R 1 V The Dragons

[chrisD]

Poor effort, lack of intensity, the Dragons were far more enthusiastic and willing.

Attack will be ok, first round for an attack minded team in poor ball handling conditions. It was really a day to rely on Cleary more, which we didn't but he didn't play up to his standard anyway.

Defence we have structural issues. Cartwright will remain extremely susceptible defending out wide and whenever the defence has to slide. He should be given a run at lock now.

Moylan is below NRL average for a fb at both cleaning up attacking kicks and especially as a last ditch defender. Nothing we can do about that unless we are prepared to drop TMM or move him onto the bench in a relieving hooking role.

Wallace perhaps showing signs we need a dedicated back up hooker in the 17, and not the messing with the side Peachey option used today. But it's early, we'll see how things progress there.

Blake was great. We missed Mansour sorely.

 

[Rowdy Panther]

Whare isn't a winger. Both Hiku and Whare as wingers are completely inferior compared to DWZ and Mansour.

 

[Rowdy Panther]

Not sure Cartwright defending along side TMM is a good idea.

 

[chrisD]

Oh and is Moylan defending in the line on our goal line or not? I don't have a clue, and neither did he, Cartwright or Wallace on that first try.

 

[Copperhead]

Whare isn't a winger. Both Hiku and Whare as wingers are completely inferior compared to DWZ and Mansour.

No side relies on it's wingers more than Penrith. That pair was useless, especially Whare, who offers nothing taking the ball up.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

I would like to see Cartwright at lock as well. Think that is his most promising position. Move Merrin to prop, drop RCG to the bench or further, based on today's effort.

 

[Exsilium]

I don't think Hiku was as poor as whare but I can never tell when you're just calling Hiku out because of your long history of negative comments or his genuinely shit performances.

I'm not suggesting either should keep Edwards out long term but to suggest a couple trials and a bullshit nines tournament is enough to warrent a call up is a stretch for mine.

Whare was woeful today but until his injury he was a form centre.

My honest opinion is and has been for years, Moylan is one of the worst fullbacks in the comp. his effort and urgency is non existent when it's not in attack.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

No side relies on it's wingers more than Penrith. That pair was useless, especially Whare, who offers nothing taking the ball up.

I don't remember Whare taking a hit up. I'm sure he did, because that's what wingers do, but I don't remember one.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

My honest opinion is and has been for years, Moylan is one of the worst fullbacks in the comp. his effort and urgency is non existent when it's not in attack.

He's one of the worst defensive fullbacks in the comp for sure. In attack he's important.

 

[Exsilium]

I would like to see Cartwright at lock as well. Think that is his most promising position. Move Merrin to prop, drop RCG to the bench or further, based on today's effort.

Cartwrights heading into the Feleti Mateo zone, all flair and no football in him.

 

[Rhyno]

wtf was cleary

 

[chrisD]

It was a day for slow forwards with no ball skills, RCG was the average, Leota was a level again below that, his defence was water through the middle.

 

[Rowdy Panther]

It was a day for high completions and KISS. We failed. Move on to next week.

 

[Abacus]

Whare and Hiku were both horrible. They were both poor through the trials. They arent match fit. They WERE proven first graders. Injuries and time change that.

Dylan Edwards is fit. If he doesnt get a run with both wingers out after being our best in the preseason. Hes wasting his time here.

Hiku and Whare looked great didnt they? Only injury player to look good was TMM and he had a few reserve grade games at the end of last year and internationals between seasons.

Edwards would have been better than either player. Hell he could have done better than Moylan too. Our back 3 were horrible.

Relevant parts in bold.

 

[Rowdy Panther]

No side relies on it's wingers more than Penrith. That pair was useless, especially Whare, who offers nothing taking the ball up.

Good sides have wingers that make metres. We have been blessed with two who can. Sadly they are injured. Neither Hiku or Whare can do that. They both just go through the motions. Whare especially isn't buying into his role and what it requires. That is a concern.

 

[Pomoz]

Five points from the game.

1. We had the form centre in the NRL with Blake and we moved him on the wing for an unfit, rusty Whare. That didn't work. Whare made 3 tackles and missed 3 tackles. No doubt Hiku and Whare will improve with a few games but they should have been in reserve grade to start because they just aren't fit enough. They were just passengers.

2. The Panthers looked flat from the minute the game started. They have not tapered correctly and looked tired.

3. Cartwright should be on the bench. 8 missed tackles is not acceptable for a first grader. He could be the best back rower to ever play the game. Or not. He has the talent. Does he have the application? Either way, he was terrible today, although not alone there. SOO? "Tell him he's dreaming son".

4. The forwards were pathetic. Isaah Yeo and Time Browne were the only two to make decent metres. RCG should be benched. 40m as a starting prop is not good enough. Leota made more metres with 40% fewer minutes.

5. I think the team turned up expecting to win. Their enthusiasm was down and before they knew it St George was smashing us in the forwards and marching through our paper thin defence. The Panthers are inexperienced and the older heads clearly didn't warn them about reading your own press and treat every team as a challenge.

Errrr.. Bring on the Tigers...Gulp...

 

[Copperhead]

Cartwright should be on the bench. 8 missed tackles is not acceptable for a first grader.

Flattered by those figures, didn't even get his hands on half his misses.

 

[Pomoz]

He's one of the worst defensive fullbacks in the comp for sure. In attack he's important.

This is actually factually incorrect. He was equal 3rd for try saving tackles and he had the 3rd best missed tackle percentage (19%) behind Inglis (far and away the best) and Trbojevic. He makes more tackles per game than Trbojevic but misses slightly more. He misses fewer tackles than Dugan, makes the same number of try saving tackles than Dugan and makes more tackles than most full backs.

I accept Moylan's kick returns are poor, but you are just plain wrong about defence.

Incidentally, Inglis is far and away the best defensive fullback with a missed tackle percentage of a bout 14% compared to 18% for the next best. Souths season is probably over, they will miss him terribly.

 

[umina panther]

Players believed the hype. Which is fine if you can back it up. f**king disgusting performance

 

[TheFrog]

Errrr.. Bring on the Tigers...Gulp...

A completely different challenge from the one we failed today. We will handle their forwards but their backs will carve us up unless there's huge improvement.