Storm 3 2 1s

[Valheru]

Pretty proud of that performance TBH. I thought we matched it with them in the first half and defended brilliantly but too many mistakes caught up with us in the long run.

SST only playing 28 minutes and JWH only 5 minutes was huge and we never had any real chance without them in the 2nd half.

At the end of the day they never gave up and a 16 point loss in Melbourne is hardly the end of the world.

Thought young Walker was ok in the most trying of circumstances. Never gave up and was always looking to try something.

3 rads - I know he got binned but I thought he tried his guts out. He is coming along nicely and we are way better with him in the team.
2 - Angus
1 - joey

On to next week. SST has a broken rib which although painful do heal quick but is probably pushing it for next week. Hopefully Jared's isn't serious.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

I picked the margin on this game so it kinda went like I thought it would. Thought we’d be brave and thought Storm would always win in the end given our circumstances. Sam didn’t disappoint. He didn’t seem overwhelmed and still chanced his arm so encouraging signs in that respect. Rads was involved in everything last night. The main concern for me is we seem to lose our shit when playing tougher opponents. Drop balls and poor discipline cost us. There’s some similarities with the Souths game for me. It’s obvious we’re missing the leadership of Cords and Friendy. Perhaps Robbo should consider duel captains (SST?) again to take some of the heat off Teddy.

Having said all that, shouldn’t lose sight of the fact for the bulk of the first half, we had them rattled and made tons of yards up the middle when we had a full complement of players.

Anyway, I’m now more concerned going forward and what sort of team we can field. Thankfully a longer week to recover may help.

3. Rads
2. Collins
1. Angus

 

[Valheru]

I picked the margin on this game so it kinda went like I thought it would. Thought we’d be brave and thought Storm would always win in the end given our circumstances. Sam didn’t disappoint. He didn’t seem overwhelmed and still chanced his arm so encouraging signs in that respect. Rads was involved in everything last night. The main concern for me is we seem to lose our shit when playing tougher opponents. Drop balls and poor discipline cost us. There’s some similarities with the Souths game for me. It’s obvious we’re missing the leadership of Cords and Friendy. Perhaps Robbo should consider duel captains (SST?) again to take some of the heat off Teddy.

Having said all that, shouldn’t lose sight of the fact for the bulk of the first half, we had them rattled and made tons of yards up the middle when we had a full complement of players.

Anyway, I’m now more concerned going forward and what sort of team we can field. Thankfully a longer week to recover may help.

3. Rads
2. Collins
1. Angus

Well said.

I think a lot of people, especially the media who claimed we were horrible and got flogged need to have a look at what this team has been able to achieve the last 3 weeks. We literally have both our halves missing with and are playing our 5th choice hooker.

How are we thinking Penrith would go without cleary and luai and then losing JFH and Leota mid game away to Melbourne? Or souths losing reynolds and walker and then Burgess and Arrow going down mid game with Murray in the bin for 10?

Last night was far from an embarrassment and 4-2 is a pretty good start given the injuries.

 

[The Fanatical Rooster]

The actual votes have not come out as yet, but in my view:

3. Victor Radley
2. Lindsay Collins
1. Angus Crichton

Let us watch this space.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/04/18...nd-off-upsets-and-a-golden-point-jaw-dropper/

 

[The Fanatical Rooster]

I like your sentiments as per usual guys, good stuff.

Apart from the injuries to JWH and SST, obviously our weakness in the halves (particularly in the 6 and 9) was exposed the other night. Few teams, if any, would be able to remain fully competitive given the injuries we have sustained. As much as I like him, I do not think 'Hutch' is the answer at 6. I would still like to see Manu at 6, bring the Morris brothers together in the centres and debut Suaalii on the wing. Hutch could possibly go into 9, but I think a roving type role off the bench is his best option.

I was proud of the boys in the first half, but felt a bit disappointed in the second stanza.

Anyway, it is back to the drawing board this week. I was hoping the Dragons won today, as that means they might not have been quite as desperate ahead of next week! This game could prove to be anything. We should start as favourites, but are no certainties.

 

[The Fanatical Rooster]

It was certainly a game of two halves.

I was very proud of the boys in the first half.

However, I was somewhat disappointed in the second. Our gaps in the halves (particularly at 6 and 9) were clearly shown up during this period. While I like Hutch, he is not a short to medium term answer. Our fill in hooker is just that - he is too inexperienced for that role.

 

[The Fanatical Rooster]

It is going to be interesting to see whether:

-- Brett Morris will return from his calf issue;
-- Sam Verrills will be back this week (or later);
-- Joseph Suaalii gets to debut this week (I suspect not);
-- something changes at 6, 9, in the centres and on the wing;
-- Isaac remains at starting prop (I think he should be on the bench);
-- Robbo keeps utilising Nat Butcher in the same way he has been.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

I like your sentiments as per usual guys, good stuff.

Apart from the injuries to JWH and SST, obviously our weakness in the halves (particularly in the 6 and 9) was exposed the other night. Few teams, if any, would be able to remain fully competitive given the injuries we have sustained. As much as I like him, I do not think 'Hutch' is the answer at 6. I would still like to see Manu at 6, bring the Morris brothers together in the centres and debut Suaalii on the wing. Hutch could possibly go into 9, but I think a roving type role off the bench is his best option.

I was proud of the boys in the first half, but felt a bit disappointed in the second stanza.

Anyway, it is back to the drawing board this week. I was hoping the Dragons won today, as that means they might not have been quite as desperate ahead of next week! This game could prove to be anything. We should start as favourites, but are no certainties.

Given that Anzac Day is a big occasion game and Robbo’s tendency to have a softly-softly approach to blooding debutants, I can’t see Sualli playing just yet. However like you, I’d like to see him get his start against Saints. Given the insane situation we’re in atm, we could use an X factor. Think Robbo’s gotta take a punt. Oh and I’m glad Saints lost. They were looking like they were getting on a roll and would’ve been high on confidence - especially against a weakened opponent. Now they’re thinking they’re back to being shit Saints again.

 

[Valheru]

As the round went on our performance looked better and better given the circumstances.

Titans and Raiders performance were both catastrophes and saints fell back down to earth. Arguably souths was worse as well, they just had their best players available to pull them off the canvas.

 

[The Fanatical Rooster]

Actual votes were:

3. Cameron Munster
2. Ryan Papenhuyzen
1. Harry Grant

(Judge: Wally Lewis)

https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/04/18...nd-off-upsets-and-a-golden-point-jaw-dropper/

From Zero Tackle:

"The Storm made another statement against fellow premiership hopefuls, the Roosters. Melbourne seemed intent on showing the Roosters they were still some way behind the reigning premiers and were far too good on the night.

The Storm were led by the usual suspects. Which, while maybe familiar, is almost impossible to stop. Cameron Munster ran the game and had constant control as the Storm cruised home."

I am not sure I would agree that the Storm was "far too good", but our injuries prevented us from being as competitive as we otherwise would have been.

While I am not suggesting that we should have received one of the votes on this occasion (although Rads probably deserved something), I find it interesting that, when we lose, we seem to rarely ever get a vote but, when we win, quite often an opposition player gets a vote. This is just a gut feel; I have no statistics on this. It would be worth trying to get them.