Well, got home from Melbourne at 11 last night, and didn't get on-line until now. All in all, very piss poor effort. Melbourne were far too good and will give this competition a BIG shake up, but we were our own worse enemy. Being at the game gives a different perspective than watching on TV, and I had reconfirmed for me yesterday what I thought at the other game I've been to this year (Warriors), and that's our game plans are rubbish and that Withers isn't a halfback's asshole.
I simple can't understand our game plan yesterday - we were continually dominated in the ruck area yet we consistently ran one out and got smashed. I believe it was your father I was sitting next to Bay56, and at his second ever live rugby league game even HE could tell our tactics were rubbish. (He was supporting Melbourne but I can forgive him for that.) We looked FAR more dangerous when Carney was distributing the ball to the backs, or our forwards were running two off the ruck. Elliott now has an 0-8 record against Melbourne, which is absolutely disgraceful. Bellamy must be laughing!
As someone else said, that's the first time I've seen Croker use his head this season. Although most of the game from him was shutting down our backline movements, flat-footed hitups being dominated by the Storm's forwards, and impossible offloads putting his team mates under huge amounts of pressure.
Thank you to Jed and Bay for attending the game, it's always good at an away game to be able to sit with fellow supporters, even if we were all frustrated watching the game!
As for Olympic Park - people complain about it but there's worse grounds being used in the comp. The worst thing I could think of about it was the $52 taxi fare from the airport! I must be insane to spend the amount of money I did to attend the game, but a spur of the moment decision, and it was great to actually have some time to go to a game (my second job usually prevents me from going to any games).