Knights v Doggies, Post Match Thread.

[Jono078]

One player I forgot to mention in the "player of the week" thread... I thought Tolar was awsome until injured, hopefully he is right next week.

 

[Ben]

It was a great performance by the knights and showed guts for the full 80. Witt had a great game and put off some stunning plays, the 40/20 in particular. Salkeld is a bit weak defence and attack, he seems to find a way to lose the ball, i.e. the chip over the top and regather, but he seems to be feeling his way through first grade and is doing it quite well. He also seems to be scared of getting smashed over the side line and doesnt chance his arm. He seems to continually step back inside into the defensive line even though his got some space outside him and got speed to burn.

 

[Jobdog]

Ben, dont forget that Trent has only played 3 games of FG, it will take him time to feel his way. IMO he had a solid game today, and should be outside Matt more often.

 

[IanG]

No I agree with you all. Even though we didn't win today it looked to me as though there was alot of ticker had come back. Hopefully this means a win is just round the corner

 

[antonius]

It was a great performance by the knights and showed guts for the full 80. Witt had a great game and put off some stunning plays, the 40/20 in particular. Salkeld is a bit weak defence and attack, he seems to find a way to lose the ball, i.e. the chip over the top and regather, but he seems to be feeling his way through first grade and is doing it quite well. He also seems to be scared of getting smashed over the side line and doesnt chance his arm. He seems to continually step back inside into the defensive line even though his got some space outside him and got speed to burn.

The ball was jolted when he was tackled, I thought it was a good effort on his part and was almost Slater like (Shows he is gaining confidence) Have to agree on his defence though he was found wanting a few times. Over-all he is doing alright considering he's played only three games, at least he's willing to show a bit of flair and originality in attack, that chip chase almost came off.

 

[Doctor]

Oh, and I found it ironic that Hughes and Witt, constantly criticised for not being of first grade standard, were two of our better players. :roll:

I'm the first to admit I'm not a fan of Hughes -- he seems to handle the basics like catching fine, but he isn't a matchwinner by any stretch of the imagination. Trouble is: at the moment we're desperate for solid players who won't drop the ball and can complete their tackles. Full credit to the bloke if (as you say) he performed well in these basic areas. I'd suggest, though, that a full-strength Knights side that is playing near their best wouldn't include Mark Hughes..... he makes for a handy 3rd-replacement fullback though.

As for Steve Witt -- I can't ever recall claiming he wasn't a first-grade player. A few weeks back, in the earlier stages of our shocker-season, I floated Steve Witt's name as a possibility. I was shot down by a number of people who felt he wasn't good enough, or else had not played well enough in Premier League. Clearly the bloke can play quite capably in the top grade -- perhaps he should have been in there before now.... even if it meant moving Kurt Gidley to fullback or as a roaming Lock.

_______________________________________________________

It seems like the side played reasonably well -- and are starting to get their completion-rate up to a first-grade standard. There's a long way to go though -- I hope they don't start celebrating just yet. We're still yet to win, despite coming close at least three times, and twice in consecutive weeks.

It strikes me as a sign they're unfit -- they're not lasting the full 80, and it's showing. :idea:

 

[princessjen]

Over-all he is doing alright considering he's played only three games, at least he's willing to show a bit of flair and originality in attack, that chip chase almost came off.

yeah i agree with you I thought he did a pretty good job

 

[strewth_mate]

If we play consistently well like yesterday, it should mean more confidence attempting more expansive backline play (even without Joey) which can only be good for the wingers coming through. Players like Salkeld and Tighe - even though Tighe shouldn't be on the wing - need more space to work in and yesterday they got it because we actually played more like a team.

 

[Jobdog]

I think their were a lot of positives to come out of the game. Firstly, the 24 points conceded was the least amount for the year. Secondly, this goes with the defence, there were 2 tries scored off kicks, which means that the defence is getting in order. They just need to learn how to defend kicks, which is not an easy thing to do.

Trent Salkeld should be playing outside Matt Gidley for the rest of the time he is in FG. And I dont think its any coincidence that the 2 tries, not off kicks, came down our left hand side defence.

All in all, ultimately the difference btwn the 2 teams was luck. The kick from Sherwin which hit the post and Patten dived on to score, was the difference. Take that 6 points away, and we are celebrating our first win of the year. Much improved performance and looked like a little bit of luck was starting to go our way.

 

[strewth_mate]

The most pleasing thing for me is that they didn't just hang their heads when it got to 24-8. It's the first time that we weren't in the sheds for the final 30 minutes.

And I know the Dogs were without some of the best forwards in the world but they didn't crack us wide open in the middle. Danny was the difference there; timed his tackles very well to hit the man who would have certainly been in a gap. We've just got to tighten up our defense around the ruck and it'll be a very happy welcome back for Perry, Lowrie and Newton

 

[antonius]

While Buderus was off the score went from 8-6 to us, to 18-8 to them. That was a telling time in the game, his organisation, and defence was sorely missed. With all hands on deck I don't think Hughes would make first grade. Correction, with all hands on deck Hughes Shouldn't make first grade.

 

[strewth_mate]

With all hands on deck I don't think Hughes would make first grade

I'm not going to be popular for saying this but I don't mind seeing Hughes in a full strength team with Johns in form (and only that). In 2001/2002 Hughes was a key participant in a lot of our backline movements, I particularly liked the second man play with Joey behind Simpson to Hughes, to Gids, to Tahu and in. Hughes is by no means an impressive individual player anymore but it would be nice to see some classic Knights plays again.

Still I agree, that was in the past. I reckon he's still got what it takes but it might take too long and that's not what we need right now

 

[~bedsy~]

It was a great performance by the knights and showed guts for the full 80. Witt had a great game and put off some stunning plays, the 40/20 in particular. Salkeld is a bit weak defence and attack, he seems to find a way to lose the ball, i.e. the chip over the top and regather, but he seems to be feeling his way through first grade and is doing it quite well. He also seems to be scared of getting smashed over the side line and doesnt chance his arm. He seems to continually step back inside into the defensive line even though his got some space outside him and got speed to burn.

I think Salkeld has a great future. As you said he is feeling his way through first grade and as he gets more experience he will be great for the Knights.

 

[beef]

A coupld of people have mentioned Buderus not playing the full 80 minutes. Would this have anything at all to do with his match fitness? Or am i way off?

 

[Gene Krupa]

Yeah, that's the only explaination I can think of.

 

[~bedsy~]

That's what he said it was in today's Telegraph.

 

[Holla if ya hear me]

fantastic effort by all the players..we seem to have found some slight "sting "in our defence..courage by all!!! well done boys!!!
you know..with the shadows coming over the ground and from behind the goal post you couldnt quite make out the players..but you could imagine that it was Butterfield.Boyd,Miller,Sarge out there..there was some good hits
How good was smith at taking the ball up
I think that game gave us confidence in some areas..Canberra will be a fantastic victory!!!!!!!!!!

 

[snapper]

All in all, ultimately the difference btwn the 2 teams was luck. The kick from Sherwin which hit the post and Patten dived on to score, was the difference. Take that 6 points away, and we are celebrating our first win of the year. Much improved performance and looked like a little bit of luck was starting to go our way.

Just a minor problem with that line of thinking Jobdog. While it's true there was a fair bit of luck involved when the Doggies kick came off the post and they scored. Another kick later in the game also came off the posts and there was 3 doggies leading the chase to the ball. In the end Matt Gidley got his boot to it causing the chasers to knock it on.

Just thought we need to be fair in our overall assessment of the game.

I agree pretty much that it was our best run, but I think Salkeld may be a little bit intimidated by most of the powerful wingers in the comp. He needs a bit more mongrel in him if he is to become a solid defender. Utai psyched him out early in the game with a bit of push and shove, and from then on in all he wanted to do was shirt grab. I think this had a big effect on his decision to chip over the top, It was just the fear of getting tackled.

I hope he can prove me wrong and take a leaf out of Buderus' kill or be killed book of defense

 

[Ben]

i've got a feeling salkeld is going to have a good game this week...i'd say he'd get another double as long as gidley is inside him

 

[astrogirl]

Well even tho it wasn't a win im not overly dissapointed with that.
I didn't see the game but form what i heard it wasn't a total massacre

I was at the game and the boys were far from disappointing.

I have to give Witt a compliment for his composure. He played well. Towards the end of the game they were finding the Dogs back 3 on the full, but he was finding space on most of his earlier kicks.

Big clap to the boys at the end of the game from astro

Like Tony said, the best thing was that they still played like they were in it even when we were a couple of tries down.