northey said:
they just need to be tucked into bed, get a good sleep, while listening to a tape that repeats we can win, we can win, we can win...
Not helpful. It's precisely this naivity that Nuffy has campaigned against. I for one am not that fussed by all the worry -- sure they're not traveling well, but I see some glimpses there. Newton's return was good (albeit with a bombed try), I think Davico has cemented himself a bench spot. Perry needs to be slapped for his two penalties, but is otherwise performing pretty well. Matt Gidley is showing some signs that I was wrong about him... he still has plenty to offer.
I suppose Carmont and Quinn's ineptness in defence is still a worry, add to that list Carney who astounds me (what was he thinking with that overhead tap into the in-goal?). There is not enough attention to detail from the whole side with the ball and when in defence. Johns is off his game too -- no question.
We're not traveling well, and haven't been performing well for a few weeks. But in all fairness, the Raiders came at us hard and we did fairly well. Keeping the Tigers out was good work, the Dragons were on their game last week, the Storm hit us hard and tonight the Bulldogs steamrolled us. It's a bit too mixed to really decide what the problem is.
I guess the first task is to look at defence -- it's pretty shoddy from what I can see. Failing to make a tackle is one thing, but making a tackle and then not wrapping the ball up is becoming very frustrating. And our attack is struggling without a second playmaker. We're playing with two Locks who, in every sense, are not first grade backrowers let alone Locks and/or 5/8ths. The sooner Mullen returns, the better.
