Round 11 Vs Titans @Cbus Super Stadium - Sunday 26th July 4pm

[mxlegend99]

Hopefully we get a fair few troops back for Manly. We'll need to be better up there at Brookie.

If we dont we missed our opportunity to improve our roster against the worst team we have played this season. By that I mean improve our backups as our top 17 has very much started to pick itself.

Titans team over 11 rounds has conceded 309 points for an average of 28 points against. We scored less than the average against them.... Looking very much like we did in 2019 because the halves had no assistance from the rest of the spine. To me showing how crucial Api and Edwards are to our attack and also hinting maybe Api had more to do with our improve d attack than Baz did.

If we need to use this same 17 again against a better team like Manly and Raiders we would probably be incapable of getting the job done.
Our next 2 games are pretty difficult and its hard to imagine winning either if we cant strengthen our roster. Hopefully we can get Edwards and Staines back into the backline atleast. A bit more speed alone would have gone a long way yesterday. I don't see Titans scoring the Fogarty or Kelly tries if Edwards and Staines are in the side. Unfortunately without pace there's not much you can do in a lot of try scoring situations.

 

[Luke Bowden]

If we dont we missed our opportunity to improve our roster against the worst team we have played this season. By that I mean improve our backups as our top 17 has very much started to pick itself.

Titans team over 11 rounds has conceded 309 points for an average of 28 points against. We scored less than the average against them.... Looking very much like we did in 2019 because the halves had no assistance from the rest of the spine. To me showing how crucial Api and Edwards are to our attack and also hinting maybe Api had more to do with our improve d attack than Baz did.

If we need to use this same 17 again against a better team like Manly and Raiders we would probably be incapable of getting the job done.
Our next 2 games are pretty difficult and its hard to imagine winning either if we cant strengthen our roster. Hopefully we can get Edwards and Staines back into the backline atleast. A bit more speed alone would have gone a long way yesterday. I don't see Titans scoring the Fogarty or Kelly tries if Edwards and Staines are in the side. Unfortunately without pace there's not much you can do in a lot of try scoring situations.

We were missing 7 of regular 17 and it was raining.

The 2019 team would have lost that game under those conditions. Facts

 

[franklin2323]

We were missing 7 of regular 17 and it was raining.

The 2019 team would have lost that game under those conditions. Facts

And we have a dreadful record in QLD

 

[franklin2323]

Mansour makes a try saving tackle on the goalline and the try on the next play is his fault? Now I've heard everything.

Anyway I think that was a decent win. We were down nearly half our starting 17 and the Titans played about as well as they have all year. I would have liked to smash them but it's not always going to go that way. Never felt like we were really in trouble, even when the score was close. Thought our middle really won it for us, which makes sense given the outs in our spine and edges.

Just on the bench, I don't think a bench that gets low minutes is a huge handicap for us for a few reasons. First we have quite a few forwards who play big big minutes (specifically JFH, Yeo, Kikau and Martin) reducing the need for bench minutes. Second, this group of players has (most of the time) been immensely fit. Third, our middle almost always holds together very well (as it did today). Given these factors having a bench spot covering for injury only isn't that big a deal. Sucks for Burton but I'm sure he went into the game knowing his role and would have been well aware he might not get a run.

Hopefully we get a fair few troops back for Manly. We'll need to be better up there at Brookie.

Good post

As for troops back. Tetevano, Staines and Kikau are due back... I guess it depends if they want to hold them back another week or not

 

[betcats]

We were cruising at 10 nil and then like we have been doing we start doing silly things that let them back into the game. It wasnt the replacements either. They scored off the back of Jerome and Mansours mistakes first. I know we were missing a lot of guys but good teams have been resting guys v titans this year, they arent an NRL quality side, not by a long shot. It was good to get the win with so many guys out but it was really annoying after dominating that first half we let them in with a sniff.

 

[Jane Murray]

This might give you some idea why the coach is reluctant to play Burton out of position.

Who is aging, and who was inexperienced at one point. Ivan gave Critta a go.

Playing someone out of position fixes that how?

Mansour is not the player he used to be. Also, Burton has been training in those areas.

 

[ACTPanthers]

I was wrong... AND I LOVE IT!!!

 

[ACTPanthers]

I've always thought there's a special place for people who are presented with solid fact, ignore it and continue to believe their own bullshit as gospel. Absolute genetic dead ends. All I'll say is the Ignore function makes this place less stupid.

Anyway, I can see where a number of posters are coming from. It wasn't a complete performance by any stretch. We can be proud of the win for sure, but critical thinking is still very much needed. The players and staff should always be striving to improve, and criticising performances (yes, even in a winning team), as it ensures progression and growth.

Nobody is perfect, and we should never strive for perfection as it's nothing but a pipe dream, but we should ALWAYS be looking to improve, and the performance this weekend, is definitely something that can be improved on.

 

[mxlegend99]

We were missing 7 of regular 17 and it was raining.

The 2019 team would have lost that game under those conditions. Facts

Facts? That's an opinion. Not a fact.

Fact is we scored less than the average team has against the 3rd worst team in the NRL.

Fact is we have struggled against the average teams in taking the conservative approach after thriving against teams while taking risks. Even last season our biggest win came with a few out and putting our best players on even if out of position. Ie. Luai at centre.

If we want to win a premiership we can doso with our best 17. Our chances are ahell of alot better if we can improve our roster when they're not all available though. I don't see us improving hooker over Kenny if Api is out. But I think we can get more from the team hsing Burton at centre or fullback. Crichton at fullback potentially if not Burton. Naden on wing.

We have a genuine NRL quality player not being used in positions he supposedly trained for while reserve grade quality players get used ahead of him.

Maybe he flops. Maybe he thrives. No way to know eithout giving him the run and a day like yesterday was the perfect time to try it out. Theres no reserve grade comp for that. So best bet is against reservegrsde quality teams.

 

[age.s]

If you want evidence the Titans punched above their weight, look at Taylor's try saving tackle on Martin. We did everything right there. 5m out and Cleary isolates their weakest defender 1 on 1 with one of our strongest runners of the ball. At virtually any other time in Taylor's career Martin steamrolls him and scores. Instead he makes a tackle Cleary would have been proud of.

 

[Kev07]

Cleary over called Luai too much in this game which is why I commented earlier if Kenny only passes one way.

Cleary getting 90 receipts to Luai only 42 is over kill.
There were many moments in the game where Kenny went right to Cleary instead of going left to Luai and May.

Although Kenny did a commendable job,this is where we miss Api.

 

[betcats]

We had scored two tries before the titans even had been tackled with the ball in our half. They only got the ball inside our 20 because we handed it to them. They came out fired up in the second half and played well and tested us a bit, but they didnt start like that. Had we of kept control of that first half they would've very likely capitulated and conceded a score. But we have this habit of letting teams back into games in the final 10-15 of the first half.

 

[WestyLife]

I've always thought there's a special place for people who are presented with solid fact, ignore it and continue to believe their own bullshit as gospel. Absolute genetic dead ends. All I'll say is the Ignore function makes this place less stupid.

Anyway, I can see where a number of posters are coming from. It wasn't a complete performance by any stretch. We can be proud of the win for sure, but critical thinking is still very much needed. The players and staff should always be striving to improve, and criticising performances (yes, even in a winning team), as it ensures progression and growth.

Nobody is perfect, and we should never strive for perfection as it's nothing but a pipe dream, but we should ALWAYS be looking to improve, and the performance this weekend, is definitely something that can be improved on.

This comment is too sensible for the internet .

As far as the conversation around Burton goes we know he's wanted by the club as they've publicly said they are in negotiations so that just makes it a matter of what Ivan sees his future in the 17.

I can totally understand if he's gotta wait another pre season. My shock was more the amount of injuries and playing a bottom 4 team. Seemed a great chance for some minutes and development.

 

[John Hamblin]

and Luai went off then for that too happen and we needed a try. We were never in total control were infront so could play it basic. Ricky Stuart's 4th benchie got no time last night either

Why not rest Luai this week and play Burton

 

[Westernised Panther]

Why not rest Luai this week and play Burton

They’ll probably want Luai and Cleary to start over the next two weeks, given the quality of opposition in the Chip Stealers and the Raiders.

Perhaps they may consider resting either Luai or Cleary and give Burton a shot for the Round 14 game against the Warriors

 

[Luke Bowden]

Facts? That's an opinion. Not a fact.

Fact is we scored less than the average team has against the 3rd worst team in the NRL.

Fact is we have struggled against the average teams in taking the conservative approach after thriving against teams while taking risks. Even last season our biggest win came with a few out and putting our best players on even if out of position. Ie. Luai at centre.

If we want to win a premiership we can doso with our best 17. Our chances are ahell of alot better if we can improve our roster when they're not all available though. I don't see us improving hooker over Kenny if Api is out. But I think we can get more from the team hsing Burton at centre or fullback. Crichton at fullback potentially if not Burton. Naden on wing.

We have a genuine NRL quality player not being used in positions he supposedly trained for while reserve grade quality players get used ahead of him.

Maybe he flops. Maybe he thrives. No way to know eithout giving him the run and a day like yesterday was the perfect time to try it out. Theres no reserve grade comp for that. So best bet is against reservegrsde quality teams.

We were the most inexperienced team in the NRL this round and you want to make that worse by playing a young kid, out of position, on the road, in the rain. That makes sense.

Lots of things to like about yesterday’s win and if it wasn’t for two small errors on our part it would have been a dominant display.

I thought Kenny, Aiken’s and MWZ were amongst our best. Why isn’t that a positive thing? It’s a clear demonstration that the systems that the coaching staff have put into place are working.

Burton will get his chance, when it’s best for the team.

 

[murraymob]

Hello Hello
It’s a bit wet and cold at the top of the NRL ladder
Look a few of you are not happy .But who at the beginning of the year if told by me we would be top of the table and only lost 1 game would believe me.No one
Yes we can improve and we want to be able to.No trophy’s given out right now
It is not a team filled with superstars but filled with guys that want to win
Naden being the perfect example his passion when a try is scored rubes off on everyone else .His speed to the kick through has got try’s that others miss.All in all I am happy with where we are and where we can develop in the future
Up the panthers

 

[WestyLife]

Hello Hello
It’s a bit wet and cold at the top of the NRL ladder
Look a few of you are not happy .But who at the beginning of the year if told by me we would be top of the table and only lost 1 game would believe me.No one
Yes we can improve and we want to be able to.No trophy’s given out right now
It is not a team filled with superstars but filled with guys that want to win
Naden being the perfect example his passion when a try is scored rubes off on everyone else .His speed to the kick through has got try’s that others miss.All in all I am happy with where we are and where we can develop in the future
Up the panthers

It's nothing short of glorious to see us in 1st with 1 loss.

 

[mxlegend99]

We were the most inexperienced team in the NRL this round and you want to make that worse by playing a young kid, out of position, on the road, in the rain. That makes sense.

Lots of things to like about yesterday’s win and if it wasn’t for two small errors on our part it would have been a dominant display.

I thought Kenny, Aiken’s and MWZ were amongst our best. Why isn’t that a positive thing? It’s a clear demonstration that the systems that the coaching staff have put into place are working.

Burton will get his chance, when it’s best for the team.

Losing Aekins 10 games of experience would have really killed us.

Why train Burton in these positions if he won't geta run even ahead of average players? Aekins was not terrible. He wasn't good though. Our back 3 only defused 50% of kicks and were werhere to be seen on the Fogarty try or Kelly try. For a supposedly safe option his positioning is not that great and he only looked good returning kicks when Titans were pinned in own half. His 1 try assist in 6 games came from a pass that missed the mark and To'o picked up to score from..

We also need minutes in Burton's legs if we want him to be ready when we need him. Its not in the teams best interest if he is needed week 1 of finals and his last game was Round 4. He will not have match fitness and he will be rusty having not had time to work on his skills.

We couldnt pick him to be honest. Would need to be May as he's the one getting minutes

 

[snickers007]

Mansour is not the player he used to be. Also, Burton has been training in those areas.

He may have been training at Centre/Wing/Fullback - but the fact that Cleary hasn't pulled the trigger on him yet indicates that he's probably not going that well. He's absolutely first drop in the halves - and may be a walk up starter at other clubs. Maybe he is *just* a specialist half? I don't understand why that is seen as such a negative.

Remember when we were using Cartwright as a gap-fill 5/8? And everyone said we were ruining his development as a back-rower? Turned out to be fairly accurate. Maybe Ivan has learnt from Hook's mistakes.

We're 9/1/1. We have an ever growing injury list. We need stability where ever we can get it - and at the moment, that's our halves. And we don't have NSW Cup for him to carve up. All that equates to Burton riding the pine, or missing out on the Top 17. Sucks for him. Doesn't seem to be hurting the team too much at this stage.

You're obsession on this topic is very strange. Seems like every post of yours is either complaining that Burton isn't playing, or doomsday theorising that he's already out the door. Not gonna lie, I almost hope he does go the Dogs, and that you follow him onto their forum.