R9 // Knights 10-32 Panthers @ Hunter // Sun 2pm

[perverse]

I agree with you re:Houston. However, several of the players that are in our squad were there during 2007-11 when Smithy and Stone were at the helm, and playing our natural game, we were able to produce some great, memorable wins and more importantly, we never gave up. I'm not so much talking about individual performances as much as how well we gelled as a side on the field with the limited talent around (compared to the resources Wayne has). We rarely meekly capitulated the way we did under Michael Hagan when Joey wasn't there, and we produced several wins from behind that we would've never accomplished under Hagan. The belief was still there.

Bollocks. We were no better back then. Our forwards were still plodders and our backs still stupid. Uate and Gidley carried us through that entire period, with some highlights from Mullen when he was on. You are totally and completely rewriting history in your head. We often gave in meekly to any team that looked at us mean sideways.

If we didn't have Gidley or Uate in rare form over that period, we wouldn't have ever got off the bottom of the ladder. We were insipid sometimes, and squeezing into 8th position was the peak of our ambition.

 

[undertaker]

Wayne can't catch the dropped balls, either. Our ball control has been absolutely pathetic today. Our spine can't do much about it when we don't have the ball for more than 1 or 2 tackles.

True, Wayne isn't the person making the braindead playing choices on the field, but he is responsible for the team selection though and repeatedly selecting certain players performing at a sub-standard level. Much like NSW selecting Pearce even though he's had about 4 or so series at winning Origin and hasn't produced the goods.

I would love to see him make a tough call on either Boyd or Gidley....but we all know it won't happen.

 

[slotmachine]

The good news is we will hopefully be rid of tinks, both the gidleys, Wayne and his son for 2015

 

[Dave_]

Losing to any side with Soward and Wallace as the halves is just beyond embarrassing.

That's the season done imo and it's not going to be any better until massive changes are made to our roster. Uate, Boyd, Gidley and co are all on over inflated contacts and I honestly don't think Tyrone Roberts is working out for us, he stifles our attack when he should be doing the opposite.

We're fu*ked now and in the long term.

 

[undertaker]

The players are f**ked. There a few blokes that do their job week in, week out... The rest of them are just total pretenders.

I'd like you to go straight to the players' faces and tell them that. Absolute garbage. They aren't pretenders at all.

 

[K-Man]

How good are these grubbers? Not one chip bomb in sight.

 

[perverse]

True, Wayne isn't the person making the braindead playing choices on the field, but he is responsible for the team selection though and repeatedly selecting certain players performing at a sub-standard level. Much like NSW selecting Pearce even though he's had about 4 or so series at winning Origin and hasn't produced the goods.

I would love to see him make a tough call on either Boyd or Gidley....but we all know it won't happen.

Our biggest enemy today was Leilua, he practically gift wrapped them the game. Last year everyone around here thought he was the second coming of Christ.

We are just playing horrible to a man at the moment. Morale must be f**ked at the club right now, we've copped a hell of a lot of knocks this year. I think you can put a fork in us now, we're done for the year unfortunately.

 

[undertaker]

Losing to any side with Soward and Wallace as the halves is just beyond embarrassing.

That's the season done imo and it's not going to be any better until massive changes are made to our roster. Uate, Boyd, Gidley and co are all on over inflated contacts and I honestly don't think Tyrone Roberts is working out for us, he stifles our attack when he should be doing the opposite.

We're fu*ked now and in the long term.

Gus has worked the oracle at the Panthers, and a lot of the planning that him and the coach he selected - Ivan Cleary - was criticised for when they arrived there 2 or so years ago is now starting to reap the rewards. They are a team on the rise

 

[perverse]

I'd like you to go straight to the players' faces and tell them that. Absolute garbage. They aren't pretenders at all.

lol why, do you think they'd hit me or something? You're kidding yourself. Half the team today don't deserve first grade jerseys. Leilua needs some time in NSW cup, he's been unpredictable all year and today was just the icing on the cake. Boyd was better today, but still shit... but most importantly, there's probably only 2 or 3 forwards out of 8 that should have been out there today.

 

[Misanthrope]

Could be a second wooden spoon year for us. I attended every home game of the last wooden spoon season, so I've got to say it'll be a little easier watching it from the safety of China.

 

[undertaker]

Our biggest enemy today was Leilua, he practically gift wrapped them the game. Last year everyone around here thought he was the second coming of Christ.

We are just playing horrible to a man at the moment. Morale must be f**ked at the club right now, we've copped a hell of a lot of knocks this year. I think you can put a fork in us now, we're done for the year unfortunately.

And Leilua has shown us last year what he is capable of producing, which makes it very frustrating to see him come up not just with mistakes (which everyone does), but with coachkillers such as the no-look pass straight to a Panthers player who scores the try, putting the result beyond doubt.

I remember when the Broncos got absolutely creamed by the Storm 10 years ago or so, and Wayne took his players to some sports psychologist, church or something like that...nek minnut...48-0 at half-time vs Parramatta.:lol:

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Came out strong but then quit.
Way too much trying straight up the middle then spread it wide. No variety at all.
I don't think I saw a single fwd run at at angle. No real plays. Missing in action.
BJ did massive mess ups.
Mullen doesn't seem to want t play Origin. He didn't take any control today and that's what we needed.

If anyone goes emo I won't be one to say "wake up"

 

[Swarzey]

I am so f**king done with this team.

 

[undertaker]

lol why, do you think they'd hit me or something?

No, it's just you wouldn't have the guts to say that in front of their faces. Another keyboard warrior.

 

[undertaker]

Could be a second wooden spoon year for us. I attended every home game of the last wooden spoon season, so I've got to say it'll be a little easier watching it from the safety of China.

Canberra and Cronulla are the other close contenders for the spoon. At least in 2005 the team tried their guts off and came agonisingly close in several games of that 13 match losing streak. There were many 'what if' moments. As Parramatta showed in 2009, one win - as scrappy as it may be - is all it takes to provide the confidence to turn a season around and things may've panned out very differently. But now, it's a little bit hard to say you've trying your best when deep down you have already given up and thrown in the towel.

 

[Misanthrope]

I'll say it to their faces, if you like. Worst case, they beat me up and go to jail and I don't have to watch them embarrass themselves or the club anymore.

And I get money!

 

[perverse]

No, it's just you wouldn't have the guts to say that in front of their faces. Another keyboard warrior.

So you think we have a team full of first grade capable and ready players, do you? Go on, try and defend our forward pack today - it was toxic and shithouse. I reckon the players could do nothing but agree with me. They're in fantasy land if they think they are first graders with efforts like that.

 

[Misanthrope]

I doubt our entire team is made up of Lucas Neill clones who are incapable of seeing their own failings.

I mean, they lost to Penrith today. If that doesn't wake them up, nothing we say will.

 

[slotmachine]

Perhaps our squad would appear more capable with competent coaching?

At the moment everyone is going backwards.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

We have a talented team but we lack the headspace. We could be capable but we aren't.
I don't reckon any major team changes will fix that. It's up to each of them individually and as a team to stand up. Confidence must be rock bottom now.