Match Discussion: Round 5 vs Sea Eagles @ McDonald Jones Stadium

[alexwilliams_66692007]

To me it looks like the team is playing to instructions with no ad lib when circumstances offer the chance.

What's funny is that for the past 2 rounds Brown and a couple of players have both said that they're going to start chancing their hands more during games leading up to them..

 

[Pedge1971]

Where did I write this squad should be kicking NRL ass?

You didnt. But the way you go into a massive meltdown after every loss implies you do.

If not having a massive sook after every loss makes me part of the herd, then sure I'm part of the herd.

The team clearly isnt playing well. But injuries aside its the best we have. Pre season expectations were high and they are performing well below expectation.

Just think they need to be given more than 5 weeks to right the wrongs of which there are many.

Execution has been poor all year but the concern yesterday was the lack of effort esp in the first 20 mins. They may have been poor in the first 4 weeks but at least the effort was there. Only the individual players can fix that.

As others have said here they need to chance the arm more and play off the cuff. Way too predictable. We threw nothing at Manly when they were a man down and chasing the game and that was disappointing.

 

[slotmachine]

Not much talk about Levi getting hooked...

 

[perverse]

Not much talk about Levi getting hooked...

Not much to say about it other than it was deserved, and that I was pretty much over the guy by the end of last year. He's a limited player. He's still the best that we currently have at the club, unfortunately. If Pearce were playing better it wouldn't matter so much.

 

[macavity]

Not much talk about Levi getting hooked...

We currently have the worst spine in the comp.

An amazing 1 doesn’t make up for a woefully out of form 7 and two spuds at 6 and 9.

 

[Yosh]

Forever an optimistic I am but I thought we looked better with Watson out there at hooker. Levi always looks like he isn't comfortable playing. He wants to do something stupid but has had that beaten out of him. Watson looked like a live wire. He did drop the ball and make mistakes but looked pretty decent.

Someone said Watson was a poor man's Gidley but I think that's something we need at the moment. Someone who is high energy and will be in and around the ruck trying to create a fuss for the opposition. I hope we see him more often at hooker.

Lino looks like he is second guessing himself all game. He just waits to catch the ball and seems like he respects Pearce too much. Anyone can see Pearce is in a slump, Lino should just demand the ball and do what he wants. That's what the best players would do, demand the ball over and over again. Lino might as well be Sean Rudd out there. Has he been instrcied to only catch and pass? It looked like he had a step in him and his short kicking is okay. We are so predictable in attack. I want him to worry defenders with a cut out or a run or even a kick in behind on tackle two. I don't mind seeing him play six if he is instructed to do more than catch and pass...

 

[Old dog]

Haven’t been impressed with Watson, Lino or Mann at 6, Ponga must stay at 1 so what are our options, pick and stick with one of them or take a gamble and play Crosslands. Think we will go for Lino and stick for a while, has slightly better all round game at 6 and not sure if Crosslands qualifies at this stage.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I would stick with Lino at 6 for the time being and let Watson and Mann share the hooking duties. Levi can have a spell in reserve grade.

 

[Old dog]

Think Levi’s form is not too bad but think he has been told to cut out dummy half runs etc and feed Pearce etc the trouble is his game has become one dimension able, pass, pass, pass. He is better with the odd error and worrying the opposition. If fit would be nice to see Watson given a go at 9 even if it meant keeping Levi on bench, if injury Levi on with Watson to cover.

 

[Knight Vision]

pick and stick with one of them or take a gamble and play Crosslands

was thinking the same, but perhaps not the best time to blood the young fella, could destroy his confidence.

 

[Knight Vision]

What's funny is that for the past 2 rounds Brown and a couple of players have both said that they're going to start chancing their hands more during games leading up to them..

https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2019/round-5/knights-v-sea-eagles/
we threw the ball around more than Manly. The team stats are close and indicate we werent blown off the park in any area other than the kicking game. In most key areas of the game we faired better than Manly . The had 2 x our kick mtrs and had FAR better field position.

 

[Yosh]

https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2019/round-5/knights-v-sea-eagles/
we threw the ball around more than Manly. The team stats are close and indicate we werent blown off the park in any area other than the kicking game. In most key areas of the game we faired better than Manly . The had 2 x our kick mtrs and had FAR better field position.

So basically Pearce... He was so dominant in those areas last year...

 

[Frederick]

Not much talk about Levi getting hooked...

Levi was hooked? When did that happen? I know Lino was hooked but had to come back on when Pearce was injured

 

[Knight Vision]

So basically Pearce... He was so dominant in those areas last year...

I think so. Like last year it shows we are nothing without Pearce at his best.

Most teams have a 5/8 capable of taking on the game and we dont. Lino, Watson or Mann are not players capable of directing the play or have a kicking game to cover for Pearce's absence/poor form.

No way in the world our attacking plays ( or lack of ) has been the coaching staffs game plan.

Our only hope is that Pearcey gets his shit together or its going to be another long season ahead.

 

[Knight Vision]

Levi was hooked? When did that happen? I know Lino was hooked but had to come back on when Pearce was injured

I think he was just given a spell and Watson came on. Watson did so well he replaced Lino when Levi came back on.

 

[slotmachine]

Levi was hooked? When did that happen?

Every game so far Levi has played until the 60-65ish minute before getting replaced. Last night he got pulled off in the first half.

 

[Alex28]

Watson will be fine long term once we pick a spot for him and stick to it. It’s completely unfair to write him off given he has been in and out of the team with injury and has been chopped and changed around position wise so much.

 

[Knight Vision]

Watson will be fine long term once we pick a spot for him and stick to it. It’s completely unfair to write him off given he has been in and out of the team with injury and has been chopped and changed around position wise so much.

one of the few players that looked threatening with the ball.

 

[Spot On]

You didnt. But the way you go into a massive meltdown after every loss implies you do.

If not having a massive sook after every loss makes me part of the herd, then sure I'm part of the herd.

Querying if the prob is player quality or coaching is a massive meltdown?

Sure.

How you inference that from what was written is as confusing as watching our team.

Geez Pedge, your feathers ruffled much?

More herd mentality with that dribble you wrote?

 

[Spot On]

Watson will be fine long term once we pick a spot for him and stick to it. It’s completely unfair to write him off given he has been in and out of the team with injury and has been chopped and changed around position wise so much.

When will that actually happen though?