Match Discussion: Round 21 vs Newcastle @ Campbelltown Stadium, Leumeah

[gordsy]

Newcastle have the worst F/A this season for a reason. I think it's hard to argue they're better than any team on paper this year especially without those 2. Not saying it's in the bag but it's hard to argue that the knights aren't the worst team right now.

This aged well.
Good grief we are shit

 

[Wizardman]

This aged well.
Good grief we are shit

Some people have such unrealistic expectations of our footy side. We have the worst roster in the comp. They have played above themselves a few times this year....but we are a crap team

 

[Vic Mackey]

After 4 positive weeks against top 8 sides we dish up that garbage. Newcastle were crap and the scoreline still flattered us.

I get Hastings was injured but why go back to using a prop at lock when the ball playing 13 has worked so well? As much as has sucked Peachey or even Nu Brown at 13 would have been the go.

Pathetic use of the bench, Noddy not near an NRL coach. Spoon now a real posibility and hard to say we don't deserve it.

 

[Billythekid]

This aged well.
Good grief we are shit

Some people have such unrealistic expectations of our footy side. We have the worst roster in the comp. They have played above themselves a few times this year....but we are a crap team

What aged well? I said you were a decent chance of beating the knights based on form and that was true. The fact you lost by 4 points doesn’t suddenly invalidate that.

I still stand by the knights being arguably the worst team as well. The tigers had a terrible game yesterday and despite being shit all game the knights still barely got it done.

 

[Fordy20]

Doueihi was starved of the ball which was poor.

I don’t accept that. Quality players don’t seek meekly on their edge and wait for the ball to come to them. Quality players go looking for the ball and quality halves demand the ball. When he did have the ball, he made a number of poor decisions.

Leadership and good decision making is what we have been crying out for in the halves and at the moment, the only player on the roster who has demonstrated that is Hastings.

 

[Tigerm]

I thought he went OK?

Worth the wait for Freebairn​

AuthorChris BoulousNRL ReporterTimestampMon 8 Aug 2022, 06:59 AM

After waiting 26-years to make his NRL debut, long-serving NSW Cup player Tom Freebairn ironically came on in the 26th-minute in his NRL debut against the Newcastle Knights.
In a sliding doors moment, the Wests NSW Cup captain replaced 300-gamer James Tamou at the Magpies spiritual home and wasted no time taking his first carry of the ball.

Three tackles in his first defensive set later and it was official: Freebairn was a first grader for the Wests Tigers.
With a large support crew holding photos of him in the stands, Freebairn played the remainder of the game in the middle for the Wests Tigers having 20 carries for 159-metres and making 28-tackles in a typically workmanlike performance reminiscent of his idol Nathan Hindmarsh.
“He sits in the history of this football club forever,” Interim coach Brett Kimmorley said of Freebairn, who was born in Ipswich and came through the Illawarra system before joining the North Sydney Bears.
“It’s a pretty amazing achievement to say you have played in the NRL; it’s pretty special. He [Freebairn] was good for us. Defensively he was good, he moved the ball a bit for us. You are always unhappy about the result but when he gets a chance to reflect he should be happy about his performance.”

Tom Freebairn celebrates after making his NRL debut.©NRL Photos
Kimmorley praised Freebairn’s “resilience” after moving around to several different clubs before joining the Magpies in 2021 and becoming Wests Tigers player No.260.
The former Australian schoolboy was “excited and relieved” to get the call-up this week after childhood friend Jackson Hastings was ruled out for the season.
Freebairn is the sixth player to debut for the Wests Tigers this season and said he hopes to remain in the top grade after getting his first taste of the big time.
The club’s depth will be tested in the final month of the competition with Ken Maumalo (knee) joining an extensive casualty ward which includes Hastings, Luke Brooks, Shawn Blore, Stefano Utoikamanu, Tommy Talau and Alex Twal to go with the two players (David Nofoaluma and Oliver Gildart) they loaned to other clubs.

“We have some challenges... all I can ask for is whoever gets picked to play is that we prepare well and have a crack,” Kimmorley said.

 

[Apey]

After 4 positive weeks against top 8 sides we dish up that garbage. Newcastle were crap and the scoreline still flattered us.

I get Hastings was injured but why go back to using a prop at lock when the ball playing 13 has worked so well? As much as has sucked Peachey or even Nu Brown at 13 would have been the go.

Pathetic use of the bench, Noddy not near an NRL coach. Spoon now a real posibility and hard to say we don't deserve it.

I think the Titans might do both of us a favour. But then again I think we might not do you a favour and probably lose to them. They play us, Warriors. You play Dragons, Raiders as possible wins. You probably only need one win to avoid it and can still avoid it with 0 wins.

 

[Tiger Ted]

I don’t accept that. Quality players don’t seek meekly on their edge and wait for the ball to come to them. Quality players go looking for the ball and quality halves demand the ball. When he did have the ball, he made a number of poor decisions.

Leadership and good decision making is what we have been crying out for in the halves and at the moment, the only player on the roster who has demonstrated that is Hastings.

Agree although I’m a big fan of AD I was quiet disappointed with his poor game management yday.He’s a lot better player than what he displayed in a game where he should have been the difference in us winning.

 

[Tiger Ted]

I think the Titans might do both of us a favour. But then again I think we might not do you a favour and probably lose to them. They play us, Warriors. You play Dragons, Raiders as possible wins. You probably only need one win to avoid it and can still avoid it with 0 wins.

I would so love us in rd 25 been the reason raiders miss the 8

 

[Fordy20]

Agree although I’m a big fan of AD I was quiet disappointed with his poor game management yday.He’s a lot better player than what he displayed in a game where he should have been the difference in us winning.

I was so frustrated by both Doueihi and Madden. Here was their opportunity to demonstrate why they deserved to be first choice halves and both them put in very underwhelming performances. At least they have the rest of the season to make up for it.

 

[Old Time Tiger]

Re post #86 ^
After waiting 26-years to make his NRL debut,

Is this guy a journalist ? FMD and I don't mean foot & mouth disease.
How many 2 year olds, 3, 6 or 14 year olds have made their NRL debut !

 

[Old Time Tiger]

I was so frustrated by both Doueihi and Madden. Here was their opportunity to demonstrate why they deserved to be first choice halves and both them put in very underwhelming performances. At least they have the rest of the season to make up for it.

100% and I think it's time to build a relationship outside Australia for our 19 year old or 20 year olds.
I think they would benefit being away from the NRL/NSW Cup, even the 2nd division in the UK/France.
No pressure, just learn your half back or 5/8 craft before you return to the Tigers after a season away.

A working holiday? No idea if visa's work that way but need to try something.

 

[Pezz70]

After 4 positive weeks against top 8 sides we dish up that garbage. Newcastle were crap and the scoreline still flattered us.

I get Hastings was injured but why go back to using a prop at lock when the ball playing 13 has worked so well? As much as has sucked Peachey or even Nu Brown at 13 would have been the go.

Pathetic use of the bench, Noddy not near an NRL coach. Spoon now a real posibility and hard to say we don't deserve it.

Hastings played halfback (with a 13 on his back)and defended in the guts. It’s the first touch that’s crucial, the service from dummy half was fairly pedestrian and inconsistent, we either have to get the half closer to the ruck to take that first ball or put it through a set of hands to Douehi or Madden, some of the first passes in the Newcastle attacking zone were 10 metres long and longer yesterday and they rarely hit the mark which meant they were in our face and our plays were rushed and limited. I’m pretty sure what we saw doesn’t align with the plan. Korisau will make a big difference.

 

[MasterTiger]

Interesting post OTT. I was also extremely disappointed with both our halves displays. However to be honest the majority of the team from the first minute were not switched on and we’re dominated by the Knights. Pretty much like when we played them earlier in the year. Very disappointing.

 

[Phil Gould]

Hastings played halfback (with a 13 on his back)and defended in the guts. It’s the first touch that’s crucial, the service from dummy half was fairly pedestrian and inconsistent, we either have to get the half closer to the ruck to take that first ball or put it through a set of hands to Douehi or Madden, some of the first passes in the Newcastle attacking zone were 10 metres long and longer yesterday and they rarely hit the mark which meant they were in our face and our plays were rushed and limited. I’m pretty sure what we saw doesn’t align with the plan. Korisau will make a big difference.

Yeah I think the thing was not so much that they had been playing with a ball playing 13 as much as it was that it was Hastings. He has been great at leading and directing the team and without him there, a sudden void appeared that couldn’t be filled. I think what Hastings brings is unique and special and AD wasn’t ready to fill that role, yet. He may, or may not, eventually develop those leadership skills but they certainly can’t just be turned on with the flick of a switch.

I really hope they throw some money at Hastings and sign him up for longer, ASAP. He has happily done everything that has been asked of him and he’s done it with positivity. He’s put his body on the line, without hesitation, playing out of position. Even though I don’t think that’s why he got injured I think the club should have been wrapping him in cotton wool rather than shuffling everyone around to pamper Brooks.

 

[Tiger05]

I think what Hastings brings is unique and special and AD wasn’t ready to fill that role, yet.

I don't think AD will ever bring to his game what Hastings brings but I also don't think Hastings will ever have the ability to bust open games by a run like AD can.

I still think they could work in the halves together.

 

[Tigerm]

I don't think AD will ever bring to his game what Hastings brings but I also don't think Hastings will ever have the ability to bust open games by a run like AD can.

I still think they could work in the halves together.

I think it was bleeding obvious to try them in halves this season, hopefully they do this sooner rather than later next year?

 

[Tiger05]

I think it was bleeding obvious to try them in halves this season, hopefully they do this sooner rather than later next year?

It depends if they go with the 3 halves on the field at the same time and play one less forward. Hastings isn't like Yeo in that he could play prop as well. He is really just playing 7 with an extra load on him defensively.

Maybe this approach will work.

 

[MasterTiger]

My thoughts from day one when they signed Hastings was that he is a ball playing game management 13 who can read the game and has the ability to switch from either side of the ruck to link with the halves. I think this can work with Brooke’s has he is not a dominant half nor wants to. With regards to AD the more he can actually play with Hastings the better their understanding will become. Bear in mind they only played a handful of games together this season. There is no doubt in my mind those two players are the key with DL sniffing around.

 

[gordsy]

Some people have such unrealistic expectations of our footy side. We have the worst roster in the comp. They have played above themselves a few times this year....but we are a crap team

Rubbish unrealistic expectations. It's not unrealistic to have an expectation that we would put in a decent performance and have a go, Instead of the limp wristed, couldn't be arsed, pile of dog shit that we served up.
I don't expect to win every win but I expect that we try.