Game thread

[saints4ever]

You guys cant play that bad two weeks in a row, reckon big game from you next week.

 

[roboshark]

You guys cant play that bad two weeks in a row, reckon big game from you next week.

no your right...its normally about 24 in a row

 

[badav]

for a 10 minute period in that game Cronulla looked great. Then Gallen forgot how to hold the ball, possession was turned over cheaply numerous times and heads just dropped. If the Sharks can play like that did in the first 15 over the 80 they should do fine.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Wow people are having a contest on who can be the most negative in here.

I'm disappointed just as much as the next supporter.

It was a game there for the taking if I ever saw one with the players they had out. I'm sure that's one of the big reasons why everyone is so disappointed. But hey it's Round 1 and we were playing a team who most expert tipsters have in their top 4. The team we played today are no mugs. When you look at the quality that they used to replace their injured players they were always going to be a handful. To be honest Canberra replacing Orford with Sam Williams was an improvement not a downgrade IMO.

We will get rolled next week against the Dragons next week too. I have no doubt. But I won't be cutting my wrists after that result either. f**k the two Clubs we play in Rounds 1 and 2 could well be playing in the Grand Final. But I do hope to see an improvement. I certainly don't think we played to our capabilities today by any stretch of the imagination. And although there wasn't many I did see some positives out there.

*Tupou looked like a player more like his representative days.

*Gardner although making some characteristic mistakes looked sharp in attack and is certainly trailing the forwards even more for offloads.

* Albert Kelly certainly looks far more composed as a player and free to chance his arm. Unfortunately the side couldn't hold onto the football very long for him to have more opportunities in the game. Loved his attitude in defense as well. Looked very solid in his tackling. f**k that cheap shot merkin Brett White spoiling his day though.

* Snowden is a Knight next year but he certainly put in and was awesome in some of his runs. Didn't hold back. A bit of over enthusiasm from him cost us a try up the guts though when he over committed in his run to knock a potential ball receiver into next year and left a yawning gap for the ball distributor to run through.

* Jeremy Smith showed a good work rate in the middle of the ruck. Also showed he will provide a few offloads for the likes of Gardner. But he was off for way to long in the match.

* John Williams looks like a decent goal kicker (even though he only had two attempts). But he hit those sweetly.

Apart from the obvious in that our handling and discipline have to greatly improve. Also;

* Wade Graham has to take control more. He really wasn't dominant at all.
Will probably make a great lock forward in the future.

* Matt Wright as good as he was in the trials is not a winger. He never looked close to taking those high balls and positionally he was found wanting as well.

* We need more spark at dummy half. I flagged before the trials that he was not our answer at rake. Now unfortunately the guy I thought should have the job looks to be out suspended. I'd give Stuart Flanagan a run.

* We need to work on repeat sets more. Other teams are far more consistent in doing it to us. We have to really work on that area. f**k the cross field kicks. We have next to no chance with those. Our back line are mainly dwarfs. Why do we bother.

* On the opposite side of the equation we have to shield our wingers more to cross field kicks. We've been exposed in that for awhile. I lost count how many times the Raiders out jumped us when the ball went up.

I'll be at the game next Monday. Like I said I don't have high hopes for a win as the Dragons are a well oiled machine. But I do what to see a huge improvement in all the above mentioned though.

 

[saints4ever]

Put it this way, its only rnd 1 and a long ass season. You guys played no where near ur best and nothing went right yesterday. If u played the best ur capable of and still get smacked then start worrying.

 

[DJShaksta]

I agree somewhat with saints4ever.
We were well on top for the opening 15.
Then completed 1 from 7 and handed the raiders the game.
We all know we lose alot when snowy and Dougie get interchanged, but not 1 from 7.
We dropped our bundle and went to sh*te.

 

[Vin Fizz]

Understand DS and love the enthusiasm. But the list of things that you posted are the things the other sides are already doing. We will improve no doubt, but as i said in previous threads we drop the ball a hell of a lot more than any other side seems to! Being good for 15 minutes is just not good enough for NRL. We've all earned the right after 43 years to be honest (if that means negative).
Ill be chearing next week also. Pick up your game lads!

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Understand DS and love the enthusiasm. But the list of things that you posted are the things the other sides are already doing. We will improve no doubt, but as i said in previous threads we drop the ball a hell of a lot more than any other side seems to! Being good for 15 minutes is just not good enough for NRL. We've all earned the right after 43 years to be honest (if that means negative).
Ill be chearing next week also. Pick up your game lads!

I have no problem with constructive criticism of the team.

I do have a problem with people pushing unfair agendas against our current coach when he has only been in the job for 5minutes.

The other thing I can't understand is whats with the high expectations of the team?

We have been listed to finish last in every betting market by a long way.

I can understand if Flanagan had a team that was quoted as top eight material.

But we are far from that.

 

[millersnose]

he didnt select well DS

it doesnt take a genius to know putting wright at winger up against a specialist bomb catcher in ferguson was going to trigger the opposite coaches instruction -BOMB WRIGHT

 

[Dragon Slayer]

he didnt select well DS

it doesnt take a genius to know putting wright at winger up against a specialist bomb catcher in ferguson was going to trigger the opposite coaches instruction -BOMB WRIGHT

Millers, I can't disagree with that.

Wright was never in any of the contests for the ball. What I was really disappointed though was that there was no shielding for Matt Wright. All teams get other players to block the front on approach to bombs.

If Flanagan picks him on the wing again then you'd have to question his footy smarts.

 

[millersnose]

there was shielding for him on some of those kicks on some their werent

he tried to catch bombs standing flat - that was his main problem - that and he was matched against perhaps the best leaper in the game

best is vastly more experienced and would have been a better selection at wing

it was a massive blunder and no attempt was made to fix it and they just kept hammering him and he kept farging up

 

[Dragon Slayer]

there was shielding for him on some of those kicks on some their werent

he tried to catch bombs standing flat - that was his main problem - that and he was matched against perhaps the best leaper in the game

best is vastly more experienced and would have been a better selection at wing

it was a massive blunder and no attempt was made to fix it and they just kept hammering him and he kept farging up

Unfortunately Best has made it known he doesn't want to play wing.

I think it was a condition of him signing with us.

Here lies the problem.

Because of our standing amongst other NRL teams players tell us where they will and won't play. At other Clubs they tell the players where they will and won't play.

 

[Since 73]

* Wade Graham has to take control more. He really wasn't dominant at all.
Will probably make a great lock forward in the future.

Took you ONE week to jump off the 'Wade Graham is a halfback bandwagon' and try to get onto my 'Graham is a forward' wagon that left the station 8 months ago.

ONE FRIGGIN" WEEK!!!!!!!!

Gold.

 

[carcharias]

just saw the highlights.

benefit of doubt try to raiders was a bit iffy.
Gards is very small....they looked very extra big as they trampled him.

White lifted the knee.......see ya white .....take 2 weeks.

my panic stations selections.
Gards to 7
mills to fullback.

 

[The Masked Avenger]

that and he was matched against perhaps the best leaper in the game

Sorry, I thought you said lepper.

 

[Since 73]

I thought he meant leper

 

[azzah72]

Took you ONE week to jump off the 'Wade Graham is a halfback bandwagon' and try to get onto my 'Graham is a forward' wagon that left the station 8 months ago.

ONE FRIGGIN" WEEK!!!!!!!!

Gold.

Graham is a 5/8 not an organising half, but unfortunatly we don't have a NRL quality half.

Perhaps Gardener but then we don't have an NRL quality Fullback.

All reports i have heard was smith was still sh*t yesterday

But in saying that, it's one game and our best forwards were off for a long time hence giving the halves no time, there needs to be better bench rotation so that the forwards are even. Also holding onto the ball so that the halves can have a crack on the 4th or 5th tackle would be ideal.

I'd say leave them. assuming kelly is ok, but get the forwards rotating a bit better and hold onto the freaking ball! Might see a vast difference. our backline does need a change though.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Took you ONE week to jump off the 'Wade Graham is a halfback bandwagon' and try to get onto my 'Graham is a forward' wagon that left the station 8 months ago.

ONE FRIGGIN" WEEK!!!!!!!!

Gold.

Rubbish!!

I said in the future.

He'll be playing in the halves with us for many years.

And I like him as a player and haven't ditched him as a half like you did before he even played a game for the Club.

In fact you didn't want him at the Club.

FACT!

 

[blacktip-reefy]

73 can you please underline something in response to this. You cant cop an underlining like that!!

 

[Frailty]

I'm questioning Gardner's abilities at the back.

His hands are questionable, positioning lacking and his defence is horrible. Not someone you want as your fullback.

Perhaps instead of training in the halves he should have been concentrating on Fullback.

Wade Graham was missing - when he got involved, his kicks were useless (dead or caught on the full). Albert Kelly looked far more relaxed and had a stronger (and smarter) kicking game.