The Match Day Thread: the 'f**k your eyes Papali' cup

[Chipmunk]

I thought last night was the best we've played all year. At least, I got the most out of it. I think Sandow's big problem is he can't stick to a game plan. And Kelly - though he isn't a world-beater (he's only played 20 or so first grade games) - showed last night, quite clearly, that he can stick to a plan. Continually kicking to the left wing meant that Reece Robinson got very little ball, and the Canberra fullback's chances were very limited as well.
As good as Campese is, I thought we contained him quite well, too. I think our second try was definitely a try and we were very unlucky in the first. I'd say if Hayne had been playing, we would have had an excellent chance of winning last night. We probably missed Allgood a great deal as well.
Geez, if you add Hoppoate, Norman, Hayne, Hock, Mossop, Allgood, Loko and maybe Peats to that side ............... we'll go well next year.

Morgan definately went out on the second try, I thought the first one was probably a try

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Morgan definately went out on the second try, I thought the first one was probably a try

Yes that's right. I could understand the video ref's call on the Williame try if the on field ref had disallowed it....but cannot understand how he found evidence to overturn the on field call.

I initially thought Morgan's was line ball, but there's one camera angle which shows the video ref was dead right.

 

[Forty20]

Yes that's right. I could understand the video ref's call on the Williame try if the on field ref had disallowed it....but cannot understand how he found evidence to overturn the on field call.

I initially thought Morgan's was line ball, but there's one camera angle which shows the video ref was dead right.

I think this is pretty much the fairest summation of the two situations.

The incorrect no-try overruling in the first instance proved to be a critical moment in the context of the game as Canberra proceeded to march down the field on the back of consecutive penalties before scoring down Wiliame's wing.

Given how we generally struggle for points, a 12-point turnaround is pretty massive when ultimately the Raiders could only put 14 on us.

A better team would have put the poor decision behind them and got on with the game but unfortunately our confidence levels are so low and fragile that we can't afford to have 4-6 points stolen from us.

We are certainly are currently an awful team but decisions like the one made last night do not help our plight in the least.

 

[Gronk]

I think this is pretty much the fairest summation of the two situations.

The incorrect no-try overruling in the first instance proved to be a critical moment in the context of the game as Canberra proceeded to march down the field on the back of consecutive penalties before scoring down Wiliame's wing.

Given how we generally struggle for points, a 12-point turnaround is pretty massive when ultimately the Raiders could only put 14 on us.

A better team would have put the poor decision behind them and got on with the game but unfortunately our confidence levels are so low and fragile that we can't afford to have 4-6 points stolen from us.

We are certainly are currently an awful team but decisions like the one made last night do not help our plight in the least.

Agree that passage of play changed the game. The dodgy no try and the penalty for "taking out" Campesse was rubbish. One more penalty after that and they were over in the corner.

Bad luck seems to follow us around this year.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

What did fellow posters think of Junior Paulo performance ? I know it is still early days for him, but thought he went pretty good. Made a few good runs, seemed to really hit the line and use his size. Could develop into a decent player

 

[Poupou Escobar]

What did fellow posters think of Junior Paulo performance ? I know it is still early days for him, but thought he went pretty good. Made a few good runs, seemed to really hit the line and use his size. Could develop into a decent player

I thought it was his first decent game for us. His previous appearances have all been woeful, so it was good to see some improvement.

 

[I bleed blue & gold]

What did fellow posters think of Junior Paulo performance ? I know it is still early days for him, but thought he went pretty good. Made a few good runs, seemed to really hit the line and use his size. Could develop into a decent player

I thought he went well. He made some strong runs and ran with venom. Hopefully he, Terepo and Tanginoa can continue to improve. Exciting prospects.

 

[Gronk]

Daniel Harrison is working hard and is winning me over with his attitude. If there is room for a Hindy type in the squad making 45 tackles a game, then that's him. Being one of the "12 tapped on the shoulder" - props to him for standing up to be a contender for a contract with us or another club in 2014.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Daniel Harrison is working hard and is winning me over with his attitude. If there is room for a Hindy type in the squad making 45 tackles a game, then that's him. Being one of the "12 tapped on the shoulder" - props to him for standing up to be a contender for a contract with us or another club in 2014.

Yeah I agree, goes pretty good and has a nice offload which not many of our forwards have. Is also a lot bigger then I expected. I hope he stays, he could get a top 17 spot next year.

 

[Forty20]

Harrison strikes me as the sort of player that won't excel in the NSW Cup (he was solid but not spectacular for Wenty this year) but will lift if given a crack at first grade.

He has responded well to the kick up the arse that Stuart gave him.

As for our homegrown piggies...all I want to see from them is to up their workrate as they get more game time. Terepo has proven to be capable of inspirational carries, reminiscent of a young Fui. He practically hurled himself at the Canberra defensive line at one point on Saturday and those efforts don't go unnoticed by his teammates. If he can consistently produce such carries it will go a long way towards establishing some dominance around the ruck.

As for Junior Paulo, Stuart is probably sheltering him in the NRL to some extent but he was playing big minutes for Wenty not too long ago and doing damn well to boot. Hopefully he gets a good run at some point to see how he meshes with the team in an prolonged stint. He is coming along pretty well but it wouldn't hurt to have one of the senior forwards (Mannah maybe?) get in his ear ala Paul Gallen to Andrew Fifita earlier this year and reinforce just how destructive he can be with the frame he possesses.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Daniel Harrison is working hard and is winning me over with his attitude. If there is room for a Hindy type in the squad making 45 tackles a game, then that's him. Being one of the "12 tapped on the shoulder" - props to him for standing up to be a contender for a contract with us or another club in 2014.

I believe he already has a contract for 2014 - he was signed for two years.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

As for Junior Paulo, Stuart is probably sheltering him in the NRL to some extent but he was playing big minutes for Wenty not too long ago and doing damn well to boot. Hopefully he gets a good run at some point to see how he meshes with the team in an prolonged stint. He is coming along pretty well but it wouldn't hurt to have one of the senior forwards (Mannah maybe?) get in his ear ala Paul Gallen to Andrew Fifita earlier this year and reinforce just how destructive he can be with the frame he possesses.

He is a massive bloke, and pretty light on his feet.

 

[Forty20]

He is a massive bloke, and pretty light on his feet.

Not unlike Andrew Fifita in that sense.

There is definitely a spot open in our roster for a big impact prop and Paulo can be the solution if he and the club continue to develop his game but (and this is cliche, I know) it will take time.

Fifita showed flashes of brilliance for the Tigers but has only really blossomed into a genuine strike prop with his move to Cronulla. He has now strung together an excellent 2012-2013 and while at age 24, he is probably ahead of a standard first-grade props development...that also puts him 4 years ahead of Paulo...which is to say, a bloody long time in a footy sense.

Fifita is probably an outlier as far as talent development goes in the front row but Paulo has similar attributes and could be the cheap, in-house alternative for Parra within a similar time frame.

Pretty much the entire point of the #'Academy' really.

 

[mal12]

I believe he already has a contract for 2014 - he was signed for two years.

has contract for 2014 but is unwanted by stuart what a shame he didn't give him a chance before making the decision on him

 

[Noise]

has contract for 2014 but is unwanted by stuart what a shame he didn't give him a chance before making the decision on him

What do you mean? If he comes good we tell him he's staying . If he turns to shit we tell him u'l be playing at wenty in 2014 so ur welcome to look for another club.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

What do you mean? If he comes good we tell him he's staying . If he turns to shit we tell him u'l be playing at wenty in 2014 so ur welcome to look for another club.

This.

 

[Bigfella]

I can live with the no try ruling

Anderson expressly stated at the beginning of the year that one of the interpretations he would impose was that tries to be forced through proper groundings. It has been consistent through the season. He never really had control in my opinion.

He had his hands on it at all times but that's not the same as having control. He dropped it I reckon.

And you can't really complain when they have decided them all that way this year and gave notice that they would.

 

[Suitman]

I can live with the no try ruling

Anderson expressly stated at the beginning of the year that one of the interpretations he would impose was that tries to be forced through proper groundings. It has been consistent through the season. He never really had control in my opinion.

He had his hands on it at all times but that's not the same as having control. He dropped it I reckon.

And you can't really complain when they have decided them all that way this year and gave notice that they would.

Just the same as that QLD'er had control when he grounded it before we scored last week? He had control? You're having a laugh.

Suity

 

[Forty20]

3:29pm: Talkin' Teams: The video referees responsible for the howler at Centrebet Stadium on Sunday have survived the axe. After the decision to wrongly award Dean Whare a try when his hand had clearly touched the sideline before grounding the ball, Justin Morgan has been thrown into the hot seat as video referee for Friday's Bulldogs-Eels match. Luke Phillips will be one of the two on-field referees at that game.

Clicky

Oh dear...

 

[The EELiminator]

Clicky

Oh dear...

anyone is better than that germ robinson

i bet every single video ref decision will go through 5000 views just to make sure before a button is pressed :lol: