Round 5 2016 vs Storm Game discussion

[slotmachine]

i liked randall as well.

it would be nice if hodko and mullen played like they knew each others names, or had even met before

 

[Noname36]

I feel like Mullo and Hodko let us down a lot. They need to create more opportunities when we're at their end.

I feel like a lot of our halves problems actually start with Randell at 9, though. We look pants in attack when he's on the field.

While I tend to agree I think it's important to remember here that we have a completely new spine - not to mention the fact that they trained with Feeney at fullback all off season and now it's Gagai.

The halves were injured for most of the off season, Hodko is new to the club, Mullo was dropped for the first trial, started with a rookie fullback, now we're using Gagai, we lost Levi early today and he and Randall are both probably not up to it at the moment as it is.

We've only retained one player from our spine this year - and he's been out injured for pretty much all of the last 2 seasons so he's essentially new too.

The attacking combinations needed are very poor at the moment but it's hardly surprising. We have a completely new spine this year that hasn't had much time together. I'm willing to give them time.

 

[Apey]

There was a telling play in the first half where Hodkinson passed it to Mullen who already had 2 defenders in his face and ended up getting smashed and dropping the ball. Not playing what is front of them, playing in slow motion to some set plan of Hodkinson -> Mullen -> centre/2nd rower.

 

[slotmachine]

stockwell made a difference, thought he was probably our best today

didnt give away a penalty

 

[Misanthrope]

He'd be the only one, surely? :sarcasm:

Stockwell and Paea really stood out for mine. Korbin showed great determination for that try.

 

[K-Man]

Considering injuries, the team and playing the storm at home, that's about as good as we could have expected.

Much better effort than against the warriors.

And frankly considering the reffing, we should be happy than it was only 4 points in it. Refs just ping us for fun compared to the Storm.

Surprising that our real weakness right now is in the halves, Trent and Mullo just look clueless inside 20.

That's surprising? I'm not the least bit surprised. Our forwards at full strength can get the job done. That's how I felt before the season started and I feel the same way now. Tariq still to come back too.

We'll be in plenty of games this year in my opinion, but we'll hardly win any because our halves can't create anything for our ordinary outside backs.

There's not one iota of creativity in Trent Hodkinson and Mullo is what he is, decent enough but he's not a ballplayer. I simply don't see where the attacking threat is going to come from with Mullen and Hodkinson running the show and Gagai at the back. Nobody creates anything for other players.

 

[Nuffy]

That's surprising? I'm not the least bit surprised. Our forwards at full strength can get the job done. That's how I felt before the season started and I feel the same way now. Tariq still to come back too.

We'll be in plenty of games this year in my opinion, but we'll hardly win any because our halves can't create anything for our ordinary outside backs.

There's not one iota of creativity in Trent Hodkinson and Mullo is what he is, decent enough but he's not a ballplayer. I simply don't see where the attacking threat is going to come from with Mullen and Hodkinson running the show and Gagai at the back. Nobody creates anything for other players.

Understand your point and I agree, I was however suggesting that of everything we had wrong in 2016, would this be the biggest issue. Because it is.

 

[K-Man]

TBH i didnt think randell was too bad, yeah a few passes weren't exactly on hodkinsons chest, but he made some great pressure relieving runs out of DH.

The issue with Randell is not effort or dummy half runs or anything at all other than dummy half service.

Sure if you're going to judge his performances on a scale of Randell's best to Randell's worst, then he was fine. The point is that his dummy half service is too slow and sloppy, and it costs us momentum.

That won't change whether he has a 'good' game or a 'bad' game. That's just the way it is. He won't have days where his dummy half passing suddenly surges to a level of quality.

So yeah, he ran the ball well and he tries his heart out. Cool. He's not a first grade dummy half.

The difference in how we look in attack when Levi is out there is massive. You could watch one set of Randell and one set of Levi at DH and that would be all the evidence you would ever need in deciding who is the long term first grade dummy half.

 

[K-Man]

Understand your point and I agree, I was however suggesting that of everything we had wrong in 2016, would this be the biggest issue. Because it is.

Fair enough. I thought it would be the biggest issue. I don't rate our halves, and I don't think it's a combination that works.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

difference with Randall and levi today was that Levi had support players when he made a run. He put a few through with some momentum. That's the sort of play I like to see.

We wouldn't have won with a centre out there but we needed one when Sione went off. Huge hole and Uate needed to come in to get some ball.

Mullen was either beat or injured towards the end. He was good defensively for most of the game. Last 2 games he has taken on more kicking. Hodko needs to take it on more so Mullen can play his running game.

I'm ok with the performance.

 

[The Showstopper]

Honestly we should have had them put to bed and the halves need to take responsibility. Our forwards really played well. Our discipline again killed us. By rights we should have four points from the last two games. We lost them both from winning positions.

 

[K-Man]

Honestly we should have had them put to bed and the halves need to take responsibility. Our forwards really played well. Our discipline again killed us. By rights we should have four points from the last two games. We lost them both from winning positions.

Those are the games your halves have to win. We weren't steamrolled, our forwards held their own, we did have lots of opportunities inside the opposition half.

It was ridiculous how poor we were at setting a backline and putting on a play. It broke down constantly and the halves were right in the thick of it every time.

 

[Noname36]

I think writing off the halves at the moment given the circumstances is very short-signed IMO. No neither Hodko or Mullo are world beaters but we all know they're capable of more from a play-making perspective than we saw today - they're both clearly struggling combination wise at the moment but Jesus, this is an extremely new squad.

If we manage to keep the current squad as is until the end of the season and our combinations still look like they do now then of course i'll agree but I think some might be writing us off a bit early given the circumstances. Brown seems to think they're worth persisting with - and he showed with Feeney that he'll cut his losses early.

The whole squad is struggling combination wise - they look like they hardly know one another because it's kinda true.

 

[Sydney Knight]

Saw that coming a mile off.

The ref gave them every opportunity, and then Aku held the door open for them. Has him coming in off his wing ever not resulted in a try?

There wasn't even a centre on that side of the field. What was he meant to do?

 

[Noname36]

There wasn't even a centre on that side of the field. What was he meant to do?

Shhhh It's always Aku's fault.

 

[Sacrolishes]

Forwards were great today considering the two injuries early in game. Special mention to Stockwell who had a huge return and Mataora yet again a great performance. Pretty certain he played 70mins and was great in attack and defense. Melbournes attack was deplorable so it was infuriating that we gave away so many stupid penalties when they had worked hard to build the pressure. Everything was good until we reached there 20m line. I just don't think there is enough talk out there demanding players to be in right position at right time. That'll come though as season goes hopefully.

Tigers will be difficult next week. Been strong and fast in this game. Of course being at home is a huge boost. But if we do t cut these simple penalties out we won't be a hope. Can give them any chances.

 

[Misanthrope]

There wasn't even a centre on that side of the field. What was he meant to do?

Helps to read the remainder of the thread before blowing your load. I retracted my criticism on the same page.

 

[The Showstopper]

I think writing off the halves at the moment given the circumstances is very short-signed IMO. No neither Hodko or Mullo are world beaters but we all know they're capable of more from a play-making perspective than we saw today - they're both clearly struggling combination wise at the moment but Jesus, this is an extremely new squad.

If we manage to keep the current squad as is until the end of the season and our combinations still look like they do now then of course i'll agree but I think some might be writing us off a bit early given the circumstances. Brown seems to think they're worth persisting with - and he showed with Feeney that he'll cut his losses early.

The whole squad is struggling combination wise - they look like they hardly know one another because it's kinda true.

I myself am not writing them off. That said the forwards set up a win and they failed to deliver. I still believe Hokko and Mullo can by mid season be firing and we could snare some wins. TBH I am starting to feel we are not far off the pace where we need to be. We have had a terrible draw and it is not getting any easier. We really trouble Melbourne.

 

[Alex28]

For a very young team which were 2 players down very early in the game they did pretty well really. They need to get disciplined around errors and giving away penalties, but it was probably their best effort this year.

Combinations will form, they will get better. They will win games.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Smith had a huge whinge about the 5 day turnaround.
Geez, we did it from NZ and with 2 players down.