hardbaby
Coach
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Despite the score line it actually wasn't that bad a performance tonight. Our defence was great. We were a bit unlucky. Lockyer's kicking game was brilliant and Hodges was a handful. And for the second week in a row we played a team that had lifted massively to beat the bench mark side.
That said I just wonder if we have become a bit predictable. Sailor hits it up way too often on the first play. Whenever he gets close to the ruck the opposition knows he is going to get the ball - why not use him as a decoy and have him hit it up when the forwards have dented the line?
Creagh has been brilliant all year crashing onto short balls, then freeing his arms and looking for support. But our opposition knows this. Creagh had no room tonight.
Soward has the best kicking game in the league but he stands very shallow - the Broncos streamed through from dummy half all game and aimed at his left foot. Given the breeze in the first half and the fact that the Broncos back three were 50 metres down field where was the chip kick? Why not sow the seed of doubt?
Our props have had a very solid season but they don't offload often so you can get 4 guys in the tackle and know there is very little chance of second phase play. Watch the subtlety around Fui Fui Moi Moi's game for the Eels. You need variety.
Boyd is playing really good footy but he hasn't learned how to push through the defensive line. He stops, he props, he fends and does it very well but it also allows the inside defenders to shift onto him. I am firmly convinced that he is actually a winger, not a fullback (although his defence and work under the high ball is first rate).
I was watching the game at home on a 50 inch plasma and I reckon I accurately predicted about 80% of all the Dragons plays. Admittedly I am a fanatic supporter but if I know what we are doing, so too do the opposition coaches.
I am not going to slit my wrists over tonight's performance but I think for the first time our hero (Wayne Bennett) will need to make some changes. His game plan has been very effective this year but are we just a little bit too predictable? Our performance tonight reminded me more of the Dragons in rounds 1 to 4 than the Dragons of recent months.
On another note hats off to Beau Scott - he tried his arse off tonight but Jamie Soward has to learn how to tackle. He is a massive liability in defence (both tries came through him) and Scott can't be expected to take 2 men every time they spread the ball wide.
Any comments?
That said I just wonder if we have become a bit predictable. Sailor hits it up way too often on the first play. Whenever he gets close to the ruck the opposition knows he is going to get the ball - why not use him as a decoy and have him hit it up when the forwards have dented the line?
Creagh has been brilliant all year crashing onto short balls, then freeing his arms and looking for support. But our opposition knows this. Creagh had no room tonight.
Soward has the best kicking game in the league but he stands very shallow - the Broncos streamed through from dummy half all game and aimed at his left foot. Given the breeze in the first half and the fact that the Broncos back three were 50 metres down field where was the chip kick? Why not sow the seed of doubt?
Our props have had a very solid season but they don't offload often so you can get 4 guys in the tackle and know there is very little chance of second phase play. Watch the subtlety around Fui Fui Moi Moi's game for the Eels. You need variety.
Boyd is playing really good footy but he hasn't learned how to push through the defensive line. He stops, he props, he fends and does it very well but it also allows the inside defenders to shift onto him. I am firmly convinced that he is actually a winger, not a fullback (although his defence and work under the high ball is first rate).
I was watching the game at home on a 50 inch plasma and I reckon I accurately predicted about 80% of all the Dragons plays. Admittedly I am a fanatic supporter but if I know what we are doing, so too do the opposition coaches.
I am not going to slit my wrists over tonight's performance but I think for the first time our hero (Wayne Bennett) will need to make some changes. His game plan has been very effective this year but are we just a little bit too predictable? Our performance tonight reminded me more of the Dragons in rounds 1 to 4 than the Dragons of recent months.
On another note hats off to Beau Scott - he tried his arse off tonight but Jamie Soward has to learn how to tackle. He is a massive liability in defence (both tries came through him) and Scott can't be expected to take 2 men every time they spread the ball wide.
Any comments?
