Round 3 V Newcastle

[The_Frog]

Honestly this side looks very weak this week. Half of them were reserve graders last year.

Very few first graders are not reserve graders first.

 

[Iamback]

Very few first graders are not reserve graders first.

Yep players improve

 

[Iamback]

I think we have the better systems and game plan. Seem quite dependant on some brilliance from Pongs or Clifford, so keeping them quiet is going to be important.

Personally, I think we lose this weekend. Hope I am wrong.

We have 3 Origin players in key positions. A few other senior guys like Edwards step up and we will have enough.

When a side has a bit of injuries normally just get outclassed in key areas. As you said the good system and game plan gets us home.

 

[Old and Disgruntled]

W/T did punch a few holes up the middle and edges (To their credit.) but couldn't finish off. An ugly win or a gutsy loss, won't be the end of the world.

 

[goldcoastpanther]

I think we have the better systems and game plan. Seem quite dependant on some brilliance from Pongs or Clifford, so keeping them quiet is going to be important.

Personally, I think we lose this weekend. Hope I am wrong.

Agree I can’t see us beating Newcastle with so many players out. I think Newcastle will win easily.

 

[mxlegend99]

Very few first graders are not reserve graders first.

How often do you need to replace half your team with guys with such little experience though?

We have 3 Origin players in key positions. A few other senior guys like Edwards step up and we will have enough.

When a side has a bit of injuries normally just get outclassed in key areas. As you said the good system and game plan gets us home.

Last year against Tigers you had a list of reasons why the side would win. Even going as far to say we would be better off defensively with Kenny in for Api. Burton in for Luai we lost nothing etc.

Your reasoning we couldn't lose was because our defence is too good. Boasting about pur defensive stats at full strength as if they meant anything with half the roster out

Our defence generally is fantastic. At full strength. But JFH. Martin. Cleary. Leota. To'o are all a big part of our exceptional defence. Winning the metre battle. Playing on the front foot so defence is easier. Those 5 guys out ontop of losing Capewell. Burton. May etc. Means we are very close in quality to the depleted squads we had last year.

Take our forwards and To'o out. Nathans kicking game. Defence gets a hell of a lot harder because we cant limit their metres the same way. They get more opportunities as a result against a weaker defensive line than usual. Those little changes stack up fast.

We have a squad capable of winning. But this squad is no better than the opposition. At full strength we usually boast a squad with players as good or better across the park. Take half those guys out and suddenly we have inferior players across the park and are a hell of a lot more vulnerable.

This is a very 50/50 game in all honesty. Unless one of the sides doesn't show up at all. But assuming both play at or near their ability it's a close one IMO.

 

[Sime_11]

If Edwards can have 250+ metres gained - that will help us alot coming out of our end.

these fringe FG will take their opportunity - help contribute to the team and will build the confidence when the origin period comes and we no doubt lose some starters.

pressure is on Staines to have a big game and start finding form - he's lucky that To'o is out injured, its only a matter of time before he's dropped to NSW Cup.

 

[Pomoz]

How often do you need to replace half your team with guys with such little experience though?
............

This is a very 50/50 game in all honesty. Unless one of the sides doesn't show up at all. But assuming both play at or near their ability it's a close one IMO.

Good Post MX. It is sobering to think that of the 17 players who played in the grand final, 10 of them won't be running out on Saturday. With the salary cap restrictions in place, there isn't a team in history that can lose 10 players and have any great expectation they will win their next game. I realise that only 7 of them are due to injury, but we haven't played enough games to have adjusted to the loss of Capewell, Burton and Momoroski yet, let alone 7 injured players.

I watched the St George game last night and it would seem to me that the game against the Panthers left them a bit flat against the Sharks. They looked down on energy and their go forward had turned into go sideways. Let's hope we don't have the same hangover because we did more tackling than they did.

Obviously, I want us to win, but if we don't I just want us to be competitive and not get any more injuries. Unfortunately, I think their forwards are going to belt the bejesus out of us.

 

[snickers007]

If we're gonna be a force this year, we will need to learn to win with injuries. We can't expect to have our best 17 available each week. Our depth will be tested, and those fringe players will be much better for it when it really matters.

We all talk up our depth, and we see year after year how dominant our Cup & Flegg teams are, but when we need to rely on them all the talk on here is negative and how they're not up to it etc. It's a bit embarassing.

Everyone is also completely ignoring the fact that Newcastle are also missing 3 of their Top 17 (maybe more if Ponga and Saifiti are still out) and have a halves pairing who have only played 2 games together. If we can't beat an equally busted Newcastle we might as well book our holidays for September now.

 

[Iamback]

How often do you need to replace half your team with guys with such little experience though?


Last year against Tigers you had a list of reasons why the side would win. Even going as far to say we would be better off defensively with Kenny in for Api. Burton in for Luai we lost nothing etc.

Your reasoning we couldn't lose was because our defence is too good. Boasting about pur defensive stats at full strength as if they meant anything with half the roster out

Our defence generally is fantastic. At full strength. But JFH. Martin. Cleary. Leota. To'o are all a big part of our exceptional defence. Winning the metre battle. Playing on the front foot so defence is easier. Those 5 guys out ontop of losing Capewell. Burton. May etc. Means we are very close in quality to the depleted squads we had last year.

Take our forwards and To'o out. Nathans kicking game. Defence gets a hell of a lot harder because we cant limit their metres the same way. They get more opportunities as a result against a weaker defensive line than usual. Those little changes stack up fast.

We have a squad capable of winning. But this squad is no better than the opposition. At full strength we usually boast a squad with players as good or better across the park. Take half those guys out and suddenly we have inferior players across the park and are a hell of a lot more vulnerable.

This is a very 50/50 game in all honesty. Unless one of the sides doesn't show up at all. But assuming both play at or near their ability it's a close one IMO.

i don't like going in depth and boring the forum but I will in this case

I expected Ivan to run Falls in 7. you also had 7 guys out straight way this is more controlled and was a full strength Tigers

Klemmer
Brailey
Fitzgibbon
Sue
Hunt

All would be in their top 17. From a Fringe top 8 team.

So lets not lose that in this discussion

Cleary hasn't played both games so it isn't like we have a new player straight in

but lets look at SOS numbers

2 Try Assists
704 kick metres
52 tackles 3 missed

Decent enough for a replacement 7.

Hopgood's strength is his defence. last year in 5 games he missed 4 tackles while making 98

Agreed no Martin leaves a question mark on the right side defence.

To counter that Yeo has made 81 tackles for 0 misses
The other senior guy in the pack Api 79 tackles for 4 misses

Sorensen 54 tackles 0 misses
Kenny 38 tackles 0 misses
Hell even Forum scapegoat Salmon 28 tackles 4 misses

So it will take a side to attack very well to beat us

 

[Pomoz]

If we're gonna be a force this year, we will need to learn to win with injuries. We can't expect to have our best 17 available each week. Our depth will be tested, and those fringe players will be much better for it when it really matters.

We all talk up our depth, and we see year after year how dominant our Cup & Flegg teams are, but when we need to rely on them all the talk on here is negative and how they're not up to it etc. It's a bit embarassing.

Everyone is also completely ignoring the fact that Newcastle are also missing 3 of their Top 17 (maybe more if Ponga and Saifiti are still out) and have a halves pairing who have only played 2 games together. If we can't beat an equally busted Newcastle we might as well book our holidays for September now.

Well three players isn't seven, but I take your point. As for winning with injuries, we have already done that. SOO left a giant hole in our playing ranks and yet we still managed to win enough games to come second. However, a 7 player deficit against a team coming off back to back wins is a tough ask.

I don't know why you think realistic discussion is embarrassing. Rah rah rah cheerleading might make you feel good, but discussion about about the game can be deeper than that. Nobody is saying they can't do it, just that it will be tough. If they do win, we are getting into the realms of Storm like consistency and that would be amazing.

 

[Iamback]

If we're gonna be a force this year, we will need to learn to win with injuries. We can't expect to have our best 17 available each week. Our depth will be tested, and those fringe players will be much better for it when it really matters.

We all talk up our depth, and we see year after year how dominant our Cup & Flegg teams are, but when we need to rely on them all the talk on here is negative and how they're not up to it etc. It's a bit embarassing.

Everyone is also completely ignoring the fact that Newcastle are also missing 3 of their Top 17 (maybe more if Ponga and Saifiti are still out) and have a halves pairing who have only played 2 games together. If we can't beat an equally busted Newcastle we might as well book our holidays for September now.

For me it depends where we need the depth.

Like if Tago or Crichton was to go down. Huge struggle
We only have 3 edge 2nd rowers so to lose another is a struggle

 

[Iamback]

Well three players isn't seven, but I take your point. As for winning with injuries, we have already done that. SOO left a giant hole in our playing ranks and yet we still managed to win enough games to come second. However, a 7 player deficit against a team coming off back to back wins is a tough ask.

I don't know why you think realistic discussion is embarrassing. Rah rah rah cheerleading might make you feel good, but discussion about about the game can be deeper than that. Nobody is saying they can't do it, just that it will be tough. If they do win, we are getting into the realms of Storm like consistency and that would be amazing.

Starting prop and hooker out of a side that lost their 7 mid pre season.

 

[Pomoz]

Starting prop and hooker out of a side that lost their 7 mid pre season.

I raise you two starting props, match your 7 and then add two SOO players. Anyway, I hope you are right and it is just another winning chapter in the book they write about our 2022 premiership.

 

[Iamback]

I raise you two starting props, match your 7 and then add two SOO players. Anyway, I hope you are right and it is just another winning chapter in the book they write about our 2022 premiership.

We still have 3 SOO players in key positions.

I have said on here before I have concerns for mid season. Defence will be strong but no Yeo, Cleary or Luai will leave us with zero attack

No such issues this week and grind out the win

 

[goldcoastpanther]

Heard Ponga is out.

 

[snickers007]

Heard Ponga is out.

Yep has been confirmed. Tex Hoy at Fullback.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

According to Peter Lang......these players were in the captains run today. Soni Luke, Robert Jennings, Lindsay Smith. Whether this actually means anything I have no idea.

Are there some covid cases floating around. Again no idea.

Let the fun and games begin I suppose.

 

[Iamback]

Yep has been confirmed. Tex Hoy at Fullback.

He was never going to play. Hence the long odds early in the week

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Just checked Panthers insta photo of Tago, Api both doing captains run.