Round 22 v The Storm

[Wolfgang90]

Please don't concede more than 70pts. Plz.

 

[Wolfgang90]

I'm pretty sure Alec T has a HIA or injury.

 

[<StGeorgeDragons>]

The good things is I don’t think we can play worse than we did against the chocolate soldiers.

Probably not worth arguing but I do think we can play worse. Anzac Day was worse, second halves against manly, Dogs and Cowboys were all worse. Panthers are just so good and got the rub of the green to start the match. Hunts kicking game surely can’t get worse though.

If the players have any pride they will show some resolve in this match but they are getting beat. Just another year of Storm playing for a premiership and us just existing in the comp.

I’ll be watching but my expectations are even lower this week.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Please don't concede more than 70pts. Plz.

Storm beat Eels 32-14. We are a better team than the Eels. We should be aiming to do a lot better than that.

 

[Dragon David]

Storm beat Eels 32-14. We are a better team than the Eels. We should be aiming to do a lot better than that.

I don't want to be a smart arse Johnno but I will. Haha. The Storm 32, Dragons 20. That looks better.

 

[blacksafake]

Storm beat Eels 32-14. We are a better team than the Eels. We should be aiming to do a lot better than that.

But the eels have always given the storm a hard time.

 

[since77]

Storm beat Eels 32-14. We are a better team than the Eels. We should be aiming to do a lot better than that.

The Eels to their credit were actually pretty good most of the first half against Melbourne. Had two momentum changing against the run of play tries scored against them and they crumbled after that - much like the Dragons would have.

 

[TheRev]

The Eels arent a dud side though.. bit like the Broncos.. the g.final side is still in there.. and if you let them play their style of footy they can score points fast... I spose at times we are like that also..

But I cant really explain why we have won more games than those 2 clubs.. seems like a psychological thing... but tbf those sides have lost a lot of close games... we honestly havent.. we either win big and strong.. or we get a pasting.... I dont really know the answer.. other than we cant get ourselves up for every round.. I mean noone can but we are probably running @ 90%, 60%, 90%, 60%.. and it just depends who we play on the week... but the Top4 sides are probably more like 80-95% each week. Flanno has to sort of bring us up for a big game and out-energise our opponent, but its rare that we can do that 2 weeks straight.

Ultimately I think its raw roster quality that is our limiter.. squeezing too much out of the lemon was the best quote I heard from Flanno all year, it just sort of popped out after a loss.. and I think its spot on.

 

[Victoire]

The Eels arent a dud side though.. bit like the Broncos.. the g.final side is still in there.. and if you let them play their style of footy they can score points fast... I spose at times we are like that also..

But I cant really explain why we have won more games than those 2 clubs.. seems like a psychological thing... but tbf those sides have lost a lot of close games... we honestly havent.. we either win big and strong.. or we get a pasting.... I dont really know the answer.. other than we cant get ourselves up for every round.. I mean noone can but we are probably running @ 90%, 60%, 90%, 60%.. and it just depends who we play on the week... but the Top4 sides are probably more like 80-95% each week. Flanno has to sort of bring us up for a big game and out-energise our opponent, but its rare that we can do that 2 weeks straight.

Ultimately I think its raw roster quality that is our limiter.. squeezing too much out of the lemon was the best quote I heard from Flanno all year, it just sort of popped out after a loss.. and I think its spot on.

100% that is it. The team have been conditioned to shitness for years now, after the McGregor and Griffin eras. They are transitioning from that mindset, and can now be considered a team of "confidence players". That is, capable of good, to great, to excellent performances. When things go their way they can really click into gear and enjoy strong wins. On the flipside, however, when things don't go their way, the confidence vanishes and they tend to crumble, and suffer big losses. Little things like Suli getting KO'd in the Roosters game, losing Bird in that Dogs game, or even losing the toss and running into a gale against Penrith.

The hope is that we can continue the transition from confidence team, to confident team. We're running out of time (although it's not out of the question) to do that this season but, often, it's not something that occurs quickly. At the start of the year Flanagan admitted he was taking a longer view than just 2024, which was his suggestion that the journey to becoming a confident team is a long one

 

[rasaint]

I try not to get angry and despondent posting on the forum. I am a very long term supporter but my chin is dropping a bit.

Any player that starts gets an NRL game has to be congratulated and will have shown ability. Most of us have been park players and that level of ability was it.

Generally, since 2018, we haven’t been able to attract higher class players other than Jayden Sua, with maybe Frank Molo, Moses Suli lower but ok. Other recruited players do their best and at times pull a good game but just cannot consistently compete. I don’t know why exactly we fail at recruitment but it’s probably a range of issues. I don’t want to say this or that board member or recruitment or coaching staff etc is to blame as I simply don’t know. Also, hyped juniors which made NRL level recently were pretty ordinary in that competition in the wash up and or left the club.

My point is regardless of the coach ( of course that is reasonably important) you have to have a good smattering of top class players. Unfortunately, our roster is simply weak for NRL level. They try hard and do compete on occasion but that is the extent. I believe that Shane Flanagan is doing his best with what he has but now I cannot see us even winning a match from here.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

I don't want to be a smart arse Johnno but I will. Haha. The Storm 32, Dragons 20. That looks better.

If it was a good hard game and we were always in the contest, I'd be satisfied with that scoreline. Not happy, but satisfied.

 

[Dragon David]

If it was a good hard game and we were always in the contest, I'd be satisfied with that scoreline. Not happy, but satisfied.

Same here Johnno. If we win it will be a miracle but certainly cannot see that happening.

We are at the pointy end of the comp and we had 7 games left one being against the Panthers which we lost badly to, then we have 6 remaining games being the Storm and the Bulldogs and they are vying for top of the table finishes while the Titans have improved out of sight from the first round when we beat them and they could turn things around and beat us, then we have the Sharks who are already in the top 4 so will be trying to maintain that position. The last two games will be against the Eels away and Raiders at home. These two games we could win but still tough. It would depend on where we are at on the table if we put in 100% to win them.

Rasaint said above that he doesn't think that we will win another game this year and I have the same hunch. It will be a disappointing end to what looked promising earlier on in the comp.

The pointy end when we seem to try but fail like last year. Hook gone, Carr takes over we lose 6 of the last 6 games.