Round 26 v The Eels

[Fangs]

It's an interesting last couple of rounds.

There are so many variables. We get the Eels now their season is over. But if we lose tonight and Broncos win we swap positions. Thats losing the minor premiership and it changes our finals week one opponent. If the Cowboys win then they are a chance at the 8 and will play accordingly next week.

On the other hand a Cows loss virtially ends their season. So we play a team with nothing to play for the following week. A lot to ponder when considering resting players.

 

[Chins get the wins]

It's an interesting last couple of rounds.

There are so many variables. We get the Eels now their season is over. But if we lose tonight and Broncos win we swap positions. Thats losing the minor premiership and it changes our finals week one opponent. If the Cowboys win then they are a chance at the 8 and will play accordingly next week.

On the other hand a Cows loss virtially ends their season. So we play a team with nothing to play for the following week. A lot to ponder when considering resting players.

Top 2 is locked in and we have no one to fear, everyone fear us. No one is beating us at home week 1

 

[Girds89]

Top 2 is locked in and we have no one to fear, everyone fear us. No one is beating us at home week 1

I don't think the broncs fear us tbh

 

[WestyLife]

Not sure why Dylan wasn‘t replaced by a specialist fullback Iongi So it is safe to assume Crichton will play there and McLean will debut at centre.

I'm guessing but I assume Ivan has a next man up policy as in who is most ready gets it rather than position specific if circumstances allow.

 

[Girds89]

All that matters tonight and next week is we get through unscathed...

No injuries or suspensions.

Throw in a decent performance and ill be over the moon.

I think this team has the runs on the board to have a week or two off and come out firing in week 1 of the finals..

 

[Girds89]

I'm guessing but I assume Ivan has a next man up policy as in who is most ready gets it rather than position specific if circumstances allow.

Iongi has been one of nsw cup best all year but..

 

[Fangs]

Top 2 is locked in and we have no one to fear, everyone fear us. No one is beating us at home week 1

Not necessarily about fear. Just about the optimal approach to the finals and potentially winning the comp. I don't think we are the type of club to tank a game to get another opponent. I also think if we lost the next two straight we wouldn't have any issues getting back on track for the finals. We've proven too much over the last 3 seasons to have any mental demons.

Just some more thought needed on how we line up next week against a team that could potentially still be in finals contention. Might be a forward or two rested.

 

[betcats]

Iongi has been one of nsw cup best all year but..

Yep ill find it surprising if Mclean plays fb for that reason. Iongi has been going really well, has been cup fb all year and most of last year. If we wanted to rest Dyl and leave critta in the centres Iongi seems the obvious choince to call up.

 

[betcats]

Not necessarily about fear. Just about the optimal approach to the finals and potentially winning the comp. I don't think we are the type of club to tank a game to get another opponent. I also think if we lost the next two straight we wouldn't have any issues getting back on track for the finals. We've proven too much over the last 3 seasons to have any mental demons.

Just some more thought needed on how we line up next week against a team that could potentially still be in finals contention. Might be a forward or two rested.

For me its not about fear and I dont think we are tanking these games. We are resting guys who need it, top 2 is locked up, we are four points ahead of 3rd. If we finish second who cares. At this stage it would mean a home semi against NZ rather than the storm which would be win. I dont think we have anything left to prove in regards to beating the best teams, ill take the easiest path to a gf. Id be happy to see Storm and Broncos belt each other up week 1 of the finals.

 

[Girds89]

Yep ill find it surprising if Mclean plays fb for that reason. Iongi has been going really well, has been cup fb all year and most of last year. If we wanted to rest Dyl and leave critta in the centres Iongi seems the obvious choince to call up.

Yep no doubt critta will play fb.. ivan playing it safe in his mind...

I think the safer option would be to leave the best defensive centre in the game at centre.

Iongi is safe as houses at the back.. he has a high work rate (not as high as dyl but still gets through a fair amount every week)..

I think iongi is more ready than mclean tbh. But i think mclean will do the job well.

Always nice seeing a debut regardless to who it is so im really looking forward to tonight..

 

[Chins get the wins]

I don't think the broncs fear us tbh

They should

 

[Girds89]

For me its not about fear and I dont think we are tanking these games. We are resting guys who need it, top 2 is locked up, we are four points ahead of 3rd. If we finish second who cares. At this stage it would mean a home semi against NZ rather than the storm which would be win. I dont think we have anything left to prove in regards to beating the best teams, ill take the easiest path to a gf. Id be happy to see Storm and Broncos belt each other up week 1 of the finals.

Yeah and you know what i reckon kevvie is thinking exactly the same thing... hed rather us and storm belt each other week 1...

 

[Iamback]

Iongi has been one of nsw cup best all year but..

Watch the Highlights of NSW Cup from the weekend, Their 1st try he handed them.

He has done that a few times in the last month

 

[Iamback]

They should

Of course they do, We are resting guys and injury free no one beats us

 

[Girds89]

Watch the Highlights of NSW Cup from the weekend, Their 1st try he handed them.

He has done that a few times in the last month

Yep but overall the whole season id say hes been their best player would you not agree??

Maybe henry has been better

 

[Luke Bowden]

Yet he has never been a regular, Even next year not sure where he plays for the Knights.

He is a fringe guy

So he’s a first grader. Thank you, I’m glade we agree.

 

[Iamback]

Broncos aren't beating the Storm next week. So we still should play them week 1

 

[pantherz9103]

Of course we should still be looking to win the minor premiership. Eels and Cowboys are teams we owe a beating after they pipped us early in the year in extra time.
We also don’t want Brisbane winning it and gaining extra confidence heading into the finals. The thought of Brisbane winning any kind of silverware is also rather unpleasant to me so it’s not a matter of ‘who cares’ if we come first or second for me. If it were the Warriors battling us for the minor prem I wouldn’t care as much. It shouldn’t matter if we play Storm in Week 1. We’ve cruised to wins both times we’ve played them this year. They aren’t good away from home anymore either.

 

[Iamback]

Yep but overall the whole season id say hes been their best player would you not agree??

Maybe henry has been better

Early in the year yes. He fell away the last 10 weeks or so, That goes with his age

 

[Girds89]

Early in the year yes. He fell away the last 10 weeks or so, That goes with his age

that goes with the whole team...

The whole team has been pretty disappointing over the last half of the season..

They have enough older heads in the team that they should have been a bit more consistant...

Eiso, garner, smith, cogger etc are all very experienced and played a lot..

They have just been a bit of a mixed bag.. iongi if you had to pick your best 3 for the season he is in it.