Something sure does need to change..... but we all know nothing will.
As good a coach as Des is, if last year is anything to go by, he likes to stick with the same group of players regardless of whether they're winning or not. As if changing the side around and dropping underperforming players was some kind of an admission that he got it wrong.
Over the 3 years from 2006 to 2008, they developed a increasingly successful style of play that revolved around Orford, Watmough and Brett Stewart. Once Brett got suspended/injured last year, Des tried to maintain that same style using Robbo as the fullback. After only a handfull of games it was obvious to just about everyone except Des, Robbo wasn't up to it. However in true Des fashion, he stuck with him until Brett returned late in the season. Unfortunately, short on both match fitness and confidence he had little impact.
After a fine 2008, Matt Orford clearly struggled with fitness and injuries (and Robbo at fullback) and throughout 2009 looked to have reached the point where he could no longer keep pace with the NRL. Thus a juicy ESL contract was a fitting reward for a fine career.
So... here we are in 2010 and they still seem to be trying to play the same way, even though Orford's gone and Stewart is still injured. Watmough who had built up a good combination with Orford, now looks a shadow of the player he was less than 12 months ago.
They have become far too predictable..... hitting it up, usually one out before passing along the backline in the often vain hope that Lyon, Matai or Glenn Stewart will conjure something from nothing. The exception is when they find themselves inside the opposition 20m line and they run their one and only backline move. Which of course by now, rarely fools anyone.
With rookie halves, the one thing they absolutely must do is make good metres... which means more often than not, winning the forward battle. This isn't happening. Brent Kite for some years now and Josh Perry this year, look stale and in need of a new club. Josh has got himself an ESL contract and good luck to him, He was fantastic for us in 2008 and a big part of why they won it. Unfortunately his heart just doesn't seem in it now. As for Kite, apart from the memorable 2008 GF, I can't recall too many standout performances over the past few seasons.
It's usually acknowledged these days, the #1 #6 #7 and #9 are crucial to a teams success. In only his 3rd season as a starter in first grade, Ballin is our most experienced player of that group. Both Ben Farrar and Kieron Foran are playing their first full seasons in the top grade and Hodkinson is on Debut. So it's perhaps little wonder their losing! Ballin needs to have a far greater playmaking role and only when they've made good metres up the centre should he give it to the halves. He's a good player and could easily handle the extra responsibility.
Having said all that, they are still a chance of making the finals but only if Des can bring himself to make some changes. Cherry-Evans needs to get some game time at least from the bench. Both Perry and Hodkinson can finish up their time on the Sunshine Coast. Shift Foran to #7, Farrar to #6 and bring Hoppa into #1. I'd also try Whare on the wing and shift T-Rex to the bench, he needs to learn to hit the line harder. He has improved a great deal this year but this particular aspect of his game, lets him down.
So for what it's worth...
Hoppa, Robertson, Matai, Lyon, Whare, Farrar, Foran, Stewart, Watmough, Rodney, King, Ballin, Cross. Res. Rose, Gulavao, Williams & Cherry-Evans.
