Rumours and Stuff

[Soto]

Who said we're broke?

My point is we need to buy these merkins. It's why we (reportedly) offered huge money to Wade Graham. He would've been a great signing.

Probably one of smarter things from Pou.
Agree Wade Graham would have been a great signing for many reasons.
Not 30+, very experienced, versatile, passionate, representative player and premiership winner AND above all a genuine leader.
Exactly what this club lacks and has lacked for a long long time.
Unfortunately i can't think of too many others who we could target to fill that void.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I don't think Brown is the answer either. We need a JWH, Tapou, Sam Burgess type of player.

I think he is, since 2017 there's been 18 times where a forward has made 200m and 40 tackles in the same game, Nathan Brown has 6 of those games. He also makes a fair few 4th tackle hit-ups, which Gutherson has been taking to try and get quick play the balls, and I think as a result our kick chase has been poor. He provides a passing game in the middle. He looks to put on a big shot when the team needs it.

The loss of Nathan Brown is understated, I think he's our best player and definitely a forward leader.

here's a link to the 200/40 stats.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

The thing is, teams aren't out there running around by themselves. The opposition has a bearing on how well you play, and when they're not 'on' you look a lot better. Likewise, when they're up you don't look so good. One reason our game against Penrith was so shit is because both teams were working hard in defence, and this led to a few errors. In the Cowboys game we didn't force errors (because they rarely pass the ball) but our scramble limited them to three line breaks, despite 58% possession.

Well, the Roosters are proof of that last night. The odd team selections are also going down like a lead balloon.

 

[TheRam]

The thing is, teams aren't out there running around by themselves. The opposition has a bearing on how well you play, and when they're not 'on' you look a lot better. Likewise, when they're up you don't look so good. One reason our game against Penrith was so shit is because both teams were working hard in defence, and this led to a few errors. In the Cowboys game we didn't force errors (because they rarely pass the ball) but our scramble limited them to three line breaks, despite 58% possession.

Or alternatively if they are both on you have a bloody good game and then a touch of brilliance or stroke of luck swings it your way or the other, but the fans from both sides are left hanging for more.

Both games you sighted the opposition teams played slightly better, but better at what counted the most. Defense. That's why they did less and had more ball. It allowed them to run with more purpose and kick better to keep us coming out of our end for most of the game. Defense generally gives you the authority to dictate the terms champ and teams that play with good defense generally run with more power and purpose too.

Defense is the life blood of your game. At the moment our blood circulation is of a 95 year old about to go into cardiac and the undertaker is sizing up the body in regards to the remainder of the season.

 

[TheRam]

I think he certainly go downhill quickly, but was pretty useful for at least a season and a half.

On and off even during that season and a half, as for Pou agreeing, of course he did. Mr mediocrity. But I do get your point he did have some good games.

 

[TheRam]

I think he is, since 2017 there's been 18 times where a forward has made 200m and 40 tackles in the same game, Nathan Brown has 6 of those games. He also makes a fair few 4th tackle hit-ups, which Gutherson has been taking to try and get quick play the balls, and I think as a result our kick chase has been poor. He provides a passing game in the middle. He looks to put on a big shot when the team needs it.

The loss of Nathan Brown is understated, I think he's our best player and definitely a forward leader.

here's a link to the 200/40 stats.

Very impressive. I thought he was good and origin good, but way better then I thought. Unlike Pou, who for a long time considered him non origin level.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Or alternatively if they are both on you have a bloody good game and then a touch of brilliance or stroke of luck swings it your way or the other, but the fans from both sides are left hanging for more.

Both games you sighted the opposition teams played slightly better, but better at what counted the most. Defense. That's why they did less and had more ball. It allowed them to run with more purpose and kick better to keep us coming out of our end for most of the game. Defense generally gives you the authority to dictate the terms champ and teams that play with good defense generally run with more power and purpose too.

Defense is the life blood of your game. At the moment our blood circulation is of a 95 year old about to go into cardiac and the undertaker is sizing up the body in regards to the remainder of the season.

Yet our defence is about as bad as last year yet we're winning more often. The big improvement is our attack (except for the dropsies of the past fortnight).

Or maybe the opposition just aren't defending as well as last year.

 

[TheRam]

Yet our defence is about as bad as last year yet we're winning more often. The big improvement is our attack (except for the dropsies of the past fortnight).

Or maybe the opposition just aren't defending as well as last year.

It has become as bad as last year because of the games we have lost not the games we have won. Of course our attack has improved when we are winning on the back of our defense. Jeez have you ever watch a game?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Very impressive. I thought he was good and origin good, but way better then I thought. Unlike Pou, who for a long time considered him non origin level.

Every Origin middle forward would put up those numbers if their teams needed them to play 80 minutes. And now that he's not needed to play 80 minutes he won't be putting up those numbers either.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It has become as bad as last year because of the games we have lost not the games we have won.

Actually the last two weeks we've had one third of our losses but only conceded 16.5 points per game. That has improved our defensive record, not made it worse.

 

[TheRam]

Every Origin middle forward would put up those numbers if their teams needed them to play 80 minutes. And now that he's not needed to play 80 minutes he won't be putting up those numbers either.

The real question Pou is how many forwards can play that many minutes and do what he did? It's not every forward. Some sure, every forward, bullsh*t.

 

[TheRam]

Actually the last two weeks we've had one third of our losses but only conceded 16.5 points per game. That has improved our defensive record, not made it worse.

Yes but look at the quality of the opposition mate. Hardy winners. They barely could hold the ball or tackle before our games. What blew our defense numbers in particular was the Storm game.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The real question Pou is how many forwards can play that many minutes and do what he did? It's not every forward. Some sure, every forward, bullsh*t.

His metres per carry and tackles per minute are both ordinary. If he played fewer minutes he could work harder in defence. And if he took fewer runs (and thus made fewer metres) we could give more runs to fresher (or better) runners. Outside backs going through the middle. That's the key to big metres. The likes of Paulo and Nrown can take those fourth tackle set up runs when the outside backs need to be in position.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And the previous 5 games are more relevant than the 5 before that.

But this is where recency is less relevant. The five games before the most recent five all occurred in the same season, with no change in personnel or a resetting event such as an offseason in between. 2018 is an entire offseason ago.

 

[Happy MEel]

But this is where recency is less relevant. The five games before the most recent five all occurred in the same season, with no change in personnel or a resetting event such as an offseason in between. 2018 is an entire offseason ago.

How is that relevant? Is BA not coaching during the season? Is he not responsible for improving the team mid-season?

 

[Chipmunk]

I think he is, since 2017 there's been 18 times where a forward has made 200m and 40 tackles in the same game, Nathan Brown has 6 of those games. He also makes a fair few 4th tackle hit-ups, which Gutherson has been taking to try and get quick play the balls, and I think as a result our kick chase has been poor. He provides a passing game in the middle. He looks to put on a big shot when the team needs it.

The loss of Nathan Brown is understated, I think he's our best player and definitely a forward leader.

here's a link to the 200/40 stats.

This is an interesting stat and it does show the influence Nathan Brown. He's a great player.

But it fails to show a very important factor.

For example, if two players in one team can make 250 Plus metres and 50 Plus tackles in 80 minutes, every game, every season, surely that is more productive for a team than one player making 200 Plus metres and 40 Plus tackles in 80 minutes 6 times across 2 1/2 years?

I also doubt Nathan Brown played much less than 70 minutes in any of those 6 matches. Some of those players achieved those feats in little over 50 minutes.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

How is that relevant? Is BA not coaching during the season? Is he not responsible for improving the team mid-season?

I'd say most improvement (and decline) happens during the off season.

 

[TheParraboy]

And then pay too much for Drown when the Warriors offer him huge money with a large TPA.

Catch 22...

 

[lingard]

And we dont have anyone capable of developing any.

Which means the obvious solution is to buy someone. A player like James Graham or Klemmer or Gallen or Andrew Fifita, for f**k sake. Someone like that.
You know, Arthur made a fantastic effort to get Foran here. He had exactly the right idea doing that. If Foran hadn't imploded he would have been the ideal beginning for rebuilding this club into a powerhouse. Unfortunately that didn't happen, and it's been just mediocre signings or reactive signings ever since. Whether that's Arthur's fault or management or a result of the salary cap saga, I don't know. It's very frustrating, but.

 

[Happy MEel]

I'd say most improvement (and decline) happens during the off season.

...and yet here we are. I’d say there’s been a pretty significant overall decline after round 6.

Let’s look at the Knights...they’ve had a sharp improvement since playing us.