I think the most important question is why hasn't our defense improved again this season?
Year on year our shortcomings hardly ever get sorted or addressed.
Matterson will slot into the team probably on the edge since we have managed to pick up an even better and more consistent 13 in the very impressive Hopgood. I had a feeling he was going to be the player we see now when we signed him last year, but was just waiting to see how he would adjust to us and how we would use him. He is the one and only bright spot I can see that has made us a better team then last year. Losing Papalii is not as major loss as long as Matterson can suck it up and play to his ability on the edge when called upon.
We are still living on the edge with Hodgson and there is no backup if he goes down. If by some miracle he survives the full season, then we have lost very little there too.
But our defense is pathetic even allowing for the two missing back rowers. We actually should be even slightly better defensively considering how good defensively Hopgood is all over the park and yet we are even worse then last season so far. Why have we still not addressed this after so many seasons???
Look at the Cowboys, they addressed it in one off season.
As for Brown, what the Hell is he on? He is playing like he doesn't know anyone out there. His head is not in the game. I look at one of my 3 favourite non Parra players Tom Dreardon(the other 2 are Drinkwater and R. Walsh) and he is always switched on and ready to exploit any opportunity or switched off defenses. Brown just basically parks himself and waits for things to happen or the ball to come to him. Sh*t lazy tactical philosophy. He, Moses, Gutho and Hodgo should all be scheming and probing all the time in combinations and all over the field. Brown is always touted as being second or 3rd fittest at the club, so fitness isn't a problem. Laziness and disinterest seem to be. I think he is naturally more gifted then Dearden, but Dearden leaves him for dead on output and overall game contribution almost every round and I bet Dearden isn't on $800K.
The two most glaring issues we have had that stand out like Kong balls are our lack of 3rd and or 4th front row options and our mid level defense. So on viewing the 2 opening rounds I feel that neither has been addressed almost at all...AGAIN. Therefore adding Hodgo's precarious injury prone knees(I noticed him and the other players stretching in the dressing rooms and at warm up the old fashion way) I can't see us holding up any silverware again this year.
The Oracle has spoken.
What a useless coach. Ten fu*king years to get it right for fu*k sake! This is so painful to watch each freaking year. At least I have the Dolphins this year as my back up team. Does anyone think Bennett would have gone more then a season without addressing our defense?
This team has been together more or less for 3+ seasons so they should be in the top 3 defensive team structures and stats by now, but instead they still can't tackle. I get that the middles or lack there of are causing much of the instability when we lose shape, but he has had many seasons to address this and he hasn't. Why are we still persisting with him? Or at least someone above him should over rule him and get it addressed FFS!!!
It is sooooooo freakin painful. After the intercept and then the following try, I tuned out. I couldn't watch anymore. I'm over ruining my weekends for these dumb arse, never learning or improving, all talkers. It will be funny watching Junior tell us all tonight that they are hungry for success and they are desperate to go one better. While anyone with a brain can see there is absolutely no improvement in the overall squad, even allowing for the inclusion of Hopgood. No new middles(boppers) means no real improvement when he and his mate are off. Only a Steven Bradbury scenario will bring the bacon home.
I watch in delay and as soon as I get a whiff of capitulation and failure I fast forward to the end. I'm not wasting 2 hours of my time to be disappointed and miserable at the end. I can spend my time in much more enjoyable ways. Cheers
