Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Jolls]

My take is that the "let Lachy play what is in front of him" experiment has run its course. I think we despo need Latu back and to stay fit for more than 5 minutes. I think Luai is being asked too often, or deferring too often, to giving Galvin the ball.

Latu at 7 and Luai at 6 lets both players handle the ball equally, Luai can focus on runs and kicks, Latu keeps us straight and he distributes fairly well. Latu also has a direct running game.

Currently with Galvin we spend too much energy trying to guess what he's going to do and where he will go. Yes he pokes through here and there, yes he has try assists but he throws 100 grenades a match with the hopes that a few will land in the enemy trenches. Ironically it's very Benji-like, where the lack of structure starts to hurt his team-mates and although we come hard at the end of most matches, its too frantic. There ends up a considerable lowlights reel to match the highlights reel, when really we are begging for a very modest Cooper Cronk-type performance where 90% of the stuff is solid and boring and dependable.

If Latu was back I'd be inclined to try Lachy at lock, so he can still have his efforts but he touches the ball way less and he gets a bit of defensive starch into his game. Or centres. Failing that, you drop him again.

With Latu out however I don't see what other changes you can make except to ask Luai to take more control and pass to Lachy less often.

100% agree with the Galvin issue, it is glaringly obvious that his cross field running and poor decision making is affecting the team; however, that is something that anyone can put a finger on. It is the drop off in line speed, the soft middle resulting from a lack of inside pressure etc.

As an example; on the Bud Sullivan break that led to the try on the weekend the A defender was Api. The marker responsible for putting inside pressure on the receiver was Luai. If the system was working Sullivan would have no reason to come back in behind the ruck because of the inside pressure that was following, in this case Twal and May. As the play was heading towards the wing Api had Sulivan on his outside shoulder and heading that way, Luai was called out of the play by the referee and Sam F ran into him, that was enough for Sullivan to step off his right foot. Twal and May were not pushing across, instead just looking on. Had they been following the play across this gap would have been plugged and the play snuffed out there.

Take the get out of the in goal and the try on the opposite side of the field on the last by Melbourne and the exploitation of the middle in broken play by Saints and you start to see the pattern. The line speed dropping right off, inside pressure not being exerted and the scramble falling away are signs of something bigger: tiredness (it was early days against Melboune for the try on the last) due to the grind, overtraining or attitude.

If we could execute the defensive structure well for 8 games - what has caused us to fall off the cliff in the last three? Galvin running sideways affects our ability to put points on the board and him/Seyfarth being targetting in defence has provided plenty of post contact meters for the oppostion - but the tries are being leaked through what was a pretty solid middle and the ability to cover and recover from any defensive errors.

Where has that gone and why?

 

[Jolls]

My ex rooster mate at work was filthy on Galvo today citing the dropped ball.

He said it just wasnt good enough for a first grader.

But his assessment was that Souths won it more than we lost it.

Which to me, comes back to instilling the virtues of effort in as many players as possible.

To see Heath mentioned in despatches as a first choice half, it really sends a shiver down ones spine as to the perception of the general disfunction afflicting our team at the moment.

Ive never doubted Benjis good intent, just his ability.

Id still like to know the identity of the 16 coaching applicants Tim recieved before diligently appointing himself. I know its academic, but a lot of our discussion is wondering.

Bold hypotheticals and alternate histories!

I'm not ready to hang this entirely on Benji, yet. Start of the season if we got to round 10 with a 50% win ratio most on here were saying that he had demonstrated enough to keep him on. He has achieved that yet after one belting and a close loss we are calling for his head. I don't think he has lost us those games - I think the answer lies within the playing group and I trust that the week's break and internal review uncovers the issue and, even if it is bloody and messy, it is thrashed out behind closed doors.

You don't uncoach line speed, you don't uncoach scramble defence, you don't uncoach solid goal line defensive structures and you don't all of a sudden develop a soft middle behind the ruck if you haven't had it for the previous two months.

Lets put some of it down the opposition working us out, but that doesn't account for the effort areas dropping off the cliff, fundamental defensive play disappearing or lethargic plays (looking very much at AD and Naden). This is within the playing group - disharmony, too tired? If Benji can coach he will identify the problem and get us back on track. If he can't figure it out we are in for a hard slog; but for mine I am leaning towards the Galvin situation affecting the mindset of the playing group. The first place player unrest shows up is in defence - this is an attitude issue that needs to be resolved - find the cancer and cut it out otherwise the season is over.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Actually, Scott Prince made the tri-nations squad and played one test - https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/tri-nations-2005/squads.html

remember Skando was front rower in the 2005 GF and couldn't make the kangaroos squad.

 

[innsaneink]

Anyone know what the members email is about?

He’s doing exactly what he did at the Sharks but in a weaker team. Shouldn’t be a surprise.

The concerns were there the day we announced him....dunno why this bloke gets to bundy off and go home early every week...3.runs i think in the first half the other night is not pulling your weight.
This is on Benji again

 

[GNR4LIFE]

The concerns were there the day we announced him....dunno why this bloke gets to bundy off and go home early every week...3.runs i think in the first half the other night is not pulling your weight.
This is on Benji again

I always see him get talked up as a wrecking ball. I don’t see it. He was about to retire before we offered him a 3 year contract. The most mins we have gotten out of him this year has been 34. Not good enough for a first grader.

 

[innsaneink]

To be honest so far this year we have not missed Stefano at all, it is a shame the football side could not have found another prop or just kept Klem for this season.

At his best he is a talent and damaging forward...Bellamy isnt a fool...we cannot keep losing talented players...we need them to WANT to stay.
Otherwise it will be always one step forward two steps back

 

[pawsandclaws1]

At his best he is a talent and damaging forward...Bellamy isnt a fool...we cannot keep losing talented players...we need them to WANT to stay.
Otherwise it will be always one step forward two steps back

Good post. Professionalism starts with the Board not leaking information about recruitment or retentation decisions. We get professional on and off the field, public perception will change.

 

[Flippedy]

100% agree with the Galvin issue, it is glaringly obvius that his cross field running and poor decision making is affecting the team; however, that is something that anyone can put a finger on. It is the drop off in line speed, the soft middle resulting from a lack of inside pressure etc.

As an example; on the Bud Sullivan break that led to the try ont he weekend the A defender was Api. The marker responsible for putting inside pressure on the receiver was Luai. If the system was working Sullivan would have no reason to come back in behind the ruck because of the inside pressure that was following, in this case Twal and May. As the play was heading towards the wing Api had Sulivan on his outside shoulder and heading that way, Luai was called out of the play by the referee and Sam F ran into him, that was enough for Sullivan to step off his right foot. Twal and May were not pushing across, instead just looking on. Had they been following the play across this gap would have been plugged and the play snuffed out there.

Take the get out of the in goal and the try on the opposite side of the field on the last by Melbourne and the exploitation of the middle in broken play by Saints and you start to see the pattern. The line speed droping right off, inside pressure not being exerted and the scramble falling away are signs of something bigger: tiredness (it was early days against Melboune for the try on the last) due to the grind, overtraining or attitude.

If we could execute the defensive structure well for 8 games - what has caused us to fall off the cliff in the last three? Galvin running sideways affects our ability to put points on the board and him/Seyfarth being targetting in defence has provided plenty of post contact meters for the oppostion - but the tries are being leaked through what was a pretty solid middle and the ability to cover and recover from any defensive errors.

Where has that gone and why?

Belief

 

[Lukic]

I have it on good account that he especially and TDS to some extent don’t bond as well with the team as the rest of them do.

I think the whole Galvin thing has been more disruptive then I’ve given credit for

I've noticed this and tbh, there were subtle signs of it prior to the whole Galvin drama.

The team/club culture is becoming very Islander heavy, especially considering we have the only Islander head coach in the league, our two captains are Islanders and the vast majority of our players are Islanders. Twal, Doueihi and Seyfarth have been at the club for years and are much older while Bird's a vet who's played across a number of teams including rep footy so they fit in well, but I can imagine it's much tougher for two young white kids like Galvin and TDS, especially where his direct competition in first grade is the younger brother of two other teammates.

The more I think about it, this could be one of the reasons why Galvin (and most likely TDS) doesn't feel comfortable or like he has a future here.

 

[Jolls]

Belief

Belief, or attitide, is the most likely issue. The problem for Benji is that he has to identify the cause. Is it the Galvin saga, tiredness or some other reason. When he understands that, then he can fix the problem. Until that is understood we are all, including Benji, guessing.

 

[liltiger]

100% agree with the Galvin issue, it is glaringly obvious that his cross field running and poor decision making is affecting the team; however, that is something that anyone can put a finger on. It is the drop off in line speed, the soft middle resulting from a lack of inside pressure etc.

As an example; on the Bud Sullivan break that led to the try on the weekend the A defender was Api. The marker responsible for putting inside pressure on the receiver was Luai. If the system was working Sullivan would have no reason to come back in behind the ruck because of the inside pressure that was following, in this case Twal and May. As the play was heading towards the wing Api had Sulivan on his outside shoulder and heading that way, Luai was called out of the play by the referee and Sam F ran into him, that was enough for Sullivan to step off his right foot. Twal and May were not pushing across, instead just looking on. Had they been following the play across this gap would have been plugged and the play snuffed out there.

Take the get out of the in goal and the try on the opposite side of the field on the last by Melbourne and the exploitation of the middle in broken play by Saints and you start to see the pattern. The line speed droping right off, inside pressure not being exerted and the scramble falling away are signs of something bigger: tiredness (it was early days against Melboune for the try on the last) due to the grind, overtraining or attitude.

If we could execute the defensive structure well for 8 games - what has caused us to fall off the cliff in the last three? Galvin running sideways affects our ability to put points on the board and him/Seyfarth being targetting in defence has provided plenty of post contact meters for the oppostion - but the tries are being leaked through what was a pretty solid middle and the ability to cover and recover from any defensive errors.

Where has that gone and why?

Maybe a lot of travel away In the first 10 weeks, fatigue, might the guys have been just trying to crawl their way to a bye. 🤷‍♂️

 

[Oldman]

I've noticed this and tbh, there were subtle signs of it prior to the whole Galvin drama.

The team/club culture is becoming very Islander heavy, especially considering we have the only Islander head coach in the league, our two captains are Islanders and the vast majority of our players are Islanders. Twal, Doueihi and Seyfarth have been at the club for years and are much older while Bird's a vet who's played across a number of teams including rep footy so they fit in well, but I can imagine it's much tougher for two young white kids like Galvin and TDS, especially where his direct competition in first grade is the younger brother of two other teammates.

The more I think about it, this could be one of the reasons why Galvin (and most likely TDS) doesn't feel comfortable or like he has a future here.

I think you are way off the mark here, Go look at any junior rep sides from under 14 upwards and they are all dominantly filled with islander boys and they bond together with all their different cultures with no issues.
Sides are dominated by boys with islander heritage because they have the body shape and size that is best suited to Rugby League,
Where as (as you call them) the white boys dominate in AFL.
But most of all kids today mix and get on well with most other nationalities regardless of their colour or religion.

 

[Oldman]

I think I backed them, Lol.

😂
Sorry Tigerbenji

 

[Westie]

Any info from the board meeting?

 

[Needaname]

I'm not ready to hang this entirely on Benji, yet. Start of the season if we got to round 10 with a 50% win ratio most on here were saying that he had demonstrated enough to keep him on. He has achieved that yet after one belting and a close loss we are calling for his head. I don't think he has lost us those games - I think the answer lies within the playing group and I trust that the week's break and internal review uncovers the issue and, even if it is bloody and messy, it is thrashed out behind closed doors.

You don't uncoach line speed, you don't uncoach scramble defence, you don't uncoach solid goal line defensive structures and you don't all of a sudden develop a soft middle behind the ruck if you haven't had it for the previous two months.

Lets put some of it down the opposition working us out, but that doesn't account for the effort areas dropping off the cliff, fundamental defensive play disappearing or lethargic plays (looking very much at AD and Naden). This is within the playing group - disharmony, too tired? If Benji can coach he will identify the problem and get us back on track. If he can't figure it out we are in for a hard slog; but for mine I am leaning towards the Galvin situation affecting the mindset of the playing group. The first place player unrest shows up is in defence - this is an attitude issue that needs to be resolved - find the cancer and cut it out otherwise the season is over.

Agree, I’m really starting to see the effects of the Galvin situation it’s like the who club / players have been put on notice and they just have to suck it up and let him play.

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

100% agree with the Galvin issue, it is glaringly obvious that his cross field running and poor decision making is affecting the team; however, that is something that anyone can put a finger on. It is the drop off in line speed, the soft middle resulting from a lack of inside pressure etc.

As an example; on the Bud Sullivan break that led to the try on the weekend the A defender was Api. The marker responsible for putting inside pressure on the receiver was Luai. If the system was working Sullivan would have no reason to come back in behind the ruck because of the inside pressure that was following, in this case Twal and May. As the play was heading towards the wing Api had Sulivan on his outside shoulder and heading that way, Luai was called out of the play by the referee and Sam F ran into him, that was enough for Sullivan to step off his right foot. Twal and May were not pushing across, instead just looking on. Had they been following the play across this gap would have been plugged and the play snuffed out there.

Take the get out of the in goal and the try on the opposite side of the field on the last by Melbourne and the exploitation of the middle in broken play by Saints and you start to see the pattern. The line speed droping right off, inside pressure not being exerted and the scramble falling away are signs of something bigger: tiredness (it was early days against Melboune for the try on the last) due to the grind, overtraining or attitude.

If we could execute the defensive structure well for 8 games - what has caused us to fall off the cliff in the last three? Galvin running sideways affects our ability to put points on the board and him/Seyfarth being targetting in defence has provided plenty of post contact meters for the oppostion - but the tries are being leaked through what was a pretty solid middle and the ability to cover and recover from any defensive errors.

Where has that gone and why?

Do you think fatigue could be an issue? the boys played 11 straight without a bye and have done a lot of travelling the last 3 weeks.

 

[innsaneink]

I think you are way off the mark here, Go look at any junior rep sides from under 14 upwards and they are all dominantly filled with islander boys and they bond together with all their different cultures with no issues.
Sides are dominated by boys with islander heritage because they have the body shape and size that is best suited to Rugby League,
Where as (as you call them) the white boys dominate in AFL.
But most of all kids today mix and get on well with most other nationalities regardless of their colour or religion.

Yeah well said oldman...took the words outta my mouth.

Its not an islander thing....but I have wondered if playing with men, seasoned NRL hardened men is getting to LG.

Hes gone straight from whatever, Matts or Flegg into NRL...big jump and not gradual at all....and while a lot of these 'men' ...imo...carry on like kids with gaming and vlogging etc ...maybe hes starting to lose the fun aspect, not just because of his team mates but the high pressure requirements needed for professional NRL
We all here how he just wants to have fun and play footy, play what he sees...sorry Lachy those days are over...this is high stakes big business ..not junior reps any more playing with your school mates....is taht what he yearns for going back to his old high school teacher/coach?

 

[Needaname]

Do you think fatigue could be an issue? the boys played 11 straight without a bye and have done a lot of travelling the last 3 weeks.

Maybe for a new combination or young side but it’s not an excuse for a professional football team.
The Sharks have had far worst of a draw in terms of travel only playing their 3rd home game last week after 7 weeks on the road.
Keep an eye on the Raiders who have their first bye round 15 and see if they drop off!

 

[Demps]

Krystian Mapapalangi.

Remember the name!

 

[Oldman]

Yeah well said oldman...took the words outta my mouth.

Its not an islander thing....but I have wondered if playing with men, seasoned NRL hardened men is getting to LG.

Hes gone straight frome whatever, Mattas or Flegg into NRL...big jump and not gradual at all....and while a lot of these 'men' ...imo...carry on like kids with gaming and vlogging etc ...maybe hes starting to lose the fun aspect, not just because of his team mates but the high pressure requirements needed for professional NRL
We all here how he just wants to have fun and play footy, play what he sees...sorry Lachy those days are over...this is high stakes big business ..not junior reps any more playing with your school mates....is taht what he yearns for going back to his old high school teacher/coach?

Agree Ink
People have to remember Galvin is a 19y old KID playing NRL and is learning his trade.
As I have mentioned before I am glad he didn’t look at our offer as in the end we might all be counting our lucky stars that we saved that cash.
No body knows how his career is going to turn out but I wish him well wherever he plays.