Match Discussion: Round 1 vs Newcastle @ Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Leumeah / Dharawal

[simmo1]

Fitness is a huge worry. Knights are fairly average team even at their best and despite completing at 63% they were steamrolling us by the end of the game.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Fitness is a huge worry. Knights are fairly average team even at their best and despite completing at 63% they were steamrolling us by the end of the game.

Yeah, that was rubbish.

Ponga can take a bow for sapping us too. He had a remarkable game.

 

[Tiger05]

It highlights even more how pisspoor our pack was yesterday.

Was our pack poor ?

My take is that our halves were the no 1 issue by far. I'd have our backrowers and centres next on the list but that feels harsh to me. Maybe it's my misread of the game but I thought I saw us getting up the field and then executing poorly.

I was going to say our outside backs lacked any zip but Turuva and Skelton made huge metres for us. I assume if given a chance they will score points.

 

[Nutz]

On the back of his trial form, is why I made him my Captain of Fantasy Coach...no brainer.

 

[Nutz]

Points for and against is so important because if we can win these close games then we have a chance.
No more thrashings like what happened to the sombreros is want we need.
So putting it into context for our first hitout it wasn't a total failure. We also had our inspirational captain missing, Bula at the back that is more of a traditional fullback and I think a fit To'a could've handed their centres better.
We need to win 5 out of our next ten games with as close to 0 differential as possible.

 

[Tiger Ted]

Points for and against is so important because if we can win these close games then we have a chance.
No more thrashings like what happened to the sombreros is want we need.
So putting it into context for our first hitout it wasn't a total failure. We also had our inspirational captain missing, Bula at the back that is more of a traditional fullback and I think a fit To'a could've handed their centres better.
We need to win 5 out of our next ten games with as close to 0 differential as possible.

One things for certain we will cop a few floggings this season.Im quite concerned about our depth especially in the forwards.Id like to know what egg on face Richo is thinking after the ridiculous claim we have the best spine in NRL.Galvin was horrendous & Luai was shithouse.Additionally I don’t rate the softy Bula & API’s form last yr indicated he’s past it.If we win < 5 of opening 10 rounds I reckon Benji will b packing his bags.Dont get me wrong it’s certainly not time to hit panick buttons but a $1.2m half & a highly rated 5/8 should’ve got us the chocolates on our turf against a shit opposition.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

One things for certain we will cop a few floggings this season.Im quite concerned about our depth especially in the forwards.Id like to know what egg on face Richo is thinking after the ridiculous claim we have the best spine in NRL.Galvin was horrendous & Luai was shithouse.Additionally I don’t rate the softy Bula & API’s form last yr indicated he’s past it.If we win < 5 of opening 10 rounds I reckon Benji will b packing his bags.Dont get me wrong it’s certainly not time to hit panick buttons but a $1.2m half & a highly rated 5/8 should’ve got us the chocolates on our turf against a shit opposition.

I think Api and Jerome would have added another layer to the attack last night. We didn’t ask enough questions.

Newcastle aren’t red hot, but they had some players in scintillating form last night ( just our luck!). They deserve some credit for hanging in.

Because of Benjis drawing power, I would expect him to get half a season at least. The trick is to make him realise he’s not the man for job. There’s plenty more opportunities for his grand plan to work, if it does.

I think there’s other roles in the club he’d do a lot better at and he can be a coaching consultant or other bullshit position.

I look at Brad Arthur and what he brought to the eels, if we need toughening up, he’s the one. Plus I think he’d enjoy working with our squad as there is something to work with.

 

[Wizardman]

I thought Pole and Fainu were disappointing, not terrible but could have done more. You’d think May with all his carries would lift the rest of the forwards but instead the backs were picking up the slack

Twal was ok, not flashy but did his job

seyfarth was his usual average self .. lack of better options I guess.

Hunt had good impact but he’s severely limited. I don’t think he’ll ever turn into a big minute prop

Bird didn’t do much but I noticed he cleaned up the middle when he came on for a bit

You have just highlighted that our pack was shithouse yesterday.

 

[Tigerm]

I think Api and Jerome would have added another layer to the attack last night. We didn’t ask enough questions.

Newcastle aren’t red hot, but they had some players in scintillating form last night ( just our luck!). They deserve some credit for hanging in.

Because of Benjis drawing power, I would expect him to get half a season at least. The trick is to make him realise he’s not the man for job. There’s plenty more opportunities for his grand plan to work, if it does.

I think there’s other roles in the club he’d do a lot better at and he can be a coaching consultant or other bullshit position.

I look at Brad Arthur and what he brought to the eels, if we need toughening up, he’s the one. Plus I think he’d enjoy working with our squad as there is something to work with.

Mate, I think you're flogging a dead horse with Benji.
Nothing will happen for at least half a season, he is safe till then.
TBH, I think it will depend on what the new signings (mainly Luai) thinks about it.

 

[Nutz]

One things for certain we will cop a few floggings this season.Im quite concerned about our depth especially in the forwards.Id like to know what egg on face Richo is thinking after the ridiculous claim we have the best spine in NRL.Galvin was horrendous & Luai was shithouse.Additionally I don’t rate the softy Bula & API’s form last yr indicated he’s past it.If we win < 5 of opening 10 rounds I reckon Benji will b packing his bags.Dont get me wrong it’s certainly not time to hit panick buttons but a $1.2m half & a highly rated 5/8 should’ve got us the chocolates on our turf against a shit opposition.

One game...you make me feel depressed. If this rain isn't bad enough as it is up here.

 

[Wizardman]

Another thing....I keep on hearing from people on here that Newcastle are not a good team. Yes, they were poor yesterday but they certainly did not get the rub of the green yesterday. Plus, they have made the finals in three of the last four years. Yes, they are a good side that I think don't play to their potential. They are a better side on paper than ours.

 

[Wizardman]

Mate, I think you're flogging a dead horse with Benji.
Nothing will happen for at least half a season, he is safe till then.
TBH, I think it will depend on what the new signings (mainly Luai) thinks about it.

I don't think Benji is on a 10 game type leash.....but I certainly think he is on a leash this year. I don't think results will matter as much as a general improvement in our play. If we are heading the right direction performance wise, Benji stays. If we play like we did yesterday win or lose, Benji is not making it to 2026.

 

[Wizardman]

Was our pack poor ?

My take is that our halves were the no 1 issue by far. I'd have our backrowers and centres next on the list but that feels harsh to me. Maybe it's my misread of the game but I thought I saw us getting up the field and then executing poorly.

I was going to say our outside backs lacked any zip but Turuva and Skelton made huge metres for us. I assume if given a chance they will score points.

Well, you tell me who was good in the pack then?

May was awesome and Twal gets a pass mark. The rest get an absolute fail yesterday. Newie had their way with them from the 30th minute.

Our halves will get it together, Im not so sure about our backrow who continues to fail year in, year out.

 

[Speedy Gonzales]

You have just highlighted that our pack was shithouse yesterday.

Yes exactly, just a quick analysis of individuals

 

[Tigerm]

I don't think Benji is on a 10 game type leash.....but I certainly think he is on a leash this year. I don't think results will matter as much as a general improvement in our play. If we are heading the right direction performance wise, Benji stays. If we play like we did yesterday win or lose, Benji is not making it to 2026.

I never said he was on a 10 game leash, what I said was, that come the half way mark, they will probably review his tenure if we are still failing, I also think they will consider Luai's thoughts on the matter, as he has a two year option himself.
But TBH, I don't think we can judge anything after 1 game, where it was Luai's first hit out with the team.
We lost by 2 pts to a side that has been a consistent top 8 team for a few years now, I believe we will improve over the coming weeks actually.

 

[Tigerm]

It looked like a good crowd last night, does anyone happen to know the figure by chance?

 

[Tiger05]

Well, you tell me who was good in the pack then?

May was awesome and Twal gets a pass mark. The rest get an absolute fail yesterday. Newie had their way with them from the 30th minute.

Our halves will get it together, Im not so sure about our backrow who continues to fail year in, year out.

You answered the question. May was dominant. Twal was fine. Pole had some good runs but he did miss some tackles. Hunt came on and had an impact. The others weren't great.

I'm not stating they were great but we went forward and I think we'll get good go forward every week. I'll add that Turuva and Skelton were great as well.

The halves weren't great though.

 

[Tiger05]

If we play like we did yesterday win or lose, Benji is not making it to 2026.

I have no idea if he will be gone but we need to show signs of being a professionally coached footy team.

 

[Pezz70]

Us Panthers fans told you about Luai. He is good for a few good touches a game. The rest needs to come from elsewhere. So many times we were waiting for something when Cleary wasn't there. It came but usually from others

Maybe Api helps enough to get points going

He probably saved three tries.

 

[Pezz70]

You answered the question. May was dominant. Twal was fine. Pole had some good runs but he did miss some tackles. Hunt came on and had an impact. The others weren't great.

I'm not stating they were great but we went forward and I think we'll get good go forward every week. I'll add that Turuva and Skelton were great as well.

The halves weren't great though.

Turuva never saw a ball once his side in attack, very poor, I think one kick, maybe two went high to his side on 5th tackle plays. Not using that right side at all during the game was bordering on pathetic