Rumours and Stuff

[IFR33K]

We won a lot of games like this in 2017 as well. We shouldn’t even be in such a close position most of the time considering the strength of the roster. This is the best chance we have had to win a premiership in a long time yet we are struggling to put away even lower ranked teams. There’s no clinical efficiency like the Storm, Roosters and Panthers. I’d be ok if it happened occasionally but we see same silly things every damn week. We usually have a territorial advantage because of the strength of our forwards but we bumble our way through our attacking sets in front of the opposition try line. Every week we see Mahoney making 50+ tackles and not run the ball even there are opportunities. We see Waqa Blake and Blake Ferguson come off their wing and leave a saloon passage for the opposition to score. You have to wonder why these glaring weaknesses haven’t been addressed and why we aren’t seeing any improvement. It’s nice to have as many wins as we have and have good defence for the most part but it’s not really reflective of how the team is actually travelling. If we were playing well against quality teams and winning the close ones I don’t think the fans would have any issues but that’s not what’s happening here. Let’s hope the team can get it’s act together.

Well said

 

[IFR33K]

Glad you are still lurking @Barry O'Speedwagon. I only started reading this forum slightly before Bigfella disappeared, and I hate to think that anyone of us could have fulltime called and most of this community would be none the wiser. I find that a bit sad tbh. I don't think I know any of you personally, but we have probably sat close together over the years, have mutual friends perhaps, or even waited for the lights to change on the corner of O'connell St at the same time. Life is strange.

Whatever happened to El Diablo

 

[Avenger]

Whatever happened to El Diablo

He’s in prison.

 

[IFR33K]

He’s in prison.

How certain are u?

 

[Gazzamatta]

We won a lot of games like this in 2017 as well. We shouldn’t even be in such a close position most of the time considering the strength of the roster. This is the best chance we have had to win a premiership in a long time yet we are struggling to put away even lower ranked teams. There’s no clinical efficiency like the Storm, Roosters and Panthers. I’d be ok if it happened occasionally but we see same silly things every damn week. We usually have a territorial advantage because of the strength of our forwards but we bumble our way through our attacking sets in front of the opposition try line. Every week we see Mahoney making 50+ tackles and not run the ball even there are opportunities. We see Waqa Blake and Blake Ferguson come off their wing and leave a saloon passage for the opposition to score. You have to wonder why these glaring weaknesses haven’t been addressed and why we aren’t seeing any improvement. It’s nice to have as many wins as we have and have good defence for the most part but it’s not really reflective of how the team is actually travelling. If we were playing well against quality teams and winning the close ones I don’t think the fans would have any issues but that’s not what’s happening here. Let’s hope the team can get it’s act together.

Right or wrong and after much thought, the areas we have improved are oir roster and oue fitness. RCG has made a massive improvement to our D and our improved fitness is enabling us to be much more competitive. Other that these arwas I dont think much else has changed so far as defensive or attacking structures. Our game is built on effort and tiring the opposition. Two games in the wet saps much energy. Thank heavens we signed Elkin. Hes made a huge difference. Just shows you that change is good. Whoever signed that AFL merkin should be sacked.

 

[84 Baby]

Well we beat them. And they were pretty f**king ordinary against the Warriors. Are their wheels about to fall off?

Obviously not. They’re toughing out wins against lowly ranked sides....

 

[Avenger]

How certain are u?

People like him end up there. He was a garbage human being.

I’m pretty sure some old favourites have sadly passed though. Fishy, Bigfella and Hurri to name a few.

 

[eels81236]

What was the answer to 31 across?

 

[84 Baby]

Do you see the forest through the trees? If you want to talk about stats then how about we talk about how in successive weeks despite having a full strength team we only beat the team coming last by 2, scored less tries than the sharks but fell over the line and lost to a team at home that just sacked its coach?

We could of very easily lost another 4 or so games this year. Not many wins have been convincing. We are fortunate enough to be 3rd on the ladder, but I’m not sure that’s a true indication of where we’re at.

Do you merkins watch games as if they are all grand finals? I reckon 3rd is a true indication of what we’re capable of. The past month and a bit it has looked to me more and more like we are conserving ourselves so we can drain the tank over the finals.

 

[Glenneel]

I still think we can beat anyone on our day.

And I think our decades of mediocrity make losses in a year like this when we are actually playing pretty well, more heightened.

we sit 3rd, we deserve to sit 3rd. We are 2 wins ahead of the back to back champs and last years other grand finalist (assuming Canberra win today). You don’t achieve that by fluke.

we will likely finish the round 10 points ahead of 9th place.

I don’t think last years grand finalists’ fans are slitting their wrists as much as parra fans are, and they were expected to be higher up the ladder than us prior to season kickoff.

yep, we’ll likely lose next week.

And our efforts this year will mean that will still have us in 3rd place.

think we need to take a breath

You know if we win next week it'll give our team, and us, belief that we can beat anyone. Don't discount that! We need something, and soon, to turn our season around as we appear to be slipping back into bad habits.

 

[Glenneel]

They might also think they're a good chance of losing next week with all their other injuries and the fact we'll be fired up after a loss, and for that reason decide not tor risk bringing Smith back too soon.

To be the best we have to beat teams at their best.

 

[Glenneel]

Well they'll be more experienced next year and even more after that. But you're right, by then we will have lost other players to the cap and had to replace them with someone not quite as good. Do you really think we would ever be able to keep improving the team until we're a 100% chance of a premiership? It doesn't work that way. We just need to be a chance (like we are this year and presumably next) and hope for some luck.

We've had luck with injuries and some referee decisions that have gone our way leading to wins, so how much more luck do we need? Maybe a lot more luck with our attack?

 

[TheRam]

Mate, nearly every single post from Pou is to get a reaction.
He doesn't believe half the shit he posts. Haven't you ever noticed that nearly every single post is angling for an answer, reply or a comment and is just an alternative view to who is replied to? Yet no doubt is argued as being opinion. Troll of the highest order.

Mate he's not that smart. He's more like a goldfish who makes the trip from one side of the tank to the other...clueless.

 

[IFR33K]

The past month and a bit it has looked to me more and more like we are conserving ourselves so we can drain the tank over the finals.

Oh ok. This is the BA grand master plan that was mentioned a few weeks ago. I can’t wait till we unleash it. Hopefully by the time it’s unleashed we’re experienced enough in the spine, our defense is sorted, we’re totally over the salary cap scandal, it doesn’t rain and our front office is in order. Have I missed any other excuses?

 

[IFR33K]

Mate he's not that smart. He's more like a goldfish who makes the trip from one side of the tank to the other...clueless.

Haha goldfish. That’s slightly harsh towards goldfish mate.

 

[emjaycee]

To be the best we have to beat teams at their best.

Actually, to win the comp we don't actually need to be the best team in the comp and we don't need to beat teams when they are at their best. We only need to beat the team we are playing on the day(s) it matters.. So until the game we are playing becomes win or you're out, all we have to do is win enough games to be there at the pointy end.

I don't care if we aren't the best team across 20 rounds of the season proper. I care that we win on grand final day, no matter how we play to get there.

 

[84 Baby]

Oh ok. This is the BA grand master plan that was mentioned a few weeks ago. I can’t wait till we unleash it. Hopefully by the time it’s unleashed we’re experienced enough in the spine, our defense is sorted, we’re totally over the salary cap scandal, it doesn’t rain and our front office is in order. Have I missed any other excuses?

You’re the one who wants to keep dredging up the past. I’m not saying it’s necessarily the plan but we certainly aren’t playing with anywhere near the intensity we did around the Panfa/Rorter games and we keep dropping little hints of attacking plays (see Gutho try) and I’m not saying it’ll work, but if it is the case, it doesn’t in itself mean BA can’t coach.

And you forgot the excuse of an easy draw. It’d be truly devastating for you if we won on the back of an easy draw

 

[Poupou Escobar]

To be the best we have to beat teams at their best.

I doubt we'll ever be the best. The Storm and Roosters have too many advantages. But we can be third best in any given year, and maybe even catch those two in a year where they're ravaged by injuries. This could be that year. It's very exciting.

 

[84 Baby]

Actually, to win the comp we don't actually need to be the best team in the comp and we don't need to beat teams when they are at their best. We only need to beat the team we are playing on the day(s) it matters.. So until the game we are playing becomes win or you're out, all we have to do is win enough games to be there at the pointy end.

I don't care if we aren't the best team across 20 rounds of the season proper. I care that we win on grand final day, no matter how we play to get there.

No the BA grand master plan is all in your head. There’s no way he’d identify there be ebbs and flows within the season, of how players will need management to get through the season to peak at the right time...
https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp...m/news-story/77da6e1ac33b7224624c1576ff347c99
https://www.newsbreak.com/news/1605...n-parramattas-slow-start-against-wests-tigers
(I can’t find a link but I distinctly remember both RCG and another player mentioning after the Cows game BA told them to rip in ahead of a 10 day turnaround and this season that to me was our most professional game)

 

[lucablight]

Do you merkins watch games as if they are all grand finals? I reckon 3rd is a true indication of what we’re capable of. The past month and a bit it has looked to me more and more like we are conserving ourselves so we can drain the tank over the finals.

I think we’re better than capable of being third. What gives you the impression we’re “conserving ourselves” as opposed to playing poorly but being fortunate enough to win at times?