Rumours and Stuff

[TheRam]

It’s a lack of effort. You’ll find that when we win we get more numbers into the tackle.

It's called lack of a lot of things. But these yo yo performances are due two main things. One mental toughness and two quality in our wrestle, which then devolves our team into an error prone, penalty giving, fitness train wreck.

Look how come we can all almost guarantee that after a big win or even a big effort game against a top of the table team that our next game, unless against a team that plays really badly, we will put in an effort just like what we saw yesterday?

Sure, most teams have a come down after a big game, but the better teams don't by much at all, that's why, for example they can win three or four semi finals and make the GF, they are mentally hardened and can slow down a roll in the ruck to play the game at their level.

This is why we got bundled out of the final series so meekly after such a wonderful performance against the Storm in 2017. We just can't back it up just yet. This is our greatest weakness at present. True mental toughness, week in week out stuff. Some of the forwards we are carrying at the moment are way off the pace at this stage. Arthur's biggest challenge is this. If he can address this with either new blood or get into the heads of the talent he has now is to be seen.

But rest assured, mental toughness which starts at the detail and art of dominating the ruck, EVERY WEEK, is what this talented lot need to master. Until we do, we will always put in to many of these types of performances during a season.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Which teams aren’t inconsistent week to week?

Melbourne? Roosters?

I still think we are some way away from ever getting to that level.

 

[Avenger]

Which teams aren’t inconsistent week to week?

Melbourne? Roosters?

I still think we are some way away from ever getting to that level.

Maybe so but we are a different and a better team this year. We will make the 8 and have a very real chance of a top 4 finish. This team has turned the corner but we just need to rid ourselves of some fluffers that let us down at critical moments like Terepo yesterday. As soon as that unco dropped the ball like he has on 100 occasions previously but this time when we were making our comeback the game was over.

 

[TheRam]

Also I wish we hadn't lost Alex Twal. He was always going to be a Mannah clone. We need another big body that can tackle well and make yardage. I don't think Stone is the answer at this stage.

 

[TheRam]

Which teams aren’t inconsistent week to week?

Melbourne? Roosters?

I still think we are some way away from ever getting to that level.

That's why they have won the GF the last 2 years and that's what I am talking about.

But even if you are slightly off winning GF's, like the bunnies, a perfect example of a team that still manage to find a way to win without playing well, but mentally tough.

 

[TheRam]

It’s a lack of effort. You’ll find that when we win we get more numbers into the tackle.

Lack of effort begins between the ears.

 

[Gronk]

Also I wish we hadn't lost Alex Twal. He was always going to be a Mannah clone. We need another big body that can tackle well and make yardage. I don't think Stone is the answer at this stage.

Twal is a hard worker, like Stone. However Twal won't bend the line like Paulo. Hence why our offer to George Burgess remains on the table.

 

[Bazal]

Which teams aren’t inconsistent week to week?

Melbourne? Roosters?

I still think we are some way away from ever getting to that level.

I'd argue Melbourne are a shadow of their former selves and only winning ugly thanks to quite a dose of luck so far this season, and obviously the experience of guys like Smith and Bromwich and even Munster. They may click into a higher gear, of course, but if the rumours surrounding Curtis Scott are true it may also point to a shift within the squad. The Wank Four has been reduced to one and it shows.

I also reckon people overestimate the quality of the comp. We are in a pack of probably 10-12 sides who could literally come anywhere from 3rd to 12th or so. In some ways that's a function of the cap, but in some ways it's also just that we're in a bit of a shit spot for rugby leage right now. Some of the tactics that have become popular are not conducive to good footy, especially the ruck wrestle. The referee standards are poor and that contributes to momentum being hard to gather at times. And on top of all that the average quality of the players is not high at all.

Every side has more than their share of absolute plodders. Gone are the days when you had a few reserve graders you could count on to do a similar job long term. Even the top sides. If the Roosters lost Cronk/Keary and say a Tedesco or JWH for a long period, they'd be in deep shit. They've already got plodders like Lindsay Collins, Zane Tetevano, Matt Ikavalu and Nat Butcher in first grade on the regular.

 

[Bazal]

Twal is a hard worker, like Stone. However Twal won't bend the line like Paulo. Hence why our offer to George Burgess remains on the table.

Kaufusi will be a better player than Twal. And I'm a fan of the Little Big Fella, but we had no burning need to keep him and he had an instant crack at FG with Wests.

 

[Delboy]

Alvaro is considerably better than Twal, as both Oregan and Stefano will be. That’s the reason why the club didn’t match the offer from
Tigers.

Alvaro was missed yesterday, he is often the glue when the team needs defence and dirty work done.

The offer to G Burgess in no longer on the table, the interest appears to on the Broncos young forwards, all of whom are off contract at end of season.Even the Broncos won’t be able to keep them all.

 

[Bazal]

Not an Eels rumour, but one that I find slightly amusing...

The Warriors are apparently close to signing Kodi Nikorima. If true, supercoach SK could name Green and Harris-Tevita as halves and have a bench of Nikorima, Keighran, Tevaga and Roache. Four supersub ultilities!

Coaching genius.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Alvaro is considerably better than Twal, as both Oregan and Stefano will be. That’s the reason why the club didn’t match the offer from
Tigers.

Alvaro was missed yesterday, he is often the glue when the team needs defence and dirty work done.

The offer to G Burgess in no longer on the table, the interest appears to on the Broncos young forwards, all of whom are off contract at end of season.Even the Broncos won’t be able to keep them all.

Very pleased to hear Gurgess is no longer a player of interest. Players like him we dont need. I often feel our club has learned little from the past when I hear of potential signings such as these. Thankfully someone on the Recruitment and Retention Committee has had a positive re think.

 

[Avenger]

Very pleased to hear Gurgess is no longer a player of interest. Players like him we dont need. I often feel our club has learned little from the past when I hear of potential signings such as these. Thankfully someone on the Recruitment and Retention Committee has had a positive re think.

Agree 100%.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Which teams aren’t inconsistent week to week?

Melbourne? Roosters?

I still think we are some way away from ever getting to that level.

That much leadership costs a lot of money. And we’re stuck without TPAs.

 

[TheRam]

Twal is a hard worker, like Stone. However Twal won't bend the line like Paulo. Hence why our offer to George Burgess remains on the table.

Never said he would bend the line like Paulo, but he has an average metres per game over 120 and around 40 tackles a game, with 94% success rate. Highly prized stats those. Would help a lot to then be able to afford another Paulo type of player in the team. It's all about the balance. Stone is way off, if ever capable of such figures.

 

[Gronk]

Never said he would bend the line like Paulo, but he has an average metres per game over 120 and around 40 tackles a game, with 94% success rate. Highly prized stats those. Would help a lot to then be able to afford another Paulo type of player in the team. It's all about the balance. Stone is way off, if ever capable of such figures.

Yeah pretty hard for Stone to crack 100m and 40 tackles when he only gets 15mins.

 

[hindy111]

It's called lack of a lot of things. But these yo yo performances are due two main things. One mental toughness and two quality in our wrestle, which then devolves our team into an error prone, penalty giving, fitness train wreck.

Look how come we can all almost guarantee that after a big win or even a big effort game against a top of the table team that our next game, unless against a team that plays really badly, we will put in an effort just like what we saw yesterday?

Sure, most teams have a come down after a big game, but the better teams don't by much at all, that's why, for example they can win three or four semi finals and make the GF, they are mentally hardened and can slow down a roll in the ruck to play the game at their level.

This is why we got bundled out of the final series so meekly after such a wonderful performance against the Storm in 2017. We just can't back it up just yet. This is our greatest weakness at present. True mental toughness, week in week out stuff. Some of the forwards we are carrying at the moment are way off the pace at this stage. Arthur's biggest challenge is this. If he can address this with either new blood or get into the heads of the talent he has now is to be seen.

But rest assured, mental toughness which starts at the detail and art of dominating the ruck, EVERY WEEK, is what this talented lot need to master. Until we do, we will always put in to many of these types of performances during a season.

Agree Ram. One good performace followed up by a soft ordinary one doesn't excite anyone.

 

[hindy111]

Maybe so but we are a different and a better team this year. We will make the 8 and have a very real chance of a top 4 finish. This team has turned the corner but we just need to rid ourselves of some fluffers that let us down at critical moments like Terepo yesterday. As soon as that unco dropped the ball like he has on 100 occasions previously but this time when we were making our comeback the game was over.

Hospital ball...Guth handing a try and kicking out on a full was worse.
As far as top 4 goes I think your dreaming. Top 8 is a maybe at this stage.

 

[hindy111]

Twal is a hard worker, like Stone. However Twal won't bend the line like Paulo. Hence why our offer to George Burgess remains on the table.

Kafusi and Stefano will bend it.....
Mannah,Alvaro,Terepo are workers.

 

[hindy111]

I'd argue Melbourne are a shadow of their former selves and only winning ugly thanks to quite a dose of luck so far this season, and obviously the experience of guys like Smith and Bromwich and even Munster. They may click into a higher gear, of course, but if the rumours surrounding Curtis Scott are true it may also point to a shift within the squad. The Wank Four has been reduced to one and it shows.

I also reckon people overestimate the quality of the comp. We are in a pack of probably 10-12 sides who could literally come anywhere from 3rd to 12th or so. In some ways that's a function of the cap, but in some ways it's also just that we're in a bit of a shit spot for rugby leage right now. Some of the tactics that have become popular are not conducive to good footy, especially the ruck wrestle. The referee standards are poor and that contributes to momentum being hard to gather at times. And on top of all that the average quality of the players is not high at all.

Every side has more than their share of absolute plodders. Gone are the days when you had a few reserve graders you could count on to do a similar job long term. Even the top sides. If the Roosters lost Cronk/Keary and say a Tedesco or JWH for a long period, they'd be in deep shit. They've already got plodders like Lindsay Collins, Zane Tetevano, Matt Ikavalu and Nat Butcher in first grade on the regular.

Agree. Very lucky in 3 games.

They played Cowboys and just won without Tamoulolo.
Warriors without RTS and Green and reffs robbed warriors.
Beat Dogs by 2 without Foran

Deserved wins against Penrith,Canberra and Brisbane.

Now they face Sharks who have 8 guys out.