New South Wales 2016

[big hit!]

Dylan Walker must be the worst origin selection ever well done Bozo, one of the most blatantly biased rep selections I've seen.

The other 3 debutants were ok, Moylan had some good moments and some bad ones. Reynolds was solid but his kicking just wasn't there for us and Mansour didn't get much opportunity.

Ease up on Walker. Is it really his fault he got selected and was injected into the game with absolutely no thought to how he was to be used? It seriously appeared that the instructions given to him were to get out there and run around a bit. Woeful managing of the team right there and symptomatic of NSW over the last few years. He sniffed around the ruck but wasn't part of any planned moves at all. The carry which he conceded the penalty epitomised it. It was a 12th minute type of carry when much more was required in the 78th minute when your 2 pts down. Basically, any of the forwards could have done what he did on that play. Just a really bad use of him by Daley and the 'shit for brains' trust.

The NSW middle rotation had the measure of QLD. Fifita & Klemmer were clearly stronger than Papalii & McGuire in that 20' either side of HT. This is where NSW had to capitalise with a couple of tries. As usual, poor organisation in the attacking 20m cost the Blues a victory. It's the same old story. I've been a big critic of Farah's meddling, and it continued last night. He gives slow service and does his own thing rather than provide quick ball. The quality of some of his passes was shocking too with several players needing to temper there run and catch the ball behind them.

It beggars belief that Daley would change up the spine with a new FB, RH, & LH, but limit any potential impact they can have by persisting with the piece of the puzzle that hinders it all.

If there is one change to be made to this team, it has to be Farah OUT, and an acting half IN with a simpler game. The most important thing NSW needs from an acting half is quick quality ball and it's something Farah doesn't do. He feels he needs to be involved in any potential scoring play.

 

[Frailty]

NSW don't even need to make a whole lot of changes. But here is what I'd do:

- Drop Farah - I'm not denying his passion, but the game has passed him by. His passing from the ruck is extremely slow, which means pressure is on the halves with no real space to operate. This flows onto the outside backs. I honestly don't really mind who you replace him with. Personally, I'd go Ennis, but would be happy for anyone with a quicker passing game.

- Drop or reduce Bird's time - Still has it in defence, but is slow with the ball, or provides no forward momentum. It could be he was playing too many minutes, or he is too easy to read. Too many runs crabbing sideways.

- Drop Walker or actually give him a chance - I hated his selection, but what was the point of putting him on for the last 8 or 9 minutes after NSW had ample time attacking the QLD try line before. Doesn't matter the impact player - they'll have no effect with such little time.

- Better bench management - Fifita on at the 43rd minute. Who needs a break 3 minutes after half time, and why would you wait that long to put a dynamic and strong runner on that late.

 

[Shorty]

Have a look at Moylan with the ball last night and compare it to what happens when he plays for Penrith. At Penrith he passes the ball almost every time he runs, because the outside backs always back him up. Last night only Mansour appeared to be doing this, no doubt because he's accustomed to doing it. It very nearly led to a try.

This is the reason Moylan was selected, his ball skills. Get Jennings, Morris and Ferguson supporting his runs and you'll find him putting them through holes.

Agreed.
I don't get the Moylan criticism...I thought he played well and tried hard.
He looked dangerous with the ball in hand...

 

[big hit!]

NSW don't even need to make a whole lot of changes. But here is what I'd do:

- Drop Farah - I'm not denying his passion, but the game has passed him by. His passing from the ruck is extremely slow, which means pressure is on the halves with no real space to operate. This flows onto the outside backs. I honestly don't really mind who you replace him with. Personally, I'd go Ennis, but would be happy for anyone with a quicker passing game.

- Drop or reduce Bird's time - Still has it in defence, but is slow with the ball, or provides no forward momentum. It could be he was playing too many minutes, or he is too easy to read. Too many runs crabbing sideways.

- Drop Walker or actually give him a chance - I hated his selection, but what was the point of putting him on for the last 8 or 9 minutes after NSW had ample time attacking the QLD try line before. Doesn't matter the impact player - they'll have no effect with such little time.

- Better bench management - Fifita on at the 43rd minute. Who needs a break 3 minutes after half time, and why would you wait that long to put a dynamic and strong runner on that late.

Gallen. He can play minutes so Daley did. He still got about 30' out of Fifita though. I Gallen didn't come back on until the last 10'.

I agree. The middle rotation just needs to rip in for 20' and then given a breather. Have the starting 3 play for 20', bring on the bench 3 middle rotation for 20' either side of HT, and then finish off with the starting 3 again for the final 20'. Not rocket science at all.

 

[mxlegend99]

He made one error and had poor communication with Ferguson for 2 other kicks. He and Mansour combined well though and he was actually creating half opportunities which could have become more if he had support.

It's a shame Panthers didn't move him to the halves as I think he would be far better there especially at this level.

 

[DiegoNT]

When souths fan boys like yourself can only describe reynolds as solid, that is proof enough that he was terrible. For someone who was branded as NSW kicking saviour, his kicks were atrocious in the first half and worse in the second. His missed easy conversion was unforgivable as well. All i hear about is how he allegedly forced all these repeat sets, maybe i was watching a different game but most were forced by other players or QLD mistakes.

I'm a Souths and Reynolds fan boy so i might be biased, but i don't get all the Reynolds hate. It was his first game, it was a new, inexperienced spine who had never played before so obviously it was going to be disjointed and have teething problems. By Reynolds Standards he didn't have the best kicking game, but it was at least as good as Pearce's best ever kicking performance in origin, and not a bad base to improve on in the remaining games. Hopefully he is retained, going back to Pearce after so many failures isn't the answer, going with a new halfback will only result in the same teething problems in the spine. I'm not even asking for 15+ games that Pearce has had to prove himself, just let him see out this series and go from there.

 

[grouch]

Reynolds was ok. Got a couple of repeat sets which is more than previous halves. Copped some awful service and tough kicking situations for most of the game elsewhere

 

[tigertiger]

It's the same shit every year. Our halves are like deer in the headlights when it comes to kicking and controlling the game. In saying that I think we need to stick with Reynolds/Maloney for a while. When this happens, Farah steps up and creates opportunity and thank god he did, 3 repeat sets, forcing deep kicks to the corner and 52 tackles.

 

[umina panther]

Reynolds last 20 mins where he bombed over and over again to no one was very poor but he should be given the series to improve

 

[ram raid]

They lost by two points in a slippery bludger game of footy. 1 try a piece. Hardly a reason to start second guessing selections.

 

[Frailty]

It's the same shit every year. Our halves are like deer in the headlights when it comes to kicking and controlling the game. In saying that I think we need to stick with Reynolds/Maloney for a while. When this happens, Farah steps up and creates opportunity and thank god he did, 3 repeat sets, forcing deep kicks to the corner and 52 tackles.

Funny how you note that it's the same shit every year with different halves, but seem to fail to note the common element - poor service from Farah.

It's the same reason Tigers have performed better this year without him. His service is slow and poor quality, taking away time and space of the halves and outside backs.

... But yes, Farah was great lol.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Moylans a lot like Hodgson was. Plays great for his club team but probably doesn't have the game for origin. He let one bomb bounce which lead to a drop out and dropped 2 others. His kick returns were generally average and in the second half both Jackson and Fifita made half breaks, had the arms free and he was nowhere to be seen. He chimed into the back line but to me never looked threatening. This isn't all his fault as the service didn't give him the 3 on 2 like you want (althought the one 2 on 1 he got he stuffed up a certain try). I'd be inclined to give Coote a go in game 2 but I don't think they'll drop him.

I thought Reynolds was pretty terrible but I don't know what else people expected. He is purely a kicker, he doesn't run it and he doesn't set up his outside men. You'll never see him set up a try like Maloney did. His kicking game was off and the missed goal (which should have been a gimme by his standards) ended up costing us massively. His defence was great and id keep him for game 2 purely because no one else is putting their hand up.

Personally thought Farah was terrible. Defence was great but his service was laughable and a lot of his options stupid. He got 2 repeats sets but for the first the only chaser was woods so no one else knew about it and the second was more good luck from gagai dropping it. It was also the third tackle and was nearly a huge waste.

 

[betcats]

Moylan looked like the most likely player to create something last night imo.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Moylan looked like the most likely player to create something last night imo.

but you know, he didnt

considering maloney set up the only try id say he was the most likely

 

[tigertiger]

Funny how you note that it's the same shit every year with different halves, but seem to fail to note the common element - poor service from Farah.

It's the same reason Tigers have performed better this year without him. His service is slow and poor quality, taking away time and space of the halves and outside backs.

... But yes, Farah was great lol.

The common element are our halves kicking shit. Plain and simple.

No amount of quick service from dummy half will help that. Plenty of times last night Reynolds and Maloney got early ball but kicked it on the full in-goal, or kicking bombs out of hope. These are the wrong options and it's a copout to blame it on Farah.

52-6. I'll just leave you with that.

 

[betcats]

He didn't but stick with him and he will, in the 2nd half he was the only one who looked threatening he certainly didn't look out of place besides a couple of nervous errors.

 

[MilkShark]

I think both Moylan and Tedesco are the future of NSW. But they're both fullbacks. Moylan I can see shifting to 5/8 for Penrith one day just like Lockyer did. He's a bit small for a fullback and is a great ballplayer.

Tedesco will be our fullback and I can see Moylan being 5/8 for NSW for years to come.

 

[betcats]

Tedesco will certainly get a chance for NSW if not for the injury he might be the FB now.

 

[Pete Cash]

Reynolds got lost but I wouldnt give up on him. The spine does need a good looking at. I thought the NSW pack did a good job. I think they kept most of the QLD forwards pretty quiet too. Matt Scott had one really good run at the end but was mostly pretty much not there.

I just remember being camped out in the QLD twenty for huge chunks of the night and we couldnt turn it into points. It was like watching the Raiders at their worst.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Let's face it, the blues need Austin in the side....oh and Leilua while they're at it.