LIVE GAME Round 1 vs Knights

[Speed2burn]

Same. I reckon Luai and Douhei might work better.

Bring back the Doueihi spiral bomb 🫣😤

 

[Dr_Ice]

Also anyone who thinks Mason is better than Bula, or has more potential is kidding themselves.

He was okay but he drops the footy once a game minimum - also struggled to make a tackle any time Knights made a break. Something that Bula never does.

Also the talk that Hope is better than TDS seems to have died off, however both need to improve their defence

 

[Tcat]

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

I honestly don't think Benji looks at stats like these. All he gives a shit about is how well you train and that seems to be enough to get you a game. He needs to open his eyes and fix the actual problems we have on the field.

 

[bptiger 0]

I thought Sam was alright. Made a half a break out of our own end at one point. I’m down as him either being our player of the year or player’s player.

Well he will need to improve after last nights effort , but to be fare to him the half’s gave him nothing to work with

 

[pacey]

If we had Api and Bula in the team, I would be more concerned with this loss. Defence is a worry, but I think we will get right against Parra.
It will take a few games for everyone to settle in..

 

[tig_prmz]

Mate we showed no improvement in our attack or defence from last year. Knights blew so many chances, if they played half decent we get beat by 30 on our home ground by a team that has no halves. I can't see how anyone sees positives out of that game.

There some individuals like Fainu and May who were the positives but overall it was a sad game from us.

No other positives at all. We were too one dimensional in attack and the only reason we were close was because Knights kept dropping the ball.

The defence was all over the place. Best butchered at least three 2 on 1 near the try line.

They gutted us through the middle 20 minutes into the second half.

I hope Api can make a difference but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[I_m_a_Tiger]

I would seriously play Latu at 6 next week,Galvin was destroying our attack

I’m kinda sick of hearing Galvin’s name. Douhie would’ve done better.

 

[Stevec]

it’s already been checked by the bunker

It was clear Marshew kept his foot in but only just which says to me Faataape should have given him a nudge and he would not have stayed in but no one laid a hand on him

 

[Demps]

Is Mason even a fullback?
He was a 5/8 coming through....

I've seen him suggested to play centre or bench utility.

I'm not sold on any of that making sense.
Maybe it's the head gear and the size of him, but maybe he could a hooker? Reid Mahoney clone.

I am struggling to see what he brings to the top 17 in those roles.

 

[Rugba]

He can, no problem with that but questioning everyone who comments with “have you even played the game” is a bit much

Abit too much is putting it mildly

 

[Stevec]

Benji very upbeat in his press conference but the 2 big issues
- clunky attack - one out runs - no real line breaks - poor kicks
- missed tackles - 2nd half a few knights left many of us clutching air
Did not get mentioned which is ok but hope he seriously addresses these things during the week
I expect us to beat Parra next week with Jahream and Api back with Parra missing Moses and no more Gutho or Sivo

 

[rihannafan1]

Like anywhere, don’t park in car parks at sporting events. The key is getting there early and knowing the best spots, research!
I’ve parked in the same areas at both Campbelltown and Leichhardt for over 20 years, and have no problem getting out fast. Campbelltown last nite out in 2 minutes, u park across the road from the hill side, then your virtually on the freeway home.

Where do you park?

 

[Tcat]

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

Seyfarth has a go but just isn't good enough for 1st grade. Hes a maniac on the field, running around crazy with very little composure, hence his self inflicted HIA last night.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

I like Mason but not as a fullback,we did not lose last night due to him.

he can't catch the high ball turn him into a centre

 

[Tcat]

Biggest issue remains after 15 years: strength in the tackle. Simply, they roll over us in attack, while we get held up and knocked back.

If teams are always on the back foot and scrambling you're going to get tired, no matter how fit you are.

The knights absolutely dominated us physically in the first half. Every set was just holding on and Ponga and their speedy, weedy 5/8 had time and space. It was a matter of time and were lucky it was only 10.

With mental resolve we held the score and the effort was high, but we've seen this before and by midseason the drain of being battered makes our commitment wane.

We can talk backline, players out, Galvin's attack, but we're just really weak at tackling and players are forced into individual lunging desperate efforts.

For all the potential, fonua pole is the biggest defensive weakness. He just doesn't make dominant tackles and is always around the ankles. Seyfarth tries to tackle around the chest but he's nowhere near strong enough and players push through him and you see him scrambling back to the line all the time.

May, Hunt, turuva, luai seemed to have enough in the tackle to slow them down. Bird can do it well for about 5 minutes before looking worn out.

We need to be wrestling all the time. It doesn't make sense that a professional footy team doesn't ever address this fundamental aspect of the game.

And it's obvious we don't address it because when our best and brightest juniors come into NSW cup and NRL they are very poor defensively when compared to other teams across the league.

In 2010 and 11 we had Gareth Ellis who could single handedly stop the momentum of an opposing team with terrific technique and strength. We have never had any apparent focus on it as a team, we always look like individuals flailing about desperately.

We were clunky in attack, there were errors, players were alright generally, some big names to come back but the ONLY things that matters from here is if we can improve our strength in the tackle.

Why can't the goons running this club see it. So many if us notice and mention it but we can't do a damn thing about it. Are the coaching staff trying to address this problem? Do they not have the right defensive coaches in place? Is it an attitude thing? My guess, they have no idea hence why it never getss fixed.

 

[Spartan117]

Tristan Hope was good on Debut also

 

[Spartan117]

Biggest issue remains after 15 years: strength in the tackle. Simply, they roll over us in attack, while we get held up and knocked back.

Nailed it @watersider - Opposition teams win the Ruck Consistently, we lack the strength and wrestle.

Watch Newcastle constantly find their front for a quick play the ball, Whilst we are always rolled to our backs.

Need to win the Tackle/Ruck

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Tristan Hope was good on Debut also

He was solid until about 16-18mins or so then fatigue hit hard and cost us when attacking in the red zone for a set. That changed momentum in the 1st half and we didn’t get down that end of the field for the rest of the half.

His 2nd stint was solid.

 

[Fish88]

There’s no way we wouldn’t have been better around the middle with Klemmer in the middle last night. Like it or not, he does the 1 % that’s a lot of our forwards don’t.

 

[Fish88]

He was solid until about 16-18mins or so then fatigue hit hard and cost us when attacking in the red zone for a set. That changed momentum in the 1st half and we didn’t get down that end of the field for the rest of the half.

His 2nd stint was solid.

I thought his service was shabby tbh. Twals drop ball 5m out was because of Hope. He stood behind the play the ball looking around and left the ball there for a second or two before passing. These small things are huge for a hooker.

Tallins service I thought was better, but you’re right, both need to improve defence. I’d prefer Latu on bench when Api is back. Lady loves to tackle and hit hard, also can play many more positions.

Tallin needs to learn to play against men and not miss 6 or more tackles every game