had been a bit of a problem for a little while and it came to where it was always going to, and he did it in his contract year. Cost him a few hundred K in my opinion, and the club has taken a small gamble to see if he has taken control of his issues.

If we talk of playing ability just for the team, at the moment I see them as pretty even, if we talk of worth to the club as a whole than Hynes is way above, and I don't even like Hynes, these are the facts though.

Not having a go at you.
I was pointing out that there are many in here who use that as logic, and the reason Tricky has escaped criticism.

The most recent example I can think of is Ronnie.

When his contract negotiations were seemingly protracted, there was a narrative in here of "piss him off, Stonestreet's better value for money".

While that may be true, Stonestreet's form across the trials, and on the weekend, suggest he's nowhere near the level of Ronnie, or Katoa for that matter. He may warm to it, but at this point he's got a long way to go.

A similar line was trotted out in favour of selling Nicho off and promoting DA.
While I agree Nicho's contract is looking increasingly like a noose around our neck, DA has proven himself to not even be in the same stratosphere as Nicho.
But he's on SFA, right? So he's beyond critique.

 

[bad boy bubby]

Not having a go at you.
I was pointing out that there are many in here who use that as logic, and the reason Tricky has escaped criticism.

The most recent example I can think of is Ronnie.

When his contract negotiations were seemingly protracted, there was a narrative in here of "piss him off, Stonestreet's better value for money".

While that may be true, Stonestreet's form across the trials, and on the weekend, suggest he's nowhere near the level of Ronnie, or Katoa for that matter. He may warm to it, but at this point he's got a long way to go.

A similar line was trotted out in favour of selling Nicho off and promoting DA.
While I agree Nicho's contract is looking increasingly like a noose around our neck, DA has proven himself to not even be in the same stratosphere as Nicho.
But he's on SFA, right? So he's beyond critique.

Totally fair points mate. I did misunderstand your post.
As far as DA goes, I think the No.14 should be a horses for courses spot, not guaranteed, I personally would have preferred Tuuks in there on the weekend.