Sharks game

[RedVee]

Didn't Fitzgibbon knock us back to coach the Sharks?

Kinda, but Chooks wouldn’t release him for another 12 months anyway.

It was partially a joke. See the bit in brackets. It would be so on brand to replace SF with another coach that has a son as a player in the system.

 

[Corrimal Dragon]

Sharks by at least 40. Our defence is a dead set joke. And our halves are ron massey cup standards

 

[Dragsters]

If we employ Dean Young's limp, static defensive line, Hynes, Nikora, Trindall, Ramien and co will make us pay in the same way the Dolphins did. We need to get in their faces, hit and stick, use shoulders rather than arm grab, stop the offload, put them on their backs, slow the play the ball down. I re- watched the Dolphins game and our wrestle was non-existent. The Dolphins were either running for gaps, off loading or hitting the ground on elbows and knees and bouncing up to play the ball. Then JMK, Katoa, and Nikorima were attacking a retreating defensive line. It was an unstoppable avalanche. We are afraid to test the ref like all the other teams do. We are scared of giving a penalty. Most of the good defensive teams challenge the ref to keep penalise them. The wrestle constantly, dance with the tackled player, move them sideways. Backwards and spin them and turtle them and force the ref to either do something or let it slide. We are the worst wrestlers and this is ESSENTIAL to avoid a retreating defensive line. This is why so many halfbacks have Man of the match performances against us. Think Cleary at WIN last year, Walker in last year's ANZAC DAY clash. Sandon Smith this year, Katoa this year and last year. Sexton in round 1. Humphrey's against South's, Dylan Brown against Parra, Metcalf for the Warriors at WIN. We are a opposition's spine wet dream.
We need to be brutal, force the ref to either maintain the penalties or let it slide and back our brutal defence.

Post if the year imo.

This completely sums up our biggest issue and it's been this way for years.

Whenever we get flogged it's usually always the opposition 6 that kills us (the runner), if not the 7.

Unless we fix this (at times we have) then we will continue to have these types of blowouts.

We have shown we can but it needs to be consistent if we are going to improve our ladder position...

 

[Slippery Morris]

So the pattern is this. Saints get flogged - Flanno retains the same flops that contributed to the flogging to give them a chance of redemption. Saints then win or lose by less the next game and Flanno sees that as redemption, keeps the same flopps. Saints then get flogged and the same routine continues.

I am not expecting many changes to the crucial spots unless injuries are concerned. Flanno will find 2 others that have niggles in them so they can possibly last 20 minutes. Finau and Sloan not picked for a guy with hamstring issues, how bad would you feel.

 

[Dragsters]

So the pattern is this. Saints get flogged - Flanno retains the same flops that contributed to the flogging to give them a chance of redemption. Saints then win or lose by less the next game and Flanno sees that as redemption, keeps the same flopps. Saints then get flogged and the same routine continues.

I am not expecting many changes to the crucial spots unless injuries are concerned. Flanno will find 2 others that have niggles in them so they can possibly last 20 minutes. Finau and Sloan not picked for a guy with hamstring issues, how bad would you feel.

Halves selection has been a debacle all season but your final point was the blunder of the year!

 

[since77]

If we employ Dean Young's limp, static defensive line, Hynes, Nikora, Trindall, Ramien and co will make us pay in the same way the Dolphins did. We need to get in their faces, hit and stick, use shoulders rather than arm grab, stop the offload, put them on their backs, slow the play the ball down. I re- watched the Dolphins game and our wrestle was non-existent. The Dolphins were either running for gaps, off loading or hitting the ground on elbows and knees and bouncing up to play the ball. Then JMK, Katoa, and Nikorima were attacking a retreating defensive line. It was an unstoppable avalanche. We are afraid to test the ref like all the other teams do. We are scared of giving a penalty. Most of the good defensive teams challenge the ref to keep penalise them. The wrestle constantly, dance with the tackled player, move them sideways. Backwards and spin them and turtle them and force the ref to either do something or let it slide. We are the worst wrestlers and this is ESSENTIAL to avoid a retreating defensive line. This is why so many halfbacks have Man of the match performances against us. Think Cleary at WIN last year, Walker in last year's ANZAC DAY clash. Sandon Smith this year, Katoa this year and last year. Sexton in round 1. Humphrey's against South's, Dylan Brown against Parra, Metcalf for the Warriors at WIN. We are a opposition's spine wet dream.
We need to be brutal, force the ref to either maintain the penalties or let it slide and back our brutal defence.

I agree with all of this but we are also a team that is absolutely hopeless at defending repeat sets after giving away penalties and six agains. We nearly always concede points after a penalty or six again, particularly if it’s near our own goal line. So it’s catch 22!
But yeah as long as our passive defensive systems remain, these kinds of games are going to continue to happen. We go to pieces once the opposition sees how easy it is to rip our ruck defence apart. It’s not the first time we’ve made a bog average player like Nikorima look like an immortal.
I do know that if we at least take away space from the attacking team - I.e. move up quickly - it will limit their options. Against the Roosters and the Dolphins all they did was give their spine unlimited options. I can’t believe how often we let opposition attackers run sideways completely untouched until a gap opens up. It’s like watching a car crash. Our defensive systems are utterly broken. Can’t see how they’ll be fixed without a change to the assistant coaching staff and an offseason overhauling it……

 

[possm]

Sharks by at least 40. Our defence is a dead set joke. And our halves are ron massey cup standards

So why doesn't the Board sack Dean Young and hire Brad Arthur as defensive coach? Perhaps because Craig Young, Doust, and their group won't agree to do this.

We still need a cleanout, and we have needed one since 2012.

 

[Corrimal Dragon]

So why doesn't the Board sack Dean Young and hire Brad Arthur as defensive coach? Perhaps because Craig Young, Doust, and their group won't agree to do this.

We still need a cleanout, and we have needed one since 2012.

Brad Arthur. He couldn't get the wide defence right at Parramatta. Ryles has done a better job

 

[possm]

I agree with all of this but we are also a team that is absolutely hopeless at defending repeat sets after giving away penalties and six agains. We nearly always concede points after a penalty or six again, particularly if it’s near our own goal line. So it’s catch 22!
But yeah as long as our passive defensive systems remain, these kinds of games are going to continue to happen. We go to pieces once the opposition sees how easy it is to rip our ruck defence apart. It’s not the first time we’ve made a bog average player like Nikorima look like an immortal.
I do know that if we at least take away space from the attacking team - I.e. move up quickly - it will limit their options. Against the Roosters and the Dolphins all they did was give their spine unlimited options. I can’t believe how often we let opposition attackers run sideways completely untouched until a gap opens up. It’s like watching a car crash. Our defensive systems are utterly broken. Can’t see how they’ll be fixed without a change to the assistant coaching staff and an offseason overhauling it……

We have players who have out-lived the positions that they are being selected to fill.

1. Gutherson is too slow, Replace with Ramsey.
2. CT is out injured, replace with Finau.
3. Suli past his best, move him to 17. Replace him with Gutherson. Run direct and feed Finau with good ball.
4. Sit down with him and have a good man-to-man discussion.
5. Lawson, perform this week or drop back to reserve grade.
6. LKT, run direct and kick long into the corners.
7. Flannagan, drop to reserve grade and replace with Glover.
8. De Belin - Eun VERY hard and try to break the defensive line.
9. Cook for 20 minutes, then Liddle to come on.
10. Klemmer, run straight and VERY Hard.
11. Lielua to 16 (prop), replaced by Suli
12. Couchman
13. Stewart
14. Liddle - run from dummy half at each opportunity.
15. Tonga - prop rotation
16. Leilua - prop and back row rotation in short stints
17. Jett Liu - prop rotation - big, fast, and good defense

With no new signings, we have to make changes to realize a difference.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

I agree with all of this but we are also a team that is absolutely hopeless at defending repeat sets after giving away penalties and six agains. We nearly always concede points after a penalty or six again, particularly if it’s near our own goal line. So it’s catch 22!
But yeah as long as our passive defensive systems remain, these kinds of games are going to continue to happen. We go to pieces once the opposition sees how easy it is to rip our ruck defence apart. It’s not the first time we’ve made a bog average player like Nikorima look like an immortal.
I do know that if we at least take away space from the attacking team - I.e. move up quickly - it will limit their options. Against the Roosters and the Dolphins all they did was give their spine unlimited options. I can’t believe how often we let opposition attackers run sideways completely untouched until a gap opens up. It’s like watching a car crash. Our defensive systems are utterly broken. Can’t see how they’ll be fixed without a change to the assistant coaching staff and an offseason overhauling it……

One (but not the only one) reason for our pathetic defence against the Flippers was the absence of an athletic, high work rate back row- the loss of Egan and Sua has been a disaster for the club- Luch, Couchman and an asthmatic Faitala Mariner were no match for Lemeuelo, Fine.......etc and having bulimic (not) Lawrie and Luch on same park at the same time well .... do you need me to draw you a picture? Eisenhuth's retirement also robbed us of an intelligent, hard working lock.
While we all call for an impact prop who can bend the line, imo, we probably now should also be looking for a quality backrower- Harry Hayes for Latu if the Doggees want a deal before 30 June?

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

This week?

1. Clint Gutherson
2. Nathan Lawson
3. Moses Suli
4. Nick Tsougranis?
5. Sloan or Finau?
6. Lyhkan King-Togia
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Guler?
9. Damien Cook
10. David Klemmer
11. Luc?
12. Toby Couchman
13. Hamish Stewart
14. Lids
14. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
15. Jack de Belin
16. BMM or Halangahu?

 

[Revesby boy]

This week?

1. Clint Gutherson
2. Nathan Lawson
3. Moses Suli
4. Nick Tsougranis?














5. Sloan or Finau?
6. Lyhkan King-Togia
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Guler?
9. Damien Cook
10. David Klemmer
11. Luc?
12. Toby Couchman
13. Hamish Stewart
14. Lids
14. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
15. Jack de Belin
16. BMM or Halangahu?

Toby HAS to go back into the prop rotation, even Stevie Wonder can see that.

 

[Saints 32-8]

I’d trot this lineup out. Need to try and match them physically.

Gutho
Sloan
Suli
Tsougranis
Lawson
LKT
Ilias
Sele
Liddle
Klemmer
Couchman
Stewart
JDB

Cook
Guler
Tonga
Leilua