*Live* Parra v Penrith Game Day thread, March 11, 2018

[Chipmunk]

We lost all momentum when they were on. Matagi dropped his first hit up. Evan's dumb tip on to Matagi was a turning point. But the biggest problem was those 3 couldn't control the middle and Panthers went straight through us.

We were struggling to stop the Panthers making easy metres from the outset. It was only the fact that they kept dropping the ball that disguised it.

Plus we were also playing the ball too slow...but there is nothing new there.

I think people have underestimated how well we went last year at the back end of the year when we were allowed to consistently play the ball incorrectly throughout a match. This rule change of having to play the ball properly isn't going to help us much.

 

[84 Baby]

Enjoy your March premiership

That’s more than we’ve f**king won!

 

[Bazal]

I don’t mind our forward throwing a pass but it was not the right time or place on the field . What worked for us in the first half was completing our sets.

Maybe. But we're not slating him if Matagi grabs it and goes through the hole. So it's not like it was a pointless pass thrown for no reason, Matagi was in space if it stuck

I wouldn't be curbing players natural talents...and Evans can use a footy quite well.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

I think people have underestimated how well we went last year at the back end of the year when we were allowed to consistently play the ball incorrectly throughout a match. This rule change of having to play the ball properly isn't going to help us much.

I do recall mentioning that once or twice.

 

[JohnStoppafarty]

I think the early Gus ridicule made it sweeter but hey you live and die by your decisions.

Early Gus ridicule? Most here were tipping an ambush.

 

[Nealo 12]

We're playing each other again in a month, merkin.

Thanks , trying not to cry while reading this

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Our starting middle forwards laid a great platform but it fell to shit once they came off. Edwards has to come back next week for me.

I thought our defence was better last year when we always had one of Mannah or Alvaro on the field. As soon as they both went off today we got carved up. Starting both of them isn't a strategy Arthur adopted until late last year. I might send him an email.

 

[strider]

That’s more than we’ve f**king won!

Our March premiership is next week ffs .... thats when we will begib to get on a roll

 

[JokerEel]

Any team with:
Mckendry
Kikau
RcG
Tamou
Merrin
Should be always on the front foot.

We have the backs but lack the forwards.

 

[Bazal]

Early Gus ridicule? Most here were tipping an ambush.

And anyway the Gus ridicule is aimed mostly at hindy111....Surely a Panthers fan can understand that

 

[strider]

I thought our defence was better last year when we always had one of Mannah or Alvaro on the field. As soon as they both went off today we got carved up. Starting both of them isn't a strategy Arthur adopted until late last year. I might send him an email.

Agree ... starting alvaro isnt good ... he needs to be the one to replace mannah

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Strange that we were stuffed before half time considering that we had all the ball.

It was. The heat just seemed to get to us. I think we were a bit unlucky to have a run of possession against us while our 'attacking' middles were on the field, but if the opposition are getting all the ball you stop it by completing your sets.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Well they had no ball, and then their benchies came on, and suddenly we didn't have enough ball to compete. You're saying that's the only factor in the game and that the possession changed by itself (or through our errors alone). I'm saying their bench beating ours to a pulp is a huge factor in that possession rate.

RCG toughened them up and Kikau gave them a spark, and that helped them claw back momentum. Matagi, Scott and to a lesser extent Evans were blown away by the Panthers. You can't entirely blame possession for that

We could've completed better instead of throwing risky passes when we were gassed. Get the backs in to take some runs if the middles are having to make too many tackles.

 

[Bazal]

Agree ... starting alvaro isnt good ... he needs to be the one to replace mannah

Personally I'd go the other way...but we really need a better defender on the bench.

Start both, play Terepo on the bench IMO. Or Alvaro on the bench and a big ball runner starting.

 

[Noise]

I thought our defence was better last year when we always had one of Mannah or Alvaro on the field. As soon as they both went off today we got carved up. Starting both of them isn't a strategy Arthur adopted until late last year. I might send him an email.

Yep. There was a period in the game where we had Mannah, Alvaro, Brown and Tep on the bench. They are our 4 best middle defenders FFS. It is no surprise the game turned at this point. Terrible rotation from BA

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Maybe. But we're not slating him if Matagi grabs it and goes through the hole. So it's not like it was a pointless pass thrown for no reason, Matagi was in space if it stuck

I wouldn't be curbing players natural talents...and Evans can use a footy quite well.

I thought it would be called forward when he threw it. Lucky Matagi dropped it so we didn't have to find out.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Thanks , trying not to cry while reading this

We'll see about that.

 

[Chipmunk]

It was. The heat just seemed to get to us. I think we were a bit unlucky to have a run of possession against us while our 'attacking' middles were on the field, but if the opposition are getting all the ball you stop it by completing your sets.

Im still going to maintain, as I indicated a few weeks back, that playing only one trial will not help our cause early in the season.

 

[Bazal]

Yep. There was a period in the game where we had Mannah, Alvaro, Brown and Tep on the bench. They are our 4 best middle defenders FFS. It is no surprise the game turned at this point. Terrible rotation from BA

I do think the heat maybe threw us. Not that it's really a good excuse, but it happened.

Scott did nothing and came off wrecked.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Personally I'd go the other way...but we really need a better defender on the bench.

Start both, play Terepo on the bench IMO. Or Alvaro on the bench and a big ball runner starting.

I would have Terepo ahead of Matagi for sure but he doesn't have the work rate of Manvaro.