The ladder game.

[blacktip-reefy]

Does anybody else think that Rapes has a strategy for the competition ladder as well?
I think the team will continue to play percentage football whilst positioning for the end of the year.
The style, the lack of mass changes & premier league selections I'm thinking that it's steady as she goes football for the moment.
If anybody remembers the last teams he has coached, they weren't really "boring" or steady teams. In fact, the exact opposite.

I'm hoping once we are in higher spot, he will let them start opening up with the second phase.

 

[Anonymous]

The way I see it, every win we come closer to that game where all our combinations just click. From there I think it will be open slather at the end of the season.

Is it because we're being coached that way, or because we just haven't developed the combos? I don't know, but I expect the attacking floodgates to open very soon.

 

[Sheros los Deros]

Given that the Sharks are only a couple of bad losses off last place, I'd suggest that Raper has no grand aspirations in terms of the competition ladder, other than doing what it takes to win week by week. Keeping it simple is probably the easiest plan of action with a side gaining confidence. Like Lang, Rapers the attacking play is built upon a relatively simple game plan.

 

[Bastard Squad]

Wing, centre, 5/8th, lock & hooker have all seen a high rotation rate and quite a bit of experimenting. I'd say he's seeing if anyone fits these spots well prior to June 30 so the club knows what positions to target.

 

[Jimbo]

Given that the Sharks are only a couple of bad losses off last place, I'd suggest that Raper has no grand aspirations in terms of the competition ladder, other than doing what it takes to win week by week. Keeping it simple is probably the easiest plan of action with a side gaining confidence. Like Lang, Rapers the attacking play is built upon a relatively simple game plan.

Actually, we're a couple of bad losses off fifth place. I rather doubt that Rounds 3 and 4 were part of some master strategy...

 

[blacktip-reefy]

No thats not what I'm saying. I'm sure that he woul have preferred to win Rnds 3 & 4.
there just seems to be a "bigger picture" strategy visible.

 

[chili pepper]

But we're also only a couple of good wins outside the eight. If we can post good winning margins over Manly and Souths then we are knocking on the door.

Some tough games coming up beside those 2 and given our record at Brookvale we are no certainties there either.

 

[Sharkies all the Way]

I think we are a good chance for the top 8. We have won 4 out of 5 last games and our completion rates and Dominant tackle levels are among the best in the league. All we need now is a string of wins and for some solid combinations to develop.

 

[shadowboxer]

its all about confidence. They way they played on sat night was a step in the right direction

 

[DJDL]

I tend to agree with you there Reefy.
I made a comment last week about them building towards something - was laughed at by the Dragon's doyen's of knowledge - but I still believe it.

Rapes seems to have adopted a no-nonsense approach to it all. Identify areas for improvement and work at them one step at a time. No mass sackings or huge player turnover, just keep working with the squad we have.

He definitely seems to have his eye on further down the track. I think that's why we're seeing some of the combo changes of the last 2 weeks.
Keep the opposition guessing, encourage the youngsters to work and you will be rewarded, and meantime just go about your business.

I'm starting to warm to him.

I'm tipping they will really start to hit their straps in a month or so.

 

[Mr Angry]

Attack
I remain unconcerned about our ability to put points on.
If the forwards roll forward, BK has some speed out wide for clinical execution with deft passing or kicking. You cannot coach players to defend against Peachey, he does not know which way he will go, he gives us an X factor. Peachey's form influences this team has done for years. We have the potential for good second phase stuff. A second playermaker/kicker is required.
Bird was indentified early on, rubbed himself out, and this has caused the necessity of experimentation. Hilder now Gallen, so I am thinking Bird will come back in, I think Raper rates him. I vote Sully, Bird before that was not providing what I am after, he plays like a lock IMO.
Raper is not thinking Atiken - not sure why I do not see PL, but he is not.
Critical Path: 5/8 needs to be sorted, to take pressure off BK, the rest falls into place well.

Defence
Remains our biggest problem.
I like the idea of Hilder at hooker defence wise, his defence excels because he reads the play well, essential in the middle.
Our discipline has improved thus helping the defence, more ball less tackles.
Left centre has been a concern all season and remains so.
Critical Path: The left hand side defence combo and the Peach.

The Sully factor
Using Sully of the bench, which many remain fans of, including the coach obviously; facilitates the need for a 20 min hooker, Bosnich and Gibson were tried, but are then redundant, this situation does niether of them any favours. On this I have come to the conclusion Raper would rather a better defender out there in the first 20 mins. So at the moment it seems Hilder will play dummy half until Sully comes on then he will slide out to either 5/8 or lock with Gallen and Bailey rotating in the second row. This does have merit, however I remain convinced no 6 for Sully suits this team best.
Critical Path: Bird, if he gets a run and performs well Sully off the bench will remain.

The Bulls
If Stevens can continue his form and Beattie recapture his best (even if only in short stints), the robot Nutley and the Young Bull Williams can help provide the go forward needed against any side. That is 4 solid go forward boys.
Good competition in the back row, that is a good thing.
Critical Path: Beattie, must be there and playing well seasons end.

The Bigger Picture
9 wins from 15 needed. Then a 4 game winning streak against the best.
Critical Path: Kimmorley, Stevens and Peachey's health, they are he cornerstones of our aspirations this year.

The Ladder Game
Purely circumstantial, I would have thought Raper would have prefered a couple of more wins at this stage, however he had some habits to changes and probably expected it.

If you got this far, geez I can crap on hey?

 

[coolumsharkie]

If you got this far, geez I can crap on hey?

I reckon :roll:

Nah it was a good read actually

Critical path:How to give out compliments without wetting someones pockets :lol:

Now thats crap!!

 

[Macca]

Yeah I think you could be right in a sense Reefy. I don't think that Raper wanted to play this kind of footy when he arrived here but there are some deeper issues he has to train out of this side before he can have it his way.

1. This is not a side that he recruited. Therefore he can't fit square pegs into round holes. He might be able to modify them though.

2. This side already had a distinct style of attack and defence that they had been working on for the last 2 years. That's not going to be easy to just change immediately. I think he is finding a medium.

3. We were underdone in the pre season. Something that was completely out of Rapers control. That put us behind the 8 ball from the word go. We have found a very reasonable level of form in the last 5 weeks. Confidence will grow from this.

4. Discipline was obviously a major problem. Raper had to go back to a blank drawing board to get this right. That has been accomplished.

So, taking all those things into account, I think you can conclude that Raper is keeping it simple while he fixes the underlying problems of previous years. He has identified problem areas and ratified them. There are alot more that need to be identified but once they are I think that Reefy is right. We will see some very exciting footy.

 

[Houdini]

Raper is doing a great job.
It was obvious that the team needed to go back to the basics and work from the ground up. Raper has done this and we are now seeing the results on the field.

Someone mentioned above that he is focusing on the basics first and I agree. You need to be able to do the simple things effectivily to create a solid foundation for the team to build upon.

 

[Jimbo]

The Bigger Picture
9 wins from 15 needed. Then a 4 game winning streak against the best.

Manly, Round 11
Souths, Round 12
Raiders, Round 14
Knights, Round 17
Warriors, Round 18
Dragons, Round 20
Eels, Round 23
Storm, Round 25
Cowboys, Round 26

There's your nine wins, for 18 points. Add two byes, and the eight points we already have, gives a total of 30 points.

Other games:

Roosters (H), Round 10
Broncos (A), Round 13
Panthers (H), Round 15
Bulldogs (H), Round 19
Broncos (H), Round 21
Roosters (A), Round 22

I'm guessing We'll need at least 34 points for 4th/5th place. This is where the Souths and Cowboys games will hurt us, but if we can win 2 or 3 of those last six games, we should still end the year placed pretty well.

And yes, you can crap on!!

 

[blacktip-reefy]

The Dragons did us the biggest favour by getting flogged by Manly.

My concern was that the team will not lift for it. Especially after a Dragons, Storm, Roosters run.
I am a little more confident of that one now, but it will be an ugly match.

Warriors in the mix & lucky we only play them once.

We are more likely to beat the Broncos & dogs once each, than the Storm & Parra twice in the same year.

Cowboys usually finish strong, danger.
Also isn't the Dogs match at the Kennel?

 

[Jimbo]

Kennel was Round 2

 

[Macca]

Yeah, I went to the kennel. Another one that got away! :?

 

[2004]

Realistically speaking, the Sharks could/should be top of the ladder

A 6 point loss V Tigers, A 4point Loss V Bulldogs, and the Losses to Cowboys & Rabbits (teams we usually beat) then we could have been sitting pretty on 16 points)
Oh well, an element of surprise makes the comp very interesting

 

[NthCronullaLocal]

Alot of you probably saw it but NRL on fox predicted we needed 8 more wins to make the semi's based on what happened last year. If that was the case i dont think we are in too bad a position.

Realistically i think more points are going to be needed to make the semi's this year and we are really gonna have to get cracking if we are going to make it. The side has improved with every game this year and should continue to do so.

I always keep thinking about where we could be placed without our earlier performances but i think more harm than good will come from them.

Our discipline in regards to penalties would not be as good now, our mistake rate has improved, we have tightened our defence up around the ruck. It is better to fix it now than have the problems later in the season and be addressing it then. Lets hope Raper indentifies further problems as they arise and they can eventually put it all together at the right end of the season.