SJ and Luke out was obviously a blow, but I think this has more to do with it:
At the beginning of the season we were winning on fitness and effort. Everyone was putting in that extra 10% that helped cover up our lack of technique, especially on defence.
Now we are hitting the middle part of the season. Honeymoon is over and we're in the grind. Every team's fitness is evening out and out motivation to put in that extra 10% is fading behind fatigue and injuries.
Suddenly all those technical flaws are no longer masked by effort. They're here for everyone to see and exploit.
I thought this team had truly turned a corner. After that Dragons win I was sure of it. But now I don't know. If losing a few playmakers makes the whole team turn up with tits for hands and soft as butter defence, are we that much different than last year?
As a side note: I get that it was the fist time hosting an indigenous round and they wanted to make the most of it, but did anyone else feel that opening went on too long? Even the players were looking a bit bored. Could of cut in in half and still would have been a great tribute.
And man that stadium announcer needs to learn when enough is enough. By the end of the game his "defence" chant was becoming a cruel joke.