Rd6: EELS v Tigers GAME DAY THREAD @ Accor 10/4/23

[Poupou Escobar]

Avenger he was on for a grand total of 19 minutes with most of that in defense. I was going to say that I thought he won the ruck more often than not and used his big frame well. Unless he was injured, I don’t understand why he wasn’t brought back on. I thought he was one of best in the first 15 or so

I'd say he wasn't brought back on because we were defending a lead. Greig 11 tackles in 19 minutes. Murchie 8 tackles in 10 minutes. It's horses for courses, and Greig had done his job.

 

[Noise]

I'm not blaming him. I'm certainly not saying this one game is representative of him as a player, or that I expect him to play as poorly next week. See the difference? I hope Dunster (and Hodgson) play next week. You hope they get the arse so you can feel good about yourself.

Were you disappointed that Blake was dropped this week? I hope you still feel good about yourself Pou.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Not necessarily a question that should be addressed just here in this thread but what do folks reckon our record looks like so far if Mahoney was still our 9 instead of Hodgson? Better? Worse? The same?

I'm not overly convinced he makes us a LOT better. I'd say we're 1, maybe 2 wins better off if he was still in the side. Not because he's a difference maker, but just because of the continuity and flow we're missing without him...

Couple of mates of mine who are Dogs fans are head over heels in love with him. I still think there's limitations in his game, he's a bit of a hog that's for sure. I guess he's trying to step up and lead by example there.

When Perham and Flanagan are in your spine you're free to hog all the quick play-the-balls. Moses and Gutherson would kill him.

 

[Avenger]

Greig only played 19 minutes, and Hands never had to cover for him. Hands also wasn't on the field at the end of Matterson's and Hopgood's stints.

Matterson is now elite. As important as our starting props.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Matterson is now elite. As important as our starting props.

Absolutely. Possibly the best player in our team.

 

[84 Baby]

We might have to bite the bullet to save this season. We have top 30 places, we need to fill them.

I don’t think the upside is worth it, at least not yet. Sivo & Penisini are fine, Russell had decent game back and has been good in past, and that leaves one spot to be filled by Dunster, Simonsson or Waqa (or in few weeks potentially even Cini). I think we’re better off trying to recruit for other weaknesses or at least a better winger than Lumelume first

 

[Noise]

I'd say he wasn't brought back on because we were defending a lead. Greig 11 tackles in 19 minutes. Murchie 8 tackles in 10 minutes. It's horses for courses, and Greig had done his job.

Hodgson 52 minuntes, 29 tackles 5 missed
Hands 28 minutes, 18 tackles 1 missed

 

[King-Gutho94]

I think his defensive weakness is at least more coverable than Hodgson’s. Offensively they’re marginal but Mahoney has been more net positive this year. So we may or may not have been better off, but I don’t think he’d have been a significant difference maker other than for continuity

Attacking wise we are going ok. Could be better but I don't think reed changes that much.

It's the defence and it's not like Reed was great at that either on the tryline. But he wasn't missing as many tackles as hodgo.

I'll be curious what our tactics are to mahoney next week when we are attacking. We know he is a little guy that doesn't once give but once he gets isolated 1 on 1 near the tryline he struggles to stop them.

Surely BA would be aware of this.

 

[Tiger5150]

Well done guys, fairs fair....you guys were just too..........good? I guess. Take the two points, and value them, I know how much we need them.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Well done guys, fairs fair....you guys were just too..........good? I guess. Take the two points, and value them, I know how much we need them.

You will beat Manly in two weeks if you play like you did today.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Were you disappointed that Blake was dropped this week? I hope you still feel good about yourself Pou.

Pou is excited Waqa is going home to Perth and joining the Western Force.

Pou has already offered to pick him up at airport and be his chauffeur while waqa is at rugby.

 

[Avenger]

Well done guys, fairs fair....you guys were just too..........good? I guess. Take the two points, and value them, I know how much we need them.

Unfortunately with all your injuries I think we you guys have better odds of not winning a game then us winning the comp.

 

[Happy MEel]

What game were you watching? Hodgson came on with Matterson and Hopgood deep into their first stints, and RCG ten minutes into his second. Makatoa came on for Matterson after Naden's try, five minutes later. Matterson had played 66 minutes straight at that point. Murchie came on for Hopgood at the 72nd minute (during the Doueihi stoppage), after Hopgood had played a single 52 minute stint. Matterson came back on for Makatoa almost immediately after that when Tupou scored. At that point Klemmer and Utoikamanu had only been on for 12 minutes (after nearly an hour's rest) and were still carving up.

But really our problem was not controlling the ball. That makes fatigue much more of a problem, regardless of your rotations.

Hang on, you’re neglecting the half time break. RCG had played 10 minutes FFS after a break of at least 30 minutes including the half time break. Matto also had a 10-15 break at half time so didn’t play 66 minutes straight as you say. Hodgson was an enormous liability and has been the last 6 weeks.

 

[Jake the snake]

Well done guys, fairs fair....you guys were just too..........good? I guess. Take the two points, and value them, I know how much we need them.

At least your team played with attitude and motivation. You guys were unlucky.

 

[Happy MEel]

I don't understand the point you're trying to make.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

 

[Happy MEel]

I'm not blaming him. I'm certainly not saying this one game is representative of him as a player, or that I expect him to play as poorly next week. See the difference? I hope Dunster (and Hodgson) play next week. You hope they get the arse so you can feel good about yourself.

Actually no, I’m now prepared to give Dunster another week or two to get up to the physicality of first grade. Hodgson on the other hand has proven over 6 weeks that he is not up to first grade. See the difference? You assume, and put the ass into u and me.

 

[Happy MEel]

Just like you, I saw Michael Jennings in reserve grade, so obviously even the best players might need to play there at times. If it's good enough for Mennings it's good enough for Blake. The mental side of the game is difficult to quantify, especially for a bunch of amateurs watching from the sidelines and filling the gaps with melodrama from sports journos.

Didn’t you say Jennings wasn’t dropped and only played reserve grade because of our bye?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'm pretty certain he also does coach stuff.

I'm sure he does, but he has a bunch of assistant coaches to help with that. There aren't really assistants for the higher level stuff. In fact from a strategy point of view he is one of the CEO's assistants.

 

[Tiger5150]

You will beat Manly in two weeks if you play like you did today.

Mate you guys will look at the stats and wonder how you won, every game this year other than the Broncos game it has been like that. Our pack has beaten every opposition pack except Broncos this year. I just saw a stat that the Tigers are leading the comp on number of tackles in opposition 20. Our defence is better than last 4 years. We have no halves, end of story. Doueihi is not a half and Brooks confidence is shot. Moses in our team and we win by 20. Brooks actually looked to pick up a little confidence and his second half is the best he has had this year.

People get wrapped up in the fact its been so long sine we won, this team is better than any other Tigers team for the last 4-5 years.....except for 6 & 7 (1 is not much chop either).

Very frustrating....enjoy your win......

and Gutho is an even bigger merkin than Moses....how is that possible?

 

[King-Gutho94]

Mate you guys will look at the stats and wonder how you won, every game this year other than the Broncos game it has been like that. Our pack has beaten every opposition pack except Broncos this year. I just saw a stat that the Tigers are leading the comp on number of tackles in opposition 20. Our defence is better than last 4 years. We have no halves, end of story. Doueihi is not a half and Brooks confidence is shot. Moses in our team and we win by 20. Brooks actually looked to pick up a little confidence and his second half is the best he has had this year.

People get wrapped up in the fact its been so long sine we won, this team is better than any other Tigers team for the last 4-5 years.....except for 6 & 7 (1 is not much chop either).

Very frustrating....enjoy your win......

and Gutho is an even bigger merkin than Moses....how is that possible?

Come on mate

Gutho is just a battler done good.