Rd22 Parra v Manly GAME DAY THREAD @ Sunshine Coast Stadium 14/8/21

[Poupou Escobar]

He has. You can see it in players energy. Had enough. Two faster wingers won't change nothing. Oldfield and Dunster are quick.

We need a faster fullback and Oldfield/Dunster will score plenty. Of course, they won't fix our defence.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Well if it was this simple how didn't BA pick up on it? For 30yrs I've watched footy every side has wanted speed in rugby league. For years you would say speed is over rated. It isn't and never has been. You need fast and strong backs. A blend is fine. We have too many slugs.

Bevan French, 2018. Replace him with Ferguson and Gennings with Sivo and suddenly we are top three in the NRL for tries, with Sivo at the top, three tries ahead of Latrell Mitchell. Speed has only come back into fashion under the new rules, and we're left holding our dicks after re-signing Sivo.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And this is my biggest problem right now. It's clear that we are not on the same level as the Storms and Panfers and obviously Manly and Souffs... And yet we've made no tactical moves to improve this squad for 2022. Acknowledging that there are no real superstars available, we could still have been asking about the likes of Connor Watson or Xavier Coates before he signed with the Storm. We seem more or less content with the starting 17, no real efforts to improve even though we're a couple of lengths behind the pacesetter's

We have some quality young outside backs who will be better for another off season. But Sivo is still on the books, on far too much to have him sitting in reserve grade.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

No.... No no no no....just no. You're one of the best antagonists on here and even better, have some good insights, but this is bridge too far Pou....

Paulo: 28 tackles, 5 runs. These are the facts.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Obviously it was worse in the past. We used to dream of pissing and moaning about a sixth place finish. But we still don't recruit as well as the top clubs. That's the next step for us.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Last year when we faded out of the semis poo poo said next year we’ve recruited better and will improve. Now our recruitment is no good.

Like I said, it's improving. It's still poor compared to the top sides. These two things are true at the same time. I don't see what's so difficult to understand.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

You definitely can..

It looks like NRL clubs would prefer to just recruit it.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And who's fault is that for not identifying a lack of pace out wide?

I'm sure they're aware of it. But just bringing in our fastest reserve graders won't fix anything if we're losing the middle.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Its obvious that posters like Pau aren't going to backtrack on their beliefs, but deep down they realize that ba is a dead man walking. It's not confidence, it's not luck, it's a lack of coaching knowledge that translates through the team.
He's done.

I think Arthur's will be the scapegoat. The team is looking like they've given up and the club needs to make an example of someone. The easiest reset is sacking the coach, which is why clubs do it. But that doesn't fix the underlying issues, which is why half a dozen clubs are garbage year after year no matter who the coach is.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Nope.I never said anything of the sort.

You said the stats indicate we are a worse defensive team. The stats also say we're a better attacking team. This illustrates why you should leave the statistical analysis to the pros.

I have said we are worse defensive team and a worse team overall than last year. You have said we are a better defensive team and a better team overall. Laughable.

At full strength we definitely are.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We aren't Manly.......

Would you prefer we play like the Bulldogs? In that case, Josh Jackson made 21 passes last week, but only 12 runs. Even he passes more than Nathan Brown ffs!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

This is irrelevant seeing as though we lost to South's last weekend and Manly this weekend..

We're certainly in a form slump. Last time we played Souths and Manly it was much closer, even though Dylan Brown was missing.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Seriously mate if our players had the same energy that you have making excuses and apologising for the useless merkins we'd be undefeated.

Aren't you saying it's all the coach's fault? You're the one making excuses for the players.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He’s too embarrassed to back track now

I tipped us to finish 7th. Where did you tip us to finish?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

How does a top 4 (now top 6) conceded 56 points 3 weeks out from the finals. It’s just unbelievable.

Just shit coaching: https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2020/round-20/south-sydney-vs-sydney/summary.html

 

[Poupou Escobar]

As a team, what are we doing better on the field that makes us a better team?

With Mahoney and RCG (and Kaufusi) out we're obviously not a better team than last year. Our middle is atrocious at the moment, but at full strength we're better. Mahoney's form and the addition of Papali'i are significant improvements.

 

[Gary Gutful]

I fell asleep last night. How’d we go?

 

[Eelementary]

Don't despair mate.
It's only been 4 weeks.
6 weeks ago we lost by a point to Penrith and the week after we beat the Titans.

I stand corrected!

But still - I don't see that fight that we had earlier on in this current team. That makes me sad.

 

[Eelementary]

Ramblin' and gamblin'. We will see.

Indeed, we will.

For the sake of the club, and its legion of passionate fans, I hope that Arthur can weave some magic.

 

[Eelementary]

I fell asleep last night. How’d we go?

Missed it by that much...