Round 4 v Storm

[Dragonslayer]

Maybe a little early to get this thread going, however, given the circumstances, there's lots to discuss.

Starting with:
1. Who replaces Suli? (Ribs are notorious for being lengthy outs). Do we shift CT to centre, and bring back Feagai? Do we push Gutho there with Sloan to fb. But this still leaves our wing exposed. Lawson isn't nearly ready.
I feel Coates will have a field day, whoever is put there. We just don't have a "tall" to compete athleticaly.

2. It's become necessary (imo) to remove LL from the starting line-up. He just too cumbersome and turns slower than the Titanic. RFM drops out and Egan in? We need a Hudson Young type and he seems to possess some of it.

3. Cake should not see 1st grade again. His replacement was foreshadowed with the signing of Klemmer. While he's no magic fix, he'll show at lot more aggression than MacArthur Park.

4. What to do with our halves? Ilias lacks confidence and his defense is almost Ball level. So, do we drpp him, bring in LKT? MOVE Gutho to 6? Play Cook or even Liddle at 6 with LKT on the bench?

Flanno is conservative and not a big risk taker, do I can't see too many changes (although there should be). It may be prudent to take a leaf out of the Roosters game and yesterday's Rabbits team. Enthusiasm is infectious, something we seem to have been inoculated against.

 

[Number of the Beath]

It's immaterial who starts, cos we'll get eaten alive anyway. But if I had a say I'd go:
Sloan/ Finau, Feagai, Holmes, Tuipolotu/ Gutho, Flanno/ Egan, Couchman, Su'a, JdB, Liddle, Luce. Res: Cook, Klemmer, Stewart, Liu (if eligible)

 

[56to66]

Storm win doesn't matter who we put on.
The score could be very, very, very ugly.
I'm starting to think Flanno is talking like a used car sales person. Preseason, he was talking that how they were starting from a higher level from when he first took over.

 

[thebigredv]

Storm win doesn't matter who we put on.
The score could be very, very, very ugly.
I'm starting to think Flanno is talking like a used car sales person. Preseason, he was talking that how they were starting from a higher level from when he first took over.

Trying to stay patient but it feels like the beginning of another downward spiral again...it has that smell...yesterday was a disgrace given there was not a single excuse for losing. I have long been on about the mental/ match awareness that we can't seem to get into the players.

All said and done, it's another year when we go in to playing Melbourne with no real confidence. How often does that happen? Probably what other clubs thought about us in the 50s and 60s.

Then again. Maybe this is the game we can snatch and change the trend of this season. I guess you never know! We need to keep respecting the ball, tighten up our goal line defence (which we can) and then get Gutho in to create the extra man like he has been. At least that gives us some chance to remain competitive.

 

[RedVDave]

Think we should focus on beating the bye first in round 3 before jumping the gun to round 4.

 

[Greek Saint]

Is it too early to throw Buchanan in the centre spot?

 

[56to66]

Melbourne Storm	224	88
Sydney Roosters	211	101
South Sydney Rabbitohs	200	112
Penrith Panthers	195	117
Cronulla Sharks	183	129
Brisbane Broncos	181	131
North Queensland Cowboys	173	139
Parramatta Eels	171	141
Canberra Raiders	167	145
Manly Sea Eagles	160	152
Newcastle Knights	135	177
St George Illawarra Dragons	131	181
Canterbury Bulldogs	129	183
Wests Tigers	112	200
New Zealand Warriors	110	202
Gold Coast Titans	106	206

The pain is deep, for the once were invincible.
The table From 2012 to 2025
Please dismantle this stupid merge

 

[RedVDave]

Anyone think we should try Luch at prop? has a big body and a very good offload in him, shame Ryan Coachman & Heme Sele are injured they both add a lot more to prop than some of other plodders. I'd expect Klemmer to start from the bench with very limited minutes as he understandably won't be match fit

 

[S.T.G]

Anyone think we should try Luch at prop? has a big body and a very good offload in him, shame Ryan Coachman & Heme Sele are injured they both add a lot more to prop than some of other plodders. I'd expect Klemmer to start from the bench with very limited minutes as he understandably won't be match fit

Thats what I was thinking.
We need decent halves.
Our two are the worst in the NRL

 

[RedVDave]

Thats what I was thinking.
We need decent halves.
Our two are the worst in the NRL

Obviously Illias is just a stop gap until next year I can see Kyle being used as a utility or possibly a lock in the future Kyle at least has some ticker but there's little to no upside on Illias maybe Lykan gets game time sooner than we thought.

 

[Gippsy]

IMO,
Buchanan to replace Suli
LL to bench and include in the front row rotation
Give Egan a shot, at least he'll bring some enthusiasm
Agree, RFM and Lawrie to ressies
Ilias has been disappointing but I think its too early to drop him. I would say though that he's on his last chance against Storm. If he goes it should be Kyle to 7 and LKT to 6.
I'd also consider giving Liddle more time on the field, at 13 if necessary. Rotate with Cook and JDB
It won't be long before we need to start to drip feed the likes of LPT, Latu, Halangalu, Lui & Egan into the NRL
I'd also consider replacing CT with Finau. Sure he's scored tries but he is slow and we need some pace. Plus his try scoring celebrations are embarassing.