Hey guys, seeing as our season this year has been one we would all rather forget about, I thought I would reflect on the season so far. Even though we are still, in theory, 5 points behind Souths, this year could have been so much different. I know its not much good saying it "could have been", but it really could have. Out of our 16 games we have played so far, in my opinion, there have been just 4 games, where we were not in the match.
Round one, we played the Storm and were comprehensively beaten 48-10. We were never in that match. Round two, we travelled to Canberra and even though beaten 39-14, we were in the match with 20 mins to go, down 20-14. Round three we had the bye and Round for we played the Cowboys and quite honestly, we had our backsides kicked 52-18, by a very good football team. Round 5, was the game where our season hit rock bottom, comprehensively beaten 37-12 by Souths in Gosford. We were never really in that match.
Round 6 we played the Warriors at EAS and looked certainties to open our account for season 2005 when we led 20-0. Then those evil football gods struck us down. In the space of 25 minutes, we went from being on top of the world, when it all came crashing down around us. Firstly Abes broke his leg, then halfway through the second half, Joey broke his jaw before the Warriors rattled home to win 30-26 in an absolute heartbreaker. Round 7 saw us back at home against the Bulldogs and even minus most of our regular first graders, only a Luke Patten trysaver on Trent Salkeld saved his side from defeat as the Dogs snuck home 24-20. Round 8 we played the Raiders and were beaten 14-10, we were in that match as well, but couldnt score points.
Round 9 we went to Aussie Stadium to play the Roosters and at halftime were well in the match at 4-2. We ran out of puff in the second half to go down 32-2. Round 10, even though beaten 32-16 by the Tigers, we were in the match when we trailed 20-16. Lack of conditioning was the determining factor as the Tigers finished stronger. Round 11, in my opinion was the game where we were absolutely robbed. We lost 18-16 on the back of a few, to say the least poor refereeing decisions. Round 13, we led the comp leaders Brisbane 10-0 after 15 minutes and looked very good. Again, we ran out of puff before going down 34-16. Round 14, we were thumped 50-0 by Parramatta. Round 15 we travelled to Brookie and led the second placed Sea Eagles 10-8 at halftime, before going down 48-26.
Round 16 as we all know by now was our first win of the year 28-24 over the Panthers. The boys showed a lot of heart to come back from 14-0 down at halftime and 24-22 with 5 minutes to go. Round 17, we lost 28-14 to the Roosters, minus origin players, but again, we got within 6 and striking distance, before lack of attacking options cost us. Round 18, we came from 18-4 down against the Cowboys before steaming home to win 22-18 running into a gale.
There are my thoughts on the year, with a bit more luck this year, we could have been in a finals-bound position, but alas, its not meant to be. Sorry about the length folks, your thoughts.
