The recent run has highlighted numerous issues that need addressing. Beating poor sides has papered over cracks that are getting wider and now obvious.
Leadership and Mindset
This is a team that likes having a license to freewheel in attack and show their talent. They lack the grit to go set for set and grind out wins against good sides. If it's not flowing for them, they have no plan B. The Warriors game should have been a wake up call. The fact that they couldn't halt the momentum showed the lack of leadership.
The current leadership is not enough to pull them together and grind. Dale was supposed to be the player who did that but there no evidence that this trait is improving in the team. Wade's decline doesn't help and Nicho is new to leadership and he is by nature a free spirit. It's not clear who sets the standards in the playing group.
In the Gallen/Flange era, Gallen drove the grit with Lewis and Ennis. Maloney added the no fear, clutch plays. Fifita, Barba and Holmes had the flair. They had multiple ways to win.
Roster
Middles are an obvious weakness. The common factor in losing against decent teams is getting out muscled. Munster ran with impunity right at our middles, knowing no one would hit hard. There is a lack of intent and aggression in defence. Losing the ruck and conceding too many offloads with 3 in the tackle hurts their ability to contain better teams.
BHU at his best has it but his best is not on show consistently enough. Royce is a 25 min bench impact prop. Kaufusi is a worker with limited impact. I had hoped he would show more aggression but he just doesn't seem to have it in him. Toby tries hard but doesn't have the size or power. Williams is a decent bench option. Dale's game has fallen off a cliff. McInnes does a job with leg speed and usually sound defence. The big Nut is a rookie who is going OK for where he is.
There isn't a strong enough leader who can change momentum. BHU is the closest we have but really is a number 2 middle. This team really needs a number 1 middle. With seemingly little cap space, hard to see where that comes from.
In the halves, too much is falling to Hynes. If he is off then there is nothing else. Moylan still has good hands but his defence and athleticism are not good enough for this level. He looks good against poor teams but really hasn't stood up at all against better teams. If Moylan is still starting next season, we are wasting our time. If Trindall is not deemed good enough then the club needs to go and find another half who can execute a game plan.
The outside backs are largely doing their jobs well. Although, Ronnie has dropped off recently, he is young and will come back. Ramien is still rocks and diamonds. Talakai goes forward but has defensive issues. WK is growing. Katoa has been good. if anything, the amount of work they are doing for the forwards might be taking a toll.
Re-signing the vast majority of the squad provides stability but can also promote a sense of familiarity and complacency. Dale for 2 and a half years, Moylan for 1 and half years appear to be bad investments right now.
Tactics
The overall structure of having backs do a lot of work on get out sets works to get them moving forward. The theory is that it allows the forwards to manage energy levels to invest in line speed and defence. This is not happening.
There is a rigidity in the selections and approach, which seems to have been worked out. Good coaches know that if they power through the middle and pressure Hynes then they are pretty well home.
There is a lot of work and some tough action needed from the coaching staff and players to turn this around. At present they are no threat to do anything significant in this comp. They'll make the 8 and touch up some bad sides but if the last 2 games are anything to go by the lack of intent will ensure they don't threaten any team in the mix. This is a shame as the comp is more open than it has been for ages.
