LIVE GAME Live Game Discussion, vs Dragons - Rd 10 MAGIC ROUND *Spoilers*

[Bigscreentv]

Sullivan was the one that had us on the rack from the time that he came on.

Hope us winning wiped that smart arse smile off he face.

As mentioned above - Wakeham finds touch and it’s likely the game takes a completely different path.

 

[tigerballs]

I'll call out one - AJ Kepoa - how anyone can think this guy is NRL standard is beyond me.

Mate, 2 penalties for probably trying too hard, the rest of his game was good. Some deft passes and important tackles.

 

[bbobb]

Is that all it took?
No video sessions highlighting historical strengths and weaknesses as opposed to current, with identification of where form has dropped and how to get it back based upon statistical analysis and game involvement, positioning, effort and attitude?

“be the player I know you can be”….🤣 Benji is a bloody genius.

OB1-Benji-Kenobi?

 

[tigerballs]

They just need to tell Wakeham to run more, he’s really a dynamic runner but appears to be trying to make no mistakes or whatever,,, looks a bit like MBYE trying to get someone/anyone to take the ball and run it , anyone but him.. it’s a shame because he has I all when he pins his ears back

I think he's getting better though. Maybe a few more weeks and a few more wins might give him a bit more confidence. Hardly had a pre season remember.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

We have a top 4-6 pack with a spoon backline, simple as that.

 

[AdelaideTiger]

I think he's getting better though. Maybe a few more weeks and a few more wins might give him a bit more confidence. Hardly had a pre season remember.

I think he's performed well above his price tag, I also don't understand people staying he's a bad defender. Certainly has earnt his spot for next week

 

[innsaneink]

Do you think we have fixed our defence?
For mine it is more evident that due to our improved pack, we enjoy higher possession percentages and better field position than normal, thus limiting opposition scoring opportunities.

The 17th for points scored is damning, especially given what I just said, plus our focus on attack all off season.

It's improved but still needs to be better.... Baby steps
I did the figures a few days back were on average concede a converted try less per game than two years back.... Still conceding about 24 pts per game on avg but it was 29. something in '21

 

[Lukic]

We have a top 4-6 pack with a spoon backline, simple as that.

Excluding halves, I disagree. Our halves aren't very good obviously, but 1-5 I think is fine. Not great, but competitive. Bula and Tupou are two youngsters with immense potential, Starford To'a is young himself and turning into a solid first grader and Nofoaluma if his form in the last 2 games isn't a mirage, is a good first grade winger. Left centre spot leaves a bit to be desired out of Talau/Naden, but neither of them are downright awful players either.

I think a better halves pairing would probably make our backline look a little better too with better structures and them receiving the ball in better positions.

 

[balmain boy]

As mentioned above - Wakeham finds touch and it’s likely the game takes a completely different path.

The problem is we keep on shooting ourselves in the foot. And when we do we drop our heads and collapse.

We played extremely conservatively and still made numerous brain dead plays. Depressing

 

[Bigscreentv]

The problem is we keep on shooting ourselves in the foot. And when we do we drop our heads and collapse.

We played extremely conservatively and still made numerous brain dead plays. Depressing

Cheer up mate, plenty of improvement and we still won!

They will deliver next week!

 

[Tucker]

It's improved but still needs to be better.... Baby steps
I did the figures a few days back were on average concede a converted try less per game than two years back.... Still conceding about 24 pts per game on avg but it was 29. something in '21

Yes I see improvement with points conceded but I would praise our completion and error rates, our discipline with the ref and the meters gained through the middle with this rather than our technique in defence. Most weeks this year our stats, with the obvious exception of the score says we won if you took a quick glance at them. This, in my opinion has lessened opposition time in our 20 and thus smaller scores against are occurring.

As for our defence, most of our guys are still easily beaten laterally, we still struggle communicating and our structure is wishy washy and convoluted. Put the effort into defence that we did to save that last try or we did all game last week and we win half the games we lost.

 

[Demps]

Sullivan was the one that had us on the rack from the time that he came on.

Hope us winning wiped that smart arse smile off his face.

Playing for a contract eh.
Scored 12 of their 16 points.

He's asked for a release - twice, I believe.
Is off contract and likely has interest elsewhere.

 

[bbobb]

It's improved but still needs to be better.... Baby steps
I did the figures a few days back were on average concede a converted try less per game than two years back.... Still conceding about 24 pts per game on avg but it was 29. something in '21

After 10 rounds it’s our second best defence record since we became a joint venture - it also our worst attack record including the JT years.

 

[Dino]

I think our problems in this game were about our mentality, for whatever reason we have a nasty habit of putting our heads down and conceding points after mistakes.

we dominated the first half but in the second half when our on field leaders of api and klemmer were off players like kepoa panicked and started doing low percentage hero plays even though it was a close game with plenty of time on the clock

 

[Telltails]

Two weeks in a row have missed the game and watched the replay. Congrats to Sheens and the team. The confidence is building and the effort plays are emerging in all the players. They play like they have in the last two weeks they will compete against every team.

 

[Tucker]

I think our problems in this game were about our mentality, for whatever reason we have a nasty habit of putting our heads down and conceding points after mistakes.

we dominated the first half but in the second half when our on field leaders of api and klemmer were off players like kepoa panicked and started doing low percentage hero plays even though it was a close game with plenty of time on the clock

100% and that’s why I get the shits that our most experienced player doesn’t bash some heads and get them to stick to the script. Brooks just sits back and let’s others lead.

Also, it irritates me that many are claiming Wakehams stuff up kicking for touch lead to a try. It merely gave them possession. The fact we allowed them to make 70 meters that set and miss an easy tackle near the line caused the try.

 

[rihannafan1]

I think our problems in this game were about our mentality, for whatever reason we have a nasty habit of putting our heads down and conceding points after mistakes.

we dominated the first half but in the second half when our on field leaders of api and klemmer were off players like kepoa panicked and started doing low percentage hero plays even though it was a close game with plenty of time on the clock

It was interesting to see some of the perennial losers like AJ, Talau and Nofa lose their discipline and try to pull off strips once we started losing. Ill-discipline. I like AJ and Nof but you can see some of the bad habits players have picked up. Talau is not a long-term NRL player atm and whatever Manly see him in, good luck with that.

 

[Tiger Woods]

We're still rusty & if Bula wasn't playing we would've lost the last 2 games
Dream is bringing out the best in our players even the crap ones with his efforts
We are still on our L's when it comes to winning
We haven't won 3 in a row in ages & the souths game will be a good indicator to see if we can get our P' s or stay on our L's

 

[Dino]

It was interesting to see some of the perennial losers like AJ, Talau and Nofa lose their discipline and try to pull off strips once we started losing. Ill-discipline. I like AJ and Nof but you can see some of the bad habits players have picked up. Talau is not a long-term NRL player atm and whatever Manly see him in, good luck with that.

I didn't see nofa do anything stupid which tbf you'd expect a player as experienced as him not to

 

[TigerSJ]

After really great efforts from all of our players last week, i thought we played a bit more like the previous weeks -especially with some dumb, costly errors creeping into our game at inopportune moments. We lacked resolve in D as well, particularly in the movement out of marker and defenders coming across from inside. For example, Papa’s D was found out a couple of times especially with no decent support from inside him.
Like some other posters, I also think Wakeham needs to engage the line more and straighten the attack up more than he does, but considering all he is doing OK so far - just needs to limit his mistakes.
I agree with the ineffectiveness of TT - he is a waste of space, but we have Naden’s brain snaps to thank for this.
I think AJ has some effort in him but also a few too many mistakes unfortunately.
On the bright side most of our backs played pretty well today, especially our FB and wingers. Brooks also had a solid game in D and kicked pretty well plus had a few decent runs.
I’d be interested to see the run metres of our forwards as they didn’t seem to be as effective as they have been in recent games. Lacked the intensity of last week.
Overall it feels great to win so I’ll take it any day. Let’s just hope they step up for next week cause they are going to have to!!