LIVE GAME Round 1 vs Knights

[Dr_Ice]

Our long kicking game was poor. Too many times they started their sets beyond the 20. Luai and Galvin don’t have the kicking distance - I would use Doueihi if possibe to get the ball down the other end

Not as bad as our short kicking game.

 

[2041]

Just on the slow play balls comment, May was the worst offender. He is a great player and played great, but he makes no effort at all to play the ball quick

May's average PTB speed was 3.81 seconds, the quickest of all our forwards but almost the slowest of theirs. He is literally the opposite of the worst offender.

Here all all non-hooker forwards in the game in order of PTB speed:
Hetherington: 3.42 seconds
Frizell: 3.44 seconds
Jones: 3.58 seconds
Saifiti: 3.59 seconds
Thompson: 3.59 seconds
Croker: 3.62 seconds
Pearce-Paul: 3.65 seconds
May: 3.81 seconds
Lucas: 3.84 seconds
Hunt: 3.9 seconds
Twal: 3.92 seconds
Pole: 4 seconds
Samuela Fainu: 4.25 seconds
Seyfarth: 4.33 seconds
Bird: 4.6 seconds
Sione Fainu: 5.1 seconds

 

[Oldman]

I noticed they swapped centres at half time and put F on Best. Mismatch but either way was always going to be an issue.

Agree
Best is a SOO centre who played against I’m sorry to say reserve grade calibre centre’s.
I think we all thought before the game there outside backs and Ponga would cause us problems and unfortunately that’s how it turned out.
First game I’m not throwing the dish water out just yet 😆

 

[cktiger]

The bunker check every try, and the ref blows time off if they want a more detailed look

I’m aware of that … although sometimes their ‘check’ isn’t too detailed going by all the mistakes.

 

[cktiger]

May's average PTB speed was 3.81 seconds, the quickest of all our forwards but almost the slowest of theirs. He is literally the opposite of the worst offender.

Here all all non-hooker forwards in the game in order of PTB speed:
Hetherington: 3.42 seconds
Frizell: 3.44 seconds
Jones: 3.58 seconds
Saifiti: 3.59 seconds
Thompson: 3.59 seconds
Croker: 3.62 seconds
Pearce-Paul: 3.65 seconds
May: 3.81 seconds
Lucas: 3.84 seconds
Hunt: 3.9 seconds
Twal: 3.92 seconds
Pole: 4 seconds
Samuela Fainu: 4.25 seconds
Seyfarth: 4.33 seconds
Bird: 4.6 seconds
Sione Fainu: 5.1 seconds

That is also dependant on the tackles

 

[lathami]

Two new halves seemed to work for Newcastle

Not really, thought they were average at best.

 

[2041]

I thought the forwards provided heaps of quality field position and the backs failed to convert it to ponts then got shredded in defence.

What provided quality field position (in the first half) was penalties and Knights errors. Have a look at my post above re play the ball speed to see why our pack, May apart, was completely dominated throughout and why we had so few actual attacking sets. When we did get to play on their line our halves, specifically Galvin, created nothing - but there is no way a team that has as much possession as we did should have so few genuine attacking opportunities.

 

[tigerman80]

Will avoid dooming before Api and Bula are back. We should comfortably beat a Moses-less Eels.

Not happy but will wait till these two these two play before I pass judgement . Otherwise god help us.

 

[Spartan117]

Laui was great. Galvin was ok getting used to him. Far better side imo

Both stayed on the Left to much. No variety in attack

We will get better

 

[2041]

That is also dependant on the tackles

Oh sure, it's attack and defence together. I'm just saying it's absolutely beyond question that we got battered in the ruck with the sole exception of May.

 

[Spartan117]

May's average PTB speed was 3.81 seconds, the quickest of all our forwards but almost the slowest of theirs. He is literally the opposite of the worst offender.

Here all all non-hooker forwards in the game in order of PTB speed:
Hetherington: 3.42 seconds
Frizell: 3.44 seconds
Jones: 3.58 seconds
Saifiti: 3.59 seconds
Thompson: 3.59 seconds
Croker: 3.62 seconds
Pearce-Paul: 3.65 seconds
May: 3.81 seconds
Lucas: 3.84 seconds
Hunt: 3.9 seconds
Twal: 3.92 seconds
Pole: 4 seconds
Samuela Fainu: 4.25 seconds
Seyfarth: 4.33 seconds
Bird: 4.6 seconds
Sione Fainu: 5.1 seconds

This is a very obvious area that needs urgent attention

 

[Dr_Ice]

Mason has a lot of relatives that post on the Forum .......rate him against the other 16 fullbacks in the NRL and see where finishes

To be fair he isn’t our first choice fullback either

 

[happy_tiger]

To be fair he isn’t our first choice fullback either

Or 2nd .....3rd ......4th ......maybe 5th best option

I'd take Staines over Mason ....

 

[old_man_tiger]

Or 2nd .....3rd ......4th ......maybe 5th best option

In hindsight turuva 1 and staines wing probably better.

Masons effort fine but he isn't a fullback. Needs a position in nsw cup for an extended period.

 

[BirchgroveTigers]

I don’t think we should be too concerned, yeeeet. Round 1, no fullback or hooker. Also assume our first choice centres this off season were Naden and To’a who were also both missing (they’re clearly the most athletic centres we have).

Lost by two points to a team that has made the 8 what 3 of the past 4 years?

Need to improve though no doubt.

 

[ancient_magpie]

Yeah … it’s a massive weakness …

Makasini is coming later in the year July I think.

 

[BirchgroveTigers]

Makasini is coming later in the year July I think.

Hmmm can’t see him playing more than a game or two at the very very end of the season to give him a taste.

 

[ancient_magpie]

Seyfarth is a reserve grader.

I'd rather try Sukkar I can't watch Seyfarth he is painful

 

[ancient_magpie]

Why does Galvin find it so hard to find a grubber to penetrate the line and not just rebound off shins. Short and long kicking game needs plenty of work.

Ir that's you Dennis please get a haircut

 

[rihannafan1]

We had a 19yo at fullback, a 19yo in the halves, a 19yo at dummy half and 6 debutants. You won't win stacks of games with that much youth in your team, just too many rushed or poor decisions will be made in key positions. That showed tonight.

I thought Staines or Turuva would be a better backup fullback but Mason has been nominated, apparently.

A lot of criticism about Galvin's short kicking but with a better chase from us he would have gotten Ponga in-goal twice more than he did in the second half.

I'd give it a few weeks for things to click in attack. There was so much we didn't use.

Marshall needs to nail the in-game stuff a little better eg. Changing tactics, timing of subs.