Game thread v the Dogs

[Jake the snake]

Anyone who wants to put any blame for this loss on the referees can get f**ked.
It was out own stupidity that lost this game. We didn't have any respect for the ball and kept giving away possession.
As far as I could tell, the only complete f**k-up the refs made last night was penalising Hoppa for competing for the ball when Morris hit the ground. And even then it actually turned out better for us because we got the ball straight back after they missed hitting touch.

Despite our lack of possession we had ample opportunities to win that game. Some poor decisions whilst attacking their line hurt us.

Our attitude in defence was a highlight though. Even with everything going against us, we still held in there as long as we could. Shame that we ran out of puff towards the end there.

x 2 and add Reece Robinson to the equation

 

[Eelementary]

IMO Lussick was good - he helped us get on top early on.

But as someone said, he suffered a leg injury and then lost efficiency in attack (but still belted them in D).

The way Lussick has played so far in 2015 is what made me excited when we signed him.

 

[T.S Quint]

Robinson was definitely not up to playing in a game like that.
He got rag-dolled with every hitup. Even his goal kicking was poor (at least one of his kicks was a relatively easy one).

And I must say, if I was a coach I would drop him the second he let another bomb hit the ground like he did last night. He looked like he was afraid to catch it, even though he was in perfect position to do so. That cost us the lead. A winger should never be afraid to catch a bomb.

 

[Eelementary]

Imagine Robinson at the back???? *Shudders :crazy:

Perhaps you and I were right about Robinson, eh?

 

[Eelementary]

Robinson was definitely not up to playing in a game like that.
He got rag-dolled with every hitup. Even his goal kicking was poor (at least one of his kicks was a relatively easy one).

And I must say, if I was a coach I would drop him the second he let another bomb hit the ground like he did last night. He looked like he was afraid to catch it, even though he was in perfect position to do so. That cost us the lead. A winger should never be afraid to catch a bomb.

Yep.

I don't think he cost us the game, but he was poor.

I think we could use Folau for Champion and Lavaka for Semi.

 

[T.S Quint]

Perhaps you and I were right about Robinson, eh?

He seems like Luke Burt 2.0.
Looks like a million bucks when we are on top and our team is running them ragged, but in a slogfest where we need some tough metres he is basically useless.

 

[T.S Quint]

Yep.

I don't think he cost us the game, but he was poor.

I think we could use Folau for Champion and Lavaka for Semi.

We have some options.
Faraimo has FG experience and has done well. He could come in for Semi. Lavaka could be a goer as well. Another big, strong winger that can help while we are missing some of our top forwards.

I would hazard a guess that Morgan will be our first-choice replacement for centre.

After those guys we still have Crooks, Goodall, Folau, Quinlan and Toutai.

Plenty of depth. Only problem is we don't really know how some of these guys will handle FG.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

When did you and Sandow break up? You were lovers for so long.

I still love him. And I always thought he was a shit defender. But I only started to realise in 2013 how dependent he is on his forwards in attack.

I still think we will lose a bit when we let him go - we will rack up less big scores with Foran instead of Sandow, and our kicking game won't be as good - but we will also lose a lot less of the close ones.

Just thinking with my head instead of my heart.

 

[Jake the snake]

Robinson was definitely not up to playing in a game like that.
He got rag-dolled with every hitup. Even his goal kicking was poor (at least one of his kicks was a relatively easy one).

And I must say, if I was a coach I would drop him the second he let another bomb hit the ground like he did last night. He looked like he was afraid to catch it, even though he was in perfect position to do so. That cost us the lead. A winger should never be afraid to catch a bomb.

When he let the bomb bounce I was trying to remember te last time that ever happened in a game. It was disgusting! When the ball went through his legs for the 40/20 was another killer on top if his woeful defence. He's hopeless. Let's put someone that has some potential. Lavaka?

 

[Forty20]

Lavaka is a right-edge specialist winger and if things had played out differently in the pre-season I wouldn't be against the idea.

As it is he would be jumping from the Ron Massey Cup trial squad into the first grade squad. I simply don't rate Faraimo a first grade option after seeing him get burnt plenty of times by any winger with a shred of speed. Toutai and/or Crooks would probably be the best options at this stage. Maybe John Folau is in the mix but that would depend on whether he has done enough in training I would guess.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Lavaka's playing third grade. Toutai, Folau, Faraimo and Crooks are all ahead of Lavaka for a wing spot.

 

[Pazza]

I'd like to see toutoi given the chance, I think he and taka can do some good things.

 

[Chipmunk]

I think Robinson will remain in the side, particularly whilst Sandow won't be goal kicking.

On another issue, who do we go for if Sandow is unavailable?

 

[Pazza]

Hopefully Matterson.

Kelly isn't worth persisting with.

 

[Forty20]

Could run with Norman as a sole dominant half and just slap another edge forward (do we have enough though?) in the other half slot to shore up the defence on the right edge. Otherwise if it came down to having to pick one of Matterson or Kelly (who has been particularly diabolical in his last two games) I would go with Matterson - although he isn't really ready for it.

Maybe you could chuck Peats in there? He isn't a half by any means but he defends strongly and can distribute the ball. Finally there is Seffa who is probably the most likely option.

 

[lingard]

Perhaps you and I were right about Robinson, eh?

Unfortunately it's looking like you were both right and I was wrong.
If I was the coach I'd be very close to dropping him now. He might get a reprieve because we're already one winger short. Then, again - he's clearly not a winger. I saw him play fullback for Canberra and he was electric in attack. But I shudder to think what his defence might be like.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Don't worry about Robbo, I'm sure it was just an off week and he'll go better next time. After all, it's not like those Kiwis are big enough to ragdoll him.

 

[hineyrulz]

Perhaps you and I were right about Robinson, eh?

We were both due ;-)

 

[The Colonel]

Perhaps you and I were right about Robinson, eh?

We were both due ;-)

Four different clubs and hasn't cemented a position outside of injury.... Had Hayne still been at the club he wouldn't have been signed. He will continue to be picked because the other options aren't standouts. Saw it coming unfortunately. Should have given the position to someone with the potential to improve.

 

[souths_pride]

I think Robinson will remain in the side, particularly whilst Sandow won't be goal kicking.

On another issue, who do we go for if Sandow is unavailable?

Call me crazy, and I'd love to get Parra fans thoughts on this, but I actually think you guys look a better side when you have Peats and De Gois on the field at the same time. I was noticing that predominantly Peats and De Gois alternated in filling in at half back, along with Joseph Paulo in at various points in time at half back when Sandow was off the field. I'll probably have to go over the game to confirm this but I thought Peats linked up well with his outside backs and looked dangerous overall when he had the ball in his hands. I remember when we had him at Souths we had him and Isaac Luke on the field at the same time, with Peats playing in the back row and it worked at treat. Just some food for thought.