vs Panthers

[Manu Vatuvei]

Yeah, looks like Packer's passed his handbrake onto him. Current stats still have him averaging 11 metres per run, though, which is a bit surprising.

20m a run bringing back drop-outs

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Official numbers

Matulino - 225m in 55 minutes
Packer - 146m in 51 minutes
Mateo - 182m in 66 minutes (good to see the offloads back in his game too.)

Only real downside of the game was the potential loss of another hooker. Can't see Brown doing the full 80 and if Bluey doesn't see Godinet as a hooking option then what are our options? He might be forced to stick Godinet in there.

 

[Izz]

20m a run bringing back drop-outs

Ah, true. 5m a hit-up otherwise.

Official numbers

Matulino - 225m in 55 minutes
Packer - 146m in 51 minutes
Mateo - 182m in 66 minutes (good to see the offloads back in his game too.)

So Big Ben only played about 5 minutes more than usual? Could've sworn he was on the park for longer. Well, guess it's still 5-10 minutes more than he was playing a few rounds ago.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I've got no issue with Lillyman. His leg speed isn't as good as the younger guys but I have absolutely no doubt he hits the line with energy both in attack and defence, and takes a lot out of the tank of the guys he's running into. We're never going to have four metre-eaters in our propping rotation.

Ben Ben Ben...what a beast.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Anyone concerned about Maloney's form, or is Johnson just becoming so dominant that he's playing a bit part. In any case, his D is leaving a lot to be desired.

 

[Rich102]

Anyone concerned about Maloney's form, or is Johnson just becoming so dominant that he's playing a bit part. In any case, his D is leaving a lot to be desired.

Yeah, really concerned about Maloney. 1 Try, 5/5 kicks. Disgraceful.

 

[Izz]

Anyone concerned about Maloney's form, or is Johnson just becoming so dominant that he's playing a bit part. In any case, his D is leaving a lot to be desired.

Not too worried. I think it suits him better not having to be the main man. Yeah, there've been some not so nice touches the last few weeks (his intercept pass last night, for one), but there have been some really nice touches as well. I also like that he's trying to add more strings to his bow--cutout passes, etc (except that once he masters those strings he won't be here anymore).

His defense makes me lol. Often he'll pull off a great covering tackle, hitting with more strength than you'd expect from someone his size, then next set he shirt grabs or plants his feet in entirely the wrong place and gets brushed off.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yeah, really concerned about Maloney. 1 Try, 5/5 kicks. Disgraceful.

I didn't say his goalkicking form, nor his ability to receive an offload short of the line, almost plant it then finally get it down a second time. Surely we can all have the ability to look a bit deeper than that. At any rate, it was an enquiry - not a 'gee Maloney is playing like a busted arse' comment.

And thoughts on Manu's disallowed try? I wasn't sure, and I was sure they weren't going to give it. Good case for a BOD, I would have thought.

 

[Rich102]

The commentators were in no doubt it was a try. (Even Alexander.)
I couldn't see why it was disallowed.

 

[ozbash]

I thought Jimmy went good.

 

[Rich102]

Are the ref's blind to the high hits on Maloney? Gee, he cops a few.

 

[Izz]

It's because the refs are blind in general that we have players staying down to get the penalty. Those that don't stay down, like Maloney, but try to get on with the game end up being the ones who lose out.

 

[Meth]

So Big Ben only played about 5 minutes more than usual? Could've sworn he was on the park for longer. Well, guess it's still 5-10 minutes more than he was playing a few rounds ago.

I know!! I was surprised to see those minutes.

 

[Evil_Mush]

Can I just say how much I love that Konrad has retained that "kiss of death" as his signature try-scoring celebration, such a sweet pickup as well at high speed in the wet, been very impressed with him since he's come back into the starting first grade side.

 

[Meth]

Yeah, really concerned about Maloney. 1 Try, 5/5 kicks. Disgraceful.

Maloney is an excellent hole runner (which is how he scored his try) and a great goal kicker. But yeah...I'm not sure what all the hype is about beyond that. He's very much in the back seat this year.

 

[vvvrulz]

It's because the refs are blind in general that we have players staying down to get the penalty. Those that don't stay down, like Maloney, but try to get on with the game end up being the ones who lose out.

This.

All of our boys cop a heavy blow and get back up and play the ball, especially against the Storm grubs (not including Fish last week, he's soft). Guys like TRex and Hayne topple over in 'agony' and get away cold with milking cheap penalties, its disgraceful and its not properly policed.

 

[Warmess]

Can I just say how much I love that Konrad has retained that "kiss of death" as his signature try-scoring celebration, such a sweet pickup as well at high speed in the wet, been very impressed with him since he's come back into the starting first grade side.

Yeah hes been great. Was surprised we didn't go down his side more often, he looked great when he had the ball. Obviously we had a plan to keep attacking down our left, maybe a bit too much though.

 

[ozenzud]

Talking about the game plan, I was driving in this morning, listening to Radiosport. I was listening to the radio jocks and callers criticising the warriors play in the second half because once they were ahead, they tucked it in tight and ran one off the ruck with the forwards in tight, quick play the balls and then kicked the crap out of it, chased it down and then they tried to pin Penriff down.

I would have thought, that commentators, fans and sports radio callers would have said, "boy that was smart, text book wet weather football."

No, people were saying, "warriors can't play like that and win against the good teams, blah blah blah."

I ask you, how freakin stupid are these people? Did they expect the warriors to throw it around, razzle dazzle in the wet. Were they watching it hosing down?

What impressed me was the composure and changing their game plan, depending on the state of the game. To adapt to the conditions and play to their strengths. Penriff tried to turn it on and it backfired. But they had to because they were behind.

Penriff did get on a role, as a result of the intercept, then that penalty because they were moving up quick.....hard to tell on TV as they don't pan out far enough. Penriff got on a role as a result of a lot of possession. Surprise surprise, that never happens.

But they kept the pressure up and stuck to a plan based on field position and kicking. A lot of kicks from inside the 40 I noted.

I'm not a Bluey fan just yet. But if that was waht he told them to do, well done. Thats one tick in the Bluey positive box.

 

[Meth]

Talking about the game plan, I was driving in this morning, listening to Radiosport. I was listening to the radio jocks and callers...

That's where you went wrong.

You're absolutely right, of course. The Warriors played fantastic, wet-weather football in that second half. I was especially pleased with how they responded to that terrible call that denied Manu his hattrick.

 

[Meth]

Last night was a terrible performance from the refs. We couldn't buy a penalty at the ruck and we were copping even more rubbish than usual. The Panthers got away with murder and benefited from a ridiculously lopsided penalty count. I thought we were very disciplined.