A commendable effort from the boys last night. Full credit goes to Carr for the style of play he has brought to the team since taking over. Win, lose, or draw, I'm not bored shitless watching our games anymore. You can see how much more confident we are as a team, now that he's given them licence to throw the ball around and look to play with more flair. Sure, it didn't convert into points last night, the Warriors are a very good defensive side and will be a handful for any team in the finals. What we are producing on the field is like chalk and cheese to what we did under Griffin. THANK GOD HE'S GONE...
Two things I feel compelled to have my say on...
The six again that Gough awarded in the lead up to the first try. He called hand on the ball. Watching the replay, it would be a physical impossibility for the Warriors player to play the ball any quicker than what he did. What an absolutely ridiculous and totally unnecessary call to make. In my opinion, he went into that set with the idea of awarding a restart, at any cost, and chose to do so in that tackle. I'm not usually one to buy into referee conspiracies, but watching that made me have a rethink. I'd be happy if he never reffed a game of ours again.
And now, the thing that left me completely seething. The try that was scored off the back of the repeat set.
I've have been a fan of Tyrell Sloan's from before he made his first grade debut. With ball in hand he can do special things, but there was always a question around how he would handle the defensive requirements of the full back role, in top grade. I've been one who was willing to give him time, and I always thought that as he filled out, and grew more confident, he would eventually handle the role...
As of now, after this effort, I'm just about at the end of my tether...
In the full game replay, the head on is even more damning. In my opinion, he absolutely squibbed his job to the team and deliberately avoided contact with the Warriors ball runner. It was as bad a defensive non-effort as anything I ever saw from Dufty. As soon as Pompey got that ball, there was only ever one way he was going. Sloan had plenty of time to check his run and put his body on the line. In my opinion he deliberately chose not to. That is unforgiveable. If you actually watch it closely, he nearly steps out of the way to avoid contact. DISGRACEFUL...
There's no way the new coach will put up with that, and nor should he.
Other than that pathetic display, a really whole hearted effort from the boys and hopefully a better year awaits us next year.
Fingers crossed...