Trials are an amazing time,
For the ones whose hearts have been broken,
over and over.
Mick Ennis put it in perspective for me in this last game between the Cows and the Storm.
He said something along the lines of "of they would have been looking at video to see what defensive system they were using"
I mean truly...... wtf?
Any team with half a clue has not looked at a video of the opposition for the trials.
Trials are there for the coach, and team, to test stuff out.
Now with them all being televised some teams are placing more emphasis on them, and not for the good of the team, for the good of their supporters, and the media, to take a narrative.
Eg: Sticky had his players only play 20-30 mins against us, they were instructed to go all out in attack in their time on the field, so they did, and they got the goods.
Ole Stick did not want to expose the teams flaws too early in the season, and there are many as he has the most inexperienced NRL squad going into this season.
On the other token,
The two best sides in the Trials have probably been the Goons and the Donkeys.
The similarity? Their coaches situation.
One, Flange, cannot afford to have his side being mediocre at the start of the season because of his contract situation (it ends at the end of next year). He needs his lads playing fired up footy until at least July. I'm Not sure if it'll get that far as they aren't as good as what their fans have been fooled into believing.
Two, Madge, well it's pretty easy this one. He's got plenty of ego to prove that he can actually coach an NRL side, not just a rep side (NZ and NSW).
And to be more real, to coach THE biggest club in the NRL.
If he doesn't have them in the finals, at a minimum, then all he'll be remembered for is starring in that Z Grade series, TigerTown.
