Round 8 Vs Sea Eagles

[Pomoz]

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Chins, you are an emotional, angry man at times. Nothing wrong with that, even though you sometimes get a bit personal, but I always enjoy your posts. You never know what outrageous thing you are gona say next. That said, absolute credit to you, you are a man of your word. Most people would not pay up. Well done, great cause.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

You have to go back to a 2022 thread where he actually played well

Says it all doesn't it........

Nothing like an ongoing bias and agenda.

 

[Original Name]

Apparently not, because he hasn't been the same since his first shoulder injury. He was an elite defender up to that point. But not since.

He's an elite tackler when you run at him front on for an outside back. Even in reggies some of his reads on the other hand I wary about for the future when he played first grade. With that said I still think at his best form in the past isn't close to what he could really do if he puts it all together.

 

[Stinkfinger]

Have you watched Nathan Cleary defend over the past 18 months? If you need to pick out individuals, why not start there….

The try against Redcliffe that Tago got blamed for was 75% Nathan.

 

[Oldpanther86]

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Say what you want but he man's got integrity.

 

[The Realist]

Look I know a lot of coaches do it. Even ours has done it plenty of times. I've been against it for a while due to the workload on and off the field.

That Warriors game though. Three days after Origin II. Its a flight overseas. We are absolutely pushing it having players back up for that one.

Origin I and III we play the Eels twice as Coldwetpanther mentioned before. Both games are at home and with the longest layoff (Wednesday to Sunday at four days). If you are going to do it (Backup) then target those matches strategically. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that is Ivan's plan even with our terrible start to the season.

Warriors would be dumb to target.

Against the Eels it would be dumb not to play. We don't have the luxury of throwing games for the sake of finals longevity. We are in a real battle just to get into the finals.

 

[The Realist]

The try against Redcliffe that Tago got blamed for was 75% Nathan.

Nathan has been quite poor and Martin has also dropped off.

We were spoiled by Critta because he could make excellent reads and tackles even when defenders around him stuffed up.

He was a little like an exceptional first slip, who you could put at 1 1/2 slip knowing he could cover 1st and 2nd.

At times it was almost like we had another defender out there.

 

[Fangs]

Warriors would be dumb to target.

Against the Eels it would be dumb not to play. We don't have the luxury of throwing games for the sake of finals longevity. We are in a real battle just to get into the finals.

It's just a double edged sword with our squad. All one year older. Chances of an injury will go right up. But you are right we may not have a choice.

I'd prefer a future in which coaches don't have to make a decision on it. 4 day turn arounds are gone (Sunday to Thursday matches). 5 days minimum is what clubs work with now.

Dragons v Knights as an example is only 2 days after Origin I and its a flight from Brisbane back to Sydney. Both coaches desperate for wins. Are you playing Ponga? Or...Gutherson? Thinking it over the Dragons won't have any reps but the point stands.

NRL needs to sort out teams 18 and 19 first. But after that look into our rep calendar. SOO butchers up the NRL season too much for my liking.

 

[Chins]

It's just a double edged sword with our squad. All one year older. Chances of an injury will go right up. But you are right we may not have a choice.

I'd prefer a future in which coaches don't have to make a decision on it. 4 day turn arounds are gone (Sunday to Thursday matches). 5 days minimum is what clubs work with now.

Dragons v Knights as an example is only 2 days after Origin I and its a flight from Brisbane back to Sydney. Both coaches desperate for wins. Are you playing Ponga? Or...Gutherson? Thinking it over the Dragons won't have any reps but the point stands.

NRL needs to sort out teams 18 and 19 first. But after that look into our rep calendar. SOO butchers up the NRL season too much for my liking.

Need to get to 20 sides and then play 19 regular season rounds per year. Play the opposition at home one year and then away the next.
Mid season break to play Origin three Friday or Saturdays in a row, also put the women's game in the spotlight over this month.
This month off in the middle of the season will allow players to be in better shape for the finals.

With this system the season will end a few weeks earlier so then we finish the year with a better thought out and planned International rep season.

 

[West Nowra Panther]

No mate, Tago rushes out of the line when it’s turned to poo inside him and he’s left hung out to dry. It’s happening on both sides of the field.

I've noticed our "jam and slide" defence has not been in sync for the last 2 years.

Jam, where the winger goes in on the ball carrier and the centre deals with the dummy/support runner, then the slide, where the back rower and the half go across field to clean up.

Some commentators refer to this as working hard from the inside in defence, something we have not been doing well lately. Probably caused on our right side by Martin and Cleary having suspect shoulders for some time and they are not so committed.

Then again I maybe way off the mark...

 

[martielang]

Tago is/can be an absolute weapon. But his defence has been spud gun like since his pec. The only man who can sort him out is Hook. Bring him back.

 

[snickers007]

Need to get to 20 sides and then play 19 regular season rounds per year. Play the opposition at home one year and then away the next.
Mid season break to play Origin three Friday or Saturdays in a row, also put the women's game in the spotlight over this month.
This month off in the middle of the season will allow players to be in better shape for the finals.

With this system the season will end a few weeks earlier so then we finish the year with a better thought out and planned International rep season.

It's the only way.

It's not sustainable to have Internationals being played into late November, and then trials start in February.
Especially when the NRLPA CBA specifies the minimum number of weeks required for holidays, and the minimum number of weeks training required before playing.

We had 9 players from our 2025 squad on international duty last year, and another 4 who would have been there if not for injury/unavailability.

That's a big chunk of our squad all unable to even start training until mid January. I don't think it's the sole reason for our slow start, but it's probably a very big part of it.


And that's a short international season (4 weeks). During World Cup years, we have 6/7 weeks of footy to squeeze in. You'd be looking at close to 50% of NRL players involved. The following season is going to be a shit standard of footy, and you will see more injuries as the players are all unfit.

 

[John Hamblin]

Need to get to 20 sides and then play 19 regular season rounds per year. Play the opposition at home one year and then away the next.
Mid season break to play Origin three Friday or Saturdays in a row, also put the women's game in the spotlight over this month.
This month off in the middle of the season will allow players to be in better shape for the finals.

With this system the season will end a few weeks earlier so then we finish the year with a better thought out and planned International rep season.

Good idea BUT its all about TV rights the more games the more revenue. There is little likelyhood of a shortened season.

 

[Old and Disgruntled]

Need to get to 20 sides and then play 19 regular season rounds per year. Play the opposition at home one year and then away the next.
Mid season break to play Origin three Friday or Saturdays in a row, also put the women's game in the spotlight over this month.
This month off in the middle of the season will allow players to be in better shape for the finals.

With this system the season will end a few weeks earlier so then we finish the year with a better thought out and planned International rep season.

Well, get your Jayco serviced for a big trip to WA, it appears the On Again/Off Again WA team is on again.

 

[Chins]

Good idea BUT its all about TV rights the more games the more revenue. There is little likelyhood of a shortened season.

I've always thought that but Abdo has been talking about the same thing. Maybe it's a pipe dream but It would be fantastic

 

[Goonji]

On topic, our season on the line, we have to get the two points thus Saturday night.

A loss would be catastrophic and arguably end our season.

We somehow have to grind out a win, even if not pretty.

I don't care how we win. Just WIN!!!!!

 

[Goonji]

I’m so over this Tago debate.

We have far bigger issues going forward.

No one seems to want to go there and just lay blame for all our woes at the feet of Tago.

its nonsense.

I agree, its fine to have an opinion and be critical. But i'm over it too.

 

[Pomoz]

It's the only way.

It's not sustainable to have Internationals being played into late November, and then trials start in February.
Especially when the NRLPA CBA specifies the minimum number of weeks required for holidays, and the minimum number of weeks training required before playing.

We had 9 players from our 2025 squad on international duty last year, and another 4 who would have been there if not for injury/unavailability.

That's a big chunk of our squad all unable to even start training until mid January. I don't think it's the sole reason for our slow start, but it's probably a very big part of it.


And that's a short international season (4 weeks). During World Cup years, we have 6/7 weeks of footy to squeeze in. You'd be looking at close to 50% of NRL players involved. The following season is going to be a shit standard of footy, and you will see more injuries as the players are all unfit.

Your analysis is spot on. Now multiply it by five. Five years of next to no offseason training for our star players. In the World Cup year, we had something like 8 players in the final. This sustained lack of rest is now starting to lead to players getting injured. Edward’s, Kenny, Cleary and Leota had surgery last year. None of those were training on 27 December or thereabouts. Too was mangling them in the wrestling session, but none of our “stars” were there including Yeo. 8 weeks later we were playing in Vegas.

My view is the team were able to get up for the first game because it was a big game. In fact Cleary described the hoopla surrounding the game as being like a grand final. Adrenaline and muscle memory got us home.

Then the long flight home, more interrupted training and then the hangover starts. And here we are.

I don’t know what the answer is, but success in a season makes it harder for you next year. The only thing a club can do is rest players during the year. Use the whole 30 man squad as much as possible and try and reduce the wear and tear. Ironically, the squad getting pillaged every year has helped to some extent, because the squad is freshened up with new players who haven’t had the accumulated wear and tear.

Mind you, there are 16 NRL teams and their fans going “cry me a river”…

When you consider the above and look at NRL history and the very few examples of multiple back to back premierships, it just makes what this team has done seem even more remarkable.

 

[Oldpanther86]

Need to get to 20 sides and then play 19 regular season rounds per year. Play the opposition at home one year and then away the next.
Mid season break to play Origin three Friday or Saturdays in a row, also put the women's game in the spotlight over this month.
This month off in the middle of the season will allow players to be in better shape for the finals.

With this system the season will end a few weeks earlier so then we finish the year with a better thought out and planned International rep season.

I like it but the broadcasters would never agree.

 

[Iamback]

No mate, Tago rushes out of the line when it’s turned to poo inside him and he’s left hung out to dry. It’s happening on both sides of the field.

Yet the inside didn't turn to poo when Garner was there?