Knights Vs Roosters - Prelim Final '13

[Noname36]

When Packer is on... he's pretty good. Physical and large. He had a shithouse year this year, though. Still, I would back Wayne to make something of him.

Also a bit of a filthy merkin with the pissing on the field thing.

He really needs a change in environments to realise his potential IMo. He's certainly got a lot of it and I reckon being around the likes of Bennett, Smith, Scott, etc would bring it out. He's been pretty unlucky this season with injuries too.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Clydesdale will be incredible. I have complete faith he'll be able to step up and become a great, great hooker. It will take some time, but he'll be phenomenal.

Please tell me that you relying on more than just 'faith' with clydesdale? People use faith as a means of believing things that they want to be true. Im hoping you are basing your hope on evidence, because if its faith then we may as well toss a coin and hope it lands the way we want it to

 

[K-Man]

I appreciate the post but I can't agree on the elbow. There was a definite second movement where he thrusts his forearm forward on contact, leading with the point of his elbow.

People might say it was iffy and you could give JWH the benefit of the doubt, but it is habitual with him. It is how he takes a lot of hitups these days, and is why his natural reaction the other week was to raise his elbow flush into McQueen's face. When something like that becomes a technique for a player it needs to be looked at because "unfortunate accidents" like this will keep happening.

I could just about give JWH the benefit of the doubt if I was feeling charitable, but what I can't cop is that his elbow sending a bloke to hospital does not warrant a penalty, but Kade Snowden bracing himself for contact and accidentally making head contact gets a 7-week suspension.

There is no way in hell what Snowden did was THAT much worse than what JWH did.

Any argument suggesting JWH didn't mean it is an argument that could easily be applied to Snowden as well.

In my opinion there is a split hair between the severity of these two incidents, yet an absolute chasm between how they have been adjudicated. Why? Because when the NRL cracks down, it cracks down hard! On one thing, like an obsessed stalker, and turns a blind eye to almost everything else. This year it was the shoulder charge. Next year it will be something else. It's embarrassing.

 

[Big Tim]

The JWH incident was unfortunate, and a combination of micro seconds of action.

He was falling, Danny was coming in, he braced the ball arm for contact, he got Danny flush. I couldnt really penalise him for that. Just because McKinnon was penalised last week, doesnt mean we need a wrong call this week.

If JWH made contact with the empty arm, different story.

Incredible season all things considered. We finished above 12 other clubs.

The less said about the referee mistakes, that because of the scoreline will be overlooked, the better.

Changed the game entirely. Who knows what would have happened, but 6 points of an illegal play? Not good enough.

 

[K-Man]

Speaking of flavour of the month, when was the last time you saw a full set of six where the player made contact with the foot in the play-the-ball?

 

[Big Tim]

Speaking of flavour of the month, when was the last time you saw a full set of six where the player made contact with the foot in the play-the-ball?

I was gonna start a thread on this, but thought it would look like sour grapes.

The Roosters roll the ball to Friend when there is 1 or less marker.

 

[K-Man]

I see no difference with what happened with Mckinnon who was penalised for his arm tucked away to what JWH did last night. The point is there was contact with the head and should have been penalised. It is this inconsistency that is ruining the game.

Anyway, we were blown off the park by the speed and power of the Rooster's forwards.

The speed of Aubusson, Guerra and SBW was clearly a decisive factor and was clearly superior and is something we need to improve on for next year.

Well done to the boys and to reach the final 4 was a great achievement and needs to be built on for next year

I don't see how we possibly can, though. Same forwards, all a year older.

As I said at the start of the season, I don't have a problem with our forwards as individual players. I've never argued that Smith, Scott, Fa'alogo etc are bad players, but I thought it was crystal clear from day one that we lacked a certain spark in the forwards. Tough, yes. Defensively brave, absolutely. But there's no real threat in our forward pack, there's nothing that makes the opposition back-pedal.

We get through our sets, rely heavily on our amazing backs for yardage, try to score from set plays with Boyd, then defend strongly. Sometimes that's good enough, but it's not good enough when you play the big boys in form.

There's something missing in our pack, and I'm afraid it's not about to be filled next season. Other teams have athletes in the forwards; we have tough old boots.

Early prediction based on what I've seen and what squad is going to be: we will have a slightly better regular season than we did this year and finish about 5th-6th. We will win our first finals game at home, then lose the following week in a similar fashion to how we lost last night.

Have to go all out for a big-name backrower in 2015.

 

[K-Man]

I was gonna start a thread on this, but thought it would look like sour grapes.

The Roosters roll the ball to Friend when there is 1 or less marker.

Yeah, unfortunately most things like that come across as sour grapes. And to some extent they probably are. I just find it hard to love a game that is so unashamedly inconsistent, hypocritical and amateurish.

This is just one example of teams with more modern coaches finding ways to take advantage of a reactionary system. You can get away with a tactic for at least half a season, usually longer, before anything will ever be noticed by the NRL.

And in big games, where penalties are less likely to be blown, it's a field day for the teams prepared to push the limits and even go way beyond them. The Roosters are that team and they have that coach. We have a coach with principles.

 

[Big Tim]

Yeah, unfortunately most things like that come across as sour grapes. And to some extent they probably are. I just find it hard to love a game that is so unashamedly inconsistent, hypocritical and amateurish.

This is just one example of teams with more modern coaches finding ways to take advantage of a reactionary system. You can get away with a tactic for at least half a season, usually longer, before anything will ever be noticed by the NRL.

And in big games, where penalties are less likely to be blown, it's a field day for the teams prepared to push the limits and even go way beyond them. The Roosters are that team and they have that coach. We have a coach with principles.

My wife, and neighbours, can attest to the fact I was complaining about it from about the 10 minute mark. My issues with it were not a reaction to the result, problem is, it would be assumed I am complaining because we lost.

 

[Swarzey]

Please tell me that you relying on more than just 'faith' with clydesdale? People use faith as a means of believing things that they want to be true. Im hoping you are basing your hope on evidence, because if its faith then we may as well toss a coin and hope it lands the way we want it to

Under 20's. He's shown plenty of qualities that we see with Cameron Smith, his service is absolute quality and can get the ball behind the defensive line to force a restart. Will take some time to adjust but he'll be outstanding.

 

[Zoidberg]

Don't forget we had no Snowy, no Cuthbo, no Macca, no Gids. We had a lot of big names with big game experience out.

Not feeling very happy today myself but we definitely exceeded my expectations this year. Lets hope we can go up another gear next year.

 

[Yosh]

I think Rochow can be a a good skilled backrower. He just isn't coached to be at the moment. He has good pace as well.

Upset we lost but great season overall. Terrible what happened to bedsy... Really needed him out there.

When we wanna score and do some fancy stuff without worrying about what WB will say, we got some really fancy footy in us. I'll go off on a limb and say that Rick Stone might be a great coach. He has served under WB and i am sure has learnt great things. When Stone takes over I think we'll see a team that plays out that grinding style but also with more flair when we attack.

 

[Nuffy]

Overall a fantastic ride over the last 4-5 weeks and I have enjoyed it immensely.

I couldn't be prouder of the way we've played and the manner in which we have played. There is nothing cynical or manipulative in our on field actions.

We just could catch a break last night, the refs gave us nothing and every single close decision went the way of the Roosters.

It's impossible to win a game without a bit of luck and frankly the only luck we had was bad.

Last night seeing Bedsy end his career like that has left me gutted, I can't for the life of me understand how such a gentleman gets that sort of end to his career and a disloyal money hungry grub like SBW gets a saloon passage.

For the record, the JWH hit deserved a penalty at the least but once again the Roosters were given the benefit of the doubt.

Interestingly, they won the penalty count for the first time this year and I knew the refs wouldn't have the balls to ping them like a club round and so they got away with murder in the PTB and the cynical tactic of rolling the ball back rather than playing it with your foot was not missed by anyone but the refs.

We had our chances but enjoyed no luck and it seemed every dropped ball bounced into a Roosters hand in the open.

We didnt deserve to end our season like that and sometimes I wonder why the football gods deem to treat us so badly.

 

[voltron]

i keep saying if jeremy smith is a penalty
then JWH was a penalty
i can cop both penalised, or both let go
but just to get one of those?
pathetic

 

[betcats]

I may of gone a bit over the top on Saturday night sorry everyone, I was quite drunk and very upset at the thought of a Eagles Roosters gf.

Anyway congrats on a good season.

 

[Nuffy]

Can I also add that if a defender accidentally hits the head of a ball runner in a tackle, then there is no benefit of the doubt, its a straight penalty.

JWH raised his elbow and contacted Bedsy and was given a massive benefit of the doubt because he had the ball. The bloke has form, just ask Chris Macqueen.

I'll bet the next time it happens in a club round, there will be a penalty and it will be placed on report. It will be classic NRL reactiveness.

Look at the Smith penalty on Maloney, absolutely nothing in it and a penalty in front, JWH's actions are questionable at best and its play on.

The refs and NRL are clueless.

 

[Silent Knight]

Overall a fantastic ride over the last 4-5 weeks and I have enjoyed it immensely.

I couldn't be prouder of the way we've played and the manner in which we have played. There is nothing cynical or manipulative in our on field actions.

We just could catch a break last night, the refs gave us nothing and every single close decision went the way of the Roosters.

It's impossible to win a game without a bit of luck and frankly the only luck we had was bad.

Last night seeing Bedsy end his career like that has left me gutted, I can't for the life of me understand how such a gentleman gets that sort of end to his career and a disloyal money hungry grub like SBW gets a saloon passage.

For the record, the JWH hit deserved a penalty at the least but once again the Roosters were given the benefit of the doubt.

Interestingly, they won the penalty count for the first time this year and I knew the refs wouldn't have the balls to ping them like a club round and so they got away with murder in the PTB and the cynical tactic of rolling the ball back rather than playing it with your foot was not missed by anyone but the refs.

We had our chances but enjoyed no luck and it seemed every dropped ball bounced into a Roosters hand in the open.

We didnt deserve to end our season like that and sometimes I wonder why the football gods deem to treat us so badly.

I honestly felt like I was watching a GoT episode on Saturday night. We were the Starks and they were the Freys. It's just like the goddamn books, the a**holes win and the good guys get massacred.

 

[Alex28]

Can I also add that if a defender accidentally hits the head of a ball runner in a tackle, then there is no benefit of the doubt, its a straight penalty.

JWH raised his elbow and contacted Bedsy and was given a massive benefit of the doubt because he had the ball. The bloke has form, just ask Chris Macqueen.

I'll bet the next time it happens in a club round, there will be a penalty and it will be placed on report. It will be classic NRL reactiveness.

Look at the Smith penalty on Maloney, absolutely nothing in it and a penalty in front, JWH's actions are questionable at best and its play on.

The refs and NRL are clueless.

The thing is we copped so many bad decisions that got fixed later in the season, but did nothing to help us.

I still can't fathom how you can cop 7 weeks for standing still, but not even get a penalty for lifting your forearm. It's bullshit.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Can I also add that if a defender accidentally hits the head of a ball runner in a tackle, then there is no benefit of the doubt, its a straight penalty.

JWH raised his elbow and contacted Bedsy and was given a massive benefit of the doubt because he had the ball.

This is what gets to me. Its supposed to be for the sake of safety and it shouldn't, then, matter if it is an attacker or a defender. Plenty of penalties have been given away for an accidental knock in the head by a defender and when questioned by saying it was accidental the ref goes "I know but it was still contact with the head".

he shouldn't have been carrying the ball up like that with his elbow out and he certainly pushed forward with his elbow.

 

[Nuffy]

The thing is we copped so many bad decisions that got fixed later in the season, but did nothing to help us.

I still can't fathom how you can cop 7 weeks for standing still, but not even get a penalty for lifting your forearm. It's bullshit.

Yep, but we don't have the same pull as some clubs, hence we are expendable.

Does anyone truly think that if Snowden did the same thing to Cam Smith, JT, Mitchell Pearce or SBW that he would have got off scott free? Not a chance, there would have been an on field penalty and he would have been placed on report and likely charged.

Jeremy Smith gets 6 weeks for a shot on a Penrith player who isnt actually injured after his coach makes a big song and dance about it. He goes to the judiciary and gets fitted up. SBW finally gets charged after multiple shoulder charges and even though he puts Mason out for a month, he gets two weeks.

The blatant double standards are what will eventual sink this once great game.