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THOMMO'S CORNER: OUR 2003 LESSON
3 September 2003
Now that we're out of the race for the National Rugby League finals, we've got to learn from the experience to make sure we get back in the play-offs next year.
In the past few years we've found ourselves in the situation where we have to win our last couple of games to make the finals.
I'm not sure why that is. During the year we'll have to apply ourselves a lot better. We have a habit of beating teams when we're expected to lose but we've got to also get up in the games we're expected to win.
We're all learning - the players, coach Nathan Brown, assistant coach David Barnhill - and we'll be a better team in 2004.
But before we can worry about next year, we have to make sure we put in a good performance on Friday in Brisbane.
The Broncos have gone into a pre-game camp so we've got to go into battle with a good frame of mind. I'm not going to say we'll win or lose but if the boys put in a big effort, you can't ask for more than that.
Our loss to Newcastle at Kogarah last weekend was probably to be expected if you compare their team with the amount of top players we had out injured. On paper, Newcastle looked to have our measure - we had a lot of good performers but the Knights had loads of classy State of Origin and Australian players, and that made it hard for us.
The boys tried hard, apart from the last 20 minutes when we let in a few tries - that was the most disappointing part of the day.
Timana Tahu scoring three tries on Ben Creagh showed their advantage in experience - I think Tahu would have done that to just about any other winger. Benny will learn from the experience and take a leaf out of Tahu's book in the future.
Brisbane's strengths: their front row pair Shane Webcke and Petro Civoniceva is up there with Jason Ryles and Luke Bailey as the best in the business. They test you physically and mentally by bashing you until you break.
Their weaknesses: their confidence will be down after losing six straight. We cannot let them get ahead because they're confidence will return very quickly.
The X-factor Bronco: with Andrew Johns out injured, Brisbane full-back Darren Lockyer is the best player in the game at the moment. The Broncos rely on him so much.
St George Illawarra's strategy: our game plan should be to go out there and work as a team together. We've got to move their big guys around the park and get our nippy players darting out quickly to get them back-pedalling.
What we need to improve: the 10 and 20-minute lapses are still hurting us, as they have done all year. We fell asleep last week and Newcastle burnt us. If we do that against Brisbane, it could get messy.
Dragons to watch: I've been watching our 18-year-old prop Ashton Sims get better and better each week. He is such a big, raw-boned young man and once he gets more experience under his belt, he is going to be massive in more ways than one.
THOMMO'S CORNER: OUR 2003 LESSON
3 September 2003
Now that we're out of the race for the National Rugby League finals, we've got to learn from the experience to make sure we get back in the play-offs next year.
In the past few years we've found ourselves in the situation where we have to win our last couple of games to make the finals.
I'm not sure why that is. During the year we'll have to apply ourselves a lot better. We have a habit of beating teams when we're expected to lose but we've got to also get up in the games we're expected to win.
We're all learning - the players, coach Nathan Brown, assistant coach David Barnhill - and we'll be a better team in 2004.
But before we can worry about next year, we have to make sure we put in a good performance on Friday in Brisbane.
The Broncos have gone into a pre-game camp so we've got to go into battle with a good frame of mind. I'm not going to say we'll win or lose but if the boys put in a big effort, you can't ask for more than that.
Our loss to Newcastle at Kogarah last weekend was probably to be expected if you compare their team with the amount of top players we had out injured. On paper, Newcastle looked to have our measure - we had a lot of good performers but the Knights had loads of classy State of Origin and Australian players, and that made it hard for us.
The boys tried hard, apart from the last 20 minutes when we let in a few tries - that was the most disappointing part of the day.
Timana Tahu scoring three tries on Ben Creagh showed their advantage in experience - I think Tahu would have done that to just about any other winger. Benny will learn from the experience and take a leaf out of Tahu's book in the future.
Brisbane's strengths: their front row pair Shane Webcke and Petro Civoniceva is up there with Jason Ryles and Luke Bailey as the best in the business. They test you physically and mentally by bashing you until you break.
Their weaknesses: their confidence will be down after losing six straight. We cannot let them get ahead because they're confidence will return very quickly.
The X-factor Bronco: with Andrew Johns out injured, Brisbane full-back Darren Lockyer is the best player in the game at the moment. The Broncos rely on him so much.
St George Illawarra's strategy: our game plan should be to go out there and work as a team together. We've got to move their big guys around the park and get our nippy players darting out quickly to get them back-pedalling.
What we need to improve: the 10 and 20-minute lapses are still hurting us, as they have done all year. We fell asleep last week and Newcastle burnt us. If we do that against Brisbane, it could get messy.
Dragons to watch: I've been watching our 18-year-old prop Ashton Sims get better and better each week. He is such a big, raw-boned young man and once he gets more experience under his belt, he is going to be massive in more ways than one.
