southerntiger
New member
@ said:
That was the most noticeable for me.
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- Thread starter Mighty_Tiger
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That was the most noticeable for me.
jirskyr
Well-known member
I think the Suli/Frozone switch was really key, Cowboys had much more difficulty exploiting us out wide because Suli is not a great winger but quite a sensible and strong centre defender. Also Naiqama is much quicker off the mark, was good on the kick chase and took some really astute early-tackle runs.
In fact I'd go as far as to say this was Naiqama's best game in quite a long time, and I've always thought he was a much better winger than centre. He's certainly a better winger than Jordan Rankin, though lacking in kicking or utility value, he knows how to tackle 1-1 and find the try line. Maybe, if Naiqama has no other options in NRL, he would be a cheap and handy wing option, or reserve grade backup a la Justin Hunt, if we found someone better. Early days yes, but he does have a skillset that was put to good use last night.
Also Idris to right centre, isn't that where he used to play for the Dogs? He seemed to favour his left fend last night and that is best used on the right side, I don't recall him making so many effective fends when he was at left centre. I think Idris is getting better week on week, he has some lapses but with such a wide wingspan they find it difficult to get around him, and he certainly hits hard if they make the mistake of running right at him.
Hooker use was really good, they subbed at absolutely the right time and we were all wondering if McIlwrick had more minutes in him. Not only is Ballin injured, but I just can't see a spot for him at the moment - Liddle has his specific role that Ballin cannot fill, and I would not be subbing McIlwrick out with such good form.
JLJ definitely got more ball this week. He wasn't great but at least it split the pressure, we got mauled last week just going Moses-Tedesco all game. His tactical kicking is superior to Mitch, Mitch put a few bad ones in again last night esp that cross-field kick that Ponga fielded in open space and ran 80 metres.
The last thing is just about the line speed and defensive effort. Tigers were much faster coming up in defence, Cowboys were still better at it I think, but Tigers were alright. Moving up fast put lots of pressure on the Cowboys halves and they were rattled. It then flowed onto the scramble: they came up faster, they moved side-side faster. Esp in the last 10, Tigers would normally have folded under pressure, we held our line really well even if Cowboys are in a bit of an attacking funk. Kick pressure was good, the commentators noticed it, and in attack the boys came onto the ball at speed, much less flat-footed crap that we've been used to. Esp that play where MCK bombed the try, there were bodies in fast motion everywhere, one quick PTB and Cowboys were reeling.
I don't know where that increase in energy/tempo came from, you aren't going to find more stamina in Townsville (on account of the general heat/humidity), and you can't make someone fit in a week, so it must have been a slight change to gameplan and the rest just mental. They probably subbed better, though from 1 viewing on TV it was hard to track. The players wanted to put in harder, were willing to do it. Maybe the old coach had lost the players, which is a cop-out, you should try hard every week, but Cleary got something out of them this week that was previously lacking. Time will tell whether he can continue to get it from them week on week.
In fact I'd go as far as to say this was Naiqama's best game in quite a long time, and I've always thought he was a much better winger than centre. He's certainly a better winger than Jordan Rankin, though lacking in kicking or utility value, he knows how to tackle 1-1 and find the try line. Maybe, if Naiqama has no other options in NRL, he would be a cheap and handy wing option, or reserve grade backup a la Justin Hunt, if we found someone better. Early days yes, but he does have a skillset that was put to good use last night.
Also Idris to right centre, isn't that where he used to play for the Dogs? He seemed to favour his left fend last night and that is best used on the right side, I don't recall him making so many effective fends when he was at left centre. I think Idris is getting better week on week, he has some lapses but with such a wide wingspan they find it difficult to get around him, and he certainly hits hard if they make the mistake of running right at him.
Hooker use was really good, they subbed at absolutely the right time and we were all wondering if McIlwrick had more minutes in him. Not only is Ballin injured, but I just can't see a spot for him at the moment - Liddle has his specific role that Ballin cannot fill, and I would not be subbing McIlwrick out with such good form.
JLJ definitely got more ball this week. He wasn't great but at least it split the pressure, we got mauled last week just going Moses-Tedesco all game. His tactical kicking is superior to Mitch, Mitch put a few bad ones in again last night esp that cross-field kick that Ponga fielded in open space and ran 80 metres.
The last thing is just about the line speed and defensive effort. Tigers were much faster coming up in defence, Cowboys were still better at it I think, but Tigers were alright. Moving up fast put lots of pressure on the Cowboys halves and they were rattled. It then flowed onto the scramble: they came up faster, they moved side-side faster. Esp in the last 10, Tigers would normally have folded under pressure, we held our line really well even if Cowboys are in a bit of an attacking funk. Kick pressure was good, the commentators noticed it, and in attack the boys came onto the ball at speed, much less flat-footed crap that we've been used to. Esp that play where MCK bombed the try, there were bodies in fast motion everywhere, one quick PTB and Cowboys were reeling.
I don't know where that increase in energy/tempo came from, you aren't going to find more stamina in Townsville (on account of the general heat/humidity), and you can't make someone fit in a week, so it must have been a slight change to gameplan and the rest just mental. They probably subbed better, though from 1 viewing on TV it was hard to track. The players wanted to put in harder, were willing to do it. Maybe the old coach had lost the players, which is a cop-out, you should try hard every week, but Cleary got something out of them this week that was previously lacking. Time will tell whether he can continue to get it from them week on week.
southerntiger
New member
I havent read all posts in this thread but one thing I noticed last night was that we were very happy to go with one marker a lot. I dont know if it was conscious but it happened regularly enough for me to notice it as unusual.
I suspect the message is dont compromise the line for the sake of having two markers.
I suspect the message is dont compromise the line for the sake of having two markers.
southerntiger
New member
@ said:
That kick was a shocker. Teddy was never going to get it and it was always going to leave us vulernable to a counter attack. We were crying out for a simple roll into the in-goal.
Mitch's game management is still very ordinary.
simonthetigerrrr
New member
YEAH…..that was a ridiculous play. going for a clutch like that had some screaming at the tv.
@ said:
Absolutely! I've noticed that being a bit of a disadvantage for us recently. That's one noticeable change with the new coach, the other was kick pressure in d, and our kick chase after an attacking set. Still some poor kicks but our chase certainly alevites that.
Mighty_Tiger
Well-known member
Good reading other posts thoughts, what is most interesting is nothing appeared to be a giant rocket size move.
I also wonder if Webster gave Cleary some key insights to make changes.
All round a positive few changes, lets see it improve againsg the Eels
I also wonder if Webster gave Cleary some key insights to make changes.
All round a positive few changes, lets see it improve againsg the Eels
Nucky_Thompson
New member
Idris was interviewed after the game on am radio and he brought it up himself that he enjoyed the right side and played right with the dogs.
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It wasn't a bad centre paring with idris on right and suli left.
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It wasn't a bad centre paring with idris on right and suli left.
N
newtiger
Guest
@ said:
The game was played at night time helping their stamina, maybe not pushed as hard In the warm up?
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