Match Discussion: Round 5 vs Gold Coast @ Cbus Super Stadium

[Jono078]

To cover for instances where players of the like of JSaf are out. The obvious situation we have now.

So your answer is for him to play middle forward, that's all I was asking.

Our bench isn't great, I don't know what the plan is for Randall there.

Knowing Obi he will only use 2 benchies this week.

Hopefully Klem is ok to go.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

So your answer is for him to play middle forward, that's all I was asking.

No. That's not my answer it's clear we need backup to cover for injuries.

 

[Knight76]

Klem should be good to go, he finished the last 20 with it so if there was any damage, they would have taken him straight off. And he was running fine at the end.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

For a side decimated with injuries we've still named a pretty solid squad...

 

[Yosh]

I think Sue won't be rotation with Watson but play prop forward. Shouldn't lose too much because he has been just as good as Jacob this year.

Randall is the anti-Watson. Safe as a brick house but offers very little flair. I think it could work.

 

[PhilGould]

The starting pack is still great. Pretty reliant on Ponga and Watson having great games in attack though, can't see where else points are coming from.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

There are two factors that actually give me some confidence going into this game.

Firstly, Ponga is a massive in. His involvement both in attack and defence and also on kick returns will be far better than anything that Hoy has done so far and I would expect a few less errors too. Also we all think Green is a better organiser than Pearce so hopefully having him steering the ship will help. Further to that having Watson playing 80 mins is a good thing, I hope he doesn’t get stuck on an edge and is given permission to roam.

Secondly, we’re now going to be underdogs against a lot of teams in the comp which I think works in our favour a little bit. Throughout the club’s history we’ve tended to turn up and play pretty well when we’re not expected to win (and let’s face it the last 2 weeks prove what we already knew which is we are terrible when we are hot favourites) The Titans are a decent looking side but they’re on 2-2 just like us so they haven’t exactly been that consistent and their two wins have been against the Broncos and Cowboys who are both terrible. Also the Titans aren’t exactly used to winning big matches yet either so I don’t know how well they’ll cope with being heavy favourites. This gives me some confidence that we’ll at least turn up and play really tough footy whether we win or not.

Anyway given everything that’s happened in the last couple of weeks a win here would be absolute gold!

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Also forgot to add, the biggest issue I see is the bench, losing JSaf is big but hopefully Saulo has a big game and sees this as an opportunity to push into the 17.

If Klem is out then we definitely have problems though because I don’t know how we will match it with their forwards without him.

 

[Jono078]

Hope you're right.

Part of me thinks Kalyn will be tentative and Fifita gets a hatrick steamrolling Tuala.

Hopefully we're in it and don't fall apart, that's the biggest thing - can't afford to break mentally.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

I can't really see how Randall fits in except maybe as second row or lock. Brailey can do a full game with others taking a bit of load off him.

 

[Jono078]

I can't really see how Randall fits in except maybe as second row or lock. Brailey can do a full game with others taking a bit of load off him.

Yep my thoughts too. Probably comes on as a tackle-machine lock to give Sue a breather.

I kind of hope Sasagi gets Randall's spot and comes on in the halves and move Watson to 13, but it's probably too early for that.

 

[Old dog]

As our weakest area is 1 Ponga due to short of match play, 6 Watson filling in at position and cover for a few others, 7 Green very short of a gallop but better for the run last week I would consider, Klem fit to play, having Randall and Sasagi at 14-15 with Suolo and King 16 and 17. Those two cover spine 1, 6, 7, & 9 with Watson who is fill in wherever.
It’s a good side but adapting could be the problem

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

kind of hope Sasagi gets Randall's spot and comes on in the halves and move Watson to 13, but it's probably too early for that.

Ditto but I reckon they'll ease Sasagi in.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

How many will be carrying injuries?
Klem cleared but may not be 100%.
Barney was hobbling a bit.
Major call for players to back up after last week.
This is way too early to expect them to play as if they were at the back end of the season.
Attrition might get to us.

 

[Knight Tales]

Let’s not expect miracles from KP but I do feel his class will get us home.

 

[PhilGould]

Musgrove and Smith dropped off the reserve list, Sasagi and Johns remain

I still think Sasagi will play

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

still think Sasagi will play

I reckon he will. They might be protecting him a bit by not naming him up front.

 

[PhilGould]

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Starford To'a
3. Enari Tuala
4. Gehamat Shibasaki
5. Hymel Hunt
6. Connor Watson
7. Blake Green
8. David Klemmer
9. Jayden Brailey (C)
10. Daniel Saifiti (C)
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Mitch Barnett
14. Chris Randall

13. Sauaso Sue
15. Pasami Saulo
16. Josh King
17. Brodie Jones

18. Simi Sasagi

 

[Jono078]

HUGE question marks over that bench, but I guess we couldn’t do much better.

Interested to see how OBrien utilizes them. No secret I haven’t totally liked the way he’s utilized the bench. The best teams get great value from all 4 spots

 

[Burwood]

Randell at lock? Strange that Watson always gets shifted to the bench in favour of Sue, but Randell is in the run on side. With the Titans strong backrow, I wonder what the tactic is?