Balmain V Easts harold Matthews Cup

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Dear oh Dear that was ordinary….......... Middle of the ruck was a disaster, Easts made a heap of breaks in that area and the markers just didn't work.

Are Balmain able to hold onto the ball???? it seems not.

At least this week the wingers tried to take some pressure of the forwards during the game by taking some runs which was an improvement however, that was about it. The Ref didn't help the Tigers but that didn't decide the game, a lack of enthusiasm and some pretty ordinary play and no commitment in defence were the deciding factors.

A Tigers try pulled back by the ref at 6-6 may have had an impact on the result as 12-6 with a roll on may have been a different story however, the Tigers didn't look good after that and really were never in the hunt from then on.

Need to really lift against the Panthers next week and I am sure there will be a huge rocket going off this week at training.

Everyone at the Tigers knows they can get the job done and it all starts on Tuesday at training.
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I think there may be a rocket coming for some of the boys this week
 
The great pretenders return!

For all the hype and talk of great things to come from this side they are certainly not living up to it. Terrible line defence, terrible marker defence, wrong options in attack, terrible in the wrestle, no direction on the field, lack of speed in the forwards, etc etc etc. I could go on forever…..and what's the story with the interchange. A stinking hot day and the Tigers only used 7 or 8 interchanges out of 12.

The Tigers started off strong. They used their forwards for the first 10 minutes to lay a platform and they looked good in attack. But then the usual rot set in. They were guilty of trying to score of every play. Their handling started getting sloppy as they went for the big plays. For all the talent (and there is a lot of it!!) of the no. 7 he needs to learn to reign it in a bit and build some pressure. There is way too much lateral movement in this side and I think it originates with the no. 7\. What is wrong with forwards hitting it up with speed, a quick play the ball, followed by more of the same. Make 30 or 40 meters in the set, get a good kick off and apply defensive pressure. When you have got the opposition retreating then you unleash your backs. NRL teams like Melbourne do it all the time and win. This Tigers team seem to be trying to emulate the Wests Tigers who lose more than they win. I just don't understand these tactics. Is it the coach or the players directing the attack? If it's the coach then I think these boys have been let down by outdated tactics. If it's the players then why are they still out there. You cannot win football games without going forward.

On to their defence or lack of it. There is just no speed or urgency in the Tigers defensive line. Personally I think the forwards don't have it in them. They are slow and lack urgency. That said I'm also of the opinion that they aren't being used to the full benefit of the team by the coaching staff. The interchange is a joke. To use only 7 or 8 interchanges on such a hot day is just wrong. They also played the last 15 minutes with no dummy half, instead using a backrower to do the job. I quite like the player in question but a dummy half he ain't. But why was he put in that situation? I also don't understand why two of the more agile forwards where replaced with 15 to go and a clearly out on his feet forward was left out there and another forward with no agility bought on.
That said all the forwards looked ordinary in defence yesterday. They were beaten on the ground, in the wrestle, all over the park really. It was a carbon copy of the Illawarra game, out enthused by a pack they should of dominated.

My starting team for the Penrith game would be:

1\. Mason Farrell
2\. Jackson Canning
3\. Lolo Funaki
4\. Nick Paul
5\. Max Dimarco
6\. Michael Mouawad
7\. Luke Brooks
8\. Luke Georgas
9\. Daniel Gianese
10\. Tony Bazouni
11\. Salesi Funaki
12\. Nathan Bechara
13.Alex Vlahos
Interchange barring unforseen injuries
14\. Dane Horne
15\. Harrison Jackson
16\. Chad Rennie
17\. Depending on whats required

Between 10 min and 15 min I would bring on Dane for Luke Georgas, Harrison on for Tony Bazouni. At 20 minutes I would bring on Chad for Salesi. At 40 min I would bring on Luke for Dane. At 45 I would bring on Salesi for Nathan. At 50 I would bring on Tony for Chad and Dane for Luke.

This weeks game is the last throw of the dice for these boys. They must win to make the semi's, a loss will surely see them finish outside the 8\. Heads down boys and work hard, give everything you have and no matter the result you can hold your heads high.
 
Yep..Oh Dear….Lazy Markers, Lazy A Defenders, dropped balls, pushed passes etc etc. In the first 10-15 mins we looked really good. Forwards were on a roll gaining plenty of metres, then the game plan seemed to change. We started going wide early, having not layed the foundations again. Who is making the calls out there??Is anyone because it doesn't look like it. Forwards running decoys and blocks and wingers having hit ups?? Maybe the playmakers don't trust the forwards to do their jobs? Playmakers have to realise that the forwards lay the foundations and create the space for their magic to happen. Dummy half work was ordinary again especially in the last 15 when we had a 2nd rower playing dummy half (not is fault, not his position). This teams need to play as a team and that also means to play for each other. The old look the player to your right in the eye and say you gave your best, I'll do it for you mate, isn't happening. They need to muscle up in defense across the paddock and be aggressive in defense. Everyone is entitled to a bad day and lets hope ours doesn't cost us a semi spot, because thisteam is capable of better. Come on boys, chins up be honest in your own appraisals and starting playing the footy we have seen from you guys last year. Go Tigers
 
Footyfanatic, the team you have listed includes most of the players who cause the concerns in relation to bad handling (dropped balls), poor options, bad defense week after week. This potential starting side has its problems and i am not sure it is the answer, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I don't believe anyone should ever single out individual players as it is not the right place to do so but, some positional changes need to be made and in my belief, some boys are playing in positions they simply can't play in or at best find it difficult to play in. Remember this is a big step up from club footy to Harold Matthews Cup.

Tigers do need to strengthen the defence around the ruck this is a no brainer but they need take pressure of the half, by playing someone who gives the team and him an option. This will ensures the side dosen't rely on the half to do everything. He has pressure on him all the time, give him the chance to play some footy and he will get the job done.
 
they need take pressure of the half, by playing someone who gives the team and him an option. This will ensures the side dosen't rely on the half to do everything.

I think this is part of the problem…the half either thinks he has to do everything or there is no other option. A lot of teams play with only 1 option and survive because they lay the foundations well. If there is no other options, why????. yes toothless tiger I agree that the starting line up from footyfanatic caused alot of the problems last weekend but we had a bad day across the park, there was not 1 player who could say they played well, so I think a 2nd chance is in order. I didnt realise footyfantatic that we only had 7-8 interchanges, that is unbelieveable, I hope the coaching staff get their act together, no warm up 1 week, not using all the interchanges another (especially in that heat). By the way , who decides the game times?? Toothless tiger who is not playing in their postion and not capable of it?? At least footyfantatic is ballsy enough to say it as it is. Anyway next week Panthers. Go Tigers
 
Well firstly let me say as a parent of a player in the Harold Mathews Tigers team, how bad I felt for these KIDS on Saturday. I have never watched in any sport a more painful and disappointing game where nothing went according to plan or anything else for that matter. Unless I am mistaken not one KID in either the starting 13 nor those coming off the bench had a game anywhere near the kind that they are capable of. Having said that I have to agree that they have to be made aware of the harsh reality that a loss this week means missing out on the top 8 when only last week we were coming 2nd, partially if not mostly due to (yes I will admit it) a pretty easy draw.

As Toothless Tiger said though, we can only play the teams allocated to us (the Harold Mats last year had the worst draw imaginable) but we let the 2 games get past us (Illawarra and Roosters) that we had to win. There are a lot of differing opinions out there about what is happening within this team with regards to results or lack thereof.

Are the coaching staff ultimately to be blamed for the perceived wrong positional changes, inadequate changes from the bench, and general poor choices all round, are the players having too much pressure put on them, are some of the KIDS that are in the squad maybe a bit shell shocked by the step up from weekend footy, are some of the kids there not gelling with others? The list could go on or maybe it is a mixture of all of the above?

After watching (in pain) for the whole game on Saturday I have no answers, but one thing I know is that whilst the men that are in charge (old or not) have the years of experience that they do, I really wont be questioning their choices or motivation for this team. I also will be there anytime anywhere that my team Harold Mats Tigers are playing and be loudly cheering them on whatever the result.

I am getting increasingly frustrated and so are alot of other parents within the team about the fact that a very small minded amount of parents are using this Forum as a means to vent their frustrations towards particular KIDS within the team (I suppose that’s what happens when its anonymous). I thought it was a discussion panel not a site for personal attacks on KIDS. We get it FootyFanatic you have a problem with the number 7 you have voiced it several times on several different occasions (not just on this website). I am sure that everyone would be far from impressed if every week we took it upon ourselves and named every number and every mistake that they made, my son like his teammates had a shocker on the weekend he doesn’t need to be told again.

Please remember people that they are KIDS that’s why its in capitals. Good Luck boys for the weekend I know that you have several more wins in you! I think certain parents need to remember our KIDS are lucky to be playing at this level they also need to remember that no one player or person is to blame. GO MY TIGERS!.
 
Footy Fanatic's comments about "The great pretenders return!" certainly shows small mindedness and a lack of loyalty to the Tigers.
Unsure of who you are but you obviously believe that you should be the Reporter, Selector, Coach and Manager of this team. Singling out team members on this Forum is not in the Spirit of why it was set up, it is here for information discussion and debate not for you to voice your unwanted opinions.
You bag the Coach for only making 7 or 8 changes but you have only made 7 yourself in your "MASTERPLAN". Things may not be going great for this team but I for one will not give up on them nor try to place blame on any of them. They have the opportunity to make amends this weekend how about getting behind them as I will and lets get some positivity back into the place.

" Tigers, Tigers, Tigaaaahhhh "
 
Toothless Tiger, I agree with you that the team I listed has most of the players that are causing the errors BUT there is not much of option. I think the majority of handling errors are coming from playing too lateral too early, passes being pushed and always going for the big plays. It has become contagious. Now we have players who rarely pass the ball looking for impossible passes. That said the Tigers seem to have very limited options with their backs. My understanding is they only have 3 backs on the bench, 2 half/five-eights and 1 winger. The 2 inside backs on the bench have played very little footy and that is coming back to haunt the team. To throw those 2 guys into key playmaking positions at this time of the season is a big call and I don't think that would do either them or the team any favours.

I agree my starting team has problems but I think it is the best option they have. Get the big boppers out their early, put in the hard yards, keep it tight, get some momentum and bring on some of the more agile forwards to play a bit more to the edges and let the backs loose when we are bending their line. In defence it works the same way. Have the bigger boys out there for the softening up period when the ball is kept in pretty tight and get them off for the middle part of the game when you need speed and agility in the middle. And for god sake use the interchange. It is the way nearly every NRL team plays and if it's good enough for the top level of the game I don't see why we have to try and reinvent the wheel. And yes in my "MASTERPLAN" flash I did only use 7 interchanges because it is only a guide. The same reason I only named 3 on the bench. The rest of the decisions are made in reaction to the game.
I also agree that the half has too much placed on his shoulders. That was the point I was trying to make. I apologise if it sounded like I was bagging the 7 because that was not my intention. He is a very, very gifted player (one of the most gifted halves I have ever seen) BUT even Joey learnt that you can't do everything, you can't direct everything and you can't make all the decisions on the field. It is a team game and the team has to take ownership of what's going on out on the field. I don't think these boys are doing that, except for the half. Whether by direction from the coaching staff or from the players themselves they are putting way too much responsibility on the 7, which is effecting not only the team game but his game as well.

Figjam, I am not questioning the motivations of the coaching staff. I have absolutely no doubt that have the very best intentions for these kids. And It was not my intention to single out players. I was merely trying to point out that the 7 has too much placed on him. The whole attack revolves around him and I don't agree that it should be that way.

Flash yet again I agree with you. That headline was small minded. It was meant to be a dig at a previous posting by someone that called them "pretenders" but in hindsight was a stupid thing to say. I have followed this team for a few years now and enjoy watching them play but I guess I am a little frustrated at them not playing to their potential.

I will take all the advice on board and keep my opinions, which are far too numerous for my own good, to myself and wish you all the best…...and "GO THE TIGERS"
 
Thank you flash and figjam we are in total agreement. We should never target individuals in this forum. It is for discussions really and nothing more.

I know this is certainly not in question by any of us but, these boys are fantastic individuals who have a great bond together, I wouldnt swap one of them. I must say I have at times questioned some of the selections but im not the coach and he has to be respected for the job he is doing and we should all remember it ain't an easy one. Seem like some of us are sideline internationals lets all support these great kids.

The half back will do me and as far as i'm concerned he could probably play anywhere in the backline and do equally well, he is a very telented kid, fullstop.

Go you mighty tigers keep your heads up boys you have our TOTAL support.
 
Toothless tiger, Thank you for your support but I hardly consider writing nameless, long winded, opinionated rants on an internet forum "ballsy". If I had the courage of my own convictions I would put my name on the bottom.
 
@TigersTigers said:
Toothless tiger who is not playing in their postion and not capable of it?? At least footyfantatic is ballsy enough to say it as it is.
Click to expand...

No TigersTigers its not ballsy to direct critisism at prodominatly one player. Footyfanatic spoke about the no7 which isn"t ballsy its bad form…............. :imp:
 
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