Match Discussion: Finals Week 1 vs Canberra @ McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

[Tom155]

Contentious bite allegation? f**k off

Ridiculous he stayed on the field

 

[Alex28]

Wighton absolutely should have been sent off.

Justice prevailed.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

I reckon Hastings is done. He has been carrying that injury with pins and I think he has surecomed to it.

 

[slotmachine]

One guy on the other forum bought a ticket to Auckland hahahaha

What an idiot, getting to go watch them next week.

 

[Loose Cannon]

A whole lot of Bulldogs/Tigers/Dragons/Knights (last 15 years) in that performance.

Gamble pulled it out despite. Bravo.

Can’t even express in print how good he was.

 

[Allstar Knights]

We weren't great today, but the Raiders were very physical, and they came with a game plan. Second half wasn’t perfect from us, but we responded well. It was very scrappy but loved our resilience. You need those sorts of wins too not just the flashy wins.

 

[perverse]

I reckon Hastings is done. He has been carrying that injury with pins and I think he has surecomed to it.

Can't carry him next week. Clune can get the job done.

 

[Woody90]

What an idiot, getting to go watch them next week.

Hahaha that came back to bite me! (Thankfully haha)

Like I said before though, very fair he got in early now knowing he’s a kiwi. Wouldn’t get to see them play much.

 

[Old dog]

Was of the belief Hastings was gone prior to this game, a gamble but coaching staff and Hastings, we don’t lose a lot with Clune, he is of to NZ

 

[Rod]

Kind of lost for words at the moment. I don't know if I can do that again next week.

 

[Pleb]

First game I’ve been to since 2018 fk me what a roller coaster. Definitely gonna enjoy this 3 hour car trip home now

 

[perverse]

The frustrating thing for me is that despite us just winning our first finals match in a decade... I feel more relieved than happy about it? I really think we needed to get that game out of the way. Going in as red hot favourites didn't help us, and we definitely got the yips in the first half when suddenly we found ourselves in a real game of finals footy - and playing from behind. We've been able to test out Kalyn and Jackson physically and have figured out who can make it through a match and who can't without losing too, which is a plus.

We'll go down to NZ as underdogs with nothing much to lose from here. I hope we can turn it around and find the energy earlier in the match next week. We'll be fodder for the Warriors if we don't improve 100% on that.

 

[ryan.a87]

I’m more amazed we won the 2nd half with Mann in the halves

I reckon Hastings was on one leg in the first half anyway
A healthy Clune will make the world of difference next week

fingers crossed SJ is still out

 

[slotmachine]

KP in the presser said the first half was the worst they played all year. Yep.

 

[perverse]

KP in the presser said the first half was the worst they played all year. Yep.

He's not wrong. It's remarkable we got away with it. They can't go out and do it again, but I don't think they will. I'm actually glad we'll likely walk into next week - and any other games that could follow - as underdogs on the back of that performance. Favourites has never been our thing.

 

[Woody90]

The frustrating thing for me is that despite us just winning our first finals match in a decade... I feel more relieved than happy about it? I really think we needed to get that game out of the way. Going in as red hot favourites didn't help us, and we definitely got the yips in the first half when suddenly we found ourselves in a real game of finals footy - and playing from behind. We've been able to test out Kalyn and Jackson physically and have figured out who can make it through a match and who can't without losing too, which is a plus.

We'll go down to NZ as underdogs with nothing much to lose from here. I hope we can turn it around and find the energy earlier in the match next week. We'll be fodder for the Warriors if we don't improve 100% on that.

There would have no doubt been a lot of pressure on them. All through the week the talk about the crowd and expecting a win…we’re not a team that’s used to being expected to win so I could definitely see that being hard for them.

I guess one positive is that I think we only played 15 minutes of good football but we still won so that’s something we can improve on next week. Can’t see us beating the Warriors playing like that, but tbh I’m pretty content now. We’ll go in as underdogs and if anyone was going to knock us out, I’d prefer it to be them.

 

[Apey]

We were completely outplayed for 65 minutes and still won. Thats the positive takeaway from that game for me.

f**k yeah!

 

[Allstar Knights]

The frustrating thing for me is that despite us just winning our first finals match in a decade... I feel more relieved than happy about it? I really think we needed to get that game out of the way. Going in as red hot favourites didn't help us, and we definitely got the yips in the first half when suddenly we found ourselves in a real game of finals footy - and playing from behind. We've been able to test out Kalyn and Jackson physically and have figured out who can make it through a match and who can't without losing too, which is a plus.

We'll go down to NZ as underdogs with nothing much to lose from here. I hope we can turn it around and find the energy earlier in the match next week. We'll be fodder for the Warriors if we don't improve 100% on that.

Feel the same mate, morre relieved than happy and I didn't know why but you put it perfectly.

 

[Zoidberg]

Warriors will be a very different game. Raiders did what they do, dragged us into an arm wrestle and we barely got through.
Have to take Clune into the match. Can’t risk Hastings again this year unfortunately.
Gifted them 2 tries (Gagai knock on and drop out), we can’t do that again in a finals game.
Recover. Reset. Get it on again next week.

 

[Black Panther]

Conceding that many points is a worry. Good win in the end, but the teams still alive are going to be a lot better than the Raiders were today.