vs Dragons

[ozbash]

well, going on the coaches previous form (Penrith), its not what you'd call surprising..

Jro didn't make a lot of mistakes yesterday, but then again, he didn't do much.
Konrad was very good for the reserves, made a couple of blues but overall he was very keen.

Townsend is our new playmaker
SJ has had his entire repertoire changed, he just passes the ball..
the halves structure is a total balls up.

Tomkins has become our new target, opposition put the high bomb up and you can see their centres looking at Tomkins, not the ball. He needs support from our wings/centres

Elliot has to go.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Elliot has to go.

Now that would be a stupid move taking all things into consideration.

 

[spear tackle]

OK. Question.
Dropping an overweight Hurrell to NSW cup and replacing him with a slow mistake-ridden Ropati is teaching who a lesson?

It taught us the fans that if we thought this rabble had finally turned a corner we were much mistaken.
In 20 years I dont think I've been this disapointed this early on in the season, they havent learnt a thing.
As for Tompkins he's going ok but too many of the others seem to be standing around waiting for him to wave a magic wand and do all the work. I'm sure it doen't work like that.

 

[vvvrulz]

Another point is the stunned silence & moping around when things aren't going right. Someone (not necessarily Mannering) needs to be right in their ear sorting them out and firing them up. Should be the seniors like Tomkins, Friend, Ro, Mateo etc.

Mateo in particular is very disappointing, just seems content with fluffing around for 40 mins then heading to the sheds.

 

[JJ]

Now that would be a stupid move taking all things into consideration.

You're probably right...

But it wouldn't be as stupid as appointing him in the first place

 

[hitro]

Did they sell no tickets, or did heaps of people with tickets flag it because of the weather forecast?
Hopefully they lost money by playing there, and whatever smartarse keeps hiring Eden Park gets the sack!
Love Simon as a player but his captaincy is awful, espech his signature confused head shake.
Johnson or Tompkins to Capt
Rapira to ESL
Ropo to coach church team
Friend to coach school team in Aus
Matt Elliot to Owen Glenns branch manger Dubai

 

[JJ]

There do seem to be leadership issues, but not necessarily Mannering - he is what he's always been - and remains a fine player, although he gave away some dumb penalties yesterday

Johnson to captain is a stupid move, and I am not sure why you'd get rid of Friend...

Starts with the coach, who has a long history of losing, muddled thinking (judging by what he says) and poor game plans... then senior players who as vvrulz says stand around silent when things go poorly - the likes of those vvrulz listed plus Rapira, Lillyman and Matulino need to get this shit sorted, or it will be a long season - the props, hooker and Mannering are probably the only ones doing a decent job at the moment, perhaps they need to have a word with their halves and other teammates and explain that when they're making yards, bending defensive lines and generally putting their bodies on the line, they deserve more support than the shit 1, 6, 7 and the rest are serving up

 

[Izz]

Tomkins has become our new target, opposition put the high bomb up and you can see their centres looking at Tomkins, not the ball. He needs support from our wings/centres

this is a real worrying thing for me. It almost looks intentional from us to let Tomkins get smashed. Why? Is it because he's demanding they play hard and the rest of the team doesn't like being told that?

I noticed against the Eels that at one scrum Tomkins went and said something to Johnson--looked like he was suggesting a play, or giving advice--and when Tomkins turned his back Johnson looked at someone else and smirked and rolled his eyes.

Looks to me like our boys still have a prima donna attitude.

And as much as i'm a fan of Mannering, if he doesn't step up and start telling this team to pull finger (rather than standing under the posts with hands on hips, looking bemused) then he needs to be replaced as captain. Or if he doesn't want/can't get fiery, then he needs to delegate someone else to get them rakked up.

I hope TL is back next week. Townsend is just as bad as i feared.

 

[JJ]

this is a real worrying thing for me. It almost looks intentional from us to let Tomkins get smashed. Why? Is it because he's demanding they play hard and the rest of the team doesn't like being told that?

I noticed against the Eels that at one scrum Tomkins went and said something to Johnson--looked like he was suggesting a play, or giving advice--and when Tomkins turned his back Johnson looked at someone else and smirked and rolled his eyes.

Looks to me like our boys still have a prima donna attitude.

And as much as i'm a fan of Mannering, if he doesn't step up and start telling this team to pull finger (rather than standing under the posts with hands on hips, looking bemused) then he needs to be replaced as captain. Or if he doesn't want/can't get fiery, then he needs to delegate someone else to get them rakked up.

I hope TL is back next week. Townsend is just as bad as i feared.

If that is true, then it's not Townsend that should go, it's Johnson - he's done little to warrant the hype and BS, and needs to pull his head in if he's behaving like that.

While Tomkins has been poor in the two games, he's had a crack and put an effort in... and he has a history of success at a high level... Johnson has a history of inconsistency

 

[ozbash]

There do seem to be leadership issues

always has been since Mateo arrived.

 

[Rich102]

Did they sell no tickets, or did heaps of people with tickets flag it because of the weather forecast?
Hopefully they lost money by playing there, and whatever smartarse keeps hiring Eden Park gets the sack!
Love Simon as a player but his captaincy is awful, espech his signature confused head shake.
Johnson or Tompkins to Capt
Rapira to ESL
Ropo to coach church team
Friend to coach school team in Aus
Matt Elliot to Owen Glenns branch manger Dubai

I believe they pre-sold 15,000 tickets and that was approximately the number there.

 

[Rich102]

always has been since Mateo arrived.

Funny you should say that. It does date from that time.

 

[JJ]

Funny you should say that. It does date from that time.

When did Price stop playing relative to that?

I have no idea on what the problem is - but am pretty sure the answer was never Matt Elliott

 

[Izz]

If that is true, then it's not Townsend that should go, it's Johnson - he's done little to warrant the hype and BS, and needs to pull his head in if he's behaving like that.

Look, i could've seen it wrong (i haven't got the stomach to go back through the replay looking), and the camera didn't stay on Johnson long enough for me to get any other context, but it's stuck with me.

 

[vvvrulz]

While Tomkins has been poor in the two games, he's had a crack and put an effort in... and he has a history of success at a high level... Johnson has a history of inconsistency

There's no doubt about this, Tomkins is at least giving it 100% and doesn't randomly go missing.

 

[Izz]

If that is true, then it's not Townsend that should go, it's Johnson - he's done little to warrant the hype and BS, and needs to pull his head in if he's behaving like that.

while i don't disagree, TL & Townsend would be a terrible combination, imo. TL has the respect of the team, too, while Townsend to me just seems yappy without being able to do anything to back the yap up.

 

[JJ]

TBH while Townsend wasn't great yesterday, I didn't think he was awful... no worse than Johnson IMO, in fact at least more involved...

 

[Fast Eddie]

Funny you should say that. It does date from that time.

So it dates from the year they went to the GF

 

[One Warrior]

When did Price stop playing relative to that?

I have no idea on what the problem is - but am pretty sure the answer was never Matt Elliott

2010 was Price's last season I believe and he was injured for much of that, Mateo started in 2011.

 

[JJ]

Mateo should probably start, or not play at all I think - on what he's done do far, the latter might be favourite

A back row of Mannering, Bukuya and Mateo seems to be reasonable to me.

Townsend is taking a lot of heat, but the heat should be on Johnson tbh - while he did a few good things, he did many more poor things, seems shy of contact, makes poor decisions and drifts in and out of the game too much for a half... he'll have a blinder at some stage, to remind us of his talent...