Melbourne Game

[giboz71]

Disappointing finish but at least there is light at the end of the tunnel. Definitely competed a lot better and there were some good performances by the new guys, Matthews and Harrison. We at least have some options in the forwards and I think Ah Mau and Hunt will be lucky to stay in the side when De Belin and Frizzel return. Matthews and Harrison provide that extra bit of energy we're lacking.

We just need to close out games better. The Storm were offloading at will and marching up the field at will the last 15mins. The 2nd phase just killed us, so we need to improve our defensive intensity. Been a problem all year to be honest.

I'm still hopeful we'll win more than we lose this year.

 

[blacklock]

Kicking te ball into touch at the 40 metre mark with a minute to go Shaw not the smartest thing to do. Kicking it long to the corners and forcing a long range try was the best option.

Not contesting the crossfield kick/keeping our line was the other mistake. I mean, just a cluster of errors that didn't need to happen. Its 1999 all over again. Ok maybe not as painful, but still. Atleast knock the crossfield kick away. Didn't even need to be caught.

 

[Mr Red]

4 of the 6 matches so far this season we have let the opposition score 24 or more points.
I dont care if you get pipped on the post or not, with that type of pathetic defensive effort most weeks you will get beaten...
whilst this week it was harder to take due to the fashion we lost, the fact is Price needs to put some toughness into our powder puff defence - 3rd year in a row we have been soft up the middle..not good enough.

look at the tigers - not as much talent in their team as us, but have been winning matches simply on the back of some good old intimidation and toughness.

 

[gonz]

Kicking te ball into touch at the 40 metre mark with a minute to go Shaw not the smartest thing to do. Kicking it long to the corners and forcing a long range try was the best option.

Not contesting the crossfield kick/keeping our line was the other mistake. I mean, just a cluster of errors that didn't need to happen. Its 1999 all over again. Ok maybe not as painful, but still. Atleast knock the crossfield kick away. Didn't even need to be caught.

Yep within 2 tackles they were already near our qtr
That play alone was the turning point, just comes down to a smart coach sending down
the right message it's not like he didn't have time, DOH

The tackle on the hooter shows the diff they tried to get every play possible out of those last seconds, we would've stopped at the hooter

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

Yep within 2 tackles they were already near our qtr
That play alone was the turning point, just comes down to a smart coach sending down
the right message it's not like he didn't have time, DOH

The tackle on the hooter shows the diff they tried to get every play possible out of those last seconds, we would've stopped at the hooter

You're a dope! Now you blame Price for Widdop kicking for touch 40 metres out :crazy:

 

[Elias1983]

Kicking te ball into touch at the 40 metre mark with a minute to go Shaw not the smartest thing to do. Kicking it long to the corners and forcing a long range try was the best option.

Not contesting the crossfield kick/keeping our line was the other mistake. I mean, just a cluster of errors that didn't need to happen. Its 1999 all over again. Ok maybe not as painful, but still. Atleast knock the crossfield kick away. Didn't even need to be caught.

I really can't blame witt for that kick.

The team were absolutely buggered and he was trying to wind the clock down...

I'm sure if he had his time over he would have kickes furthwr down field.

Having said that, him and widdop I think should be our halves for the time being.

 

[giboz71]

It's a mindset as well. The Storm are just used to winning and they play like it. We haven't had a winning culture in over 2 years and we unfortunately play like that too.

The last 15 mins, the Storm were all over us, we were up by 14, we should have been the ones dictating play. And the nervous kick into touch with a minute to go showed we were playing not to lose.

Only winning games will change this mentality unfortunately.

 

[jenninga]

How can we criticise our boys for last night,they were terrific.Kicking the ball into touch was a good tactic,slowing the game down as players were tired and regroup.We were a man down with Farrell injured,then Thompson goes off,even then with reshuffling the team we still showed ticker which is what we ask of them.
Haven't been this shattered after a loss for a long time,just hope we can regroup and take confidence into the game v the Warriors.

 

[Elias1983]

How can we criticise our boys for last night,they were terrific.Kicking the ball into touch was a good tactic,slowing the game down as players were tired and regroup.We were a man down with Farrell injured,then Thompson goes off,even then with reshuffling the team we still showed ticker which is what we ask of them.
Haven't been this shattered after a loss for a long time,just hope we can regroup and take confidence into the game v the Warriors.

That's the thing isn't it jenninga...

It's the type of performance that can galvanise the team or it can have a negative effect.

Interesting to see what happens in sat night...

 

[Highland Saint]

How can we criticise our boys for last night,they were terrific.Kicking the ball into touch was a good tactic,slowing the game down as players were tired and regroup.We were a man down with Farrell injured,then Thompson goes off,even then with reshuffling the team we still showed ticker which is what we ask of them.
Haven't been this shattered after a loss for a long time,just hope we can regroup and take confidence into the game v the Warriors.

Well said

 

[dragonreddy]

It's a mindset as well. The Storm are just used to winning and they play like it. We haven't had a winning culture in over 2 years and we unfortunately play like that too.

The last 15 mins, the Storm were all over us, we were up by 14, we should have been the ones dictating play. And the nervous kick into touch with a minute to go showed we were playing not to lose.

Only winning games will change this mentality unfortunately.

THIS^^^^

We led by 14 we shouldve closed the game out from there,all the ifs buts and maybes are astounding, if my aunty had balls she would be my uncle WE lost GET OVER IT!!Until we have a mentality of winning and backing ourselves again this will happen,our fitness is lacking towards the back end of games and our playmakers werent good enough to shut it down.

 

[God-King Dean]

It's a mindset as well. The Storm are just used to winning and they play like it. We haven't had a winning culture in over 2 years and we unfortunately play like that too.

This was my thought through the last 15 minutes.

They expect to win. We expect to lose.

 

[Drain the Dragon]

This was my thought through the last 15 minutes.

They expect to win. We expect to lose.

No doubt about that. But at least the signs are there that the tide is turning. Last year we wouldn't have even been in that game at all.

Plus the last 2 games have been tough, as we have been up against it playing without possession for long periods. We wilted in the last 10 minutes as a result. That together with the fact we lost Farrell and then Thompson made it a big ask to hang on to the lead.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

No doubt about that. But at least the signs are there that the tide is turning. Last year we wouldn't have even been in that game at all.

Plus the last 2 games have been tough, as we have been up against it playing without possession for long periods. We wilted in the last 10 minutes as a result. That together with the fact we lost Farrell and then Thompson made it a big ask to hang on to the lead.

Yep..I agree. As much as I was gutted and still can't watch the highlights we really took it to them and the fact we were left with 12 men didn't help. Last couple of years we wouldn't even have turned up to play. I hope they can keep up the intensity.

 

[InThatNumber]

While the Melbourne side will be lauded for their never say die attitude in this last second victory, they are not the only ones with a deep desire to win. Did anyone else notice it was Brett Morris who tackled the tryscorer as he scored the try? Brett Morris from the left wing making the last ditch tackle on the right wing? That guy is underrated IMO. He wanted that as badly as Melbourne did. Dragons like that deserve to win games like that. Shame it didn't work out, again, in Melbourne.

 

[StgeorgeDragons]

Melbourne had 400 more ran meters in the game despite having the same amount of sets.

Once we sort that out were a threat...

 

[giboz71]

This was my thought through the last 15 minutes.

They expect to win. We expect to lose.

Yep absolutely. Closing out games takes practice as well. How often have we been up by 14 with 15mins to go against a top side? Usually we are the ones chasing points.

The good teams close it out by kicking for the corners, chasing hard and no errors. We were masters at it in the Bennett years. How quickly times change.

 

[st.phil]

This team finished second last in 2013...you cannot expect them to just switch into killer mode...I would love them too but the confidence does not come back just like that, losing like that sure wont help. Definite signs of improvement but a lack of leadership / smarts in the last 20 cost us.

 

[BennyV]

There's a few things keeping me upbeat...for one, we have the second youngest team in the comp! Think about it, in 3 years time, guys like Dugan, Widdop, Merrin, Beale, Thompson will be in the absolute prime of their careers. JDB, Friz, Stockwell will be 3 years better. Whoever we have as halfback will have a lot less pressure on them. Guys like Jack Bird, Euan Aitken, Aiden Fonua-Blake and Mitch Dufty will be on the rise. Hornby and Young will be eyeing the co-coaching roles.

The future is bright enough fellas.

 

[Slackboy72]

Personally I'm happy with how competitive we were. Couple of bad decisions in the last 5 cost us field position but we are a team on the up. How often in the last 2 years have we scored 4 tries let alone against the storm (yes I know we beat them in the gong).