What a f**king shambles!

[GC_Gladiator]

Yeah, after that try at 18-6 they showed the coaches box all smiles. It was then i knew we were going to lose.. haha, just that irking feeling.

I'd be tempted, when everyone is fully fit to have something like this

1. Zillman
2.Graham
3. Campese
4. Purtell
5. Kelly

The thing i liked about campese is that even in centre his a ball player. Really strong defensively, and has the potential to give graham some space (which we havent really seen him in).

We can blame inexperience for the loss, but alot of the mistakes were made by older players. Chalk, unfortunately should be a backrower off the bench if his going to be played. His speed and positional play just doesn't do it for me in centre, on the wing, or in fullback.

 

[azza]

I would really like to see Goodwin get a shot in the centres. OK he may make a few mistakes but he has oodles more talent and potential than that nuffy known as Howell. Good thing about him is he has a bit of mongrel in him too and has a good fend... have you noticed that none of our outside backs really have that consistent ability to break tackles?

 

[Sydney_Raider]

I'd be happy with a backline of Goodwin, Milne, Campese, Purtell, Cross, Carney & Dobson next week. Won't happen but surely they couldn't go any worse. At the very least get rid of Howell and Best. Still struggling with Zillman at fullback, bench perhaps.

In the forwards, Thommo, Tilse and Jones would also be chances of demotion given Weyman, Logan and others are back.

 

[julian87]

Best shouldn't be the scapegoat. Chalk, Howell and Tilse all have to go imo, regardless of their replacements.

Tilse has only ever played two par or above games for the club.

 

[shear_joy9]

Campese should be the first to be dropped.

I really do not know what anyone sees in him, he's rubbish.

 

[Chachi]

I don't think you can single any players out for that performance. Withers got the MOTM, but some of his errors (particularly early) were disgraceful.

Our kick defence was very poor again, and they slaughtered us on the edge of the ruck - on both sides of the ground.

On the upside I thought we looked great for the most part up the middle, and Thommo and Learoyd-Lahrs both had their best games of the season.

I think it's time to give Goodwin a crack on the wing and Weyman also had a great game in reggies. Add Logan and Carney to that list and there's a bit of an upside to a disappointing capitulation.

What it did show me was that our attack can be up there with the best in the NRL (wouldn't have said that ever in the last 3 years), and with a full house of players we were able to hold Manly out for a number of consecutive sets in the first half.

We'll be OK and the boys will learn a lot from that loss.

 

[nickraider]

Howell was sh*te as usual; Best had a shocker again and Tilse was crap! Fire up Tilse! 1 good game followed by 3 sh*te one's!!! Bring back Weyman and Bickers. We need them big time.

 

[dmickey07]

I didnt get a chance to watch todays game but it seems pretty much a collective opinion that Tilse, Howell, Best and to a lesser extent, Chalk all played poorly. These are all players that i have been critical in the past. I REALLYYYY think we need to clar this up: Howell is NOT i repeat IS NOT going to get better. He is not a young, hot prospect and he will not become that in the future as he gets older. Our time would be better spent on younger players in premier league regarless of their talent because ANYONE is better thatn this bozo howell. We are beating a dead horse here people. It is becoming increasinly clear that Best is our worst signing. It is easy tpo shine outside a player like Cooper or Gasnier. Both these players need to go, howell for good, Best indefinetely. I think us raiders fans need to realize that chalk might not be as ood as we first thought. i think we should give hime some more time, but i think we need to accept the ship might have sailed with him. I have been very critical of tilse in the past but after looking at the big picture; such as his stats, his age and his potential to grow as a player (for instance i believe if he put on 5-10 kilos an got his leg speed up he would be a much more destructive player), i believe we should give him time. I think however, part of his growing as a player needs to be when he has a bad game, such as today he faces the consequences, like any player.
Even though i didnt watch the game, there must have been at least SOME positives come out of the game; 30 points against the best defenc in the comp isnt bad. Better than the parramatta game at least.

 

[raiders fan forever]

round 9 we should be close to full strength again well atleast in the forward pack

 

[nickraider]

round 9 we should be close to full strength again well atleast in the forward pack

We need backs though. Plenty of depth in the forwards. Our backs were completely sh*te today.

 

[legend]

Tokyo Raider, this is only my second rant of the year and we have played eight matches so I am improving and with your assistance, I can continue to evolve into a drone with no opinion or passion.

IMO, Best was by far the worst (sounds funny I know) and opposing teams target his wing for a reason. He had a massive height advantage over Robertson and was beaten to the jump badly, he tried stealing the ball from the tackled player and he let Robertson score off the Lyon tap back. To put it simply, he was awful.

Howell, the idiot that he is gave away his mandatory penalty for being a twit, goose (insert adjective) and didn't offer anything in attack.

Tilse is a sack of sh*t who reminds me of Private Pyle from Full Metal Jacket. He fell over to let in a try and was useless in both attack and defence.

I thought Chalk was ok and deserves another week.

I thought it was Tongue's worst performance of the year and his decision as captain to allow the chip and chase from the scrum when in your own half was that of an amatuer to be honest.

 

[Macko8]

Howell and Best were by far our worsts.

Campese didnt shine as much as he has in recent weeks, he needs to play in the centres or as a utility bench player.
I would of liked to see carney at 6 and campo in the centres, withers was a bit of a standout i thought. Whilst dobbo was particualary good in a losing side.

That game got away from us, if we're in that situation again it wont.

 

[Sydney_Raider]

I think it's time to give Goodwin a crack on the wing and Weyman also had a great game in reggies. Add Logan and Carney to that list and there's a bit of an upside to a disappointing capitulation.

Whilst I would also like to see Goodwin get a run, IMO part of our problem is not picking backs in there specialist positions. Goodwin would be a better option at fullback and replacing the likes of Howell,Best and Chalk with other specialists like Milne and Cross (Chachi you obviously saw PL so perhaps you could update on how they went). If it wasn't for our lack of depth I would also have reservations about Campese in the centres but he would probably cope especially against Souths next week who appear to be quite pedestrian in the centres.

By the way, they are tipping wet weather in Sydney from Tuesday onwards which given our recent performances in the wet, doesn't fill me with great confidence.

 

[Timbo]

The second half was THE WORST half of football we've put on all year we were awful, awful, AWFUL all across the field.

I haven't knocked Henry at all this season, but, I have to ask, where the hell was Hinchcliffe in the second half? He was giving us the same spark that their #9 was giving them, and he dissapeared from about the 40th to the 72nd minute.

Best was horrible. But I've had that rant in another thread.

Next week I'd like to see:

1-W.Zillman
2-B.Goodwin
3-A.Purtell
4-T.Campese
5-D.Howell (Only untill the return of Graham)
6-T.Carney
7-M.Dobson
8-T.Thompson
9-L.Withers
10-D.Tilse
11-N.Costigan
12-J.Miller
13-A.Tongue

14-M.Bickerstaff/T.Thurling
15-M.Weyman
16-T.Learoyd-Lahrs
17-R.Hinchcliffe

Gah, all in all, woeful. But going on our pattern of win/loss/win/loss, we're going to knock the socks off of the Bunnies next week.

 

[Macko8]

The second half was THE WORST half of football we've put on all year we were awful, awful, AWFUL all across the field.

I haven't knocked Henry at all this season, but, I have to ask, where the hell was Hinchcliffe in the second half? He was giving us the same spark that their #9 was giving them, and he dissapeared from about the 40th to the 72nd minute.

Best was horrible. But I've had that rant in another thread.

Next week I'd like to see:

1-W.Zillman
2-B.Goodwin
3-A.Purtell
4-T.Campese
5-D.Howell (Only untill the return of Graham)
6-T.Carney
7-M.Dobson
8-T.Thompson
9-L.Withers
10-D.Tilse
11-N.Costigan
12-J.Miller
13-A.Tongue

14-M.Bickerstaff/T.Thurling
15-M.Weyman
16-T.Learoyd-Lahrs
17-R.Hinchcliffe

Gah, all in all, woeful. But going on our pattern of win/loss/win/loss, we're going to knock the socks off of the Bunnies next week.

Scotty logan ring a bell????
Id prefer scotty logan to start and tilse to be in PL until he can prove himself.

 

[TITAN1]

Maybe the team watched the highlight tape of the penriff game and got carried away!

 

[Leethal]

It could be worse. You could be a QLD Reds fan...................

 

[Chachi]

Whilst I would also like to see Goodwin get a run, IMO part of our problem is not picking backs in there specialist positions. Goodwin would be a better option at fullback and replacing the likes of Howell,Best and Chalk with other specialists like Milne and Cross (Chachi you obviously saw PL so perhaps you could update on how they went). If it wasn't for our lack of depth I would also have reservations about Campese in the centres but he would probably cope especially against Souths next week who appear to be quite pedestrian in the centres.

By the way, they are tipping wet weather in Sydney from Tuesday onwards which given our recent performances in the wet, doesn't fill me with great confidence.

I thought Cross was again very solid in PL and would probably hold his own in firsts. My only (personal) concern is he offers even less than Purtell in attack, so I'm still not convinced. Milne seems to have put on a few kilos and is starting to look a bit more solid out there (but still with good pace). If he keeps improving he might be a shot sooner rather than later IMO. The thing is, our major concern is defence on the wings and I don't thing either of those guys fit the bill to fix that problem.

IMO Bronx has been the standout in that team when he's on the park, so I believe he deserves first shot. I know what you're saying about him playing out of position, but he has played a bit of wing when Zilly and Chalk were fullback for PL. If Carney is back next week my backline would be:
1. Zillman
2. Goodwin
3. Chalk (should be given another chance IMO)
4. Campese (marking up on Vagana - but has to stop shirt grabbing like he did in the last 20 mins)
5. Purtell (bit of a risk, but we need someone to stick to Merritt like glue)

However, in reality I think it's unlikely that Best will be dropped, so maybe the only possible change could be Goodwin in for Howell perhaps?

I tell you what though, Brenton Lawrence scored an amazing 70-75 metre solo try in reggies - not too shabby for a forward. Seen him do that a couple of times too - and also chase down wingers in defence. Maybe he should be given a shot in the centres!

 

[dubby]

I was thinking the same as Legend during that 2nd half. First time all year (in recent memory) that I turned the TV off and walked away from the game.

Howell should never again grace the NRL. He offers nothing. Best needs some serious work in defence. Fancy letting RObbo cross for a hat trick?

I was ready to punch something yesterday, I went in search of a Howell pinyata to vent my anger....

He wasnt the only one, I know. But when he is in the NRL we get hammered. Coincidence?

 

[legend]

Best was the worst by far. He is not a first grade and looks lost out there ALL the time.

Tilse is a lump and offers nothing. That tap passing it two wide to Tongue who was not expecting the ball is the height of stupidity, especially when you have six tackles up your sleeve. Run it up one out and set up for the next play and use tackles 4-6 to be more flamboyant.