Hadn't been to a game for a few years now until yesterday, truly went with high hopes (3hr round trip from my place to FMG Stadium). But that didn't last long. Few thoughts:
* Bodene HAS to go. I'm not Nostradamus but I called the Lafai try before it happened. Thompson missed a tackle on the previous play, then headlessly sprinted out of the line to try and rectify it, or whatever the f**k he was trying to do. Left his team mates high and dry as he's done so many times recently. His upside is just so dwarfed by his downside. Gone gone gone.
* We miss Simon's clean up around that ruck so badly, as we do his attitude. Captain Obvious I know, apart from Iron Lion who can't see it. Bunty I really like, but he gets tired on D and wanders. He can go to the right edge when Simon is back.
* Issac Luke could be on $1 a game and he'd be overpaid. I'm not a league guy but is it normal for a hooker to not get back onside until the third tackle on a set in the first 10-15 mins of a game, when possession had been well in our favour? He's overweight, unfit, doesn't talk, only really shows up when we're on a roll (and then we could have any old bludger at 9 anyhow). No desire to be a leader. Talks a big game midweek then can't back it up.
* Maumalo got votes because he tried last night. Fair too in a game where some people didn't. But honestly, he's rubbish. He's even being driven back in tackles now, the only facet he's supposedly got to his game. And nothing rips me up more than him being bombed to in the first 5 minutes by SJ. They all know he can't catch, so why do it?
* What was Matulino doing strolling through and almost butchering his try? I watched him all night and his body language is rubbish. Still better than anything else we have but I can't see us getting anything much out of him before he goes. Thank god Gavet puts in.
* The sight of McFadden live under the posts barking instructions grates me even more than on TV.
But hey, other than that I genuinely enjoyed being at an NRL game again. Maybe I'll try again in a few years...
