Team v Souths

[JJ]

We're near the top of the table, and while we're not perfect, or even close, people seem to be suggesting solutions looking for problems.

I get hugely frustrated when we're losing and Webby (and others) roll out the same team week to week, but aside from Vegas and Melbourne, we've been pretty good each week - yes, the attack is ordinary, but the defence is really solid (aside from above)... But I don't see any need for a non-injury enforced change in the spine tbh

 

[Penrose Warrior]

We're near the top of the table, and while we're not perfect, or even close, people seem to be suggesting solutions looking for problems.

I get hugely frustrated when we're losing and Webby (and others) roll out the same team week to week, but aside from Vegas and Melbourne, we've been pretty good each week - yes, the attack is ordinary, but the defence is really solid (aside from above)... But I don't see any need for a non-injury enforced change in the spine tbh

I guess I'm not advocating change but Webby needs to get a lot better at coaching attack and scoring points.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

I guess I'm not advocating change but Webby needs to get a lot better at coaching attack and scoring points.

It's a fair concern. We rank 3rd for defence but only 13th on attack so we’re well adrift of our table neighbours who all rank in the top 4 on attack. Meanwhile Newcastle rank 2nd on defence(!) but due to their even greater attacking woes, are sitting at the opposite end of the table.

I think that shows that while a strong defence is obviously vital, the margins are very very small if your attack isn’t firing as well. If we want to keep our top 4 spot there's no doubt our attack needs to sharpen.

That said, there were good signs earlier this season our attack was evolving – first 40 against the Cows at magic round was really good. Not just in points scored but how and where they scored them. Unfortunately we then had some disruption on the flanks with Ali/Berry out, RTS/DWZ returning, Capewell covering centre etc. and things have been pretty clunky since.

Given that, I think we're better served letting our halves continue developing combinations with their respective edges. If they can all string some uninterrupted minutes together, I think we'll start firing a few more shots.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

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[hitro]

 

[Izz]

Ali hurt?

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

View attachment 102540

Jesus the coach and his obsession with Berry. Ali being dropped if not injured is criminal.

 

[nswarrior]

Jesus the coach and his obsession with Berry. Ali being dropped if not injured is criminal.

Ali didn’t have a great game to be fair

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Jesus the coach and his obsession with Berry. Ali being dropped if not injured is criminal.

Gotta be injured, surely. Webster has his favourites incl. Berry but dropping someone who just came back from injury, after one game in shitty conditions… surely not.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

No mention of any injury for Ali in the official club release. Only that with Berry back, he makes way. FMD.

Even if he wasn’t at his best, you could say that about DWZ for the last 3 bloody weeks.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Ali named in NSW Cup

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Ali hurt?

Nope, he's in the centres in NSW Cup. I thought the same, especially as he is not named in the 23 at all.

He did make that poor defensive read for Canberra's first try...but holy hell, Berry's body is a constant battle at the moment. Ali L started the year on fire.

I don't like it. One bit.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

No mention of any injury for Ali in the official club release. Only that with Berry back, he makes way. FMD.

Even if he wasn’t at his best, you could say that about DWZ for the last 3 bloody weeks.

Yeah, exactly right. Surely there's more to this.

I like Berry but he's played 3 NRL games in the last 12 months. He's been busted. He debuted in 2021 and is yet to play 50 games.

 

[Meth]

Ali named in NSW Cup

that’s close to riot material

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Ali didn’t have a great game to be fair

That's up for debate. I haven't noticed anything of note besides 1 bad decision. Up to that point he's been flawless.

Gotta be injured, surely. Webster has his favourites incl. Berry but dropping someone who just came back from injury, after one game in shitty conditions… surely not.

Webster has got this all wrong.

Ali named in NSW Cup

Criminal decision.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I thought Ali was a bit off the pace last week tbh. Couple of misreads and just not linking up really well with the players either side of him. Could just be though that there’s not currently a huge gap between Ali, Berry and Pompey and Webby is trying to keep them all first grade ready. Ali definitely has the highest ceiling of the three though.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I thought Ali was a bit off the pace last week tbh. Couple of misreads and just not linking up really well with the players either side of him. Could just be though that there’s not currently a huge gap between Ali, Berry and Pompey and Webby is trying to keep them all first grade ready. Ali definitely has the highest ceiling of the three though.

Berry looked like he was playing in Forrest Gump's leg shackles last time out. His body is clearly struggling with the demands of the NRL.

I struggle to see how you can go ahead and bring a guy straight back into first grade who has played 3 games in a year, and has no history of staying on the park for any length of time.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

I thought Ali was a bit off the pace last week tbh. Couple of misreads and just not linking up really well with the players either side of him. Could just be though that there’s not currently a huge gap between Ali, Berry and Pompey and Webby is trying to keep them all first grade ready. Ali definitely has the highest ceiling of the three though.

TBH, other than the miss that led to Starling’s try I didn’t notice too much else. But if others did, fair enough.

That said, he hadn’t played in a month so being a bit off the pace was almost inevitable, especially in those conditions. DWZ (and to a lesser extent RTS) were rusty in their first games back as well. But both have been allowed to work their way back into form despite Taine being fit and available.

Conversely Leiataua’s been hooked after just one game for a guy who's also been out for a month.

I think most of us agree Rocco's a good player... good defender, runs tough lines and works hard on kick chase. Ordinarily I’d be happy to see him back and hoping it’s the start of a long unbroken stretch of gametime.

But this just seems incredibly harsh on Ali. Even if he’d had an absolute shocker, Webster normally has a history of backing players to bounce back, just as he did when nearly every one had a mare in Vegas. Tough to understand this one.

 

[JJ]

To be fair, Webster is pretty consistent - Berry is always his first choice when available... and a lot to like about him

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

To be fair, Webster is pretty consistent - Berry is always his first choice when available... and a lot to like about him

Oh yea lots to like about him. But Webster hasn't always defaulted to him when fit... he spent the first few weeks of the season playing Cup while Ali was preferred in first grade.