Guys I think we have to rediscover our potency if we are going to compete in the back end of the season. We face a tough draw and with player burn out coming on our grind and defence won't keep seeing us through. Interestingly in our last 9 games we have only reached 20 points 2 TIMES. That is a little bit damning and against the better sides we are going to have to score 4+ tries a game to get the chocolates.
I think 3 of our more explosive players in Keith Galloway, Benji Marshall and Lote Tuqiri have have quiet of late. I am notsaying they are having poor seasons however these are the sorts of big names that can lift and take our game back up a notch in attack.
Big Keith needs to start leading the pack again. We have relied to heavily on the grind and tireless work of Heighto and Ellis. Time for our biggest forward to start making his mark again. One big shoulder charge per game and 2 decent charges is not enough. He was dominated by a strong Dragons pack and Canberra pack. Obviously he has had time out with injury and needs to be cut a bit of slack. However leaders like Petero slot straight back in after injuries and churn out big yards. Galloway was a big liability around the ruck on Friday and looked well short of a gallop. Forget about rep footy and start making 150 yards a game and give our pack some aggression. We have been lacking impact over the advantage line and Big Keith is one of the only ones capable of providing that.
Not sure what has happened to Benji. He lit up the competition at the back end of last season and the first month of 2010\. However he seems to have gone back into his old woes. Wildly inconsistent kicking game and passing game and just recently some average tackling. I don't expect him to dominate every game but i do expect that after a 2 year spell without injury control in his game. If he can re-disdcover his swagger it adds an extra 2 tries or 10 points to our team each week in my opinion and that will be added against the better sides.
Lote has been having a good season and been a great signing overall as predicted. I think he has been a little dissapointing of late with his runs and his handling. Not sure if it a lack of fitness or being burnt out after coming off the back of 18 months straight of footy without a proper off season. I think he has the ability to come in fiend a bit more and add something to out attack maybe from set plays. Or at least start our sets off with some better charges out of dummy half or off kick returns. Be probably too much to ask for the Tigers to land some bombs on the goal line for our big winger to attack although most other teams in the NRL find this easy.
Not really bagging these guys, however I think they are all capable of having big end of season that can give our team a different dimenesion. The other players I have not mentioned are either player at a strong level (Farah, Lawrence, Heighto, Ellis) or not really capable of going up another notch. The 3 i mentioned are 3 of our more explosive players and ones of rep quality at their best.
THis Friday night would be a great start. It is a huge match for us. They are missing their best 3 players and we must take advantage. Lose here and that is 2 in a row and the pressure internally and externally will come given our failures of the past 4 seasons. If we can be put in a really strong win this Friday I really can't see us missing the finals, however go 8-7 and we are right back in the scrap with a poor history and a tough draw.
I think 3 of our more explosive players in Keith Galloway, Benji Marshall and Lote Tuqiri have have quiet of late. I am notsaying they are having poor seasons however these are the sorts of big names that can lift and take our game back up a notch in attack.
Big Keith needs to start leading the pack again. We have relied to heavily on the grind and tireless work of Heighto and Ellis. Time for our biggest forward to start making his mark again. One big shoulder charge per game and 2 decent charges is not enough. He was dominated by a strong Dragons pack and Canberra pack. Obviously he has had time out with injury and needs to be cut a bit of slack. However leaders like Petero slot straight back in after injuries and churn out big yards. Galloway was a big liability around the ruck on Friday and looked well short of a gallop. Forget about rep footy and start making 150 yards a game and give our pack some aggression. We have been lacking impact over the advantage line and Big Keith is one of the only ones capable of providing that.
Not sure what has happened to Benji. He lit up the competition at the back end of last season and the first month of 2010\. However he seems to have gone back into his old woes. Wildly inconsistent kicking game and passing game and just recently some average tackling. I don't expect him to dominate every game but i do expect that after a 2 year spell without injury control in his game. If he can re-disdcover his swagger it adds an extra 2 tries or 10 points to our team each week in my opinion and that will be added against the better sides.
Lote has been having a good season and been a great signing overall as predicted. I think he has been a little dissapointing of late with his runs and his handling. Not sure if it a lack of fitness or being burnt out after coming off the back of 18 months straight of footy without a proper off season. I think he has the ability to come in fiend a bit more and add something to out attack maybe from set plays. Or at least start our sets off with some better charges out of dummy half or off kick returns. Be probably too much to ask for the Tigers to land some bombs on the goal line for our big winger to attack although most other teams in the NRL find this easy.
Not really bagging these guys, however I think they are all capable of having big end of season that can give our team a different dimenesion. The other players I have not mentioned are either player at a strong level (Farah, Lawrence, Heighto, Ellis) or not really capable of going up another notch. The 3 i mentioned are 3 of our more explosive players and ones of rep quality at their best.
THis Friday night would be a great start. It is a huge match for us. They are missing their best 3 players and we must take advantage. Lose here and that is 2 in a row and the pressure internally and externally will come given our failures of the past 4 seasons. If we can be put in a really strong win this Friday I really can't see us missing the finals, however go 8-7 and we are right back in the scrap with a poor history and a tough draw.
