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Round 18 v Tadpoles (Sharks)

madunit

Super Moderator
Staff member
Messages
62,358
Hardaker is a winger. Pure and Simple. Doesn't have the hands to be a permanent and decent fullback.

Cartwright is being destroyed at five eighth. He plays sideways far too much and runs his outside backs out of the field. Very predicatble.

You need a kid with that size, ball skill and line speed to be running at the fringes. Straight.

Put him in at centre or in the back row. Nowhere else.
 
Messages
2,494
Was a slight improvement in my eyes due to the better handling. Before Latu's string of errors we had 86% completion in the 70th minute or so. Even still, defence was too soft in the tries let in, attack was left wondering, too much sideways running. Smith with poor defensive reads and obviously a bad drop, have to feel for the guy. Blake had a decent game. DWZ certainly wouldn't be a big loss, just a solid winger atm. Edwards with an OK debut, highlight stopping that try early on. Hardaker was pretty average, not showing much atm. Would put Peach in at centre and drop Hardaker, Edwards and Smith. Yeo even could be good for us at centre because of his defence. We are certainly missing Whare and Hiku but we really need Carty out of 5/8th but we have no one else until TMM is back and at least he is performing admirably. A big crowd today but not the performance needed. Next week should be another loss to what should be a desperate Eels team. Hope Wal isn't too badly injured, we need his experience, our team is so young. Can only imagine if Brisbane get into form after playing the Bunnies next week, we may be handed a flogging in Brisbane. Our forward pack is also not impressing at the moment, big Kikau might get a chance seeing how much Griffin chops and changes our team. Merrin is performing well, puts in. At the start of the year at least we hung in, kept it close. Now we are caving in a bit more which is a pity. Hoping for a big improvement next week but won't count on it.
 
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SweetandSoward

Juniors
Messages
170
Everyone stop saying we are a young team / we are losing because we're young. well what the hell were we doing during our 5 year plan.
We let go of three senior players , segy, sowie, taylor
thats why we are young
 

Kilkenny

Coach
Messages
13,878
I'm over it. Really gutted. This afternoon we had everything to play for and we were pathetic. All those players whom I believed were going to lead us to the next premiership, not this season but in 2017 or soon thereafter offered little or nothing.
 

Luke Bowden

First Grade
Messages
7,362
Hardaker is much better then what he showed today. He'll learn from that.

Impressive start by Edwards. I hope he gets more game time.

Today high lighted for me the need for a big forward leader, I hope Tamou can feel that.

We also need a No.6 Cartwright is not a No.6.
 

mxlegend99

Referee
Messages
23,334
Cartwright was never a proper 6, hes just so gifted with his ball playing that with momentum on our side he looked capable there. Cartwright and Cleary halves were only ever a bandaid solution . Griffin had a potential long term solution and has decided against it.

I think we should run with:

1. Dwz / Edwards
2. Mansour
3. Blake
4. Yeo
5. Edwards / DWZ
6. Moylan
7. Cleary
8. RCG
9. Wallace
10. Latimore
11. Merrin
12. JFH
13. Cartwright

14. Matagi
15. Latu
16. Grevsmuhl
17. Peachey

Give Peachey time at hooker. We need someone to cover Wallace. Hes our best bet from the NRL experienced players who are healthy. Yeo might also plug the hole in defence up that side a tiny bit. Not that it would change much with 13 holes.

WheN TMM is fit give him a game or 2 in NSW Cup and then use him in the utility role. Hopefully he could play hooker well.
 

abpanther

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
20,808
I also think teams have figured out that Wallace is a weakness at hooker and are sending lots of traffic up the middle third of the field. Wallace is dropping off tackles, he was at fault for Barba's first try and he also suffered a stinger during the game.
 

cb4

First Grade
Messages
9,586
Was not confident about this game. I thought your more experienced players in Merrin and Wallace would be enough to get on top of us.
A most enjoyable trip out west and a pretty good game to watch.
You guys have enough talent to bounce back, just need to get a genuine number 6 on your books.
 

billypilgrimnz

First Grade
Messages
5,169
Was not confident about this game. I thought your more experienced players in Merrin and Wallace would be enough to get on top of us.
A most enjoyable trip out west and a pretty good game to watch.
You guys have enough talent to bounce back, just need to get a genuine number 6 on your books.

And a genuine hooker. And a genuine coach.
 

BxTom

Bench
Messages
2,675
I watched Cartwright run the ball out, kick the ball out, kick the ball early in the tackle count (leaving his team mates out of it) and running from one side to the other. Someone needs to point out that the try lines are at the end of the ground, not at the side. He is certainly a good player, but needs to stop playing for himself. Albeit he should not be selected at 5/8, he needs to realise that ad lib plays only work when they come as a surprise. He gets a bit predictable when he ad libs nearly every time he gets the ball. Other than that, Blake with his back to the play and surprise, a loose carry is a worry and Will Smith's inattention was really the icing on the cake.

The team lacks experience and discipline. Last week we got ahead with some good play and then throwing the game and ball away in what could only really be described as desperation play/passes when they were not needed. Hopefully they start learning when to be patient and when to play high risk football. I hope this comes with experience and I hope it comes soon.

Tom.
 

Mr Angry

Not a Referee
Messages
51,816
The team lacks experience and discipline.

Tom.
Points directly at coach, this is quite simply his job. Supply discipline, keep the side balanced with youth and experience.

Failing on both counts.

Game plan would not go astray.....

I take no joy in seeing the pennies do badly.
 

BxTom

Bench
Messages
2,675
Points directly at coach, this is quite simply his job. Supply discipline, keep the side balanced with youth and experience.

Failing on both counts.

Game plan would not go astray.....

I take no joy in seeing the pennies do badly.


Not necessarily the coach's fault - the coach can only instruct and train, they can't be on the field. If a player such as the 5/8 keeps ad libbing it will break down the team cohesion, the strategy and make mince meat of the game plan. There is a place in the game for ad lib plays certainly - it's what can break the game. But not every play. That's why Priddis, Lewis and Segerayo (spelling?) are no longer here. They were all players that were good at the occasional ad lib play, but then their egos blew out and they inserted them selves into every play that they could and the team plan went to hell on a hand cart. Although, it may be the coach's fault for selecting Carty at 5/8, but until TMM is back, there are no other options.


And I have no idea how an inexperienced team is the fault of the coach - he can only select from the players available. How do players get experience without playing. How many of your Sharks players have come good and were inexperienced a year or two back?

Tom.
 

mxlegend99

Referee
Messages
23,334
Not necessarily the coach's fault - the coach can only instruct and train, they can't be on the field. If a player such as the 5/8 keeps ad libbing it will break down the team cohesion, the strategy and make mince meat of the game plan. There is a place in the game for ad lib plays certainly - it's what can break the game. But not every play. That's why Priddis, Lewis and Segerayo (spelling?) are no longer here. They were all players that were good at the occasional ad lib play, but then their egos blew out and they inserted them selves into every play that they could and the team plan went to hell on a hand cart. Although, it may be the coach's fault for selecting Carty at 5/8, but until TMM is back, there are no other options.


And I have no idea how an inexperienced team is the fault of the coach - he can only select from the players available. How do players get experience without playing. How many of your Sharks players have come good and were inexperienced a year or two back?

Tom.
So its not the coaches fault that we pushed Elijah Taylor, Jamie Soward and James Segeyaro out?

We had those players. He got rid of them. That's his fault. It depleted the depth and experience in the squad.
 

BxTom

Bench
Messages
2,675
So its not the coaches fault that we pushed Elijah Taylor, Jamie Soward and James Segeyaro out?

We had those players. He got rid of them. That's his fault. It depleted the depth and experience in the squad.


Yes, we were playing so much better with Segs and Sowie were't we? And I think that everyone is aware exept for you that, other than form, Segs had other off field dramas and Taylor had some disciplinary dramas.

Tom
 

TheFrog

Coach
Messages
14,300
I watched Cartwright run the ball out, kick the ball out, kick the ball early in the tackle count (leaving his team mates out of it) and running from one side to the other.
This is where Moylan was missed. Cartwright was expected to create things, and I'm not sure he manages well when its all on his shoulders. I do think this might have been a very different game had Matt played.
 

BxTom

Bench
Messages
2,675
This is where Moylan was missed. Cartwright was expected to create things, and I'm not sure he manages well when its all on his shoulders. I do think this might have been a very different game had Matt played.

Yes, 5/8 is a BAD spot for him. He is better as a second rower who can insert himself now and again instead of trying to run the game. But I don't think that Moylan is the answer at 5/8 neither, they would target him and run over the top of him. As good a ball player as he is, he lacks strength.

Tom.
 

billypilgrimnz

First Grade
Messages
5,169
(a) Not necessarily the coach's fault - the coach can only instruct and train, they can't be on the field. If a player such as the 5/8 keeps ad libbing it will break down the team cohesion, the strategy and make mince meat of the game plan.

(b) Although, it may be the coach's fault for selecting Carty at 5/8, but until TMM is back, there are no other options.

(c) And I have no idea how an inexperienced team is the fault of the coach - he can only select from the players available.

None of these things make a lick of sense. (a) If the coach cannot get a team to follow his "game plan", then he should not be a coach, period. (b) We had an option - Soward - but we dumped him and then let him walk for poor form. You think the coach has nothing to do with a decision like that? We have another option, but apparently Griffin, like you, would rather assume Moylan will not be up to it and continue to play someone who is currently proving he is not up to it. Come on. (c) We have an inexperienced team because our coach got rid of three of our most experienced players. Pretty basic really.
 

Fibroman

First Grade
Messages
8,216
I really laugh at the comments by some on here, and I won't single them out, because I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion.
It was painfully obvious to me that:
Cartwright was trying too hard, overplayed his hand, and is clearly playing in the wrong position. Not his fault. Coaching issue.
Our forwards were running sideways and trying to offload at every opportunity instead of just getting the hard yards and getting quick play the balls. Coaching issues.
In attack, we are standing flat footed, ball carriers running sideways with no bodies ion motion to straighten the play up. Coaching issue.
We have too many big, slow blokes in the side as requested by the coach, who values size over pace.
Cronulla are a good side, but we had so many opportunities to win the game, I lost count.
Can someone please tell Gould, Griffen et al that Wonga Blake should be playing Rugby Yawnion, stick Hardacker in reserve grade for a couple of weeks and front row forwards should never kick the football before looking for a support player.
 

Big Mick

Referee
Messages
26,318
Based on what Gus has said on Twitter just now...looks like Wal is gonna be out a while. Going to see Surgeon tomorrow.
 

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