Parraren
Bench
- Messages
- 4,100
There's been alot of focus and discussion on the selection of Wagon at 5/8th but seriously guys an equally critical issue is our woeful defense. How shocking has our defense been over the past 2 seasons! We used to be renowned for our defensive strength back in the early years of Smith's leadership. I can remember us holding sides to under 12 points consistently. What has happened?
Defense is a real test of a players attitude & commitment to the side. Watching the replay from Sat night, attitude and commitment to defense was our biggest downfall. I know it sounds like a cliche, but you really DO need to set the platform early in defense in order for your attack and gameplan to have any chance for success. We failed to do this from the outset and then we got frustrated and started pushing passes, dropping ball and it went downhill from there..
I don't like singleing players out but I feel after such an atrocious performance, Smith really needs to make an example of a few blokes. The worst of all offenders on Sat night was Vella. He just looks far too slow in defense and tends to try and reach out and grab at players rather than move laterally and get into position to make a tackle or a solid one on one hit. He looks good going forward but we really need to weed out the poor defenders in our side. Vella's head should be the first to fall as an example to the rest to shape up or ship out.
Some other observations....
Dave Vaealiki must be in the side. His positional defense, whether it be in the centres or at fullback is exceptional. He calmed the ship when he came on and he has great strength. Will never let you down. Would have done a great job on Sonny Bill Williams if given the opportunity.
Kativerata whilst he tried very hard and gave 100% is just not up to NRL level yet. He doesn't know when to come in or stay out on his wing. They ran down his side all night and the had a field day. He looked out of his depth. Let him develop his defense in Premier League.
Pearson also looked very slow getting back in the defensive line and is another target for dummy half runners. Just doesn't look agile enough. For an experienced player he made some shocking hospital passes and tried offloads when they weren't required. Perhaps he would be better utilised off the bench. Stapleton & Cannings looked far better than Pearson & Vella both in attack and defense. They are more mobile and made better metres.
Cayless was struggling big time in the second row with his fitness. It will take alot of time for him to adjust but I expect he will get better with more game time there.
Wagon is one of our best defenders but he stalls our attack at 5/8th (blatantly obvious and pointed out already by everyone on this forum). Will do a fine job for us at lock.
The Peterson/Vaealiki combo that worked wonders for us last year needs to be reinstated! Peterson looks more comfortable and safer on the wing (why would you move him to the centres?) and he has an outstanding strike rate playing outside Dave V. Peterson & Vaealiki combined late in the game out on the left side for a try to big Dave.
I don't think there needs to be wholesale changes to the side. We just need to weed out the defensive liabilities, plug up a few holes and we'll be OK.
Defense is a real test of a players attitude & commitment to the side. Watching the replay from Sat night, attitude and commitment to defense was our biggest downfall. I know it sounds like a cliche, but you really DO need to set the platform early in defense in order for your attack and gameplan to have any chance for success. We failed to do this from the outset and then we got frustrated and started pushing passes, dropping ball and it went downhill from there..
I don't like singleing players out but I feel after such an atrocious performance, Smith really needs to make an example of a few blokes. The worst of all offenders on Sat night was Vella. He just looks far too slow in defense and tends to try and reach out and grab at players rather than move laterally and get into position to make a tackle or a solid one on one hit. He looks good going forward but we really need to weed out the poor defenders in our side. Vella's head should be the first to fall as an example to the rest to shape up or ship out.
Some other observations....
Dave Vaealiki must be in the side. His positional defense, whether it be in the centres or at fullback is exceptional. He calmed the ship when he came on and he has great strength. Will never let you down. Would have done a great job on Sonny Bill Williams if given the opportunity.
Kativerata whilst he tried very hard and gave 100% is just not up to NRL level yet. He doesn't know when to come in or stay out on his wing. They ran down his side all night and the had a field day. He looked out of his depth. Let him develop his defense in Premier League.
Pearson also looked very slow getting back in the defensive line and is another target for dummy half runners. Just doesn't look agile enough. For an experienced player he made some shocking hospital passes and tried offloads when they weren't required. Perhaps he would be better utilised off the bench. Stapleton & Cannings looked far better than Pearson & Vella both in attack and defense. They are more mobile and made better metres.
Cayless was struggling big time in the second row with his fitness. It will take alot of time for him to adjust but I expect he will get better with more game time there.
Wagon is one of our best defenders but he stalls our attack at 5/8th (blatantly obvious and pointed out already by everyone on this forum). Will do a fine job for us at lock.
The Peterson/Vaealiki combo that worked wonders for us last year needs to be reinstated! Peterson looks more comfortable and safer on the wing (why would you move him to the centres?) and he has an outstanding strike rate playing outside Dave V. Peterson & Vaealiki combined late in the game out on the left side for a try to big Dave.
I don't think there needs to be wholesale changes to the side. We just need to weed out the defensive liabilities, plug up a few holes and we'll be OK.
