I don't get what people are talking about in here. Any side without its top three players, five other first grade regulars, and playing that Brisbane outfit would have struggled - let alone one that features a swathe of bright but inexperienced young talents.
Watching the first half today, it was clear that what we need to recruit during the off season are workhorse forwards such as Campion/Grief/Rauhihi (in their day) to stiffen the pack, and a few seasoned campaigners to cover places in the halves and backline. Mad Dog is not this. Mad Dog's best years are well behind him, and the man is lazy. Four players with experience would have meant the world of difference today. As it was, you had a twenty year old Mullen trying to instill some passion in a side full of guys who are still a season off being what you'd call reliable first grade players.
I have no doubt that there were at least six or seven future top flight players on the field today between Snowden, Tuafua, Karawana, Vuna, McManus, and the gang - it's just a matter of them having the support network around them to ensure they reach their potential. As it is we have a side almost solely comprised of local talent and it's feeding itself. No other club is this suicidal. We need to be bringing in experienced campaigners and first graders to help these kids out - not the cast offs of other clubs or washed up former Knights players like Mad Dog.
