Rd16: Eels v Dragons LIVE game day thread 28/6/18

[Poupou Escobar]

The dragons were busted and had multiple players backing up from tough rep matches with only 3 full days rest, whilst we were fresh and rested and almost at full strength barring mau and Moeroa, but the dragons had two big outs in Frizzell and Au mau

Don't get too excited people. Any other team in the same position would have wiped the floor with the dragons.

Under normal circumstances they would have put 30 on us

Under normal circumstances we would beat them, like we always do.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Kicking on the 3rd tackle, off a quick play the ball, while both of your halves are on fire with their kicks and you're 4 points ahead of the opposition is a good decision?

Even if the execution was perfect (how many 40/20 attempts are actually successful?) it was a poor decision to give the ball back to the opposition, early in the tackle count, whilst they were desperate to score a try. The good decision was to take the tackle, get a quick play the ball and then get the ball into the hands of the players who were playing well.

You can't guarantee the next play-the-ball (or any of the ones after that) will be quick. And teams are always rushing our halves. It's the main difference from last year. It's why we're playing so much up the middle this year. The ability to get early ball to our edge forwards has really been taken away. It's why we've had to sign Paulo.

 

[chiefy1]

Under normal circumstances we would beat them, like we always do.

Maybe you're too superstitious.
Dont walk under any ladders pau pau.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

My point is they'e not that f**king great. This will be only the second time since McGregor took over the Dragons (in 2014, same as Arthur) that they will finish ahead of us on the ladder. It also happens to also be the first time they beat us. Superstition has nothing to do with it. We are a better run club. One bad season (coinciding with one good season for them) doesn't change that.

There are obviously much better clubs than either team, but if you think the Dragons are some paragon of professionalism you're wrong. They are a flash in the pan.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

You can't guarantee the next play-the-ball (or any of the ones after that) will be quick. And teams are always rushing our halves. It's the main difference from last year. It's why we're playing so much up the middle this year. The ability to get early ball to our edge forwards has really been taken away. It's why we've had to sign Paulo.

Seeing as there was one marker, retreating defensive line and he had Moses and Gutherson on either side, the chances of a quick play the ball in that situation is increased. Even if it wasn't a quick play the ball, taking the tackle and making sure we were still in possession at such a crucial time would've been a good option, not giving the ball to our opposition.

 

[TheParraboy]

Kicking on the 3rd tackle, off a quick play the ball, while both of your halves are on fire with their kicks and you're 4 points ahead of the opposition is a good decision?

Even if the execution was perfect (how many 40/20 attempts are actually successful?) it was a poor decision to give the ball back to the opposition, early in the tackle count, whilst they were desperate to score a try. The good decision was to take the tackle, get a quick play the ball and then get the ball into the hands of the players who were playing well.

Nothing wrong with the decision, it was perfect imo

The execution was terrible (wrong kicker as well)

A kick would have happened after next tackle anyway. In this 3rd tackle there was a better opportunity, there was severe open pasture to kick a 40/20, their winger was up and FB no where in the vicinity. If no 40/20, a good deep kick chase would have been just as good.

Was a poor kick that's all.

Do that same scenario and scoreline again id back them to kick it deep (or a 40/20) . Maybe Hayne or Moses to do the kick next time though?

 

[Noise]

Nothing wrong with the decision, it was perfect imo

The execution was terrible (wrong kicker as well)

A kick would have happened after next tackle anyway. In this 3rd tackle there was a better opportunity, there was severe open pasture to kick a 40/20, their winger was up and FB no where in the vicinity. If no 40/20, a good deep kick chase would have been just as good.

Was a poor kick that's all.

Do that same scenario and scoreline again id back them to kick it . Maybe Hayne or Moses to do the kick next time though?

Well then if the wrong bloke is kicking it it's a poor decision for Will Smith to decide to kick it.

 

[TheParraboy]

Well then if the wrong bloke is kicking it it's a poor decision for Will Smith to decide to kick it.

yeah probably

probably got excited that there was so much open space

probably like a tennis player about to smash a high lob into the net

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Seeing as there was one marker, retreating defensive line and he had Moses and Gutherson on either side, the chances of a quick play the ball in that situation is increased. Even if it wasn't a quick play the ball, taking the tackle and making sure we were still in possession at such a crucial time would've been a good option, not giving the ball to our opposition.

The objective of that set was to give the ball to the opposition down their end of the field. That was what Smith (rightly) decided to do. The problem was the execution, not the decision.

 

[TheParraboy]

The objective of that set was to give the ball to the opposition down their end of the field. That was what Smith (rightly) decided to do. The problem was the execution, not the decision.

correct

in hindsight he should have kicked it far better

when it rains it pours I guess

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Nothing wrong with the decision, it was perfect imo

The execution was terrible (wrong kicker as well)

A kick would have happened after next tackle anyway. In this 3rd tackle there was a better opportunity, there was severe open pasture to kick a 40/20, their winger was up and FB no where in the vicinity. If no 40/20, a good deep kick chase would have been just as good.

Was a poor kick that's all.

Do that same scenario and scoreline again id back them to kick it deep (or a 40/20) . Maybe Hayne or Moses to do the kick next time though?

That's right. It didn't even need to be a 40/20. Even a deep kick away from their fullback and wingers, whether it found touch or not would have sufficed. And because the dummy half kicked it every merkin would've been onside.

f**king disgraceful kick though. f**k that merkin.

 

[TheParraboy]

Yup

When I said Smith was the "wrong kicker", maybe I should have said a "better kicker"
eg moses or hayne, but they could have done the same thing

either way Smith should have done far better, a deep kick they would have used up 3 tackles easily before they all got onside

 

[Joshuatheeel]

It was a stupid low percentage play!! It wasn’t needed!! We were protecting a lead not chasing one!

Should have got to the 5th tackle and kicked for touch like we were doing.

No way in the world Smith, Thurston, Cronk (the best in game management) wouId have even attempted that if they were in front with 3 or so mins to go!!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He did kick for touch. How many more metres would we have made before kicking on the last? How quick might the play-the-ball have been if we waited until the fifth tackle? How much pressure would our kicker have been under?

 

[strider]

The objective of that set was to give the ball to the opposition down their end of the field. That was what Smith (rightly) decided to do. The problem was the execution, not the decision.

How many 40/20s has will smith kicked in his career?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The 40/20 was a secondary consideration. His intent was just to kick long.

 

[Bazal]

It was a poor decision because it was low percentage play at an important stage of the game, and given the player who made it is probably about 5th choice kicker. Pretty simple.

In that situation you need to be looking at higher percentage plays.

Still, Taka's brain explosion was much worse.

 

[strider]

The 40/20 was a secondary consideration. His intent was just to kick long.

I think he tried pretty hard to keep his foot inside the 40 ... probably why he fluffed it

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Will Smith has kicked 15 times since coming to the Eels:

This year:

Round 16: 1 kick for 25 metres
Round 13: 1 kick for 58 metres
Round 11: 1 kick for 58 metres
Round 5: 1 kick for 4 metres
Round 4: 1 kick for 15 metres
Round 2: 1 kick for 2 metres

Last year:

Round 18: 1 kick for 1 metre
Round 15: 1 kick for 41 metres
Round 10: 5 kicks for 175 metres
Round 9: 2 kicks for 39 metres

http://mc.championdata.com/nrl/

Not a lot of long kicks, but he is obviously in the game plan for long kicking, and his previous two were both for nearly 60 metres.

 

[JokerEel]

He did kick for touch. How many more metres would we have made before kicking on the last? How quick might the play-the-ball have been if we waited until the fifth tackle? How much pressure would our kicker have been under?

Big issue I had with it Moses was standing next to him when he kicked it.. why not let the guy who has been on the field for the whole game do the kicking...