Round 15 vs Dragons - Game Day Thread

[hineyrulz]

6 sides have made the 8 on 28 points in the last 10 years ( 30, 29, 27 and 24 have been the points cut off in previous years). In the years 28 points against as the cut off, only twice has it been decided by for / against. So pretty good chance 28 points will be good enough no matter what our for / against.

But obviously we don't want to risk it.

Problem is all the teams around that 8th spot like Canberra and Penrith are about 60 points better off than us. Canberra have a tough draw but Penrith have the easiest run home from all the teams. The Dragons as well, so it could come down to F/A. Today was big for us, if we can beat the Dogs and the Storm we will go a long way to being safe.

 

[Happy MEel]

But French was just coming back from injury, he was very quiet against Canberra and didn't really get in the game against Souths so much but i thought he was good against the Warriors and was one of our best against the Cows. But today showed they both need to be there somewhere in the backline.

That's fair, but Guth has been (or very close to) MOM in nearly every game he has played as fullback. I don't think Frenchs lack of hitups hurt us today and in fact I'd argue that having Guth and Semi starting off our sets played a big part in our win.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

We did in 2014.

So we did.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

According to NRL player stats, which I concede aren't the most reliable, smith made 30 tackles with 2 missed in 57 minutes. That's at least as good defensively as Kaysa is averaging. As Noise said, we didn't lose anything with Kaysa off the field.

If one game is a big enough sample for you, Kritchard made 18 tackles in 30 minutes with zero missed. Leaving aside the stats, Kritchard is also often first into contact. Not the case with Smith.

But I have been impressed with Smith. He doesn't bring Kritchard's ferocity but he's holding his own, and if/when he gets the chance his running and playmaking will come to the fore. He could be a great attacking hooker.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yeah but is he any good?

To be fair, Dylan Walker played right centre in the same premiership side, and his defence is f**king ordinary.

I'm actually amazed anyone could win a comp with those two at centre. I'll have to rethink my theory about the importance of good defensive centres.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I actually think it was Guth covering for French today in the hit up department. It doesn't really matter which of the back three actually make the runs, as long as they are being made.

On the flip side to your argument, I don't think we can afford not to have Guth at fullback as he is averaging 147m there this year in his six games as opposed to French who averages 99m at fullback (nrl stats again).

But French is our leading playmaker for creating linebreaks. He's no f**king good on the wing. Gutherson is a gun but he's no playmaker.

 

[hindy111]

I'd say Brown,Mau and Kenny covered for the poor work of our props. Alvaro was solid again but Mannah.Matagi and Vave offered SFA today. Evans can't get here quick enough and fingers crossed he's not the only prop that BA signs for next year.

Agree. Semi and Taka also tough yards helps them out.

 

[hindy111]

Problem is all the teams around that 8th spot like Canberra and Penrith are about 60 points better off than us. Canberra have a tough draw but Penrith have the easiest run home from all the teams. The Dragons as well, so it could come down to F/A. Today was big for us, if we can beat the Dogs and the Storm we will go a long way to being safe.

Panthers are starting to purr. Our team wont win big while canberra and penrith can put on 40 point wins. We need to win an extra game.
I think like nfl for and against should not be deciding factor but rather head to head or perhaps win percentage against the other top 8 teams.

You could cop 3 injuries in one game and lose by 50 points. Its so old age and ridiculous method.

 

[hindy111]

Smith has a superior kicking game to Kaysa. Now he has a chance. Could be a suprise packet.

Bevan doesnt give us the extra hit up but if Kaysa and Scott arent i jured we have others who can do it. Rather then Bevan having 8 guys like taka can take a few extra carries more effectively.

 

[hindy111]

Danny wicks, Terepo, Jnr was a much better pack.

I just hope Frank and Terepo get back early so can have a few strong games in wenty to push for first grade.

 

[forward pass]

I know it's all subjective but I am quite amazed at the number of posters who gave 3 points to Normie. His kicking was good - no doubt about it.

But apart from that, I thought he was very ordinary. Didn't create anything, persisted with short passes that were ineffective and didn't seem to get involved as much as he should.

He is still easing his way back I guess and maybe I am a hard marker- but no way in the world was he the best player out there.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I know it's all subjective but I am quite amazed at the number of posters who gave 3 points to Normie. His kicking was good - no doubt about it.

But apart from that, I thought he was very ordinary. Didn't create anything, persisted with short passes that were ineffective and didn't seem to get involved as much as he should.

He is still easing his way back I guess and maybe I am a hard marker- but no way in the world was he the best player out there.

You gave three points to a winger who ran for eleven f**king metres!!! He had more missed tackles than carries and you gave him man of the match!!! Whom the f**k are you to question where others put their 3-2-1 you f**king merkin?!? You can stick your 3-2-1 up your f**ken clacker!!!

 

[forward pass]

You gave three points to a winger who ran for eleven f**king metres!!! He had more missed tackles than carries and you gave him man of the match!!! Whom the f**k are you to question where others put their 3-2-1 you f**king merkin?!? You can stick your 3-2-1 up your f**ken clacker!!!

It's all about metres with you!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

No it's all about LBAs and French is second in our team (after Ma'u) despite missing five games and playing one on the wing.

 

[Bandwagon]

I gave Norman three points because he controlled the game beautifully with his kicking. We dominated field position for so much of the game, and it was Normans kicks finding space in the oppositions 20 that was largely responsible for that.

Clearly our game plan was to kick early and kick long, tire out their big men. Normans execution of that was perfect.

 

[hineyrulz]

Panthers are starting to purr. Our team wont win big while canberra and penrith can put on 40 point wins. We need to win an extra game.
I think like nfl for and against should not be deciding factor but rather head to head or perhaps win percentage against the other top 8 teams.

You could cop 3 injuries in one game and lose by 50 points. Its so old age and ridiculous method.

Pathers have betean 4 bottom 8 teams, hardly purring. But with their sweetheart draw I excpect them to make the 8. That's the worry with our F/A maybe 30 won't be enough with the bottom 4 teams not being very competitive. But hey the salary cap is working a treat.........

 

[hineyrulz]

I know it's all subjective but I am quite amazed at the number of posters who gave 3 points to Normie. His kicking was good - no doubt about it.

But apart from that, I thought he was very ordinary. Didn't create anything, persisted with short passes that were ineffective and didn't seem to get involved as much as he should.

He is still easing his way back I guess and maybe I am a hard marker- but no way in the world was he the best player out there.

No he wasn't, Guth was our best again. Followed by Brown and Mau who continually carry our pack every week. It's scary what they would be able to do off the back of Props who could actually bend the line and break a tackle or two.

 

[84 Baby]

If you go back and watch the game you realise our kicking game was difference (Moses also had a couple of good kicks, and Smith even had one). The stats don't lie, we were shit after that first 10 minutes until the final 5 minutes. It was only being johnny-on-the-spot, drags woeful attack and us out kicking them significantly that we won

 

[oldmancraigy]

I thought Moses played better than Norman yesterday....

Problem is all the teams around that 8th spot like Canberra and Penrith are about 60 points better off than us. Canberra have a tough draw but Penrith have the easiest run home from all the teams. The Dragons as well, so it could come down to F/A. Today was big for us, if we can beat the Dogs and the Storm we will go a long way to being safe.

We probably have an easier draw than most and have more wins than thise 2 teams (meaning they need to win when we have a bye).
We get all the bottom 5 teams on the way home and with the halves/fb combination in its infancy we might reasonably expect better attacking performances going forward.
Not inconceivable that we could make up the points differential, but we will need to toughen up defensively!!

 

[oldmancraigy]

If you go back and watch the game you realise our kicking game was difference (Moses also had a couple of good kicks, and Smith even had one). The stats don't lie, we were shit after that first 10 minutes until the final 5 minutes. It was only being johnny-on-the-spot, drags woeful attack and us out kicking them significantly that we won

Best team kicking game in a LONG time. Moses was on fire, bombs just short of goal line, kicking to the corners.
Maybe thr one bad kick was Nathan Browns option. Why he got it on tackle 5 tho...