LIVE GAME Round 17 versus Knights

[Betterdays22]

Which is why he’ll never be thought of in an Origin team.
Suggest we try him in a different role, 2x 20 and see if they gets him firing ?

I argued he is a lock in preseason, most disagree. If he wants to ball play for 80 minutes put him at 13 and find a prop with some grunt

 

[lathami]

Therdd wed was also a blatant offside when one of their players on the 5th tackle ran straight past the ref and attacked the kicker. Thought the ref was shit!

 

[batboy]

Yep that’s how I saw it.

Same as early last year wasn’t it - they were dogshit and we still let them win…
We don’t lose, we let them win!

 

[king_sirro]

Mate T’oa is the last back I’d be getting rid of after that. He saved our ass plenty of times

I agree. I thought he was put in some terrible positions defensively yet came up with the tackle. Really good game from Toa IMO. He basically defended for 2 people as Maka missed nearly every single tackle

 

[Halbrowne61]

Can we get rid of Starford early?

That game just seemed amatuer night again.
We cannot have a backline that gets outrun like that. The game was ours and we just have too much amatuer in our backs.

Centres are still or weakest link. Turuva is wasted there , he needs to be at 2 and Skelton at 5. Choose centres after that, and I can see the same drums are beating for Makasini as they were for Tommy Talau years ago.
I assume next year that Averillo and May will be first choice centres but as for now weve got Herbert, Makasini and maybe Fainu, and that’s about it.

 

[Betterdays22]

API made some terrible mistakes at crucial times. Benjis use of the bench is so poor imo and his selections are very difficult to understand at times…

Thought he got the bench all wrong today. For a start - cannot understand what he sees in Geyer who looks well off the pace. Latu should not be anywhere near 9, To'a should have gone straight to centre after Young gave Masi a bath the first time, Tavana would jump over 3 Mazhews.

Praise Benji when he gets it right, thought he missed the mark today

 

[batboy]

I argued he is a lock in preseason, most disagree. If he wants to ball play for 80 minutes put him at 13 and find a prop with some grunt

Agree,
Said that early on also, got sick of saying it…
I reckon he’s even to cumbersome for lock now. They Paul Gallen style lock in the game is long gone

 

[wonka]

When was the last time we beat the same team twice in a season ?

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

The brilliant master Coach Benji costs us the game yet again. Playing a Winger at centre, Centre at Wing then brings on a Half to play Hooker. Plays Api & Terrell ridiculous long minutes even though they are clearly fatigued and begin making errors. If the game plan was to bomb to Marzhew all game why not pick Tavana and let someone who’s an actual aerial threat expose the matchup? Jarome is in cracking form but nope let’s give the ball to AD all game. Playing Mav Geyer for 40 minutes I mean I could go on all night. If they’re not gonna sack Benji get some blokes who aren’t his mates to be assistant coaches FFS

 

[happy_tiger]

If we lose to either the Dragons and Eels then I will concede that the season is over

If it wasn't over last week it certainly is now .....especially with Taylan gone for the season

 

[Telltails]

If measuring losses - not even close to the three hammerings that determined our season. As ugly as it was I would take that over a slaughter.
Something about our games against Newcastle - played in some shockers over the years .

 

[Halbrowne61]

When was the last time we beat the same team twice in a season ?

Can’t remember but Knights were there for the taking today but we couldn’t do it.
Most of the plays went through Douehi whilst Luai reduced to a defensive role.
I think we could possibly lose our next 2 games as well, I think mentally we might be just about done. All the early season.promise has gone and not looking like returning.

 

[tigertragic]

Fully agree with those wanting May to play less minutes
BUT last week (2) and this week (1) we lost backs that impacted our available interchanges
Bunty and Pole can’t play long minutes
Seyfarth can play longer minutes but gets looser the longer he plays
That leaves Geyer, and I’d prefer an exhausted May than a fresh Geyer

Additionally we had two NRL centres but only played one in the centres with Toa on the wing. For his faults Toa is a better option at centre than Tito or Maka.

For what it’s worth I thought Sukkar and Skelton were our best today ( or at least our most effective for their positions)

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

I can’t believe how rubbish that performance was. How can we all see playing May 80mins kills our middle and he stifles so much attack when he is fatigued. Just get him a break somewhere for 10mins

Thought it was just me, ive only really noticed it of late must have had rose coloured glasses on, he really stifles the attack constantly not finding his front and leads to very slow play the balls.
Maybe its his insistance on trying to stand and then getting rolled late in the tackle idk.

 

[king_sirro]

Centres are still or weakest link. Turuva is wasted there , he needs to be at 2 and Skelton at 5. Choose centres after that, and I can see the same drums are beating for Makasini as they were for Tommy Talau years ago.
I assume next year that Averillo and May will be first choice centres but as for now weve got Herbert, Makasini and maybe Fainu, and that’s about it.

Saukuru should be left centre next week

 

[westTAHger]

Curious as to why no field goal attempt in dying minutes of 1st half.
plus when game was tied at 6 all and attacking the knight's line.

 

[stephen]

I've been incredibly critical of him, but his defence today was superb. He really battles in attack when AD is halfback. He needs a 7 that is one and 2 plays ahead setting things up to use Jerome's strengths. This is a huge issue at the club. AD's influence on the team demands he stay at either 6 or 7. Luai as captain and marquee demands he stays in the halves to. Yet both play better with either Latu or Jock beside them.

This debacle will continue next year of Luai stays. At best we might scrape into the 8 if we have a great run with injuries. For us to be top 4 team we need Latu to partner Adam Doueihi. Hear Javon talk about how easy it is to play with Latu inside him? Thats what Latu does, he makes life easy for his other half. Doueihi will have a field day partnering Latu.

A huge call needs to be made by Benji, Jerome and the club, otherwise we fail again next yeat

I'm not sure Benji sees the problem.

 

[Tigerad]

When was the last time we beat the same team twice in a season ?

I think it was either dragons or knights can’t remember the year though maybe a Madge year

 

[king_sirro]

I'm not sure Benji sees the problem.

I agree. Im certain he doesn't see the problem. It could possibly be fixed of our pack was at full strength and we played Latu lock and actually used him as a first receiver. But with an understrength pack we cant put him in the middle.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

We are 2 games out of the 8 by f and A with 8 games left we are done. I’m sure someone will compare 2005 though

I did that last week lol but we needed to win today.