Round 11 vs Sharks

[Warabrook saint]

Thanks, not enough IMO I saw him come back on with 6 minutes to go and I thought what a waste.

That's right we need bigger bodies out there

 

[hazzbeen]

We don't necessarily need huge blokes but they have to be tough. Look at the pack when we last won a comp. Costigan, Smith, Scott were not big by comparison to a lot of teams but they scared the shit out of them.

This ..... Missing a bit of grub mongrel .... Said this before ...... A player like Ennis love him or hate him he use to get under everyone's skin , put players off their game ...... We are lacking this sort of player .....

 

[The Badger]

Thinking the same the other 2 have no idea .....

Our problems started yesterday when Norman sent practice kicks to the fullback with no chance of putting pressure on him.Then Hunt followed suit with the same kicks.Thats what has been delivered for the last few years.These kicks give the back 3 time for a comfortable catch and gets the opposition moving forward ,thus resulting in lying on tackles and repeat sets.This all started when we were 8 points in front.How is a simple kick over the sideline to the opposition 30 metre or better a bad option.This gets your line set,have a rest ,take stock of the great position you are in,easy to nail the first receiver off scrum etc..It doesn't seem like there is an on field leader to put this into place.Almost everyone appears to be having a go but where is the Cameron Smith, Hodgson ,Keary nous to be able to setup these simple strategies.We have the gamebreakers in Dufty ,Lomax and Ravalawa .We need to be able to use our brain and not brawn as we don't have the heavy machinery

 

[denis preston]

Does some one know how much game time Josh Kerr got last night?

Had a quiet game you think ?

 

[avocado]

We don't necessarily need huge blokes but they have to be tough. Look at the pack when we last won a comp. Costigan, Smith, Scott were not big by comparison to a lot of teams but they scared the shit out of them.

Yeah. Look at Nathan Brown. Similar size/build to Scott and Smith but one of Parra’s strike weapons.

 

[Warabrook saint]

They are given so randomly, and as you say in quick succession, there is no way of refs being held to account. It was fun at first, but now its so arbitrary.

To give 6 to 8 against a team in a row is real gutter tactics . No wonder the warm extended handshake ,smile and chummy chummy behavior between the two at the end

 

[denis preston]

All i am hoping for is that with these set restarts against us, our coaching staff keeps whinging about how unfair we have copped it and balance things out next game. I have mentioned that our guys need constant training in drills to tackle effectively and then release quickly. Maybe count to 3. Also, try not to push the other player down when he is attempting to get up to play the ball. All comes with drill after drill.

Wonder if the fact that we can score tries and let plenty in has anything to do with Flanagan going from defence to attack and swapping with Mcgregor ? Also WTF is Dean Young contributing ?

 

[hazzbeen]

Wonder if the fact that we can score tries and let plenty in has anything to do with Flanagan going from defence to attack and swapping with Mcgregor ? Also WTF is Dean Young contributing ?

Don't talk like that about our next coach ......

 

[Dragon David]

Even though he played well yesterday, Sharon is one of the most frustrating and annoying front towers I’ve ever seen. I’d be fine with him going!

Scored an easy try though!

Even though the Dragons lost yesterday, it was a good game in that the score did not blow out for us and if we had just a little luck we could have snagged a win. The games where a team thrashes another is not worth watching eg Storm v Broncos on Friday. Although on the other hand if it was the Dragons winning with that margin, yessiree I'd watch then.

 

[denis preston]

Hate how many game discussions revolve around refs decisions.It is sooo boring ( some shows like talking sport devote about 50% of its content to one eyed supporters ringing in and whingeing ) Some sports like Baseball protect their umpires by turfing anyone who disputes a call . I used to coach another sport and instilled in the players that one or two decisions that go against us does not determine if we win or lose, it was what we did the whole game that did. No wonder underperforming coaches use this tactic as a diversion to cover their own inadequacies.

 

[Dragon David]

Our problems started yesterday when Norman sent practice kicks to the fullback with no chance of putting pressure on him.Then Hunt followed suit with the same kicks.Thats what has been delivered for the last few years.These kicks give the back 3 time for a comfortable catch and gets the opposition moving forward ,thus resulting in lying on tackles and repeat sets.This all started when we were 8 points in front.How is a simple kick over the sideline to the opposition 30 metre or better a bad option.This gets your line set,have a rest ,take stock of the great position you are in,easy to nail the first receiver off scrum etc..It doesn't seem like there is an on field leader to put this into place.Almost everyone appears to be having a go but where is the Cameron Smith, Hodgson ,Keary nous to be able to setup these simple strategies.We have the gamebreakers in Dufty ,Lomax and Ravalawa .We need to be able to use our brain and not brawn as we don't have the heavy machinery

Well said. Do we have any thinkers with vision in our team?

 

[Dragon David]

To give 6 to 8 against a team in a row is real gutter tactics . No wonder the warm extended handshake ,smile and chummy chummy behavior between the two at the end

Yes saw that. Graham said to Atkins "so glad you gave us those repeat sets Grant. Got us out of trouble and helped us score those tries and thanks for giving the try to Jack Williams so that made it easy for the bunker to award it". And Atkins replies "no probs Wade - all in a days work, see you next time".
THE CRAWLING BASTARDS!

 

[Old Timer]

Wonder if the fact that we can score tries and let plenty in has anything to do with Flanagan going from defence to attack and swapping with Mcgregor ? Also WTF is Dean Young contributing ?

After a couple of wins this place was full of

• Mary is coach in name only.
• Flanno is in charge of everything.
• You can see the difference in the side Flanno this Flanno that.
• People starting to think that we were a better side all round because of the Flanno input and some people starting to think maybe top 8 was a chance.
• Anything good that was happening was Flanno.

IMO the simple fact is some people in here misguidedly put their faith in things they want to happen rather than things that will happen.

Just like the signings of Hunt, Graham, Norman, K Sims and now lately Fuilaono, Williame & Merrin some people wanted to find ways to talk it all up and think they will make a difference.

The reality is those signings contribute very little and IMO the Flanno factor is somewhat in the same mould.

We can scrape together wins against depleted and often defeated sides but even in those wins show no mongrel or killer instinct we just get across the line.

Play against a side that is willing to turn up for more than 42 minutes and we don't beat them even lowly sides like Cronulla.

Anyone thinking our roster with Flanno in charge is the real deal IMO is sadly mistaken and will be greatly disappointed.

If Mary is as people believe there in name only then I can't wait to see the sack Flanno thread because what we are delivering on the paddock is still very ordinary and just because it is slightly better than what career coach Mc Fookknuckle delivers is in itself no recommendation for success.

We as a club and even some supporters are like little kids learning how to tend a fire because we either just keep putting kindling on it and generate no heat or intensity or we put a whopping big log on it and it just smoulders.

We have never learnt how to successfully integrate everything so as to have constant heat that just requires little stoking from time to time and the odd piece of reasonable timber to keep the flame continuos.

Yesterdays result was like tipping a bucket of water on the last embers and then putting a green twig on it to get us through to next week.

No doubt some will say the refs, the rub of the green, the this the that but a good side well coached would have never been in the situation we got into yesterday as the game would have long been iced against a pretty ordinary opposition.

 

[hazzbeen]

Bag him , all we want even with his faults take Dufty out of the team and we have apart from (Lomax who is coming into his own) without Duff we have little attack , no one who can score a long range try , and ball play , and has a kicking game .... Dufty has provided all of this ......

 

[The Badger]

Bag him , all we want even with his faults take Dufty out of the team and we have apart from (Lomax who is coming into his own) without Duff we have little attack , no one who can score a long range try , and ball play , and has a kicking game .... Dufty has provided all of this ......

Dufty, like Lomax deserves a pat on the back.Lots of criticism,lots of flaws but plenty of guts.His game has improved immensely.He is not perfect but how can any fullback be perfect in such a difficult position with so many skills needed,so many decisions,so much fatigue,so much size difference,so much responsibility, so much expectation.He never looks like he has lost belief in himself.

 

[Miller was a legend]

Dufty, like Lomax deserves a pat on the back.Lots of criticism,lots of flaws but plenty of guts.His game has improved immensely.He is not perfect but how can any fullback be perfect in such a difficult position with so many skills needed,so many decisions,so much fatigue,so much size difference,so much responsibility, so much expectation.He never looks like he has lost belief in himself.

He is a bully, see what he did to that camera?

 

[Miller was a legend]

In all seriousness, Duffy is one tough little bloke. If rest of the team had as much effort and desire as he does, well they’d be a much better side

 

[rasaint]

Good on you Hazzbeen for sensible comments on Dufty, and little or no mention of Dufty‘s terrific classic last ditch leg tackle with little room to stop the rampaging Ramien scoring after he broke through early.

Dufty had a good breakout season 2018 when big Leeson Au Manu was eating metres and JDB playing and Tariq was injury free. He scored some of the most sublime individual trys seen for a long while. He isn’t a super star but Dufty behind Melbournes, Roosters forward pack instead of our pretty standard struggling pack would be very entertaining to watch.

Full credit to Zac Lomax, he now playing top class football which I thought wasn’t in him. I tip my hat to Zac also.

 

[getsmarty]

After a couple of wins this place was full of

• Mary is coach in name only.
• Flanno is in charge of everything.
• You can see the difference in the side Flanno this Flanno that.
• People starting to think that we were a better side all round because of the Flanno input and some people starting to think maybe top 8 was a chance.
• Anything good that was happening was Flanno.

IMO the simple fact is some people in here misguidedly put their faith in things they want to happen rather than things that will happen.

Just like the signings of Hunt, Graham, Norman, K Sims and now lately Fuilaono, Williame & Merrin some people wanted to find ways to talk it all up and think they will make a difference.

The reality is those signings contribute very little and IMO the Flanno factor is somewhat in the same mould.

We can scrape together wins against depleted and often defeated sides but even in those wins show no mongrel or killer instinct we just get across the line.

Play against a side that is willing to turn up for more than 42 minutes and we don't beat them even lowly sides like Cronulla.

Anyone thinking our roster with Flanno in charge is the real deal IMO is sadly mistaken and will be greatly disappointed.

If Mary is as people believe there in name only then I can't wait to see the sack Flanno thread because what we are delivering on the paddock is still very ordinary and just because it is slightly better than what career coach Mc Fookknuckle delivers is in itself no recommendation for success.

We as a club and even some supporters are like little kids learning how to tend a fire because we either just keep putting kindling on it and generate no heat or intensity or we put a whopping big log on it and it just smoulders.

We have never learnt how to successfully integrate everything so as to have constant heat that just requires little stoking from time to time and the odd piece of reasonable timber to keep the flame continuos.

Yesterdays result was like tipping a bucket of water on the last embers and then putting a green twig on it to get us through to next week.

No doubt some will say the refs, the rub of the green, the this the that but a good side well coached would have never been in the situation we got into yesterday as the game would have long been iced against a pretty ordinary opposition.

I agree with alot of what you have stated although, with all due respect we have improved since Flanno took over our attack...it is no coincidence that Dufty now plays a lot like Ben Barba and also Clune finally getting a shot in1st grade.

None of these things would have happened when McGregor had total control....just go back and look at a few of our games from last year and the difference is chalk and cheese.

Whoever eventually takes over will have to rebuild the side. I.M.H.O we lack a few hard boppers in the Forwards ala Costigan/J.Smith/Weyman etc...we have wonderful younger talent coming through...

The Sooner the incumbent coach is gone...the quicker these things can start to take place.

It is a pity we cannot Sack our Board...that's where the real issues lie...

Stay healthy and have a great week Old Timer.

 

[matPORTS]

After a couple of wins this place was full of

• Mary is coach in name only.
• Flanno is in charge of everything.
• You can see the difference in the side Flanno this Flanno that.
• People starting to think that we were a better side all round because of the Flanno input and some people starting to think maybe top 8 was a chance.
• Anything good that was happening was Flanno.

IMO the simple fact is some people in here misguidedly put their faith in things they want to happen rather than things that will happen.

Just like the signings of Hunt, Graham, Norman, K Sims and now lately Fuilaono, Williame & Merrin some people wanted to find ways to talk it all up and think they will make a difference.

The reality is those signings contribute very little and IMO the Flanno factor is somewhat in the same mould.

We can scrape together wins against depleted and often defeated sides but even in those wins show no mongrel or killer instinct we just get across the line.

Play against a side that is willing to turn up for more than 42 minutes and we don't beat them even lowly sides like Cronulla.

Anyone thinking our roster with Flanno in charge is the real deal IMO is sadly mistaken and will be greatly disappointed.

If Mary is as people believe there in name only then I can't wait to see the sack Flanno thread because what we are delivering on the paddock is still very ordinary and just because it is slightly better than what career coach Mc Fookknuckle delivers is in itself no recommendation for success.

We as a club and even some supporters are like little kids learning how to tend a fire because we either just keep putting kindling on it and generate no heat or intensity or we put a whopping big log on it and it just smoulders.

We have never learnt how to successfully integrate everything so as to have constant heat that just requires little stoking from time to time and the odd piece of reasonable timber to keep the flame continuos.

Yesterdays result was like tipping a bucket of water on the last embers and then putting a green twig on it to get us through to next week.

No doubt some will say the refs, the rub of the green, the this the that but a good side well coached would have never been in the situation we got into yesterday as the game would have long been iced against a pretty ordinary opposition.

This.

The fact very much remains that our roster overall is average at best. Once Frizell (and potentially de Belin) are removed from the top 30 list, the roster then moves somewhere towards the poor side.

Mentioned in another thread yesterday that I felt recruitment & retention have been nothing short of poor since the JV was formed (and that even included the Bennett era to an extent). Looking at our recent approach towards how we spent the de Belin salary cap relief last year, and how we've recruited a replacement for Graham this year, it's hard to see this changing any time soon.

Further to this point, and reflecting on recent comments from Bennett RE: the Broncos mess, would a premiership winning coach like Shane Flannagan (or any other seasoned first grade coach for that matter) want to put his name to our current roster? While I agree that Flanno should be in the mix for our future coach, he will not turn our fortunes around and get us back to the pointy end of the competition unless we make some serious changes to our recruitment policy.

We are a bare minimum two good buys in the pack (one decent middle and one decent edge player) + at least one classy outside back (looking at someone in the Alex Johnston mold who can cover all of full back, wing, centre - but be a mainstay in one position and be a leader from the back) away from being a regular top 8 contender again. This is also accounting for a change in coach - as we won't be able to make decent recruits while McGregor still remains 'the face'.