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Penrith v Bondi Battlers (Finals Week One)

age.s

First Grade
Messages
7,811
Schneider is like an inverse Luke Walsh. Very physical/willing but no skill. Walsh had plenty of skill, but zero physicality, especially in defense.

We wouldn't win a premiership with either and I find it hard to believe Toelau or Laurie wouldn't add more to the team overall. Hopefully Nath is back for all remaining games and it's all academic.
 

Chins get the wins

First Grade
Messages
8,159
Schneider is like an inverse Luke Walsh. Very physical/willing but no skill. Walsh had plenty of skill, but zero physicality, especially in defense.

We wouldn't win a premiership with either and I find it hard to believe Toelau or Laurie wouldn't add more to the team overall. Hopefully Nath is back for all remaining games and it's all academic.
Ivan is trying to protect Tago imo. If we had a decent defensive centre we could try those options
 

maple_69

Bench
Messages
4,593
Smith needs to start firstly. In a season where only Yeo and Fish have really had a crack amongst our 2023 starting pack, he has warmed into the season and shown he wants it. Garner as well, he’s just in better shape than Sorro at this point.

No point harping on about Tago anymore but McLean is the safe pick at this point in terms of defence, ball handling and playing his part in attacking plays. Obviously not going to happen so fingers crossed the rest of the side can find their best and do it in spite of Tago.

With the need for our 14 to cover Nath I’m really surprised Ivan hasn’t got either Schneider some minutes at dummy half if he is the plan or Toelau some minutes at first receiver if it’s him. Really odd coaching but my guess is Schneider is the plan and he just won’t play if nothing goes wrong with Nath.

Aside from the dreadful ball handling, loose defence and stilted attack (Schneider is a hand brake), we seemed to play a bit more through the middle with the back 5 seeming a little sharper last night which is a good sign.

Plenty to fix up but it seems like most of our problems largely go away if Martin, Leota and Tago in particular can switch on the intensity. A lot will flow off the back of those guys playing to their potential.
 

Fangs

Coach
Messages
13,657
Watch the game again we got a few tries of kicks not really cutting stuff and you had to go back a long way to find a game

I'd say our best performance of the year and probably the best any team in the competition has played in 2024. And without Cleary. It was very impressive.

It was a long time ago though.
 

Kilkenny

Coach
Messages
13,852
IF we are serious we need to beat the Roosters/ Lose and we are in trouble. Win we get the weeks rest.
If we want to have an honest discussion going into week 1 of the finals series we have not been anywhere near where we need to be and arguably the three other sides in the top four are in better shape.

I have no doubt we can reverse things and beat the Roosters on Friday night but we need Nathan back even if only at 50% and it goes without saying perform at a level far in excess of what we have shown in the past month or so.
 

soc123_au

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
19,824
If anyone has a spare code feel free to channel your inner Api and slide into my DM's.
 

Panther Mike

Juniors
Messages
232
Watch the game again we got a few tries of kicks not really cutting stuff and you had to go back a long way to find a game
Tries off kicks aren't worth 4 points hey??

There was also the 34-12 v Broncos at Penrith and 46-10 romp over the Dragons at WIN, with Nathan on fire in both those games. Nathan playing just 10 of the 24 games hasn't helped.

Yes, they've grinded their way to most victories but even the 2021 team with all its star power across the park still battled out 3 extremely tight low scoring wins in a row to win the comp. Pretty footy doesn't always win out over grinding.
 

WestyLife

First Grade
Messages
7,390
If we want to have an honest discussion going into week 1 of the finals series we have not been anywhere near where we need to be and arguably the three other sides in the top four are in better shape.

I have no doubt we can reverse things and beat the Roosters on Friday night but we need Nathan back even if only at 50% and it goes without saying perform at a level far in excess of what we have shown in the past month or so.

It's totally cope but I am hopeful they'll switch on serious mode for finals like others have said. We have so much experience.
 

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