Round 21 v Dragons

[Iamback]

The reshuffle and square ups stopped any momentum.

We still had the possession. A few nothing kicks a couple of bombed tries in that period but it give them something to work on

 

[age.s]

What a beautiful day.

 

[Iamback]

We are still tuning up.

Halves were terrific with the ball. They've got more tricks I'm sure.

Don't get wrong easily our 2nd best performance of the year.

I thought our 1st try for example was soft. The Nathan break just after that, Dragons were slow out of the blocks and we left 3-4 tries out there.

We missed more tackles than them, conceded more penalties and 6 agains. Granted likely square ups but that happens every game.

Certainly trending the right way. I am sure there is stuff that didn't please Ivan which keeps them working

 

[Fangs]

Don't get wrong easily our 2nd best performance of the year.

I thought our 1st try for example was soft. The Nathan break just after that, Dragons were slow out of the blocks and we left 3-4 tries out there.

We missed more tackles than them, conceded more penalties and 6 agains. Granted likely square ups but that happens every game.

Certainly trending the right way. I am sure there is stuff that didn't please Ivan which keeps them working

Both tries conceded weren't great. Especially at the death you want 110% effort in those moments.

As long as we deliver that level come the finals there will be no tears.

 

[age.s]

Turns out our NRL team is a slightly different proposition to our Cup team.

 

[Chins get the wins]

Decent game but the opposition was awful. The only thing I can really take away from it is that Mav doesn't belong in first grade

 

[PennyPanthers81]

Decent game but the opposition was awful. The only thing I can really take away from it is that Mav doesn't belong in first grade

And that Casey Maclean is the goods

 

[mxlegend99]

Stats have Cleary with 270m gained.

Has a half ever had anywhere near that before? Luke Walsh wouldn’t make that in a season.
Not bad this early into his return from a hamstring injury.

 

[Munky]

Stats have Cleary with 270m gained.

Has a half ever had anywhere near that before? Luke Walsh wouldn’t make that in a season.
Not bad this early into his return from a hamstring injury.

Saw that on the NRL app.

Fox has 123m which seems about right.

 

[WestyLife]

Enjoyed it thoroughly. Our halves will be hard to beat. Hope fish isn't serious will be devastating not seeing him play as much as possible this season.

Tago still can't tackle.

 

[Iamback]

Both tries conceded weren't great. Especially at the death you want 110% effort in those moments.

As long as we deliver that level come the finals there will be no tears.

Yeah it is all part of the team improving which is all you want

 

[Iamback]

Decent game but the opposition was awful. The only thing I can really take away from it is that Mav doesn't belong in first grade

He tried some passes today atleast

 

[age.s]

What happened to all those Dragons fans infesting our forum after round 13?

 

[Chins get the wins]

He tried some passes today atleast

And we saw why he hasn't tried before

 

[Panther Mike]

Nathan missing Origin looks like a blessing in disguise because he's fresh, fit and firing and able to go up another level for us which is what I really care about. Dragons may have played like crap, but we still put them away easily in front of their big home crowd so it's pleasing. Obviously worried about injuries like JFH though.

 

[martielang]

The Luai/Cleary balance was perfect today. Luai getting a fairer share of the ball only makes us and Cleary more dangerous.

SOO Martin turned up too. Hopefully he catches fire like a couple of seasons ago.

 

[age.s]

On the game itself:

Our halves will be impossible to stop if they keep that up. A confident, trusted Luai is incredible foil for Nath.
The Dragons were abject. At WIN, old boys day, top 8 slot on the line. Genuinely expected much better. Goal line defense and Ben Hunt particular lowlights. It wasn't even that windy, to kick 3 way out on the full was embarassing from a guy with his experience.
Toelau is our best 14 by some distance.
Feel for Laurie. He was on the way to absolutely carving that game up. Hopefully he's not out for too long.
Turuva shouldn't be in the frame for a fullback slot, not yet at least. Has some good qualities there but looked routinely clueless positionally.
Feel for Fish. Thatd be no way to end his time here.

Overall, very happy. Can't do much more than put 40 odd on a team playing like that.

 

[maple_69]

Halves are going to be difficult to contain this year, I don’t think we’ve looked this threatening and dynamic since the first half of 2021. Nice to see Cleary immediately look far more assured in defence this week also. No point going on about Tago here but if the rest of that edge is making good decisions I think we can cover him. The pack is really heating up and McLean looks like a star.

 

[age.s]

Nathan missing Origin looks like a blessing in disguise because he's fresh, fit and firing and able to go up another level for us which is what I really care about.

Hungry too. The excessive stroking about Bitchells Origin performance would have him wanting to straighten out the pecking order.

 

[Luke Bowden]

Great win.
Zero negatives really.

We move on to next week