LIVE GAME Round 13 v Cowboys

Live Game Discussion
Chunk said:
We don't have the players, Maclean was punching his nose through on nearly every run in the first twenty
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I'm sure the players would disagree with your comment. We do have the players. You've seen what they can in desperation with nothing to lose. The cattle is there. You think Dolphins have a better roster?
 
Kelce68 said:
This side is losing the first contact and wrestle battle.

That is causing quick play the balls for the opposition and mayhem around the ruck. We are trying to muck around in the ruck to combat it and its costing us.

This side is impressively bad at improving some of the basics that all football sides should be doing to guve them every chance. More line speed and intensity in first contact.

I'd go so far as to say that it, alone, has contributed to at least 2 or 3 of our losses this year.

In spite of the skinniness of this squad, the inexperience of the coach and the younger players and some of the execution of what still appears to be a very disjointed side, they have a couple of quick-fixes that are simply not being looked at/improved.
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This, we just seem to weak compared to the other teams. We get pushed backwards when defending and attacking. Our play the ball speed is in slow motion. It's ironic it's our size that's our biggest drawback but it's the same size that's our greatest asset atm. When we go set for set one out we're fine until the opposition start dropping forwards under at the ruck and we start getting driven back, we seem intent to ruck one out to generate ruck speed and were just choking in the battle. Yet when we go totally unstructured and bring in 2nd and 3rd phase play in the opposition can't keep up. As soon as we went unstructured we scored off an 11 pass play. Then the 2nd half when we promoted the ball we were unstoppable. I'd be telling the guys in the backline hold back off a one out ruck, I'd tell Api and Jahreem stand either side of the ruck when the forwards carting it up and I'd be telling the forwards take the hit up with the intention of promoting the ball for 2nd phase play at every hit up. Get them in the mindset of promoting the ball, we would carve so many teams up. We're just struggling to score points in structure even in the attacking 20 in structure we just seem lost for ideas, we have a team full of running players who do have ball skill. Even last night Samuela tipping the ball on for Staines, if Staines is awake and behind him and not in line with Samuela we strip them for numbers, who would expect a silky tip on from a 2nd rower on the shortside. We have the skillset in the squad it's just our insistence to play in this rigid structure of territorial play.
 
liltiger said:
This, we just seem to weak compared to the other teams. We get pushed backwards when defending and attacking. Our play the ball speed is in slow motion. It's ironic it's our size that's our biggest drawback but it's the same size that's our greatest asset atm. When we go set for set one out we're fine until the opposition start dropping forwards under at the ruck and we start getting driven back, we seem intent to ruck one out to generate ruck speed and were just choking in the battle. Yet when we go totally unstructured and bring in 2nd and 3rd phase play in the opposition can't keep up. As soon as we went unstructured we scored off an 11 pass play. Then the 2nd half when we promoted the ball we were unstoppable. I'd be telling the guys in the backline hold back off a one out ruck, I'd tell Api and Jahreem stand either side of the ruck when the forwards carting it up and I'd be telling the forwards take the hit up with the intention of promoting the ball for 2nd phase play at every hit up. Get them in the mindset of promoting the ball, we would carve so many teams up. We're just struggling to score points in structure even in the attacking 20 in structure we just seem lost for ideas, we have a team full of running players who do have ball skill. Even last night Samuela tipping the ball on for Staines, if Staines is awake and behind him and not in line with Samuela we strip them for numbers, who would expect a silky tip on from a 2nd rower on the shortside. We have the skillset in the squad it's just our insistence to play in this rigid structure of territorial play.
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That unstructured stuff tends to work against a side that’s up by 5 scores and has 4 guys backing up from origin. Not sure it works from the jump.

There’s obviously a balance there we need to find.
 
liltiger said:
This, we just seem to weak compared to the other teams. We get pushed backwards when defending and attacking. Our play the ball speed is in slow motion. It's ironic it's our size that's our biggest drawback but it's the same size that's our greatest asset atm. When we go set for set one out we're fine until the opposition start dropping forwards under at the ruck and we start getting driven back, we seem intent to ruck one out to generate ruck speed and were just choking in the battle. Yet when we go totally unstructured and bring in 2nd and 3rd phase play in the opposition can't keep up. As soon as we went unstructured we scored off an 11 pass play. Then the 2nd half when we promoted the ball we were unstoppable. I'd be telling the guys in the backline hold back off a one out ruck, I'd tell Api and Jahreem stand either side of the ruck when the forwards carting it up and I'd be telling the forwards take the hit up with the intention of promoting the ball for 2nd phase play at every hit up. Get them in the mindset of promoting the ball, we would carve so many teams up. We're just struggling to score points in structure even in the attacking 20 in structure we just seem lost for ideas, we have a team full of running players who do have ball skill. Even last night Samuela tipping the ball on for Staines, if Staines is awake and behind him and not in line with Samuela we strip them for numbers, who would expect a silky tip on from a 2nd rower on the shortside. We have the skillset in the squad it's just our insistence to play in this rigid structure of territorial play.
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I'd double down on our second-half direct one-out work.

There was a stage there where we just went 3, 4 rucks in a row, for about 10-15 mins, just back in behind the ruck, collapsing the middle, with Bula, Staines and Tito. It was incredibly impressive and effective. Staines was excellent with the ball out of yardage tonight. Ran for well over 200m. Api then worked in and around that, before Mason and Luai made the most of the extra space out wide. Unsurprisingly, when they actually had shape, they fleeced them rather easily.

I agree on second phase too. We need this type of simple game plan. It shows that has been in the background given the Hunt/TDS/Bird rotation of earlier in the year. Straight through the middle.

But the intensity in defence needs to find another 50%. They will never will win many games so long as thyy continue to stay passive.

They still seem a side that waits for the game to come to them. Very few in the squad right now go after the game.

Fix those few things and the ROI would be surprising I think.
 
liltiger said:
Just a shout out the morning after to Mason, would have been tough slotting in after the rat king was punted but imo I think it was his best game for us. Made his tackles, he missed a few but they all did, he provided a good foil for Luai. I was actually surprised how well he went, considering how long he hasn't had a run for us in firsts.
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He was outstanding considering his inexperience.

He's a good one to hang onto, Heath. Even if he's not the answer per se at five eighth.
 
Conbat07 said:
Luai Sin bin no warning given
Douhei sin bin was just a penalty
The try just before half time hurt, just letting drink water run by
Nanai takes our Mason on outside shoulder denies him a chance to cover tackle
Turuva taken out before given a chance for a fair catch, doesn’t matter if he was looking at the ball.
No sin bins for us

The NRL are happy that we come last, we still get crowds, clicks online and media.

Ashley Klein needs to be investigated for his corruption against us.

I hate the NRL, wish i could just walk away
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Sounds like you should heavily consider it
 
Lestronge said:
They’re both on 500k plus … I like them both (cue Batman’s parent trying to crucify me). But I like them competing for the 17th spot in a squad not in the starting pack .
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I don’t have to crucify you. You do that all on your own, Mr Football Anxiety 👋

And have the balls to tag someone if you’re going to take your usual passive aggressive digs.
 
mtd#2 said:
Look they weren't well hidden.. But I genuinely believe it's a different outcome , 9 minutes into a game if it's one of the influential sides.. say the storm. That's my take on it
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The perfect example of the inconsistency was the the storm v titans game - Blore laying in the ruck on the tryline and preventing DH picking up the ball and causing a no try decision. In any other game that is a professional foul and automatic 10 in the bin. Not Melbourne though.
 
BAGNF05 said:
That unstructured stuff tends to work against a side that’s up by 5 scores and has 4 guys backing up from origin. Not sure it works from the jump.

There’s obviously a balance there we need to find.
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Yes … this is fair … I hoped that we might be further along with finding that balance now we are in Week 13 …there still seems to be a plan to maintain the grind as long as possible

I know that they can’t just play hot potato all game , but they won’t win very often trying to out grind teams either … they just don’t have the forwards to win that way this season …. They have got to take a few more risks with the pill…
 
Kelce68 said:
He was outstanding considering his inexperience.

He's a good one to hang onto, Heath. Even if he's not the answer per se at five eighth.
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To me he has the potential to be a very similar style of play as terry Lamb.. another wests Juniour , Nuggety, tough with a step and likes to support through the middle .. reminds me of watching baa , he even moves a bit similarly
 
Tucker said:
Because we had anointed Galvin the lord and saviour at 6.
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Yep it was the worst thing that could have happened. All of his poor decisions and errors were glossed over to keep him happy. Had he started out with a couple of really poor games he would have been sent back to reggies to work on his game. Unfortunately it didn't happen that way.
 
CWWTF said:
I think Douiehi offers more in defence at centre than Turuva would. Also, who takes over the goal kicking? Api? If Api is off the field who takes it on then? Staines? Turuva is a great finisher, leave him at wing. I do like your idea of Douihei playing the bird role, but I’d like to see a specialist centre come into the team first. Bird is cooked, good depth, but shouldn’t be in the 17 every week.
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Yep all fair points and Douiehi has been really good for us defensively no doubt. I believe da Silva use to kick goals so you could in theory have either api or da Silva convert assuming one of them was on at all times…

I mean tbh, our problem is mainly the forwards IMO. Do wonder how Douiehi would go though as a utility player after an off season. Alas probably won’t ever happen…
 
TigerNeddyK said:
2 things can be true at once .. our team has a number of glaring weaknesses but the bunker also made some atrocious decisions.. turuva was taken out before the ball came down and also tackled without the ball.. this needs to be explained; I do not think it’s a conspiracy but Jesus we suffer from the same usual suspects making calls against us that are not normal
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That was a very messy situation and to be honest, that dude never took his eyes off the ball. Could have gone either way. I think there were worse decisions made but here’s the thing…resilience under adversity breeds champions. It is an aspect this club has never embraced. Poor decisions make us fall apart.
We need the us v them mentality that some other clubs have utilised for decades now.
 
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