Magnificent

[Willow]

<table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width=400> <tbody> <tr> <td width=140></td> <td width=260>"Football is an aggressive game. I don't think 'they' can take that away from the players or the fans" - Trent Barrett </td></tr></tbody></table> The post match comment sez it all. With that type of attitude in the club, even the refs can't beat us.

Tonights results:
Saints: 28
Eagles: 18
Ref Simpkins: Did his best to stuff us up
Trent Barrett: On report for tackling too hard.

Not bad for a bloke who backs up 24 hours after a Test match.

 

[imported_Rasputin]

Bloody Thugs!!! )
They did play well and Barrett is much better now that he has a bit ofmongrel in him, used to be too passive but now is more dominant.

 

[Willow]

I've noticed that too. Barrett is playing the best footy of his career at the moment. And I think he may be up to playing better.
Did you see the match? He and Craig Smith were absolutely knackered after the match and to me they looked like championship material, especially Barrett who was sporting a healthy 'turf scrub' on the face.
It was a tough match.

 

[imported_Rasputin]

Yeah, watched it on Fox, best game they'veplayed other than against thedogs. Barrett is much better with his aggression and will improve even more because of it, can't be intimidated now.You guys really need Smith to go anywhere though, he makes a huge difference to that team.

 

[Willow]

Yes. Smith was there again. The figures will show that he was not near the top tackler or the top hit up forward. But this was because he was given support by his team mates who were backing him after the Test match.
When the chips were down, he rose to the occassion and late in the 2nd half he was really pounding the line. IMO, that's worth noting.
I 'm in the camp that wants to keep Smith that but it looks like he's gone.

 

[legend]

Trent Barrett has it all. He has great defence, blistering acceleration and he is brimming with confidence at the moment and it's no secret NSW only played their best footy when he was on the park. I really enjoyed his comments after the game about league being an aggressive game. If only we could get all the players to think like him. That game against the Eagles was a pretty good game to watch and was closer than the scoreline indicated.

Was I right in hearing Trent Barrett and Craig Smith are on report for seperate incidents?

 

[Willow]

Barrett is on report for a dangerous tackle. 'raising theball carrier above the horizontal'.
There wasn't much in it and shouldn't go any firther. But who knows? It may be Jim Hall's pet campaign of the week.
Smith was penalised for a head high. I don't know if he was put on report. The replay shows that he is in the clear... but then againSmith is Jim Hall's # 1 target.

 

[legend]

I think Jim Hall is on the Sharks payroll Willow. That would explain a lot. I saw Barrett's tackle and it looked agressive but what game are we playing here. I want to see some mongrel in defence and Barrett showed that and for that he should not be penalised.

The Dragons are really starting to get on my nerves with their consistent form and that bloody Andrew Hart even scored a try. I should invite Moorey over just so he can gloat. Ah, the lunacy of Saints fans.

 

[Willow]

Legend:
It was very tough game.
Both forwards were copping and giving a bit.
IMO, the judiciary should recognise such things. Crap knows that we've heard Jim Hall talk about 'provocation' enough times now. So he seems to able to manipulate things when it suits his own ends.
But there was no provocation and no malice. Just a hard game and well fought by both teams. That should be the end of it.

Anyway, the judiciary is so corrupt nowadays so I'm preparing for the worse.

Today's paper has 3 players in the judiciary's sights: Barrett, Bartrim and Smith.
Not one Eagles player is under scrutiny. In a match with lots of hard hits are they trying to say that the Eagles did nothing? I can assure you that there are few sore heads in the Dragons camp as well.
What does that tell us?

You say that Saints are playing very consistent football and look to be a threat. You're right and their defence has improved out of sight over the last month.
LOL. I don't know, perhaps Saints are showing too much consistency.