Rnd2: Raiders v Panthers

[Timbo]

I say retain the current halves combo, but geez...If Carney has another game or two like that, I'll be calling for a Dobson/Campese halves combo - which if you ask me was our best halves combo last year.

I think Goodwin is getting a harsh rap on here too, after Zillman went off, Goodwin and Chalk seemed to be rotating through the fullback position, it was a tough job for anyone. I expect a better performance when he gets named in the #1 and trains in the position for a full week and knows he'll have the backing of the club.

 

[Chachi]

The U20s were very impressive, weren't they? Really gave it to the much fancied Panthers' side, and the try after the full time siren was rubbing salt into the wounds.

Mick Picker, Justin Carney, JOsh Dugan and the captain Fensom all look to have the goods, and when Joel Thompson decides to fire up look out the opposition!

I think we could do worse than considering Dugan for firsts. Seems to be a better goal kicker than Todd Carney, too.

Big call about TC's kicking considering his 4/4 was the best part of his game last night!

The 1,6,7 and 9 are by far our biggest concern. With Zilly out and Carney better at 6 by most peoples reckoning these 4 spots will cause us a few headaches for the rest of the year. Hinchy was good last night and Herbert or Dobson are the 2 natural halfbacks in the club and then you've got Campo who has outplayed Carney so far.

This weeks lineup may be very controversial.

 

[W.Smith]

I attended this game, though a Saints supporter I have a soft spot for the Raiders, and was pretty impressed with the boys despite the scrappiness of the game

Campese asked a few questions in attack I reckon more so than Todd Carney who UI was really looking forward to watching live but I was disappointed in his game, for mine he just doesnt look comfortable at halfback but the forwards Hinchcliffe, Chalk, Thompson and Plum were good, Hinchy impressed me at Orange when I saw Raiders v Brisbane too

I thought Miller did a good job off the bench but a big wrap for the boys playing 2 short after Logan and Zillman were injured - Im a mark for Zilly too and was real disapointed when he got hurt after such a beautiful try

Monaghan was xciting whenever the ball went his way too, fast, big can hit a gap and a danger in the air on kicks

Goodwin could develop into a good FB but Chalk wouldnt lose any games for the Green Machine if Henry goes down that road as has been suggested in this thread

Raiders looked great using the full width of the park when they did and I couldnt believe they caught Penrith out so many times doing this

Raiders NYC look very impressive and look very much forward to seeing them vs Parra NYC

 

[Timbo]

Chalk - as proved over the last two seasons - is no longer a first grade fullback.

He had massive potential early in his career to be one, but no longer.

 

[Macko8]

chalk isnt our answer to the fullback spot

his too good as a utility

 

[canberra_raiders2k2]

when does Lahrs come back??

 

[Raidersrawesome]

BL says round 3

next weeks BL will probably say round 4

 

[Sydney_Raider]

I see Colin Best scored 2 tries for Souths Logan on the weekend. Other try scorers included Marc Herbert, Brad Cross and Glen Buttriss. Will be interesting to see the make up of the NRL side over coming weeks. Can't see that TLL played but I thought he was playing somewhere.

 

[Macko8]

will lasscock come in contention for a FG debut???

 

[Chachi]

Lasscock? Maybe if Weyman, Tilse, Thommo and Thurling all get injured this week!

TBH I haven't seen him play this season but he'd have to have progressed markedly from last season to be in the reckoning.

 

[Bay56]

Just back from the Gong .. watched the game at the Windang Bowls club.

As my daughter said it was a bit like watching Kindergarten v Pre-School ... the two points are gratefully accepted but it was very much a scrappy game.

I've been a critic of Miller but was very impressed with his effort.

Once more Henry has witnessed a Carney/Campo combo and must by now realise that it works one game in 20 ... time to get Herbert at 7 and Carney at 6 where he is at his most dangerous ... I'm Carney's biggest fan but that performance was not his best (duhh).

Tilse improved about 1% ... still not good enough ... any reason why Weyman was dropped ... FFS Henry !!

Chalky again proved what a versatile player he is ... the try he scored was class .. difficult take and then got down quickly to slide in (could you ever see Howell do that).

Zilly's injury has more to do with bad management than bad luck ... I touched on this about a month ago and was given the usual by the usual (what do you know about medical procedures bay ... I'll run with the decision of the Raiders medical staff). At least now his knee will get the time it needs to heel properly before the start of next season.

Anyway the next two days at the Gong I wore my Raiders jumper ... and proud of it.

 

[sydraider]

Maybe Henry wants the ass hence why he persists with the Carney/ Campese halves combination.

Im a big fan of campos but ffs we all know carney is a much better 6 and with Herbert waiting in the wings, one wonders when a Herbert/Carney halves combo will be given a go.

 

[Bay56]

Imo Carney needs specialist coaching ... quite frankly I dont think Loz does the trick.

Matty Johns seems to have had success at the Storm and from memory did a stint at the Raiders.

There is no doubt that Carney has the talent ... he just needs to smooth out the rough edges.

 

[sydraider]

Imo Carney needs specialist coaching ... quite frankly I dont think Loz does the trick.

Matty Johns seems to have had success at the Storm and from memory did a stint at the Raiders.

There is no doubt that Carney has the talent ... he just needs to smooth out the rough edges.

Not a question of talent bay, its more a question of where he suits the team.

Carney is five/eight.

You see it, I see it, nearly everyone on here sees it!

Why doesnt Henry?

 

[Raider_69]

I dont think its a matter of weather Henry sees it
Todd wants to play half... whilst i agree with bay, the ink is dry now, put him back to 5/8th where he is more effective, perhaps henry has told him he can play half and he is sticking true to his word... and so he should if thats the case.

 

[sydraider]

Like you have stated previously 69, Herbert/Carney

I couldnt agree more

 

[Chachi]

Carney's form is simply down on what it has been previously. I think it has as much to do with all that contract BS than anything else. There's a hell of a lot of jumping to conclusions here.

 

[Bay56]

I would also suggest that Carney would be placing more pressure on himself to perform in an attempt to convince all that he is worth the big $$.

Imo we've had some great halves in the past that were bursting at the seams with potential but failed to take that final step ... specialist coaching was the missing factor.

The Raiders would be well advised to pay that extra bit for a Matty Johns to spend half a season with TC/TC/DB/MH but especially TC/MH.