Round 23 V Souths

[Abacus]

Hopefully we get Crichton back to right centre. TayMay 1 wing, Naden the other. Rest of the team picks itself...

 

[DinkyDi]

Our next three games:

 

[Whino]

Hopefully no injuries or suspensions. A good chance for a tough hit out. We need to lift our game. Too much crap creeping in lately.

 

[murraymob]

TPJ capewell api. Fish back we will have our best forward pack on the feild this year.last year was smooth sailing .This year I think the disruption could work in our favour by freshini g up a few of them .Hold the middle and left they struggle .Our bench is going to be interest and have a bit of fire power

 

[goldcoastpanther]

TPJ capewell api. Fish back we will have our best forward pack on the feild this year.last year was smooth sailing .This year I think the disruption could work in our favour by freshini g up a few of them .Hold the middle and left they struggle .Our bench is going to be interest and have a bit of fire power

Is TPJ likely to play next week?

 

[murraymob]

Is TPJ likely to play next week?

Yes I am hearing he is ready

 

[goldcoastpanther]

Yes I am hearing he is ready

Thanks good news.

 

[GongPanther]

TPJ will need a game or two under his belt to get back to his peak. But yes, I'm very confident that Souths will be no match for us, not when we are in "switch on semi-finals" mode.

 

[The Realist]

I have no idea where all this confidence comes from. South are now a well oiled machine at full strength and look to have fixed some of their defensive deficiencies. On the flip side our side even with Nathan is down on form, is struggling to build any cohesive combinations with the forced and unforced changes and even our much vaunted defence has taken a hit.

I understand our ceiling is higher then Souths - but they are currently playing to 95% of their potential. We are currently at about 70% of ours and I think that might be generous.

I expect to lose this game however if our team stays healthy and builds combinations over the last few rounds I expect to beat them in the finals.

 

[Thirsty Panther]

Since we beat Souths back in round 11 since then they have been undefeated.
Sounds impressive but the teams they have played aren't world beaters.
Eels, Knights, Broncos, Tigers, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Warrior, Dragons, Eels (again) and Titians.
If we play the same way we played back in round 11 we should have this.
Looking forward to TPJ ripping in from the bench.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

I'm never confident going into a game.

In saying that this will be the first time since Souths game where first choice spine is available.

 

[murraymob]

I think the key to us beating them is our defence .wven with how we sucked in that first 25 minutes we still held the dragons .They at one stage had 10 sets to our 3 .Transfer to the bunnies game and hold there left side and we are right in it
There is no way what happened at Dubbo has any bearing I. This game.it will be close and hard fought game

 

[CCJohnC]

To me the St G game showed how much Nathan's defence has been missed. Often underestimated.

 

[martielang]

I know everyones pretty high on May at the moment but he made a couple of questionable defensive reads v Roosters, I think we’d get ripped apart v South’s. He looked raw to me, definite quality and potential but not quite ready yet. Little worried about Naden defensively as well tbh.

I’ve been critical of Staines but given he knows our system and seems to make the right defensive decision more times than not, I’d probably pair him with Naden, but could also handle Staines and Crichton with man mountain Momo at centre.

 

[The_Frog]

South are now a well oiled machine at full strength and look to have fixed some of their defensive deficiencies.

They've also won 10 in a row since we last met, the highest opponent of which holds 6th place and is flattered by that standing. There are five teams that might trouble them and they haven't had to play any of them.

 

[maple_69]

I’d go Naden, Burton, Crichton, Staines. Best right side we have defensively. I just want to see us get back to blowing through the middle, making minimal errors and playing in their half.

 

[Original Name]

I have no idea where all this confidence comes from. South are now a well oiled machine at full strength and look to have fixed some of their defensive deficiencies. On the flip side our side even with Nathan is down on form, is struggling to build any cohesive combinations with the forced and unforced changes and even our much vaunted defence has taken a hit.

I understand our ceiling is higher then Souths - but they are currently playing to 95% of their potential. We are currently at about 70% of ours and I think that might be generous.

I expect to lose this game however if our team stays healthy and builds combinations over the last few rounds I expect to beat them in the finals.

If anything Souths ceiling is higher than ours. They just can't get close to it whereas we have gotten closer to ours more consistently. When their most creative players are firing it's undefendable. They're only able play like that for like 20 minutes at a time before coming back behind Melbourne's attack though. They play like a roller coaster but their lows are good to beat beat teams and they haven't gotten near their potential height except for that game where they beat the Roosters by like 60 and Latrell wasn't even playing that game.

 

[franklin2323]

They've also won 10 in a row since we last met, the highest opponent of which holds 6th place and is flattered by that standing. There are five teams that might trouble them and they haven't had to play any of them.

this. They have done well through a soft part of the the with relatively no injuries. I think this is the best they get

 

[kinghippo]

I didn't see much last week that suggested the Crichton to wing move was a success, hopefully he is back in the centres this week.
If we must have momo in the team put him on the wing.
Our bench will be very strong this week with everyone returning, a few good players will miss out.

 

[DinkyDi]

Nice article.