Valheru
Coach
- Messages
- 19,511
Positives aplenty out of this game. The lads showed commitment and a brilliant attitude and enthusiasm throughout. It was easily our best defensive performance of the year with the boys scrambling well and working hard for each other. Joseph Manu looks to be an epic find and its hard to justify him not playing the remainder of the season. Latrell was his usual beastly self, especially in defence where he saved one try and nearly pulled off the greatest try saver of all time against Johnson.
The whole backline just looked a lot more settled and in control with SKD. What a brilliant player he is, I know he should have held on to that ball towards the end but that is the type of rocks or diamonds player he is and the result was just indicative of our season. I have to also give Dale Copley his dues, since his return from injury he has been quite solid and looks to be finding a bit of form. Going forward, I cant see how our 2-5 (when fit) cannot be made of Manu, Copley, Fergo (at centre) and SKD. That leaves Tupou on the outer but he has been terrible this year.
The forwards once again did their job with JWH continuing to find form and our forwards will only improve with the return of Cordner, I wish I could say the same about Guerra. I think the pressure of the captaincy is really starting to take its toll on Friend, a great player but I think he would be well serviced by having the responsibility taken away from him in favour of Cordner.
The negatives are the halves. Matterson looks a damaging runner and solid defender so I think the future is bright for him in the back row. Poor Jackson Hastings though, he has the pressure of the world on his shoulders which isnt made easier with the constant talk of us pursuing another 5/8 but I am starting to get the feeling that he just doesnt have what it takes to become an elite player. Dare I say it, he is starting to get a Daniel Mortimer type feel about him where he can be a good utility in a team going well but he is far from a match winner in an average team.
Having said all that the refs yesterday couldnt be more blatantly bias in their officiating if they tried. The reason given for no penalty try was there were too many warriors in the area and it wasnt certain Manu would get there first. That is a little mystifying given he did get there first despite the interference!!! The 3rd penalty that resulted in a penalty goal was an absolute joke, Luke grabbed Friend as soon as he was tackled and didnt let go until he whistle was blown. Finally, the only penalty the refs could find in our favour after the 20 minute mark was when one of our players damn near had his shoulder torn from its socket. Other than that the warriors were perfect apparently.
3 Manu
2 SKD
1 JWH
The whole backline just looked a lot more settled and in control with SKD. What a brilliant player he is, I know he should have held on to that ball towards the end but that is the type of rocks or diamonds player he is and the result was just indicative of our season. I have to also give Dale Copley his dues, since his return from injury he has been quite solid and looks to be finding a bit of form. Going forward, I cant see how our 2-5 (when fit) cannot be made of Manu, Copley, Fergo (at centre) and SKD. That leaves Tupou on the outer but he has been terrible this year.
The forwards once again did their job with JWH continuing to find form and our forwards will only improve with the return of Cordner, I wish I could say the same about Guerra. I think the pressure of the captaincy is really starting to take its toll on Friend, a great player but I think he would be well serviced by having the responsibility taken away from him in favour of Cordner.
The negatives are the halves. Matterson looks a damaging runner and solid defender so I think the future is bright for him in the back row. Poor Jackson Hastings though, he has the pressure of the world on his shoulders which isnt made easier with the constant talk of us pursuing another 5/8 but I am starting to get the feeling that he just doesnt have what it takes to become an elite player. Dare I say it, he is starting to get a Daniel Mortimer type feel about him where he can be a good utility in a team going well but he is far from a match winner in an average team.
Having said all that the refs yesterday couldnt be more blatantly bias in their officiating if they tried. The reason given for no penalty try was there were too many warriors in the area and it wasnt certain Manu would get there first. That is a little mystifying given he did get there first despite the interference!!! The 3rd penalty that resulted in a penalty goal was an absolute joke, Luke grabbed Friend as soon as he was tackled and didnt let go until he whistle was blown. Finally, the only penalty the refs could find in our favour after the 20 minute mark was when one of our players damn near had his shoulder torn from its socket. Other than that the warriors were perfect apparently.
3 Manu
2 SKD
1 JWH
