Match Discussion: Round 5 vs Canterbury @ Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

[Lynoman]

Honestly I know we were garbage with the ball in hand tonight but you’ve gotta put a lot of that down to fatigue. The game was practically un-winnable from the start with us being down to 15 players from the 2nd minute. Looking at the stats our forwards played huge minutes…

Leo 72 mins
Friz 66 mins
Elliott 76 mins
Croker 56 mins
Cant 80 mins at centre
McEwen 80 mins

We had Jacob ruled out immediately and Hetherington went off with 30 to go due to a shoulder injury after only playing 19 mins so that’s two middles out of action for a significant chunk of the game so everyone had to lift more than their fair share, there were some sets where the backs were doing all the running because the forwards weren’t even back in the line yet.

Yeah we should have done better with ball in hand but fatigue and the overall game situation played a huge part in that. Not to mention the Dogs’ defence is unbelievable at the moment. Their kick chase is just relentless and it seems like there aren’t any chinks in the armour. There are better teams than us that will figure out how to beat them but some team will need to play outstanding for 80 mins to do it.

If this was a normal game without some pretty ridiculous circumstances and we still played like that I’d feel worse about it.

That being said AOB should be concerned that we’ve now been held scoreless in 3 out of our last 4 halves of football.

Another area of concern is quite a few players went on report so we could have another few outs in addition to the injuries.

Indeed, the Bulldogs should be embarrased they only beat a team of 14 (2 players out from the first minute) by 20 and a team down to 12 for 10 minutes, they were possibly more shit than us TBH!

 

[perverse]

Honestly I know we were garbage with the ball in hand tonight but you’ve gotta put a lot of that down to fatigue. The game was practically un-winnable from the start with us being down to 15 players from the 2nd minute. Looking at the stats our forwards played huge minutes…

Leo 72 mins
Friz 66 mins
Elliott 76 mins
Croker 56 mins
Cant 80 mins at centre
McEwen 80 mins

We had Jacob ruled out immediately and Hetherington went off with 30 to go due to a shoulder injury after only playing 19 mins so that’s two middles out of action for a significant chunk of the game so everyone had to lift more than their fair share, there were some sets where the backs were doing all the running because the forwards weren’t even back in the line yet.

Yeah we should have done better with ball in hand but fatigue and the overall game situation played a huge part in that. Not to mention the Dogs’ defence is unbelievable at the moment. Their kick chase is just relentless and it seems like there aren’t any chinks in the armour. There are better teams than us that will figure out how to beat them but some team will need to play outstanding for 80 mins to do it.

If this was a normal game without some pretty ridiculous circumstances and we still played like that I’d feel worse about it.

That being said AOB should be concerned that we’ve now been held scoreless in 3 out of our last 4 halves of football.

Another area of concern is quite a few players went on report so we could have another few outs in addition to the injuries.

The scary thing for me is it was really starting to remind me of the round 3 game against Penrith in 2022 that completely derailed our season. Barnett never plays for us again and yeah, we didn't recover from the injury toll/suspensions. It's going to be really rough reading the outs from this match, and I'm not sure if we have many back in the near term either.

 

[SamSepi0l]

The Ponga stuff tonight is weird.
The Dogs had the ball for almost 10 more mins, ran for 700m more, for some reason didn't get knock ons called, didn't have Cogger and we lost 3 players, 2 in the first 5 mins.

Him being frustrated isn't terrible. At least he cares. But what is a fullback supposed to do with that? Particularly with the quality of ball he was getting, generally after a slow ptb.

 

[Zoidberg]

Honestly I know we were garbage with the ball in hand tonight but you’ve gotta put a lot of that down to fatigue.

1 try from a bomb to Marzhew (which we need to look at and fix) and the other 2 tries right in the middle. Fatigue was a big part of the tries we let in.
Our attack was very poor and the quicker Gamble comes back so we can boot Cogger the better.

 

[Yosh]

Thought our defense was ballsy. We need more in attack. Something...

 

[Jono078]

That being said AOB should be concerned that we’ve now been held scoreless in 3 out of our last 4 halves of football.

You're 4 minutes lucky to not say 4/5 last halves.

 

[Jono078]

At least they look happy.

 

[NK Arsenal]

Greg Marzhew must never play for us ever again. That was the most pathetic performance in a knights jumper in recent memory. Makes Paul carriage in 1998 look like a superstar

 

[slotmachine]

Nothing going to change if they can't control the ball, and there's very little indication of improvement in that area. Managed one half all year.

 

[Woody90]

Thought our defense was ballsy. We need more in attack. Something...

We need a half that’s at least quick enough to get the ball away before being smothered. I genuinely think that would help at least 50% of our attack. We have two of the best centres in the comp but can’t get the ball to them because Cogger gets caught with it constantly. That would help a lot. I honestly think a lot of our attacking issues understandably came down to fatigue, but Cogger plays that slow regardless. I’m ok with persisting with Sharpe at 6, but we also need to acknowledge that if we do that Cogger is going to have his hands on the ball a lot and that’s not going to work.

I’d also consider bringing Matt Arthur in on the bench. I think long-term Crossland is better at 14. Sucks for Brailey but tbh I don’t think he’s offering enough now to warrant staying in the side when he’s leaving.

If we keep defending like that we’ll win games. I don’t think the attacking issues are as extreme as what people are making out but we do need a couple of changes. We also need to work on ball security. I’m pretty sure we’re leading the comp for errors.

 

[slotmachine]

I’m pretty sure we’re leading the comp for errors.

First for errors per game (over 15), second last for set completions. Absolute garbage and you can't pin it on cogger, or missing some forwards.

 

[Walk On Home Boy]

Greg Marzhew must never play for us ever again. That was the most pathetic performance in a knights jumper in recent memory. Makes Paul carriage in 1998 look like a superstar

Unfortunately, it wasn't even his worst game for this club. He's had many like this. Most have looked past his ineptitude under the high ball and hoof-like hands because he gets quick ptbs, makes good meters out of dummy half and takes pressure off the forwards. If we had halves we could put Sharpe back out there but...yeah...about that...

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Marzhew is one of those players who has some weaknesses in his game but has plenty of upside too. So you’re going to get games like this but he was also our best yardage player too, and it was his offload that lead to our only line break of the game.

I can accept the odd nightmare performance from him given that most weeks his strengths outweigh his weaknesses.

I definitely don’t think his performance tonight was down to lack of effort or application though. It was one of those nights.

 

[Seage]

Yeah I agree. I can live with the occasional horrific performance from him because he does offer something that no one else does - being an absolute cannonball bringing the ball out of our own half. And some weeks he gets bombed to relentlessly and catches every one. Am I ever confident in him. Absolutely not. Heart in the mouth stuff every time. But I'm willing to take the ride.

 

[Woody90]

In Marzhew’s defence, if we didn’t keep dropping the ball and giving the Dogs so much good field position they wouldn’t constantly be able to bomb to him on the try line with heaps of players coming through in pressure.

He’s obviously not good under the high ball, but I think a lot of wingers would have also struggled in those circumstances not even accounting for the height disadvantage.

 

[Loose Cannon]

In Marzhew’s defence, if we didn’t keep dropping the ball and giving the Dogs so much good field position they wouldn’t constantly be able to bomb to him on the try line with heaps of players coming through in pressure.

He’s obviously not good under the high ball, but I think a lot of wingers would have also struggled in those circumstances not even accounting for the height disadvantage.

Exactly. Someone previously alluded to this also.

Our whole lack of pressure on the opponent’s kick contributes to Marzhew getting hammered constantly, with any halfback (not named Jack Cogger) able to find a use for an 18 inch height advantage. Pretty sure it wouldn’t be nearly as effective if we could keep teams inside their own half from the 5 plays prior. Factor in our own insipid kicking game plan of letting fullbacks start with 20-30 metres, now in it’s 7th year of practice, and it all adds up.

Canterbury are the perfect team to watch do all these things right. Their defence is strong, they look very fit, they compete every play. It’s never just been Burton’s boot, as evident this season so far.

 

[Apey]

Well the MRC aren't as blind as the bunker, Preston charged for his high shot on Schiller in the first minute.

 

[Haffa]

He's worse than dead weight. Dead weight implies it's just hanging off you, flaccidly. Cogger is more like having a beligerant child tied to you with a rope that is constantly fighting to run in the opposite direction.

What I struggle with is it's obvious the criticism on halves changes last season has been taken to heart, so we are sticking with the same combo (at least until Gamble is available - Cogger will probably be on the bench again though) but the team doesn't appear to have adapted the way they play in order to play to their strengths or do something different.

 

[Haffa]

First for errors per game (over 15), second last for set completions. Absolute garbage and you can't pin it on cogger, or missing some forwards.

That's horrendous.

 

[Old dog]

Just up to date reading all this.
McEwen missing tackle for a try, criticism a bit harsh, played whole game so tiredness likely main reason.
Going to be short of middles so suggest Crossland, if cleared, play 13 with Elliott if cleared up front, if both out Cant to 13. Brailey 9, Arthur 14. Not going to happen but Gamble or Hastings to 7.
Tyrone T to 17 in place of Hetho, KPP back, Jones to be selected in 17, probably JSaf spot.
Marzhew still in, his good out ways his bands, maybe not yesterday.
Spine was very poor