We kept the right half

[Big Tim]

complete bait thread, but feel free to discuss.

 

[Karmawave]

Well Macquarie will think so when he plays for them in the next few weeks.

I don't think they drew Walsh out of the local league draft.

 

[cram]

I am not a scholar of the game like some on here but my observations today is the following.

When the Knights dominated in the first half Dureau looked good, when the pressure was on in the second half Duraeau made some dumb plays.....but in saying that so did Mullen.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

I'm not suprised Dureah had a shocker today. I mean how many games has he played over the last couple of months? It would be very hard to play a leading role when he's played so little first grade

 

[Apey]

The kicking was pretty bad today by both Mullen and Dureau.

 

[General Knight]

Until next week when Dureau has a sub par game and Walsh plays a good game the 'We kept the wrong half' thread will no doubt be bumped up. Its like a never ending see saw lol. I admit, like many others on the forum even I have fallen for the trap.

For now I think its best to leave it til the end of the season. The Knights making the Top 8 is all I care about now regardless of which halves will get us there. We have a gun team already as it is. We are winning games and we dont even have our top side on the park.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Seriously the Bulldogs are kidding themselves if they think they can win the comp getting thumped by our b side. No Kids, Rogers, MAd Dog, Coops, Macca, Crossy, Tolar, Simmo and Pato. If we get those boys all on deck for september we are going to go every close to winning this thing.

 

[Peppers]

I thought he went well today. Personally I reckon our side has got more direction and a bit more structure when he plays. I'm still not convinced Mullen is a steering type halfback that can position a team where the coach wants. Dureau seems to have that halfback instinct. Don't get me wrong Mullen is our best player but gees I reckon he is better when he plays with Dureau.

 

[Hanscholo]

I liked the grubber into the in goal with 4 mins left today from scotty. It went out, but it shows he is learning. A few weeks ago he would have gone for an attacking kick there. No miracle plays today, solid in every area and did what we needed him to do. I had a little chuckle when he got into open space...

Walshy wont make it in first grade unless he improves that defence, we have all said it for a long time and again on friday it was all too evident im affraid. Its just not 1st grade standard.

 

[Hanscholo]

The kicking was pretty bad today by both Mullen and Dureau.

yea it was, but did you notice that the dogs had the wind behind them in both halves. As it does in Newcastle frequently, the wind shifted and they had it in both halves. So the kicking suffered a little for it i think, but still neither really kicked well.

 

[Yosh]

Dureau lets Mullen play his more natural game more on the fringes which was really nice to see, like when Rogers and Mullen play they both different sides of the ruck which I dont like. I like the traditional halfback out to 5/8th plays. Anyways Dureau is fantastic atm!!!

 

[Serc]

(yes of course I wasn't there today) But I'm quite sure that the winds were a constant easterly at EAS this arvo...which means if you stood in the centre of the field, the winds would've been coming from the northern end of the AJ stand.

Speaking of which I reckon you could see the effect of those easterlies on those two kicks from El Masri in the 2nd half from the same spot...they were both straight into the breeze, and it magnified both kicks such that the small amount the ball was offline off the boot, got worse the closer it got to the posts!

 

[Jobdog]

Maybe it's just me, but I much prefer our lateral ball movement when Mullen and Dureau are in tandem. Sure, it happens a little when Rogers is there too, but it's far more noticeable with Scott. Reminds me of the good old days with Matty and Andrew shifting the ball from sideline to sideline :crazy:

 

[Rolla]

I liked the grubber into the in goal with 4 mins left today from scotty. It went out, but it shows he is learning. A few weeks ago he would have gone for an attacking kick there. No miracle plays today, solid in every area and did what we needed him to do. I had a little chuckle when he got into open space...

Walshy wont make it in first grade unless he improves that defence, we have all said it for a long time and again on friday it was all too evident im affraid. Its just not 1st grade standard.

Yeah i thought it was funny myself, got creamed.

Re walsh's defence though, are you implying scotty is any better?

 

[Pika]

Scott is a better defender than Walsh.

But that is no wrap on Scotts defence.

Our kicking game was terrible yesterday.

Mullens cross field kick to Aku that went out on the full was the poorest decision of the game.

Having conceded 10 points in ten minutes and had only two sets. Forwards out on their feet, we finally get an ok yardage set out to the 40m line and get a chance to apply some pressure on the Dogs in thier own 20m.

Mullen kicks across field to Aku out on the full on the fourth tackle. Dogs get the ball on our 40m.... and score in the following set to get within 6 points.

 

[boltsy]

with respect to thay kick that Pika talks about (and I agree) it was interesting to hear coach Smith saying what a great play it was, and that in the future Mullen will hit the target with that kick most times. I wonder if he says something different to Mullen.

 

[roopy]

Macquarie having their game washed out last week means that was Scotty's first game time in 3 weeks, and he was looking down on match fitness and form before that.
I thought there were many signs that Mullo and Scotty have a great combination yesterday, and we are lucky to have a combination that got over the leading team in the comp as our second choice combination apparently - and even our third choice combination of Dureau/Rogers wouldn't be that bad.
My only worry is that Scotty needs a lot more game time to stay fit and find some form.
Scotty would be starting halfback in half the sides in the NRL and we are bloody lucky to have him as backup.

 

[Adsy]

Mullens cross field kick to Aku that went out on the full was the poorest decision of the game.

Having conceded 10 points in ten minutes and had only two sets. Forwards out on their feet, we finally get an ok yardage set out to the 40m line and get a chance to apply some pressure on the Dogs in thier own 20m.

Mullen kicks across field to Aku out on the full on the fourth tackle. Dogs get the ball on our 40m.... and score in the following set to get within 6 points.

Let us know what he gets on the chocolate wheel, Pika!

 

[Pika]

Haha, will do.

From what I heard this morning, bth our halves will be getting a spin.

 

[Jobdog]

Mullens cross field kick to Aku that went out on the full was the poorest decision of the game.

Having conceded 10 points in ten minutes and had only two sets. Forwards out on their feet, we finally get an ok yardage set out to the 40m line and get a chance to apply some pressure on the Dogs in thier own 20m.

Mullen kicks across field to Aku out on the full on the fourth tackle. Dogs get the ball on our 40m.... and score in the following set to get within 6 points.

In the context of the game it was the wrong decision, but having heard Smithy on ABC after the game, he wasn't too upset about it. He said he probably would have preferred if he put the ball in the corner, but "it's not the way we play". I tend to agree. If it comes off, we're saying what an awesome play it was.