Match Discussion: Round 18 vs Melbourne @ AAMI Park

[Still Nutty]

Let's play a fun game of overs/unders.

The Storm this year have some ridiculous scoring averages.

After 16 games it's as follows:
Attack: 36.50 points per game
Defence: 12.13 points per game

With that information... Would you think we are going to be able to score more than 12 points against them, and more importantly do you think we can hold them to under 36 points?

Sounds bleak, but if we can do that you would just about consider it a win if we can negatively impact their averages!

Although I would like to see a clear impact on both our 'against' and 'for' figures, if I wanted to see impact on one over the other, I'd like to see us keep our 'against' below 24 for this game.

Our defence seems to be turning a corner and I am more interested in seeing a sustained improvement on that front than adding 6 or 8 points a game to our 'for' column at this point in our development. Doing that but still 'leaking' 36 points to the Storm will not see us playing competitive football this year.

The main reason Melbourne have been a powerhouse for so long is because their 'against' is consistently down to those levels against all comers - if we can build and sustain improvement there, our opportunity to play and compete in finals football will be greatly improved this year and into the future.

 

[slotmachine]

I;m pretty interested in how the game plays out overall rather than how many storm put on.

If we control field position through the forwards and kicking game but leak a few long range tries because the Storm are just ridiculously talented that's a better result than battling away off our try line for 80 minutes.

 

[Burwood]

Glad we didn’t go straight from Newcastle to Melbourne to prep for the match- looks like the storm will be rushing up to Queensland tonight to get out of Victoria.

 

[Jono078]

Glad we didn’t go straight from Newcastle to Melbourne to prep for the match- looks like the storm will be rushing up to Queensland tonight to get out of Victoria.

I'll say it again... something about recent times has things aligning in our favour. Enjoy the ride, the next few months should be fun.

 

[PhilGould]

 

[Tom155]

of course

 

[perverse]

Well, that kinda f**ks us. Clifford and Mann in the halves I guess. Yay...

 

[PhilGould]

Mann into halves with Sasagi into the centres? Rather that than move Connor

 

[Frederick]

It sure was nice seeing our first choice spine play for one whole game

 

[perverse]

Mann into halves with Sasagi into the centres? Rather that than move Connor

I'd definitely prefer Watson and Clifford in the halves, but it ain't gonna happen. Coaches favourite Derpy McCantpass will get the nod. He was in the QLD squad after all!!

 

[PhilGould]

I see moving Connor out of his role and into the halves as weakening a legitimate strength. Moving Mann doesn't move the needle either way

 

[perverse]

I see moving Connor out of his role and into the halves as weakening a legitimate strength. Moving Mann doesn't move the needle either way

I just think weakening our pack or bench to keep Kurt Mann away from the ball is a satisfactory trade off. We can cover a weakening in our pack. We can't cover Kurt Mann trying to handle the ball 40+ times a match. It ruins the entire team.

 

[Allstar Knights]

Is Crossland injured?

 

[PhilGould]

Not sure but he's not in the squad. Johns, Sasagi, Hoy and Momoisea are the ones available to come in

 

[PhilGould]

Watched the interview, AOB says they would like to bring Crossland in. Would need an exemption from the NRL

 

[slotmachine]

Why would they grant it exactly? If the Knights don't name suitable cover in the 4 extended bench players that's on them. May as well not bother with the 21 if you can bring in whoever you like.

 

[Allstar Knights]

Silly he wasn't on there. That's why I wondered if he was injured

 

[PhilGould]

Especially when you have 3 players in the extended squad who have experience playing in the halves as juniors. NRL being lenient due to the circumstances of the past week would be their only hope really.

 

[Jono078]

Ffs. I take back my comment of things aligning nicely for us.

 

[Old dog]

Could we see Clifford to 7 and Johns to 6, leave Mann at centre and bench as is.