We Didn't Deserve That

[Boldo]

The refs didn't lose us the game, we lost us the game. We went in too soft and it showed. The Matt Scoot kick off return set us up for a long night.
3 of our most senior players were horrible in Robson, Ennis and Lewis. Gallen tried his guts out.
Fifita was easily our best player.

We didn't get the ball wide enough, didn't get our backs the ball, and didn't look like we knew what we were doing. It is easy to bash Robson, and he was the worst player on the field, but we have played an entire season with no halfback.
That falls on the shoulders of the recruitment team. To go into a season with 0 kicking game was always going to put us on the back foot, we were just lucky we found a game plan that won us some games.

You could see the aim of the game was to weather the opening 20 minutes and try to wrestle them out of the game, but that plan was countered by the the Cowboys big forwards putting in the performance of the year. I can't remember a more dominant forward display than that.

I also think the use of the bench again was negligent.
As was playing Val Holmes.

He wasn't healthy. He wasn't fit. And he was noticeably shaky.
The tough decision should have been made to leave him at home and start Barba.

We needed 4 forwards on the bench. Unfortunately, bringing Barba on to change the game at 25-0 was never going to happen. The game was lost before we could put our spark on.
Him starting wouldn't have changed the result, but it wouldn't have damaged Holmes even more, and it would have given us a glimpse of the start of 2016.

I also think that Bird, for all his brilliance, totally disappeared. I know the kid loves the spotlight, and backs his confidence and ability, but the spot light on Saturday night seemed to be too much for him.
He also is in the media saying he wants more ball, but he isn't doing much with it to demand the need for touches.

This off season now for me, is about patch repairing the glaring obvious needs.
- Forward depth
- Backline depth
-20's and NSW Cup players.

All of those 3 of the above need improvement. We can't have the likes of Brown and co coming into the team with an injury. Needs to be better.
The Roosters call on that Elliot kid, we call on Mitch Brown or Blake Ayshford.

The senior players also need a long rest. They looked stuffed. Need to be eased back into the off season.
It has been a long, and successful season for us, but now we need to build on this and look forward to the fact that we go into 2016 with a better 1-17.

A lot of good comments in this post.

Holmes and Barba was poorly managed. No imagination or flexibility with the bench. At 12-0 down we needed Barba then to try something with the ball when we got it.

 

[Surely]

Why is everyone of the opinion that barba is some super savior that you bring on he just plucks tries out of thin air ?

 

[Madsharkie]

Dont know that he's a 'saviour' surely, however he's definitely a better ball player than flash.

 

[webShark]

Why is everyone of the opinion that barba is some super savior that you bring on he just plucks tries out of thin air ?

Same fluffsters who think Maloney and Chad makes us stronger than Roosters,Broncs or Cowboys next year. Storm,Warriors,Manly or Penrith could be half decent too.

Maloney is a top player but Robbo would look decent with all the guns the Roosters have.

I thought Barba past it when at the Broncs and done little this year to change my mind. Gall and Luke can't go on forever. We have to hope Holmes and Bird play like Scheck and Fittler to be a huge chance. I can't remember , did Gall commit to playing prop or is he staying in the halves?

This year was a blown opportunity. Next year will be Groundhog Day. Same coach. 5th - 10th.

Even the gun juniors are Cronullafied. Could have lost Scott and Magoulis who were 2 Of the best. Vasquez was disappointing on his 20s start too but only young.

 

[cb4]

Why is everyone of the opinion that barba is some super savior that you bring on he just plucks tries out of thin air ?

No one is saying he is the saviour, however, he is on our bench to change the game. The game was lost when he came on.
Our coach has a bad habit, and that is blind loyalty to his favourites.

He re-signed Robson because Carney told him to despite the fact we needed a half that was more competent than him.
We had the chance to sign Trent Hodkinson for the 2014 season but elected to keep Robbo for 2 years.
Carney goes the bubble and we are left with a halfback who is way passed his used by date, now he is going to keep him because he is a good bloke, and the players like him.

He kept playing Gordon, despite the fact he offered no ball play at all. Gordon needed to be dropped or put on the wing.
But we know it wont happen.

Barba was signed to take Carneys spot, and he was given up on. So the big call needed to come, fullback or dropped. Instead, Flanno put Barba on the bench to the detriment of the team.
The times he came on and changed the game, he looked back to his best, but other times he was put on when we were down by a lot with no chance of winning, on the back foot and completely out of the game.

Same fluffsters who think Maloney and Chad makes us stronger than Roosters,Broncs or Cowboys next year. Storm,Warriors,Manly or Penrith could be half decent too.

Maloney put us as a serious top 4 threat, because he again has a competent Half, and a forward pack that can make meters when they are on.

Maloney is a top player but Robbo would look decent with all the guns the Roosters have.

You haven't followed his career all that well. He was brilliant in a bog average Warriors team and took them to a grand final a year later.

I thought Barba past it when at the Broncs and done little this year to change my mind. Gall and Luke can't go on forever. We have to hope Holmes and Bird play like Scheck and Fittler to be a huge chance. I can't remember , did Gall commit to playing prop or is he staying in the halves?

This year was a blown opportunity. Next year will be Groundhog Day. Same coach. 5th - 10th.

Even the gun juniors are Cronullafied. Could have lost Scott and Magoulis who were 2 Of the best. Vasquez was disappointing on his 20s start too but only young.

Barba still has a lot to offer if he is played at Fullback, and isn't played with an injury (like all players)

Hopefully we see it next year otherwise it will be groundhog day.

 

[Windy70]

One thing with Barba is that by utilizing him the way we did we have hindered his return to confident, impact footy. When we did throw him on the field it was always when we needed a miracle. Way too much pressure for a guy that only needs maybe 3 or 4 solid games of footy to find his feet.

We hobbled him by limiting his time. Must admit though, thought it was a great idea at first, but I also thought it was temporary.

 

[BatteredFlake]

It implies we deserved an even right to compete and an even chance to win the game

I too expected to compete with the cowboys and cop a couple of stiff calls being the away side, how wrong was I

I think on a whole we were not afforded the respect we deserved after the season we put together, we played very well against the top sides all year and we showed a grit and composure that I havent seen for a very long time, to stay in the game and get a result even when we were behind, nothing flashing just getting the job done

to be punted out like that was just utter trash, I dont like blaming the referee like the next bloke, but when its called for I will stick up for the team if they are copping the rough end of the stick

We copped the rough end of the stick and some of you need to appreciate what that can do to a team and the way they perform particularly in an elimination game in hostile territory, nervous energy flowing, shits not happening for you and it can quickly escalate to a forgettable performance, and that it did

we didnt get what we deserved at all, thats like putting a bloke in the ring with his arms tied behind his back and saying he deserved to be knocked out for not throwing any punches

very f**king disappointing finish to the year for me, not angry at the team, angry at the bullshit dished out by the nrl as a fair competition

there is a script, wake up and smell the f**king roses

too many intelligent people in here not to see it

All the time I've lurked around this forum a common theme has been that fans should not accept mediocrity from the team ,management and coach. Fair enough ... not sure it effects much, but ok .

I reckon Fans have a much better chance of effecting bad calls on the team . You don't need to be a genius or a 300 game former first grader to see that the first penalty , two points ,and possesion for another six tackles ,came from a two man tackle strip . Cowboys spent two years whining about 7 tackle call (one measly tackle) Which was even arguable!Fat chance refs were going to risk a repeat at their home ground. What great coach is going to come to a club and fans that wont back the team for bad ref calls?