Round 5 v NQ

[age.s]

Casey back for To'o. Probably Jenkins to wing. Nath and Dyl back hopefully. I'd love to see Talagi given a go but I don't think Ivan will see it the same way. I'm tempted by Moses and Henry swapping, but realistically that may not have the kind of impact were hoping for. Moses needs to step up, be that starting or from the bench.

I think were really missing Luai, more for his attitude and chatter in defense than anything. So many of our problems are basic organisational issues, not numbering up etc. Not sure how you solve that from this juncture. Hopefully Nathan and Dyl coming back help, but I'm not confident right now.

 

[Hooked]

Who's the best meter making outside back from cup? That's who replaces To'o

Kepaoa.
Great power from the back, but does have some silly errors in him.

​

 

[Fangs]

Why don't we actually give Paps a run in his preferred position if Sorro is out?

Yes.

He was blowing in the middle. Let him play out wide.

And Ivan gets to pick Garner at centre. Gives me goosebumps everytime.

 

[The Realist]

Using the NRL.com Highlights lets analyze what went wrong with our defence.

1. Souths attacking Raid. 0:17-0:26

Walker runs at Toelau, fullback swings wide. Alamoti caught way too far infield and fails to recover.

Result: Goal line drop out

2. Souths close to Try line 0:30-0:43

Gap and disconnect between Mitch Kenny and Sorenson and Soths #13 at first receiver nearly gets through.
Results in a scattered defence, attracting Daine Laurie at marker and a quick PtB.

Next play Souths go left and there is huge space between Martin and his inside man (Leota) and his outside man (Toelau) Martin is a little late closing the gap to put decent pressure on the kick. Toelau fails to cut off Walkers kick which was perfect.

Result: Souths Try to Koloamatangi

3. Souths central PtB 12 metres out 0:55-1:01

Martin gets flat footed marking up against a forward decoy runner (0:57) leaving a big gap between him and Toelau resulting in him holding his line a little infield. Toelau gets to Jye Gray a little late leaving him plenty of time to throw a cut out to Wighton (0:59)

Notice how far infield Alamoti now is and how close he was standing next to Tago a few second earlier?

Wighton draws Alamoti leaving Johnson open.

This try has some parallels with the attacking raid mentioned in point 1.

Result: Shaun Johnston Try

4. Souths central PtB 12 metres out #2 1:41

Big gaps after this PtB between Martin and Toelau. Scatters the defence and attracts both Toelau and the fullback.

In this sequence of 1:41-1:48 IMO Kenny was slow in closing the space and Martin hung infield slightly too much as a result.

In the next play the Dummy half finds Toelau isolated against a forward with momentum. Too easy.

Result: Koloamatangi try #2.

5. Souths 5 metres out 2:20 - 2:22

Henry caught stepping outfield just slightly too much. Kenny awful at closing the space.

Result: Souths Try #4

6. Jye Gray from Dummy half 2:29 -2:33

Alamoti caught out at marker. What ensues here is comical as nobody seems to know where and what their fellow defenders are doing. Toelau being small and weak isn't helping and neither is having Martin on the wing which adds to the general confusion.

Alamoti makes a weak attempt at a tackle and you can argue that Tago should have come on the inside rather than cover the outside.

Result: Try to Jye Gray

Summary
Whilst defense is always a team effort there are some common threads between most of the Panthers defensive lapses.

1. Spacing on the inside caused big problems. Kenny was at fault a few times but in nearly every instance Martin made mistakes. You can argue whether they were forced by good Bunnies play or just bad reads/execution.

2. Toelau too small is self evident but this effects the spacing and decision making of his inside (Martin) and outside Tago) men.

3. Alamoti coming off his wing even a little led to numerous Souths successes. He doesn't have the long length, Lateral speed off the mark or tackling technique to recover. Hard to say whether this is the result of lack of game time defending on the wing, his combinations on that edge, poor coaching or just his own personal lack of ability.

And my most controversial statement - Whilst most of Souths success was against the Panthers Right side defence - Tago himself held up pretty well. I was fuming at him watching it live but after watching the replays there were far worse defenders than him.

 

[The Realist]

Kepaoa.
Great power from the back, but does have some silly errors in him.

We can't afford anymore error prone backs. We struggled with To'o being safer than Fort Knox.

 

[chrisD]

Defence cracked because of their play the ball speed through ruck dominance, their ruck dominance came because our contact and control in tackles wasn't as strong as it often is, because the regulars mostly didn't play with the typical enthusiasm and because new individuals in the team are not as good defenders as those they've replaced.

 

[Whino]

Using the NRL.com Highlights lets analyze what went wrong with our defence.

3. Souths central PtB 12 metres out 0:55-1:01

Martin gets flat footed marking up against a forward decoy runner (0:57) leaving a big gap between him and Toelau resulting in him holding his line a little infield. Toelau gets to Jye Gray a little late leaving him plenty of time to throw a cut out to Wighton (0:59)
Notice how far infield Alamoti now is and how close he was standing next to Tago a few second earlier?
Wighton draws Alamoti leaving Johnson open.
This try has some parallels with the attacking raid mentioned in point 1.

Result: Shaun Johnston Try

Good analysis.

Though Shaun Johnson has retired

 

[Thirsty Panther]

Kepaoa.
Great power from the back, but does have some silly errors in him.

​

Sounds like he would fit right in.

 

[age.s]

And my most controversial statement - Whilst most of Souths success was against the Panthers Right side defence - Tago himself held up pretty well. I was fuming at him watching it live but after watching the replays there were far worse defenders than him.

Wait, are you saying that poor defense on our right side might be someone other than Tago's fault?

Surely you jest.

 

[Chins]

Wait, are you saying that poor defense on our right side might be someone other than Tago's fault?

Surely you jest.

Tago is the single piece that hasn't changed or improved in YEARS now. The free pass he gets is f**ked. You can see no matter who's inside or outside of him do not trust him at all.
He's also offering f**k all with the ball. He used to be dynamic and break tackles at will.
He's one of the most disappointing players I can think of from the last 20 years

 

[BossleyPanther]

Who's the best meter making outside back from cup? That's who replaces To'o

Kepaoa

 

[BossleyPanther]

1. Edward’s / Talagi
2. Kepaoa
3. Jenkins
4. Tago
5. Alamoti
6. Schneider
7. Cleary
8. Henry
9. Kenny
10. Smith
11. Martin
12. Garner
13. Yeo
14. Somerton comes on at 20, Kenny goes to prop
15. Leota
16. Papali’i
17. Patea

 

[Panfa]

TALAGI JENKINS ALAMOTI MCLEAN KEPOA COLE CLEARY YEO MARTIN PAPALII LEOTA SOMMERTON SMITH HENRY GARNER PATEA SCHNEIDER/THATS IF EDWARDS IS STILL OUT

 

[Panfa]

Tago and kenny need to be dropped.You can't play that poorly and keep your spot in the team.

 

[Kilkenny]

As is normally the case around these sort of performances there are calls to drop this player and that player. There may be a tweak or two, but mass droppings are extremely unlikely and nor should there be.

 

[WestyLife]

Using the NRL.com Highlights lets analyze what went wrong with our defence.

1. Souths attacking Raid. 0:17-0:26

Walker runs at Toelau, fullback swings wide. Alamoti caught way too far infield and fails to recover.

Result: Goal line drop out

2. Souths close to Try line 0:30-0:43

Gap and disconnect between Mitch Kenny and Sorenson and Soths #13 at first receiver nearly gets through.
Results in a scattered defence, attracting Daine Laurie at marker and a quick PtB.

Next play Souths go left and there is huge space between Martin and his inside man (Leota) and his outside man (Toelau) Martin is a little late closing the gap to put decent pressure on the kick. Toelau fails to cut off Walkers kick which was perfect.

Result: Souths Try to Koloamatangi

3. Souths central PtB 12 metres out 0:55-1:01

Martin gets flat footed marking up against a forward decoy runner (0:57) leaving a big gap between him and Toelau resulting in him holding his line a little infield. Toelau gets to Jye Gray a little late leaving him plenty of time to throw a cut out to Wighton (0:59)

Notice how far infield Alamoti now is and how close he was standing next to Tago a few second earlier?

Wighton draws Alamoti leaving Johnson open.

This try has some parallels with the attacking raid mentioned in point 1.

Result: Shaun Johnston Try

4. Souths central PtB 12 metres out #2 1:41

Big gaps after this PtB between Martin and Toelau. Scatters the defence and attracts both Toelau and the fullback.

In this sequence of 1:41-1:48 IMO Kenny was slow in closing the space and Martin hung infield slightly too much as a result.

In the next play the Dummy half finds Toelau isolated against a forward with momentum. Too easy.

Result: Koloamatangi try #2.

5. Souths 5 metres out 2:20 - 2:22

Henry caught stepping outfield just slightly too much. Kenny awful at closing the space.

Result: Souths Try #4

6. Jye Gray from Dummy half 2:29 -2:33

Alamoti caught out at marker. What ensues here is comical as nobody seems to know where and what their fellow defenders are doing. Toelau being small and weak isn't helping and neither is having Martin on the wing which adds to the general confusion.

Alamoti makes a weak attempt at a tackle and you can argue that Tago should have come on the inside rather than cover the outside.

Result: Try to Jye Gray

Summary
Whilst defense is always a team effort there are some common threads between most of the Panthers defensive lapses.

1. Spacing on the inside caused big problems. Kenny was at fault a few times but in nearly every instance Martin made mistakes. You can argue whether they were forced by good Bunnies play or just bad reads/execution.

2. Toelau too small is self evident but this effects the spacing and decision making of his inside (Martin) and outside Tago) men.

3. Alamoti coming off his wing even a little led to numerous Souths successes. He doesn't have the long length, Lateral speed off the mark or tackling technique to recover. Hard to say whether this is the result of lack of game time defending on the wing, his combinations on that edge, poor coaching or just his own personal lack of ability.

And my most controversial statement - Whilst most of Souths success was against the Panthers Right side defence - Tago himself held up pretty well. I was fuming at him watching it live but after watching the replays there were far worse defenders than him.

Funny someone said it was because they ran at Cole all night

 

[WestyLife]

As is normally the case around these sort of performances there are calls to drop this player and that player. There may be a tweak or two, but mass droppings are extremely unlikely and nor should there be.

I think it's more the injuries forcing the issue. A comment mentioned 3 weeks for To'o also McLean lost his spot for a fee dropped balls so it should apply to Laurie as well.

 

[John Hamblin]

1. Edward’s / Talagi
2. Kepaoa
3. Jenkins
4. Tago
5. Alamoti
6. Schneider
7. Cleary
8. Henry
9. Kenny
10. Smith
11. Martin
12. Garner
13. Yeo
14. Somerton comes on at 20, Kenny goes to prop
15. Leota
16. Papali’i
17. Patea

What we need is to put the same side on the paddock each week to build combinations. If that doesn't work THEN drop players.

 

[Iamback]

I think it's more the injuries forcing the issue. A comment mentioned 3 weeks for To'o also McLean lost his spot for a fee dropped balls so it should apply to Laurie as well.

McLean was poor in the Canberra trial too. Was HIA in Vegas so looked to need a stint out of the side.

Laurie is a strange one. 70 FG games, He should be better than he showed

 

[WestyLife]

McLean was poor in the Canberra trial too. Was HIA in Vegas so looked to need a stint out of the side.

Laurie is a strange one. 70 FG games, He should be better than he showed

Yeah Laurie looks strangely uncomfortable under those bombs for a fullback.