LIVE GAME Round 21 versus Panthers

[Tucker]

What about last week , team on charge to the bottom , and we looked ordinary , only won with 10 seconds to go ,

Last week’s game was in contention for worst game of NRL played in season 2025 so far.

 

[bbobb]

they never went away from there game plan lol one out running even when we got behind

You’re right. I don’t get it that every 4th tackle goes to Turuva (I imagine it’s for a quick play the ball to set for the kick) but it effectively burns a tackle and the defence are looking for him and mark him easily.
We actually look better when we occasionally shift the ball and take the meterage wide of the ruck. At least it put defences in two minds.
With the video analysis available, our game plans are too easy to read. We need some out there to read the game and direct the attack.

 

[eyewondertoo]

Dooey was the only one who tried a short kick over the top and then missed the rekick which was comedy capers stuff.
Watching romey do the same kick over and over was nauseating.
I find it hard to believe the team didn't change tactics at any stage - surely bit of creativity was needed from the playmakers in the team.
Following the coaches' instructions?

 

[liltiger]

First thing he needs to do is work out what we’re good at, and build on that, whilst moving away from what we’re not good at.
We’re not a disciplined, robotic type team so throw that out and see what works for us !

If I'm Benji I'm tapping Hodgo and looking for a new attacking coach. Instead of running plays with the guys I'm working 1on 1 with Latu, Madden, Luai on their game management and kicking games. Latu needs to think run first. He will grow into the 7 role. At the moment he just seems to be shovelling the ball off. No idea why. I'd tell him and Luai to run first. Straight at the line. First touch each has do a ruck just one directly straight. Massive problem we have is we do this one out hit up play, there's absolutly noone pushing up with the ball carrier were all flat footed and way to shallow were all in each other's pockets. We have mo depth at all in our sets. Last night our attack struggled because Penrith were mightily quick off the line and were in our face and we had no time. Firstly the guys should have gotten more shape deeper to buy that extra second of time and secondly the halves should have squared up at the rushing defence with that extra second and firstly ran at them to engage the quick moving defence for a shift or run at any holes developed. I would have put a few kicks on the 3rd in as well just to keep the winger and centres in their line a bit deeper. Even a chip kick 5 metres behind their rushing line. We don't need it to work we just need to make them think, that'll get them to start second guessing themselves and slow their line speed down just a wee bit to buy us a fraction more time. Another thing, I'd not bomb on the fifth nowhere near as much. I'd be drilling it along the ground trying to get it into touch as much as possible to get the back 3 out of the game as much as possible. They were just eating up the bombs uncontested and running on to them making easy metres.

 

[Halbrowne61]

If I'm Benji I'm tapping Hodgo and looking for a new attacking coach. Instead of running plays with the guys I'm working 1on 1 with Latu, Madden, Luai on their game management and kicking games. Latu needs to think run first. He will grow into the 7 role. At the moment he just seems to be shovelling the ball off. No idea why. I'd tell him and Luai to run first. Straight at the line. First touch each has do a ruck just one directly straight. Massive problem we have is we do this one out hit up play, there's absolutly noone pushing up with the ball carrier were all flat footed and way to shallow were all in each other's pockets. We have mo depth at all in our sets. Last night our attack struggled because Penrith were mightily quick off the line and were in our face and we had no time. Firstly the guys should have gotten more shape deeper to buy that extra second of time and secondly the halves should have squared up at the rushing defence with that extra second and firstly ran at them to engage the quick moving defence for a shift or run at any holes developed. I would have put a few kicks on the 3rd in as well just to keep the winger and centres in their line a bit deeper. Even a chip kick 5 metres behind their rushing line. We don't need it to work we just need to make them think, that'll get them to start second guessing themselves and slow their line speed down just a wee bit to buy us a fraction more time. Another thing, I'd not bomb on the fifth nowhere near as much. I'd be drilling it along the ground trying to get it into touch as much as possible to get the back 3 out of the game as much as possible. They were just eating up the bombs uncontested and running on to them making easy metres.

All good stuff mate but if I’m Shane I’m tapping Benji and his whole coaching team and getting a coach smart enough to take us forward. I don’t think Benji has got the mental smarts to do that.
Remember the old insanity quote !

 

[liltiger]

All good stuff mate but if I’m Shane I’m tapping Benji and his whole coaching team and getting a coach smart enough to take us forward. I don’t think Benji has got the mental smarts to do that.
Remember the old insanity quote !

I'm torn I'd love for Benji to be able to turn it around but don't know if he can. If Richo did tap him on the shoulder though I wouldn't blame him.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I'm torn I'd love for Benji to be able to turn it around but don't know if he can. If Richo did tap him on the shoulder though I wouldn't blame him.

If we finish bottom 4, I’m not sure how you retain him. It’s not like our squad will be any better next year. We’re starting down the barrel of another mediocre season.

 

[Squater]

While we don’t want to be giving away 6 agains or penalties and yes Seyfarth is prone to giving a few away, what about the players who make no effort to get back to marker or get back in the defensive line after making a tackle ?
They are much more the problem than the ones such as Seyfarth who regularly make every effort to get back to marker or get back in the defensive line and we have a few culprits who regularly make no effort at all, leaving us a man down in our defensive line.

I'd have a team of seyfarths than plodders who don't give a shit. At least I'd see players having a crack

 

[coivtny]

If I'm Benji I'm tapping Hodgo and looking for a new attacking coach. Instead of running plays with the guys I'm working 1on 1 with Latu, Madden, Luai on their game management and kicking games. Latu needs to think run first. He will grow into the 7 role. At the moment he just seems to be shovelling the ball off. No idea why. I'd tell him and Luai to run first. Straight at the line. First touch each has do a ruck just one directly straight. Massive problem we have is we do this one out hit up play, there's absolutly noone pushing up with the ball carrier were all flat footed and way to shallow were all in each other's pockets. We have mo depth at all in our sets. Last night our attack struggled because Penrith were mightily quick off the line and were in our face and we had no time. Firstly the guys should have gotten more shape deeper to buy that extra second of time and secondly the halves should have squared up at the rushing defence with that extra second and firstly ran at them to engage the quick moving defence for a shift or run at any holes developed. I would have put a few kicks on the 3rd in as well just to keep the winger and centres in their line a bit deeper. Even a chip kick 5 metres behind their rushing line. We don't need it to work we just need to make them think, that'll get them to start second guessing themselves and slow their line speed down just a wee bit to buy us a fraction more time. Another thing, I'd not bomb on the fifth nowhere near as much. I'd be drilling it along the ground trying to get it into touch as much as possible to get the back 3 out of the game as much as possible. They were just eating up the bombs uncontested and running on to them making easy metres.

Loved Hodgo as a player but he was an ordinary coach when he coached our reserves and, based on what we're seeing on the field this year, he hasn't improved. I know it sounds OTT but I'd remove the whole NRL coaching team and try again. If we lose players, so be it. We won't improve in 2026 with the same group.

 

[Squater]

You’re right. I don’t get it that every 4th tackle goes to Turuva (I imagine it’s for a quick play the ball to set for the kick) but it effectively burns a tackle and the defence are looking for him and mark him easily.
We actually look better when we occasionally shift the ball and take the meterage wide of the ruck. At least it put defences in two minds.
With the video analysis available, our game plans are too easy to read. We need some out there to read the game and direct the attack.

Turuva would take it as he had a quick play the ball. What a shithouse game plan. What no one else can play the ball quick. Reminds me of under 8s

 

[liltiger]

If we finish bottom 4, I’m not sure how you retain him. It’s not like our squad will be any better next year. We’re starting down the barrel of another mediocre season.

I agree. I can't see Richo keeping him if we're not clear of another spoon by the end of the year. Hypothetically even if we finish 10th but only 2pts from the spoon I don't think it'll be enough. I'd be sad to see players follow him, though if they go, they go. We finally have a professional boardroom, we finally have a professional ceo, Benji is the last carry over from the old mob and their incompetence. I'm still hopefully we can jag 2 more wins for the year. After last night though it's not looking too flash. You would assume when he or the players recognised how the Panthers defence was in our face smothering us someone would have changed the game plan. But noone did.

 

[Vicious]

I'd have a team of seyfarths than plodders who don't give a shit. At least I'd see players having a crack

We have a few culprits who regularly don’t make any effort to get back to dummy half or back in our defensive line after making a tackle and it’s big part of the reason why opposing teams roll through us so easily.

 

[liltiger]

We have a few culprits who regularly don’t make any effort to get back to dummy half or back in our defensive line after making a tackle and it’s big part of the reason why opposing teams roll through us so easily.

It all comes to desire and discipline.

 

[Halbrowne61]

It all comes to desire and discipline.

And brains !

 

[jadtiger]

How in the [This word has been automatically removed] did they give that Tago try? I was at the ground and could barely see the screen but it looked like he missed it completely … forearm?

The entire Penrith team looked ready to defend, conceding it wasn’t going to be awarded

Anusley had Tago down as a try scorer on his betting ticket so naturally it was always going to be a try.

 

[Tim Sheens]

I still haven't seen the Titans match, but from reading here and the scoring stats, our left edge clearly worked well together and won us the match. Meanwhile, Staines who has been good, had one of those afternoons one wants a hole to hide in. An afternoon that would not likely be repeated again in his career.

Given that Turuva has already been shifted to fullback and To'a playing with one arm, why would our coaching staff break up the combination with May that worked well and shift Skelton to the right?

 

[liltiger]

And brains !

I'm over Luais stupid 2 penalties a game. Don't say your a captain act like a captain.

 

[Halbrowne61]

I'm over Luais stupid 2 penalties a game. Don't say your a captain act like a captain.

I rest my case.

 

[Wiz]

You’re right. I don’t get it that every 4th tackle goes to Turuva (I imagine it’s for a quick play the ball to set for the kick) but it effectively burns a tackle and the defence are looking for him and mark him easily.
We actually look better when we occasionally shift the ball and take the meterage wide of the ruck. At least it put defences in two minds.
With the video analysis available, our game plans are too easy to read. We need some out there to read the game and direct the attack.

Fullbacks tend to take the hit up before the kick because they don’t chase the kick anyway. It essentially creates another onside chaser for the kicking team.

 

[twentyforty]

I'm over Luais stupid 2 penalties a game. Don't say your a captain act like a captain.

Benji gets heaps of adulation from the players to the point of being nauseatingly like self fulfilment. I watched the Titans put away a top 4 Warriors side on their home turf. It was their coach’s 500th game. They didn’t continually exclaim their love for the coach, but showed how much they respected the club, the coach by their on field performance and attitude.