R5 | Dragons 19-16 Knights @ WIN Jubilee | Sun 3.00pm

[Nuffy]

We had 10 less sets of 6 than them, yet only made 70m less, and only lost by 3. We just need to solve the errors... dropping Nev and working out the Gids conundrum will go a long way. We missed Bedsy.

We did miss him but we also learnt that Gids isn't the answer either.

Bennett is no dope, he will see what's going on with Gids and at some point he will need to make a tough call.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

What we really missed today was either an 80 minute hooker, or a back up bench hooker. Plus a forward on the bench who wasnt backing up from a game yesterday.

Gidley was dead set out on his feet after 25-30 min in the first half and was just doing enough to get by, he didnt really have the energy to create anything.

 

[aqua_duck]

What we really missed today was either an 80 minute hooker, or a back up bench hooker. Plus a forward on the bench who wasnt backing up from a game yesterday.

Gidley was dead set out on his feet after 25-30 min in the first half and was just doing enough to get by, he didnt really have the energy to create anything.

Very true which shocked me because Gidley's fitness has always been spoken of so highly, I guess it's a case of being in unfamiliar territory.

 

[Nuffy]

Bad timing for us allround, Bennett coming up against the team he left, them will a point to prove, Price under pressure, them at home and a former great passing on, they had plenty to play for and we walked into a old fashion ambush.

Bedsy service was missed, we were very conservative in the 1st half, too much so and I think that we are missing a true centre inside Uate.

It was one that got away.

 

[perverse]

Yeah, we had our tails up big time when Costigan made his first error (first touch, I believe). It killed our momentum hard, and it wasn't the only error that had that effect and made us start from scratch.

I don't think it's the end of the world at all, but we're missing a genuine centre inside Uate, and we need to sort out our completion rate on the road. Both teams we've played on the road have played very good football, though... so I'm not exactly slashing my wrists or claiming a genuine trend after 2 away matches just yet.

 

[Rod]

As everyone else has said - Costigan. I don't like blaming one player for a loss but it only took a couple of minutes for him to totally kill our momentum and swing it back into the Dragons favour. Just terrible. If he isn't dropped next week with the depth we now have it's ridiculous.

Other main criticism - we look slow. It was reminiscent of what we were dishing up about this time last year in those Roosters/Raiders/Titans games where we just looked slow and impotent. Obviously it wasn't as bad as that today but it's just the little things I noticed - we got dominated in the wrestle today, they were continually flipping us onto our back and lying all over us, then we didn't seem to want to get up and play the ball quickly and in the same situation they did. Even if you get rolled onto your back you can at least wriggle about and maybe jag a penalty. We just lie there and wait for them to get off. Frustrating.

Apart from those two things it's not wrist-slitting stuff. We didn't get many opportunities in their 20 all game due to their completions and kicking. McKinnon botched a nice opportunity that Mullen created, we almost scored another amazing try with about 5 minutes left, the one where Korbin got caught just short.

 

[Rudderriffic]

Honestly, Im getting very disappointed in Boyds efforts at the back. He can chime in on an attacking backline move like no other but he is just not urgent or gutsy enough on kick returns. He is playing like a real mercinary and im starting to think we are better off without him.

Yeah difficult to make an arguement against this. The bloke should give up League and go play touch football, he is allergic to hard contact.

 

[aqua_duck]

Also on Uate, he may have scored a try but his one on one defence close to the line is still reserve grade standard

 

[perverse]

Boyd turns into a bit of a sook when things aren't going our way, but more than anything I think it's that he gets disappointed when everyone around him is f**king it all up. I didn't think he was anywhere near our worst today. He's a bit of a princess, but I think he's worth it a million times over.

 

[aqua_duck]

As everyone else has said - Costigan. I don't like blaming one player for a loss but it only took a couple of minutes for him to totally kill our momentum and swing it back into the Dragons favour. Just terrible. If he isn't dropped next week with the depth we now have it's ridiculous.

Other main criticism - we look slow. It was reminiscent of what we were dishing up about this time last year in those Roosters/Raiders/Titans games where we just looked slow and impotent. Obviously it wasn't as bad as that today but it's just the little things I noticed - we got dominated in the wrestle today, they were continually flipping us onto our back and lying all over us, then we didn't seem to want to get up and play the ball quickly and in the same situation they did. Even if you get rolled onto your back you can at least wriggle about and maybe jag a penalty. We just lie there and wait for them to get off. Frustrating.

Apart from those two things it's not wrist-slitting stuff. We didn't get many opportunities in their 20 all game due to their completions and kicking. McKinnon botched a nice opportunity that Mullen created, we almost scored another amazing try with about 5 minutes left, the one where Korbin got caught just short.

In regard to being slow, we haven't really got much going on the fringes, Rochow is a good hard runner but I think he's more suited to playing in the middle, Tahu is still finding his feet again, on the right edge, Houston has good workrate but offers nothing at all in attack, and McKinnon isn't a centre

 

[Joker's Wild]

A guys the size and strenght of Aku should have manhandled Morris but he just went in soft.

Commitment is his big failing in defence

 

[aqua_duck]

A guys the size and strenght of Aku should have manhandled Morris but he just went in soft.

Commitment is his big failing in defence

Happened against Jorge Taufua too. It's gotten to a point where if a half decent winger is one on one with Uate near the line I'm almost expecting him to score against Aku

 

[Dave_]

Spot on pervy

I saw 2 sets where we made 60+ metres coming off our own 10m line

Honestly, Im getting very disappointed in Boyds efforts at the back. He can chime in on an attacking backline move like no other but he is just not urgent or gutsy enough on kick returns. He is playing like a real mercinary and im starting to think we are better off without him.

Absolutely agree. Boyd is a good player but his heart is elsewhere. The way he brings the ball back and passes it straight to the winger every time just shows he is'nt having a real dig and seems to try and avoid the collision. The way he returned the ball off our line with the ball in one hand was just dumb. I question his commitment to us.

I'm asking all Knights fans if they seriously think Boyd is doing a better job at fullback than Gidley was.

 

[chinorocks]

With the exception of the dropped ball I thought Boyd was our best player tbh. Only one who looked dangerous.

 

[perverse]

Absolutely agree. Boyd is a good player but his heart is elsewhere. The way he brings the ball back and passes it straight to the winger every time just shows he is'nt having a real dig and seems to try and avoid the collision. The way he returned the ball off our line with the ball in one hand was just dumb. I question his commitment to us.

I'm asking all Knights fans if they seriously think Boyd is doing a better job at fullback than Gidley was.

I think he's doing a better job at fullback than Gidley was. I don't even think Gidley has the capacity to offer us what Boyd does in attack.

 

[woodyk2]

Other than being extremely fit what does Gidley actually do?

 

[Frederick]

Stifles attacking raids

 

[Rolla]

Boyd is a big improvement on Gidley.

I agree with what people are saying about his heart, but you have to remember that none of our tries today happen without Boyd.

 

[God-King Dean]

You guys are asking the wrong questions.

The real question; did IanG go to Sizzler, & did he enjoy himself?

 

[Silent Knight]

Here are my thoughts for the game.

I'm concerned there is still an underlying mental weakness in our team. We were put under the pump early, a few 50/50 calls went against and we just seemed to retreat into our shell. Players standing around, hands on hips, heads down. Very poor body language, no one was smiling out there or really trying to rev up the boys.

Contenders don't do that, Cameron Smith wouldn't stand for that attitude from his team. I really think we missed Buderus leadership in this game. Our line speed in defence was ordinary. Apart from maybe Smith and Mullen no one put their hand up inside that first half an hour. Bennett obviously said the right words at halftime and we ran out there with more resolve.

I think you guys have said it all regarding Costigan. NSW Cup for the rest of the year and Sims locked in on the bench.

Also what's the go with Jamie Soward? He can't perform for his current Dragons coach but turns into a world beater when his ex-coach rolls into town. If I were a Knights player I'd really get the sh*ts with that and try and nail the fiery lil' bugger. He'll go back to being the same, predictable Dragons 5/8 next week, you wait and see.

Finally our lack of discipline and resolve cost us that game. We are a long way from being contenders. A 3 point loss to the Dragons today would equate to a 30 point loss against Storm or Manly. One of the premier teams would have annihilated us today.