Round 15 v Sharks

[Dave03]

What do you guys want to see change in the bye & I guess for the 2nd half of the season?

For mine:
1. More offloads - we've got the players like jdb, guler, klem & support like gutho liddle cook. Imo a good way for us to get meters & put pressure on oppo.

2. Continue blooding and getting games into youngsters. Nick T ran for 160m today. Trust them.

 

[Ryan]

What do you guys want to see change in the bye & I guess for the 2nd half of the season?

For mine:
1. More offloads - we've got the players like jdb, guler, klem & support like gutho liddle cook. Imo a good way for us to get meters & put pressure on oppo.

2. Continue blooding and getting games into youngsters. Nick T ran for 160m today. Trust them.

Give Ilias 2 games to see what he can do with LKT. Given Finau another chance.

 

[Dave03]

What do you guys want to see change in the bye & I guess for the 2nd half of the season?

For mine:
1. More offloads - we've got the players like jdb, guler, klem & support like gutho liddle cook. Imo a good way for us to get meters & put pressure on oppo.

2. Continue blooding and getting games into youngsters. Nick T ran for 160m today. Trust them.

Team post bye imo
1. Gutho
2. Finau
3. Holmes
4. Suli
5. Allan/Lawson
6. Lkt
7. Glover
8. Klemmer
9. Cook
10. Couchman
11. Sua
12. Nick T
13. JDB

14. Liddle
15. Sele
16. LPT
17. Stewart

 

[Ryan]

Team post bye imo
1. Gutho
2. Finau
3. Holmes
4. Suli
5. Allan/Lawson
6. Lkt
7. Glover
8. Klemmer
9. Cook
10. Couchman
11. Sua
12. Nick T
13. JDB

14. Liddle
15. Sele
16. LPT
17. Stewart

Close to the team I'd go with. I'd give Ilias first crack with LKT and definitely Lawson over Allan. Other than that, that's the team I'd pick.

 

[Ryan]

That’s our biggest issue mate, the lack of line speed in defence is so alarming

On top of that, when coming out of yardage it’s totally normal to take one out hitups, but watch what Melbourne and roosters do coming out of yardage, there are always another player or 2 running beside them. Players in motion next to the ball carrier so that he can force a defender 1v1 instead of a 3 man gang tackle

that’s how to generate a quick play the ball and gain momentum generally

This is a very good comment.

 

[Wild383]

What do you guys want to see change in the bye & I guess for the 2nd half of the season?

For mine:
1. More offloads - we've got the players like jdb, guler, klem & support like gutho liddle cook. Imo a good way for us to get meters & put pressure on oppo.

2. Continue blooding and getting games into youngsters. Nick T ran for 160m today. Trust them.

Completely agree with the offloads cause we need it but for me it's more about our middle defence and line speed which has suffered majorly in the last month or so, teams keep getting a role on and it definitely took a hit having Toby move to the edge, it's basically relying on JDB and we dont have a huge boot to get us out of trouble when we lose field position meaning in attack we need a lot more support players providing options.

So: I'd love to see Nick hold his spot and move to an edge while Suas out cause he was all class and effort and it gets Toby back in the middle, Val and Suli/Allan centre, CT(when fit)Finau/Lawson on the wings to give Sloan a spell cause he needs it. This obviously means there's a middle/bench spot to fight for but I think it'd help tidy up our line speed. Keep blooding the young fellas cause they're killing it, LKT is building confidence and I want him to keep trusting himself to try stuff like the chip chase or line runs cause we need that spark (and I'm glad Flanno backed him on that in the presser as well). Essentially use the second half of the season to keep building and develop our young lads.

 

[Justadragon]

Well here we go, watching the game I was going to post at HT to say how proud I was for the boys in their bounce back, thats where it ended unfortunately. The second half was diabolical, embarrassing and so unprofessional in every way imaginable. For a team to shred a 12 point lead, not score one point in the second half, give up yardage like a hot knife through butter and the classical highlight of the f$#kup between Gutho and Sloan, what more can you say.
Once again when things went our way everyone played a part, when things started to go very wrong a multitude of players went missing. Suli should be put into the forwards, bring in Finau for Sloan, TC back in the middle. Nick T back at 2nd row, played a good game and well done but hasn't got the pace to match it with the top line centre's. KF had a one of his better halves in the first and went missing in the second. Non of our kicks were really attacking as were the Sharks, I think KF is a better kicker than Val for goal but in general play, forget it. LKT some nice things but really needs a managing 7 to sort him out.
Anyway thoroughly pissed off with the way we let that game go, we are going to finish IMHO bottom 2, we are going to win less games than last year and yet people say we are a better team. Only highlight is we have more juniors in the squad, I wouldn't like to f$#k these kids up mentally even before their careers have started. Oh well another year gone, another year we dont beat the Sharks and another year full of excuses and some really f$#ked up performances.

 

[RedV01]

Well here we go, watching the game I was going to post at HT to say how proud I was for the boys in their bounce back, thats where it ended unfortunately. The second half was diabolical, embarrassing and so unprofessional in every way imaginable. For a team to shred a 12 point lead, not score one point in the second half, give up yardage like a hot knife through butter and the classical highlight of the f$#kup between Gutho and Sloan, what more can you say.
Once again when things went our way everyone played a part, when things started to go very wrong a multitude of players went missing. Suli should be put into the forwards, bring in Finau for Sloan, TC back in the middle. Nick T back at 2nd row, played a good game and well done but hasn't got the pace to match it with the top line centre's. KF had a one of his better halves in the first and went missing in the second. Non of our kicks were really attacking as were the Sharks, I think KF is a better kicker than Val for goal but in general play, forget it. LKT some nice things but really needs a managing 7 to sort him out.
Anyway thoroughly pissed off with the way we let that game go, we are going to finish IMHO bottom 2, we are going to win less games than last year and yet people say we are a better team. Only highlight is we have more juniors in the squad, I wouldn't like to f$#k these kids up mentally even before their careers have started. Oh well another year gone, another year we dont beat the Sharks and another year full of excuses and some really f$#ked up performances.

Harsh but true. KFs kicking in general play is a joke. His Dad needs to tell him the idea isn't to pick out their fullback on the full. Best long kick of the night was by Luch. But no chase so their winger picked it up and ran 35~40m.

 

[Dragons Chris]

Completely agree with the offloads cause we need it but for me it's more about our middle defence and line speed which has suffered majorly in the last month or so, teams keep getting a role on and it definitely took a hit having Toby move to the edge, it's basically relying on JDB and we dont have a huge boot to get us out of trouble when we lose field position meaning in attack we need a lot more support players providing options.

So: I'd love to see Nick hold his spot and move to an edge while Suas out cause he was all class and effort and it gets Toby back in the middle, Val and Suli/Allan centre, CT(when fit)Finau/Lawson on the wings to give Sloan a spell cause he needs it. This obviously means there's a middle/bench spot to fight for but I think it'd help tidy up our line speed. Keep blooding the young fellas cause they're killing it, LKT is building confidence and I want him to keep trusting himself to try stuff like the chip chase or line runs cause we need that spark (and I'm glad Flanno backed him on that in the presser as well). Essentially use the second half of the season to keep building and develop our young lads.

And what about Kyle? Keeps his spot?

 

[TheRev]

Its like ive been saying for the last few weeks, we cant afford not to have Toby in the prop rotation.. suicide imo... NickT could have easily stepped up at any point into the Right 2nd Row position.. guy is a hardass. Even Halangahu would have done a job... though I prefer to hold that debut off cause once u give them a taste its hard to send them back for long periods. I spose Sua is back now anyway so maybe it doesnt matter...

Could still play Nick and Sua though and move Luciano to the bench...

That said 1 decent winger who can finish some opportunities and we probably win last night.. so many times I thought Sloan would score and he just never does unless its an open passage.... thats how frustrating it all is, despite the roster mismatch.. im not even sure we will be able to sell Sloan anymore, there was a window that has passed now.. if hes willing to go to ESL I think it would be perfect for him, just not sure if his mind is there yet. Finau is there, but a bit like Glover I dont think hes in our plans moving forward.. so I think he is last priority.. and weve already burnt a few months of time we could have blooded him if we wanted to see where he would get too.

 

[Eric]

Its like ive been saying for the last few weeks, we cant afford not to have Toby in the prop rotation.. suicide imo... NickT could have easily stepped up at any point into the Right 2nd Row position.. guy is a hardass. Even Halangahu would have done a job... though I prefer to hold that debut off cause once u give them a taste its hard to send them back for long periods. I spose Sua is back now anyway so maybe it doesnt matter...

Could still play Nick and Sua though and move Luciano to the bench...

That said 1 decent winger who can finish some opportunities and we probably win last night.. so many times I thought Sloan would score and he just never does unless its an open passage.... thats how frustrating it all is, despite the roster mismatch.. im not even sure we will be able to sell Sloan anymore, there was a window that has passed now.. if hes willing to go to ESL I think it would be perfect for him, just not sure if his mind is there yet. Finau is there, but a bit like Glover I dont think hes in our plans moving forward.. so I think he is last priority.. and weve already burnt a few months of time we could have blooded him if we wanted to see where he would get too.

For someone his size and who can get moving, isn't Luciano cut down very easily? If not for Egan being out, I'd be calling for Luciano to be dropped.

 

[jodragon40]

The engine room worked in the 1st half but parked in the sheds at oranges and forgot to come back out.

LKT growing in his own confidence and belief, if he only had a 7 to play alongside with. KF is no 7, was not recruited as a 7 and will never be a 7. Some of his last tackle options especially in the 2nd half were bewildering.

Even in the 1st half when Ramien went for early oranges he failed to control the ruck and direct the attack to his side of the field. The sooner the coach bites the bullet with him in that position the better we will be off. The question is who replaces him?

The Sharks had the majority of the ball in the 2nd half, in fact close to double and didn't waste it. They returned to the basics, roll down the middle of the park and control the ruck and speed of the play.

We could and most probably should have been in a position to win that game but couldn't match the speed and size of the Sharks in the 2nd half with all that possession. It was an ideal example of a game of two halves. 24 unanswered points is always going to be good enough to win the majority of games you play.

To my eye the game plan in the 2nd half was safety first, complete your sets, kick to the corners, protect your lead. Every Flanagan kick went up in the air caught unchallenged by their fullback in his red zone in the middle of the park which meant his return run was fairly straight not having to work the ball back to the middle of the park.

 

[Justadragon]

Harsh but true. KFs kicking in general play is a joke. His Dad needs to tell him the idea isn't to pick out their fullback on the full. Best long kick of the night was by Luch. But no chase so their winger picked it up and ran 35~40m.

Agree, we have to give Illias and LKT a go until Atkinson gets there, and is he going to fix everything ? As I said before we have an unsettled backline, forward pack and searching for a halves combination that works, no wonder we are who we are !!! The club as a whole takes the blame for this , we are very short in certain positions, bad forward thinking and bad recruiting. I think we focus on getting some pride back into the club in the lower grades, Nick T and LPT back to cup, let 1sts self implode sweep it out next year start again with a few of our juniors having NRL experience without being totally f$#ked over, look at the state TC is in. Get Lawrie and the other numpties in for the remainder and give our kids a break until they can reset for next year. Non of this we can still make it bullshit.

 

[blacksafake]

I'm too disappointed to say much. I just wanted to comment on what I noticed about 10min into the second half. Shonkies had the ball around halfway. Got a pretty standard play the ball, passed one out from dummy half and our forwards just stood there waiting. No one pushing forward. What is it? Are they unfit, just not trying or what? Anyone got any idea?

They move up in one line then stop & move back a couple of metres waiting for them.
I’ve noticed this a few times. It’s obviously how they train for it.

 

[Dragons Chris]

Anyway, last I'll say on this is:
3. JDB
2. Tsougranis
1. LKT

 

[Illusion]

I'd leave Nick T at centre with Suli & Holmes plus Lawson or finau as our wingers. I'd defs have Nick t in the team somewhere.

Nick in the centre , Gutho to 7 , Holmes to Fullback ....... It ain't working now , got nothing to lose .......

 

[Eric]

Nick in the centre , Gutho to 7 , Holmes to Fullback ....... It ain't working now , got nothing to lose .......

I just think the first thing Flanno has to do is drop Kyle. Get rid of that ball and chain around his neck. Release the pressure on both and let Kyle show what he can do away from the pressure in NSW Cup. If he's good enough, he fight his way back and show there is no favouritism but he is in the team on his own merits.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Was I the only one alarmed at the lack of brains in this team, Sharks had Ramien in the bin, I don't think we attacked Ramien's side once when he was sinbinned, Just saying but maybe it would have been a good place to run some plays at that side of the field..

 

[GCRV]

Was I the only one alarmed at the lack of brains in this team, Sharks had Ramien in the bin, I don't think we attacked Ramien's side once when he was sinbinned, Just saying but maybe it would have been a good place to run some plays at that side of the field..

Someone noticed it

The engine room worked in the 1st half but parked in the sheds at oranges and forgot to come back out.

LKT growing in his own confidence and belief, if he only had a 7 to play alongside with. KF is no 7, was not recruited as a 7 and will never be a 7. Some of his last tackle options especially in the 2nd half were bewildering.

Even in the 1st half when Ramien went for early oranges he failed to control the ruck and direct the attack to his side of the field. The sooner the coach bites the bullet with him in that position the better we will be off. The question is who replaces him?

 

[redv13]

Was I the only one alarmed at the lack of brains in this team, Sharks had Ramien in the bin, I don't think we attacked Ramien's side once when he was sinbinned, Just saying but maybe it would have been a good place to run some plays at that side of the field..

You’d think that would be identified immediately by the halves and spine. Shame cause we had those maggots on toast and if we scored we could have went in at ht up 24-6. Very frustrating.

On a positive note, congrats to Nick T, thought he had a great debut and should hold his spot vs Parra in front of at least Sloan and even Lawson. Just push Val out to the wing as Sloan is clearly down in the dumps at the moment.