Round 3 2016 v Raiders Game discussion

[Spot On]

And I'm one who has been saying for years that Snowden and Uate are not hard to replace.

We got to a preliminary final with Snowden missing the last 7 weeks of season. Blokes in here were declaring our season over because we lost him???????? Couldn't be further from the truth. In reality there should be no probs replacing him with a bloke on half his coin.

Aku needs no explanation. Bloke replacing him this week gets pulled off a job site, scores 2 tries, saves one and looks as good all for 400K less. Hard to argue against.

Tariq - wait and see. At his best you keep him. If not, bye bye.

 

[K-Man]

Bhana can spell at hooker. He's a bit like Hilder was in that regard only bigger, faster and more skillful

Man, what a headache deciding who to drop when Tariq comes back. I'm really at a loss as to who I'd cut. Maybe Fitzgibbon? I like the kid but he probably offeres less

Agree on Bhana. I'd have him in for Randell.

I don't think it's that big a headache. J Saifiti has held his own for a teenager but he's probably the weakest link in that rotation. He's been solid, and he's got the potential, but Tariq comes straight back into his starting spot and I'd say a fit and in-form Stockwell takes Fitzgibbon's bench spot.

 

[macavity]

Don't get the Randell hate. Not a starter, but holds his own on the bench. And can play basically anywhere bar front row.

 

[Spot On]

I don't either. Bit off last week but most of them were.

Rochow was alright yesterday but if that's anywhere the level he's going to dish up then he'll be staying here for less than he wants.

 

[Frederick]

Well I don't. Again, each to their own.I suppose.

I must be watching a different game to most. Some people have actually suggested Mataora not being up to it. What the f**k are people watching and what do they expect?

It's not coincidence but the first game we don't have Uate and Gags on our right we don't leak copious amounts of tries down that side.

I said it wasn't worth the gamble...

 

[Swarzey]

What worries me is that many of them can't repeat it, because they've never done it before as far as I can see. I guess it's Browns job to figure out how to get those sorts of performances regularly.

Completely agree however, I have a feeling that might be down to the poor culture we've had for basically forever. Players have never had the pressure to back those performances up unless they were in the running for an Origin gig (Gagai last year, Scott in 2014 more recently). It's always seemed one good game gave the players a full month to plod along before being held accountable for their poor performances. We can all see the pressure Brown has put on the players to perform; I don't think the side would have fought back if there was none of it so hopefully it leads to consistency.

Knowing there was so much more we could have gotten out of players like Korbin, Rochow and Sione, I don't want to be optimistic....I hate being optimistic but with a phenomenal run home we can avoid the spoon.

On Tariq, we all know the quality player he can be and maybe under Brown, playing outside of Hodkinson he can find the spectacular form that got him so close to an Origin jumper at the Cowboys. What we will be offering is a 12 month extension that's part of the deal, not resigning him for 2/3 years. The benefit of moving at least Snowden and Aku on is that it gives us more than enough to buy two or three handy players; Tariq's money would be a luxury but the extra season would give Taz the opportunity to prove his worth. Let's remember this guy is a co-captain so Brown clearly sees him as an important part of the team.

Ever since we announced his signing I've said the future of the club should be built around him and Korbin. Their discipline is something that needs to be worked on, Brown so far seems to be the best person to change that but they're more than capable of being leaders on and off the field.

 

[Spot On]

I said it wasn't worth the gamble...

I was replying to this:

"We all know Snowden, in form, is probably our best."

 

[macavity]

Snowden is finished as an NRL player. We have to hope he retires.

I wouldn't get too excited about signing players if Snowy and Aku go - it simply gives us the opportunity to re-sign/extend the ones we don't want to lose.

Some in here still don't seem to have their heads around the fact that we have no choice but to develop players and hope they stay for under what they could get elsewhere - which means locking them up early, for a long time, and then betting they will be worth more than they signed for.

 

[macavity]

Just watching the replay..

A few things really stand out -

How the Raiders didn't get one in the bin is a joke, repeatedly and deliberately infringing.

Our pack really stood up in that second half against one of the best packs in the comp.

Levi is a bloody good dummy half. The 9 should be his now.

Mullo had his best game since 2013.

Sione looks ripped, and has found an attitude. He wants to hurt people and its freaking awesome - he reminds me of Steve Matai, without the faking injury every second play. It's like his opposite number made fun of his hair.

 

[Spot On]

Just watching the replay..

A few things really stand out -

How the Raiders didn't get one in the bin is a joke, repeatedly and deliberately infringing.

Our pack really stood up in that second half against one of the best packs in the comp.

Levi is a bloody good dummy half. The 9 should be his now.

Mullo had his best game since 2013.

Sione looks ripped, and has found an attitude. He wants to hurt people and its freaking awesome - he reminds me of Steve Matai, without the faking injury every second play. It's like his opposite number made fun of his hair.

Love your posts and opinions. May I say 100% Spot On.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Snowden is finished as an NRL player. We have to hope he retires.

I wouldn't get too excited about signing players if Snowy and Aku go - it simply gives us the opportunity to re-sign/extend the ones we don't want to lose.

Some in here still don't seem to have their heads around the fact that we have no choice but to develop players and hope they stay for under what they could get elsewhere - which means locking them up early, for a long time, and then betting they will be worth more than they signed for.

I could be wrong, but wasn't Snowden leading the Knight of the year thread that we had on here over the first half of last season? If he goes, then so be it, but I think a lot of people on here are demonstrating very short memories based on round one. He played as poorly as just about any prop I'd seen in living memory and some people may be clouded by that game.

If Snowden is shipped on, then it's not the end of the world. I just see all the other best teams and they get get second phase play out of their forwards. Second phase play allows the team to attack an unstructured defense and this has massive benefits. Some people on here (not saying you) seem to undervalue the second phase play that he brought to the team over the first half of last year as well as previous years. Without it we rarely looked like scoring tries unless it was off a kick.

If he doesn;t trim down and get serious, then ship him off. Otherwise I'd like to see him back in the starting side once he earns his place.

 

[Nuffy]

That was the best game I've been to since the 2013 semi against Melb.

We started poorly but were getting caned by the refs, Klein in particular seemed oblivious to any amounts of Canberra tricks, be it monstering in the play the ball or jumping early.

I get why Brown isnt teeing off in the presser, but at some point he needs to call out the obvious instances where the refs are judging us on preconceived ideas not what we are doing. Lots of convenient injuries on the Canberra line and professional fouls that went unpunished.

But pleasingly we dug in, for the first time in quite some time, we just hung in there.

In the second half we just played with passion and intent and whilst it was scrappy and we made a number of silly mistakes, we didnt drop our head which was brilliant.

I thought the call on Gagai's last try was tough, was 50/50 at best.

The young blokes stepped up and I was impressed with Levi, Safiti and the bros. We still have some work to do inside the opps 20 but grubbers work and we need to stay with that.

Mullo was good and the forwards impressed although I thought Rochow didnt add much. He isnt actually demanding another contract right now.

There's a decent team in there somewhere, Brown just needs to keep polishing.

Single biggest thing was their effort and application, its the one thing they control and its the biggest force multiplier we have.

The difficulty is sustaining that effort.

Overall a great effort and if they keep playing like that, irrespective of the result, the fans will come back.

 

[Nuffy]

Snowden and this neck/back thing sounds like trouble.

If he retired, Aku moves to Japan and we send Tariq on his way then suddenly Brown has $1.5m to spend.

Brown's comments in the presser didnt make much of the neck, he said it was a series of niggles, nothing specific. So either the neck is bad or Brown still has him in the doghouse.

The bloke would need to do a lot more to move into the team based on yesterday.

I also thought Rochow didnt offer as much as the younger players, he isnt demanding a new contract.

On Sims, the bloke has missed what 12 games in his time here through suspension already, he needs to offer an awful lot to be worth the money. Let him prove his worth first.

 

[macavity]

Snowy can't train properly - he has a bad lower back, and now a bad neck. Some players can continue their careers despite those type of issues by being meticulous in their preparation - think Shaun Timmins, Ben Kennedy, Ben Cross....

Does anyone here think "Snowden" and think "meticulous preparation"? He is a big unit and is naturally strong, and has naturally good endurance for his size - but he completely lacks speed, agility and explosiveness - because he can't train properly... and it shows on the park where he can't keep up with the game anymore.

Tariq... speaking of refs having pre-conceived ideas! If he played for the Dogs he wouldn't have missed a game. He gets targeted and punished harshly.

I don't expect Rochow to be here next year TBH - he quite sensibly wants his next contract to set him up financially, and we aren't in a position to offer anyone "set up" money without TPAs, which we don't have. He will get a nice contract at a large club, and be on a lower cap figure than what we are offering. Its the new NRL.

 

[Noname36]

I think you guys might be underestimating Snowden's contribution to the team a bit - and I know that's very easy to do when we've just played a game where the forwards dominated without him.

Snowden has something that none of our other forwards do - and that's the ability to ball play a bit and the ability to get a little second phase play going from our forwards. Blokes like Korbin and Mataora - for as hard as they try you won't get that from them. They don't have that extra step up or skill. I have a feeling Pauli may have it a bit and that some of the young kids may be able to develop some but at the moment Snowden is really the only one there.

Yes the forwards had a great game yesterday without him, and no, there is absolutely no way I would be bringing him back into the side at the moment - a) he doesn't deserve to be there over the ones currently there and b) there are the niggling injury/fitness concerns. HOWEVER I think everyone saying to piss him off are being very premature. Our forwards were excellent yesterday but they're not going to be able to replicate that every week. Obviously he shouldnt be going anywhere near the side at the moment but I think we need to keep Snowy around - even if it's just to keep the current props honest. For all the criticism he gets (most of it warranted) - he has always offered us more than any other forward where that be in terms of metres gained or ball playing.

Give him some time to see how his injuries go - for once in his career we might actually have the luxury of not rushing him into the side. It's not like his money would help us this year anyway.

 

[Caped Crusader]

Don't get the Randell hate. Not a starter, but holds his own on the bench. And can play basically anywhere bar front row.

Not hating on him at all. However, I think Bhana offers more and Levi is looking like the FG hooker we all knew he could be

 

[Caped Crusader]

Man, I must be watching a different set of forwards if you think Snowden is the only one who offers any 2nd phase play Noname

Pretty sure KSims, Paulli Pauli and the Saifiti boys are more than capable of providing this

 

[Noname36]

Man, I must be watching a different set of forwards if you think Snowden is the only one who offers any 2nd phase play Noname

Pretty sure KSims, Paulli Pauli and the Saifiti boys are more than capable of providing this

We'll have to agree with disagree because I've never seen anything close to resembling the type of ball playing Snowden is capable of from any of the players you've named. Pauli might have it in him (he did produce a nice offload in our trial) but we'll have to wait and see. I'm talking in FG for us here.

 

[Allstar Knights]

Pauli, Mataora and Smith can all ball-play at the line I've noticed. The Saifiti's generally just cart the ball up, though.

 

[macavity]

The ball playing doesn't make up for the dropped balls, penalties, and general sloth-like approach to the game.