Team for this week vs Cowboys

[Panther_Daz]

- Jennings: Again I hope that this guy is the next superstar of our game, at the moment his attack is 10/10 but his defense is 2/10 and it is really hurting our team. Last night he was caught out twice at dummy half and both times it directly led to tries. Also, the last try in regulation we were numbered up and the ball came to Graham 2 metres out from the line, Jennings makes a lame attempt at a tackle around the waist and Graham simply falls over the line and scores. When you’re on your line you gotta rush up and make a ball-and-all tackle, Jennings seems to lack commitment in defense and he is really gonna have to work on it over the offseason. Those talking up his chances to play State Of Origin have to be kidding, his defense at the moment is pathetic and he would get abused by Hodges and co. if he played Origin.



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Mate you have no idea. Jennings defence has improved so much over this year, and he is actually a very good defender. He was clearly not 100% in that second half, but he had enough courage to stay on the field and help his team mates. He managed to make 25 tackles last night, and only missed 3. Thats not bad for a centre who is in his first year of first grade at 19 years of age.

 

[Panther_Daz]

GOOD:
- Blair: The more I see of him the more I like, quite elusive and strong runner of the football, also equally committed in defense (why I like him over Jennings at the moment).

Blair made 12 tackles and missed 4, and he was 100% fit last night. How you are saying he is a better defender than Jennings is beyond me.

 

[Big Mick]

Jennings hit on Bowen...then runs 70 metres to score a great try...= not a poor defender.

 

[Panther_Daz]

BAD:
Those talking up his chances to play State Of Origin have to be kidding, his defense at the moment is pathetic and he would get abused by Hodges and co. if he played Origin.


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Most missed tackles last night:

Thurston 8,Pritchard 6, Scott 6, Gower 5, Bowen 4

Funny how you are criticising Jennings ability to handle Origin, when the 5 players listed have played Test or Origin footy. Sammut actually missed the same amount as Bowen, yet you are quick to criticise a kid in his second game of NRL.

Thurston missed 8 tackles last night, geez, not good enough to handle Origin in your mind hey mate?

 

[panthersballboy]

Daz as much as we all like Jennings all of the last 3 tries came down his side. He may have done some good tackles and 2 great tries but when it came to the crunch his defense didn't hold up. No doubt he will be a superstar of the game but this will not happen UNTIL his defensive reads are better. Pritchard was just as much at fault. That left side is lethel in attack but very ordinary in defence. There's no point sugar coating it, were we terrible as a whole last night.

 

[Panther_Daz]

Daz as much as we all like Jennings all of the last 3 tries came down his side. He may have done some good tackles and 2 great tries but when it came to the crunch his defense didn't hold up. No doubt he will be a superstar of the game but this will not happen UNTIL his defensive reads are better. Pritchard was just as much at fault. That left side is lethel in attack but very ordinary in defence. There's no point sugar coating it, were we terrible as a whole last night.

Only one of Graham's tries were a result of Jennings missed tackle. The other two times he had made the tackle before and was at marker when the ball was spread to Graham.

 

[abpanther]

Geez, didn't realise there was so much blind love for Jennings. I want the guy to be a star, but his defense sucks at the moment. 3 tries came down his side, I'm not into quoting a whole pile of statistics, I'm just commenting on what I saw last night. Sure you can give me a list of missed tackles but its about crucial errors at crucial times of the match. A centre can't get caught at dummy half on last tackle, his attempted tackle on Graham on his own goaline was poor, and lets not pretend that his hit on Bowen jarred th ball loose, Gower knocked it loose, Jennings made a good read but it wan't a great defensive play.

I'm just expressing my opinion, Blair looks tough and mean in defense and attack, Jennings looks uninterested in defense, I hope Pritchard's attitude isn't rubbing off on him coz I think Pritchard has the same problem

 

[Panther_Daz]

I just dont think its fair criticising him so much, when he has probably been our best this year. He is missing less tackles each week, and for you too bag his commitment is shocking also.

Every young back has defensive lapses, just look at Falou,Inu and Stanley this year. Jennings is probably the best defender than those 3.

 

[abpanther]

I'm just commenting on what I noticed last night, most of the tries came down his side and I noticed that he made a soft attempted tackle on one and got caught out at marker for the other 2.

In attack he has definitely been one of our best, but his defense still needs work.

What are your thoughts on my comments regarding Sammut? I don't think he can play FG in a starting side.

My team for 2008 (based on last nights game)

1. Wesser
2. Daniella
3. Jennings
4. Blair
5. Gordon
6. Firman/Williams/Someone!!!!
7. McCrone
8. Civoniceva (c)
9. Priddis
10. F.Puletua
11. Pritchard
12. Waterhouse
13. Lewis

Bench:
14. Woolnough
15. Grant
16. Moors
17. Sammut

 

[Panther_Daz]

Final say on Jennings. I believe he will be a superstar and turn out to be a excellent defender when he fully develops.

On Sammut, yes his size is an issue. But players like Hodgson and Bowen have succeeded in the NRL despite their size, and what Sammut lacks in size he makes up for in heart IMO.


On your 2008 team, i seriously dont know what we could go with in the end. It all depends on the off-season. Definates are:

3.Jennings
8.Civoniceva
11.Pritchard
12.Waterhouse
14.F.Puletua

Alot of the current Flegg team will push for First Grade selection, and put alot of pressure on the 25 man squad for spots. From last years Flegg team we have seen Jennings,Sammut,Daniela and Grant all debut. Next year im expecting about 4 or 5 to possibly debut also.

 

[Fibroman]

What is the point of staying on your wing when your opposition centre is 4 metres out from your line? I attribute a couple of those tries to Daniella staying on his wing, when he should have come in and assisted Jennings in making the tackle that had to be made.

Contrary to the belief of another fan on this site, I thought Pritchard was terrible last night. Aside from an early try that all he needed to do was fall over the line, he did nothing. His hitups were weak. He takes the ball, and does a stupid little dance and hits the line like he weights 80kgs and makes 5 metres. Cross was terrible. He is 6'4" and 110kgs and got brushed off by Thurston leading up to the Bowen try just before half time. His hit ups were weak. He shows very little aggression in defence.

I thought F. Puletua and Norrie were our best forwards, and Priddis was great again. Wallace is a waste of space. Both our wingers were ordinary last night.

Our side would look alot better with Willams in the #6 and Rooney back on one of the wings.

Another 2 points just thrown away last night. It is heart breaking as a fan, slapping your mates back with 5 minutes to go saying "We can't lose this one" and walking out disappointed AGAIN.

 

[Panther_Daz]

It is heart breaking as a fan, slapping your mates back with 5 minutes to go saying "We can't lose this one" and walking out disappointed AGAIN.

With 5 mins to go i said to those sitting around me "Any team with Bowen and Thurston in it can score 10 points in 5 mins, it aint over yet"

 

[Fibroman]

In respect to Jennings. I think he has been consistently our best player this year with F. Puletua a close 2nd. There is nothing wrong with Jennings defence. He's not a real big bloke, but has no problems making one on one ball and all tackles on bigger blokes running at speed. Penrith simply got caught short on the blind side close to their line. It was poor communication in defence.

3 on 3, five metres out from the opposition line will always result in a try no matter how good the defence is. The only way to stop it is to force an error, or the winger to take a punt and come in off his wing.

 

[abpanther]

Good points Fibroman, I think the blame needs to go to Daniella for not coming off his wing to assist. Still tossig up between Daniella and Rooney.

I don't think pritchard was terrible, nothing wrong with using footwork before hitting the line and at least he looks dangerous out wide.

 

[Fibroman]

The frustrating thing about Pritchard is that he is so big and strong and could hit the ball up a lot harder than he does. He likes to float around out in the centres and run into space. Tony Puletua is just as guilty. They need to pump their hearts up a bit and do a bit more of the hard yards in the middle of the park.

Cross and Smith had very little impact at all. I think there will be a spot for a young bloke out of Flegg in the backrow next year if they put in the work in the off season.

Pritchard is best utilised off the bench as an impact player. He should be playing the last 20 minutes of each half.

 

[choc_soldier]

I thought our first 70 minutes was great. After that... well, best not to think about it.

Maxwell's "performance" was piss poor. How the hell did that Sione hit not warrant a send off? Still seething on that...

 

[abpanther]

I think pritchard made more of an effort to get involved, problem is I think he lacks committment in defense and I hope i doesn't rub off onto the youngsters. I know what you mean though, when in space he has all the skills (ala Sonny Bill) but when we are coming out of our own end and in need of some tough runs he goes missing.

Smith adds zero and he makes so many mistakes, I hope he isn't in our top 17 next season. Would love to see Lewis at lock.

 

[Fibroman]

The pea fell out of his whistle for half the game.

As much as you wouldn't want a result to be determined by a penalty, but the Cowboys threw a deliberate forward pass right in front of their posts that went unnoticed by Maxwell.

Cowboys markers were never square all night which impacted on our ability to get a roll on in attack. He never kept either side back the 10 all night. At best, he kept 7 metres and when you don't keep the markers square it makes it virtually impossible to get over the advantage line in the first 3 or 4 tackles.

 

[abpanther]

Yeah I noticed that to, how many times did our wingers and centres come in to run from dummy half only to be tackled straight after picking up the ball by a marker who wasn't square. f**ken B.S

 

[Panther_Daz]

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I think there will be a spot for a young bloke out of Flegg in the backrow next year if they put in the work in the off season.

Would love to see Jamie Theoharous play lock in first grade sometime next year. Hopefully he bulks up and has a very good off season. Very talented ball playing lock who is a great tackler and can play the full 80.

8.Civoniceva
9.Iosefa
10.Grant
11.Pritchard
12.Waterhouse
13.Theoharous

14.F.Puletua
15.L.Lewis

Then Woolnough, Moors,Smith,McKendry,Paulo,Blackett,Leeds,Hlad, Penese,Nuumaali etc can battle for the final two spots.