Match Discussion: Round 4 vs Dragons @ McDonald Jones Stadium

[Bring it home Knights]

Fun stat I'm seeing do the rounds - we were 3 from 5 last year.

Have we gone backwards, with a better team?

Pearce was killing it at the start of last year. That's the difference.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Pearce is overplaying which is what he did in Origin to try and prove himself.
He seems to be looking around a lot for something to be on or someone to take it on and when there's nothing on he takes it on and makes bad choices.
We were supposed to have focused on our off the ball play this week but it didn't work - we didn't set up good attacking opportunities except for those two Ponga passes.

 

[Burwood]

Pearce obviously plays much better when on the piss- worst decision in his career to go dry.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

The only times that we looked reasonably good was when Ponga got the ball in space or when Klemmer offloaded. Outside of that we had nothing in attack and Brown needs to own a lot of this. It looks like the team is trained in the skills of Bennett ball from days gone by. There is no point completing 100% if we offer nothing in attack.

On the plus side, the defense looks a lot more committed compared to the last few years.

 

[K-Man]

The only times that we looked reasonably good was when Ponga got the ball in space or when Klemmer offloaded. Outside of that we had nothing in attack and Brown needs to own a lot of this. It looks like the team is trained in the skills of Bennett ball from days gone by. There is no point completing 100% if we offer nothing in attack.

On the plus side, the defense looks a lot more committed compared to the last few years.

100% this. I feel like if Brown read this post he would either get it and agree and know he has to do something about it, or not get it and not realise how serious these problems are. The latter is even scarier than the former.

The reality is we look like a team that goes through the motions in order to set itself up for an attacking play at some point. It's the complete opposite of Origin mentality - try to win every single mini battle, dominate wherever you can, control field position and momentum, but then when it matters every try is worth 4 points no matter how you get over the line. Just gain momentum and score.

When we do score we look good, but for 79 minutes our attack is so uninspired. We don't look particularly interested in putting the opposition under any kind of defensive pressure at all. 'Passing it to Ponga' is not a strategy. Brown has a lot to answer for.

 

[macavity]

That game really showcased the problem. It's coaching.

The Dragons had a huge amount more motion in attack, yet had lots more in the tank at the end of the game. We were one out all game, and the attacking plan was literally give it to Ponga and wait for him to do something.

 

[Joel-22]

Really, if we had better halves we'd be at least 3/4.

Lino, Mann and Watson aren't first grade halves and Pearce is having his worst start to a season.

Browny can also take the blame for our game plan which seems to be 4 hit-ups and a kick.
We matched the dragons tonight in the middle but they would regularly use sweeping backline movements on the 4th and 3rd tackle.

When's Watson back? I'd put him or Mann at 5/8. Lino offered nothing and looked clueless in D.

 

[K-Man]

That game really showcased the problem. It's coaching.

The Dragons had a huge amount more motion in attack, yet had lots more in the tank at the end of the game. We were one out all game, and the attacking plan was literally give it to Ponga and wait for him to do something.

It hurts me to agree. Because I like Brown, I genuinely do. From day one I've bought into his long term vision and accepted there would be hard times. And there have been. But the payoff needs to be now, this season. On paper we have an excellent team, way above average. Our forwards are finally laying a decent platform, and our defence is far improved, but we are entirely bereft of ideas in attack. We seem to have no concept of momentum. We don't appear desperate. We are certainly not polished.

If I were an NRL coach, all the things we are poor at are all the things I would take responsibility for. Brown needs to own this. It's not good enough. Losing close games is not an excuse. We are losing these games over 80 minutes, not in the last 10 minutes.

 

[Old dog]

Pearce was ordinary, Ponga looked dangerous, Klemmer looked like he would get the ball so defence was easy, We have a problem at 5/8 which doesn’t give Pearce room, we need Glasby ar 13 with Klemmer and Dan at prop, we need Klemmer making more dummy runs to break up defenders. Best play was Hunt scoring of Ponga pass with the defence looking for Fitz, more please, it’s the unexpected that works.
We need a 5/8, Watson was promised it but didn’t make it, Lino, jury out, Lamb did we need to let him go, coach has made a few poor decisions, we are a season or two away from being competitive I mean top 6-8, this year likely 9-12

 

[K-Man]

Pearce was ordinary, Ponga looked dangerous, Klemmer looked like he would get the ball so defence was easy, We have a problem at 5/8 which doesn’t give Pearce room, we need Glasby ar 13 with Klemmer and Dan at prop, we need Klemmer making more dummy runs to break up defenders. Best play was Hunt scoring of Ponga pass with the defence looking for Fitz, more please, it’s the unexpected that works.
We need a 5/8, Watson was promised it but didn’t make it, Lino, jury out, Lamb did we need to let him go, coach has made a few poor decisions, we are a season or two away from being competitive I mean top 6-8, this year likely 9-12

Honestly, if we are a season or two away from being competitive, Brown will not be around to see it happen. Anything but the finals this season is a huge fail. A sacking offence, no question. You give that squad to the best coaches and they make it work.

 

[macavity]

Pearce was ordinary, Ponga looked dangerous, Klemmer looked like he would get the ball so defence was easy, We have a problem at 5/8 which doesn’t give Pearce room, we need Glasby ar 13 with Klemmer and Dan at prop, we need Klemmer making more dummy runs to break up defenders. Best play was Hunt scoring of Ponga pass with the defence looking for Fitz, more please, it’s the unexpected that works.
We need a 5/8, Watson was promised it but didn’t make it, Lino, jury out, Lamb did we need to let him go, coach has made a few poor decisions, we are a season or two away from being competitive I mean top 6-8, this year likely 9-12

Watson hasn't had a run at 5/8 this year. Lino isn't it.

Our backrow is a real weakness this year. I desperately want both to succeed but Fitzy has been invisible and Sione has been terrible.

 

[macavity]

Honestly, if we are a season or two away from being competitive, Brown will not be around to see it happen. Anything but the finals this season is a huge fail. A sacking offence, no question. You give that squad to the best coaches and they make it work.

Bellamy gets this squad a premiership.

McGuire, Siebold, even crusty old Bennett are 4-0 with it.

We are 1-3.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

We’re not actually playing that bad, we’ve lost 3 games by a combined total of 10 points which is not something that could have been said over the last few years.

One problem is that we’re repeatedly coming up with the wrong play when the game is on the line, the play that we came up with when we had 6 again with about 2 mins to go was diabolical.

Then we failed to make the clutch play when we needed to in golden point and paid the price.

We definitely haven’t been bullied by teams like we have been so long but my main issue is that we’re not creating anything when we have the ball. Our forwards aren’t offloading much and our backs don’t get early ball, this has basically been the case for the last decade.

All that being said I’m prepared to back Brown and let him do his job. It’s a long season and while we haven’t looked great so far I believe we have a side that can challenge for the top 8 if given enough time to gel.

 

[K-Man]

Watson hasn't had a run at 5/8 this year. Lino isn't it.

Our backrow is a real weakness this year. I desperately want both to succeed but Fitzy has been invisible and Sione has been terrible.

Very true. And again it comes back to the coach unfortunately. He's got so much right, he's built the squad to a place that didn't seem possible after Bennett. But there are still some rather obvious weaknesses.

Also, the way we play looks like we will be incapable of winning games by big margins and taking the pressure of ourselves within the match. Too predictable. Too mundane. And not enough attitude to start the game.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Also I felt the refereeing was dodgy at best, there were a heap of occasions when the dragons were lying all over us and the refs put the whistle away, it was a disgrace.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Of course we lost.. Alex McKinnon Cup, at home, big crowd, Rossys farewell...

These are the games we never win

 

[K-Man]

We’re not actually playing that bad, we’ve lost 3 games by a combined total of 10 points which is not something that could have been said over the last few years.

One problem is that we’re repeatedly coming up with the wrong play when the game is on the line, the play that we came up with when we had 6 again with about 2 mins to go was diabolical.

Then we failed to make the clutch play when we needed to in golden point and paid the price.

We definitely haven’t been bullied by teams like we have been so long but my main issue is that we’re not creating anything when we have the ball. Our forwards aren’t offloading much and our backs don’t get early ball, this has basically been the case for the last decade.

All that being said I’m prepared to back Brown and let him do his job. It’s a long season and while we haven’t looked great so far I believe we have a side that can challenge for the top 8 if given enough time to gel.

If that's how Brown feels too, we're doomed. We are playing that bad. I'm not talking about the scoreline, I'm talking about the game itself. Defensively - pretty solid. Offensively - absolute disorganised garbage most of the time.

 

[Bartwah]

Knights Fans:
Round 3 - Put Ponga at fullback, we NEED Lino at 5/8
Round 4 - Lino has to go!
Fmd it’s painful to listen to.

Worth mentioning too, Klem stormed straight up the tunnel after the game, didn’t shake hands with the opposition and didn’t wave to the kids that were yelling out to him. He was proper pi$$ed off

 

[Bartwah]

Another thing mentioning too, you do realise we have an Attacking coach (Sheppard?)?
I think he’s got more to answer to than Brown

 

[Woosh]

Another thing mentioning too, you do realise we have an Attacking coach (Sheppard?)?
I think he’s got more to answer to than Brown

LOL what does Brown actually do then?
He sacked a bunch and players and coaches.