Round 24 V Storm

[umina panther]

Exactly. Docker is a poor defender and people need to take the rose coloured glasses off because he can hit. Shouldn't ever be in first grade with the depth we have in the back row.

 

[Thirsty Panther]

So frustrated. The Melbourne defensive line had time to have a cup of tea before our players could get to their feet to play the ball. Some suspect penalties before and after halftime, along with some errors on our part killed us.

happy with the efforts from Plum, Moylan and Soward.

Not so good from Mansour and Docker.

We're still in the top 4 so all is not lost. A win against Manly this week would cheer me up greatly

 

[franklin2323]

Kingston showed why his in NSW Cup. Slow service nothing in attack. Docker back to the Docker of old. Our defence was pretty good though would be nice to get some 50/50 calls at home.

 

[Pomoz]

It's gonna be tough scoring points without Segyaro. We are really down on creativity but big on tackling and guts. The Storm will feel the loss of Bromwich, if its true, and that will help.

We need Whare and Idris to really step up tonight. If Smith can also show a bit more that would be excellent., otherwise we may struggle to get into double figures against the Storm's blanket defence.

Regardless of the result, I known the boys will do us proud and tackle until they drop.
Good luck to the Holden Cup team too. Time to cement a place in the top eight.

Unfortunately, my prediction was spot on with the creativity bit, I just couldn't see where the points would come from. The Storm defended well and the referees made sure they had plenty of wrestle time. We didn't adapt to the slow play the balls. To lose by two tries with half a team missing is still pretty damn good. Peachy, Wallace and Segyaro would make a hell of a difference.

 

[Big Mick]

Well...that played out like I thought it would.

We'd be relying on our defense and Ben Cummins would maintain his stellar record against us. One win since 2010 under Cummins.

But all in all ok with the effort. When you have 9 guys missing and 3 of your top 6 players....you are going to struggle.

Mansour made one of the dumbest play's I've seen tonight and Moylan had a bit of a shocker too.

Docker in that first half made me want to sack him on the spot. Frustrating considering he has been really good since returning from a week off a month back.

But overall I see that performance for what it is - We were missing significant talent and all our X-Factor last night. We will be better when Segeyaro and Yeo to return in place of Kingston/BMM.

We'll be fine.

 

[franklin2323]

Unfortunately, my prediction was spot on with the creativity bit, I just couldn't see where the points would come from. The Storm defended well and the referees made sure they had plenty of wrestle time. We didn't adapt to the slow play the balls. To lose by two tries with half a team missing is still pretty damn good. Peachy, Wallace and Segyaro would make a hell of a difference.

Yeah. Soward/Moylan wouldn't be enough to win. Those 2 tries were an intercept and off a kick after a dodgy call. Add Seg to that time and playing smarter we go close to winning. It was the test we needed before the semis

 

[TheFrog]

How many times did the storm just didn't get off the ground so they can get a penalty and then 1 minute later the guy walks up and is fine. The penalty against jeremy latimore is the perfect example. he got reported for nothing. they taught to stay down.

The first one (against Docker I think) was borderline high and probably a fair pinch I thought. The Latimore one I couldn't see a thing wrong with.

 

[mxlegend99]

Both penalties against Docker were fair. That one against Latimore is as bullshit as it gets. No crusher whatsoever, nor anyway for the player to tackle him without that result.

 

[mxlegend99]

I'd like to see this side against Manly.

1. DWZ
2. Mansour
3. Idris
4. Whare
5. Simmons / Naiqama
6. Moylan
7. Soward
8. Grant
9. Segeyaro
10. Plum
11. Manu
12. Robinson
13. Docker (sadly stuck with him due to injury)

14. Brown
15. Plum
16. McKendry
17. VTK / Cherrington / RCG (anyone that isn't BMM)

18. Smith (if Segeyaro is out, Brown to hooker and Smith as bench utility)

 

[franklin2323]

I don't think BMM was that bad...Didn't play big minutes though. Need some options from Smith in attack.

 

[betcats]

Bmm had some good runs only saw make the one mistake off a bad pass from Soward. May have missed something though. DWZ continues to improve.

 

[maple_69]

This would be the ultimate roll of the dice. Idris already plays as a Taylor style edge forward and we have players that can add something big at Centre. Namely Blake but probably not the time for a debut and I think Smith could be good at Centre. It's not really the time for a shake up though. Segeyaro cones back and we can at least go with the top teams.

1. DWZ
2. Mansour
3. Whare
4. Smith
5. Simmons/Naiqama
6. Moylan
7. Soward
8. Plum
9. Segeyaro
10. Mckendry
11. Manu
12. Robinson
13. Docker
14. Latimore
15. Anderson
16. Idris
17. Brown

 

[franklin2323]

Bmm had some good runs only saw make the one mistake off a bad pass from Soward. May have missed something though. DWZ continues to improve.

That's how I saw him aswell. A few decent hits in defence certainly a work in progress

 

[mxlegend99]

BMM missed Roberts with a poor attempted tackle to score. Dropped it cold on another occasion. Had a nice run or two, but for mine he looks overweight and lazy.

 

[martielang]

f**k people are harsh on Will Smith. He's had an extremely tough few weeks against the best teams in the comp and has been solid in every game. Fatigue would of had to be an issue. You also can't really expect a lot from a guy who has played 4 top grade games out of position, especially when your playing the Storm and the 10 metres is 8 metres and the ruck was a shambles all night.

BMM while he made a couple of errors, when he got the ball in hand showed what he's capable of. I would persist with him as we lack any sort of power forward.

Game changed on Moylan getting pushed out. After holding on for the last 4 sets, that was the straw that broke the camels back.

Not our greatest game but we still hung tough. I think there's still a hell of a fight left in us.

 

[MrAnonymous]

BMM missed Roberts with a poor attempted tackle to score. Dropped it cold on another occasion. Had a nice run or two, but for mine he looks overweight and lazy.

That was Kingston but anyway.

 

[mxlegend99]

BMM missed him. Clear as day. Kingston may have missed him as well, but to let Ben Roberts run through is a disgrace.

Doesn't get much worse then Docker stats wise though:

5 runs for 45m gained
2 errors
30 tackles, 4 missed tackles, 3 penalties

He did more to. help the Storm then he did the Panthers. No redeeming moments.

 

[Frankus]

I thought Kingston was well and truly off the pace, which I guess should be expected having spent the last half of the season in NSW Cup. His service was below par and slow compared to what he is capable of. And at times he was really sucking in the big ones and walking back with hands on head after Melbourne kicks.

DWZ and Idris had fantastic games I thought. How are we going to manage to keep DWZ and play him in his best position at the back with Moylan? I really don't think shifting Moylan to 6 is the answer. It may be a similar case to Wesser and Turner.

Back to the game, we were quite predictable in attack and I think we were just trying to hard considering Segeyaro wasn't there. Far too much shifting the ball sideways and no one straightening at pace. Idris' try was from straightening and hitting the hole. I honestly believe if we had have stuck to a more one dimensional approach for most of our attack in the 20m zone with Idris, Whare, Robinson and Manu hitting the edges at pace we may have just taken the 2 points. But at the end of the day it was 3 linebreaks to 2, a try from an intercept and one from a kick off the back of a silly penalty. We were right in the game just lacked the finishing. Melbourne defended well on their own line but we really didn't throw a great deal at them. The wrestle and play the ball speed hurt our build up a bit too but we should have known that would be the case as that is how the Storm play.

I won't harp on about the refereeing and opposing team tactics with the couple of penalties that really killed our chances (the Docker high shot that was reviewed and the crusher tackle). All teams and players I am sure are instructed to stay down to earn the penalty. The worst thing about it will be if Latimore or Robinson actually cops a suspension for the crusher (really didn't think there was much in it). I am sure there would have been several other tackles very similar throughout the match without so much as a penalty.

If we can finish top 4, and have Segs back and roaring to go as everyone has said - it is a completely different competition and anything can happen.

 

[soc123_au]

Have to give Sowie another wrap for last night. He left nothing out there. So much for him going missing when he is up against it.

 

[Pomoz]

Back to the game, we were quite predictable in attack and I think we were just trying to hard considering Segeyaro wasn't there. Far too much shifting the ball sideways and no one straightening at pace. Idris' try was from straightening and hitting the hole. I honestly believe if we had have stuck to a more one dimensional approach for most of our attack in the 20m zone with Idris, Whare, Robinson and Manu hitting the edges at pace we may have just taken the 2 points.

Good analysis Frankus. I agree with you about the running sideways. Neither Whare, Idris or any of the back rowers wanted to come in at the angle to straighten the attack and when they did, their play the ball was like watching paint dry (with the Storm's wrestling tactics playing their part).

For whatever reason, our impact back rowers from last year, Manu and Robinson, have no impact this year and seem unable to break the line or pick the right angles to run.