It’s game day ffs!

[Gronk]

So on that bench rotation tonight, at the 65min mark where some forwards that had been on from the start might have needed a break... Doorey and Murchie appear to come on for two backs (Lumelume and Penisini), Makatoa is not sighted in the middle, and we bring a winger in Lumelume back on for Momoisea with 1m to go?

Uppercut for Brad Arthur again.

Both Penisini and Lumelume were pulled by the independent Dr for HIA.

Eels v Storm

Parramatta Eels versus Melbourne Storm match centre includes live scores and updates. Includes official live player and team stats. Run metres, fantasy points scoring.

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So I don't know why merkins are expecting the prop rotation not to be impacted.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Those stats don’t show the number of times he allowed a quick play the ball and couldn’t get back to marker.

Just him? The more tackles you make the more often you’ll fail to get to marker. But quick play-the-balls are the result of isolated defenders. They are team problem, not the fault of individuals. If Murchie was making a lot of tackles and missing none he did a good job. His team mates let him down.

 

[Avenger]

Yep you’re right, it was. However, bring Matto, Lane and Nrown in for Murchie, moimosea and makatoa and we suddenly look a lot stronger. A side something like this looks bloody strong:

1. Gutho
2. Sivo
3. Russell/Simo/Blake
4. Penisini
5. Lumelume
6. Drown
7. Moses
8. Paulo
9. Hodgson
10. RCG
11. Lane
12. Doorey
13. Hopgood

14. Cartwright or a utility
15. Nrown
16. Matto
17. Emu

I stopped reading after Lumelume.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Btw what about the joke about the storm player getting cramp then the trainer claiming its HIA.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Although Emu lost all his puppy fat and looked a million bucks in the warm up, he could only manage 10 before the break and 10 after. Then he was absolutely gassed. You're going to have to find a bigger tank if you want to play regular NRL merkin.

Yep, 9 tackles in 16 minutes is very poor. Only Paulo had a worse work rate and he played 68 minutes ffs

 

[hindy111]

Those stats don’t show the number of times he allowed a quick play the ball and couldn’t get back to marker.

Sounds like Pou was analed by statistical data

 

[hindy111]

Although Emu lost all his puppy fat and looked a million bucks in the warm up, he could only manage 10 before the break and 10 after. Then he was absolutely gassed. You're going to have to find a bigger tank if you want to play regular NRL merkin.

In summer conditions and high humidity levels and very muggy in the first game of the year. He will only get fitter with game time.
I'd keep him doing the same. Not many sides will have the same line speed as the Storm. And when games are over we can just flog him and give the last 20mins straight.

 

[Gronk]

In summer conditions and high humidity levels and very muggy in the first game of the year. He will only get fitter with game time.
I'd keep him doing the same. Not many sides will have the same line speed as the Storm. And when games are over we can just flog him and give the last 20mins straight.

It was 24 degrees at the ground. Perhaps you mistakenly read it as 42 ?

 

[Avenger]

And please spare me with the bullshit about how well Hodgson played. He was shit. When it mattered most he went to the short side when Moses was calling for it for a field goal only to give it to Sivo to commit his brain fart and try and score.

 

[Avenger]

Hodgson is going to have to adjust to our style or take over from Captain Rankin.

 

[Chipmunk]

Although Emu lost all his puppy fat and looked a million bucks in the warm up, he could only manage 10 before the break and 10 after. Then he was absolutely gassed. You're going to have to find a bigger tank if you want to play regular NRL merkin.

Actually only 15 1/2 minutes, 7 and 8.5....he was gone within 5 of the start of the second half though. Little coincidence Melbourne scored in those other 3 1/2 minutes he was out there.

 

[Chipmunk]

If we're also only going to use 16, even having Rein on the bench to replace Hodgson would've worked better. Hodgson was fatigued and making poor decisions in the last 15 minutes.

 

[Chipmunk]

Hodgson is going to have to adjust to our style or take over from Captain Rankin.

He was ultimately responsible for our only two tries last night, but he was noticeably fatigued late in the game, which is when most of his poor decisions were made. We're kidding ourselves if he has to play 80 minutes.

 

[Soto]

And please spare me with the bullshit about how well Hodgson played. He was shit. When it mattered most he went to the short side when Moses was calling for it for a field goal only to give it to Sivo to commit his brain fart and try and score.

He wasn't shit. For the most part he was pretty good. I can understand why he didn't give it to Moses. Moses has never nailed a penalty goal, conversion or field goal when the game is on the line. He's watched him miss these for the last 7 years.
Also on Moses first field goal attempt. Either the Storm were way offside (very likely) but why wasn't Moses deeper? We were only from memory 20m out anyway.
Regardless if Storm were offside, we were never getting a penalty from Klein. That bloke wouldn't give away his headache.
On reflection the better team won

 

[Chipmunk]

I don't think it also should be underestimated the decision by Matterson to take the suspension has pretty much f**ked us over for the first 3 weeks of the season.

I dare say if Matterson plays last night, Junior plays less minutes and Hopgood gets a breaks.

If Matterson plays last night, we likely get the win.

If we're 0-3 after three weeks, and we go down in 3 close ones, then it is all on Matterson for mine.

 

[Avenger]

He wasn't shit. For the most part he was pretty good. I can understand why he didn't give it to Moses. Moses has never nailed a penalty goal, conversion or field goal when the game is on the line. He's watched him miss these for the last 7 years.
Also on Moses first field goal attempt. Either the Storm were way offside (very likely) but why wasn't Moses deeper? We were only from memory 20m out anyway.
Regardless if Storm were offside, we were never getting a penalty from Klein. That bloke wouldn't give away his headache.
On reflection the better team won

Love your work here mate but he did nothing for me in this game. His service was slow and he kept thinking he was in his 20’s. He has to adjust to our style which could be why both of our halves scored an F.

 

[the phantom menace]

Both Penisini and Lumelume were pulled by the independent Dr for HIA.

Eels v Storm

Parramatta Eels versus Melbourne Storm match centre includes live scores and updates. Includes official live player and team stats. Run metres, fantasy points scoring.

www.nrl.com

So I don't know why merkins are expecting the prop rotation not to be impacted.

Sure, but despite that BA still wouldn't have given Makatoa any minutes - and he still gave Greig limited minutes (one stint).

That to me shows a coach who is rigidly sticking to a 15.25 man system in a 17 man sport, despite the evolving context within an particular 80minute (or more in this case) game.

 

[Avenger]

I don't think it also should be underestimated the decision by Matterson to take the suspension has pretty much f**ked us over for the first 3 weeks of the season.

I dare say if Matterson plays last night, Junior plays less minutes and Hopgood gets a breaks.

If Matterson plays last night, we likely get the win.

If we're 0-3 after three weeks, and we go down in 3 close ones, then it is all on Matterson for mine.

He’s a f**kwit. I’d try and offload him to the Dolphins.

 

[the phantom menace]

Did Blake re-injure his arm? He was carrying it late in the game but stayed on.

If Simonssen and Russell are both fit, that should make next week's team list pretty easy and sensible (and better):

4. Simonssen
5. Russell

 

[the phantom menace]

He’s a f**kwit. I’d try and offload him to the Dolphins.

Maybe chasing Sironen for an early release back to Australia isn't to take Nathan Brown's spot, but to encourage/allow Matterson to look for other options?