Coach what is happening

[the_third]

This thread went south I believe. Pessimists are out. We look good for a top 8 I reckon, top 4 is probably not realistic - given the last few years I’m ok with that. Real rebuilding happening.

NQ are beatable without Hess, a couple of players back from injury and maybe a signing.

This year is different

 

[supercoach]

It’s not about being a pessimist, it’s about being a realistic. I have been following footy for close to fifty years and I think I have a pretty good idea how a team is going and what their potential is, and what I have seen we will not make the 8.

You can discard early season wins, every years the same, a team charges out of the blocks, but stumbles when the grind hits, Dragons were the team a year or so ago.

With some clever but quality recruitment we are not far off a good side, but 2018 we are still way off the pace

 

[TYGA]

People are underestimating the injury toll we have. We can’t go long stretches without Packer, Liddle, Reynolds, Lawrence, ET out of the squad. In addition Tui has been injured and looks unfit + we have cap space and 2 positions not taken with Milne, Sironen.
Given we have played Storm twice, Warriors, Roosters and moved two home games we are placed well. We also play until round 21 in Sydney and won’t be origin affected.

I hope Cleary gets a couple of players in the squad before the season drifts as we need another hooker, a back rower and an impact forward preferably on an edge.

 

[Squaddy]

It's Packer. Once he's back, it'll all change.

We've lost 3/4 games that he's been missing, and in the game we won we walked over the opposition and didn't defend for the first 40 because the ball was park in Manly half. Knights, Eels and Warriors all ran through us, and I think both the ability and leadership of Packer is being missed big time.

Honestly though, at 5-4 after 9 games, I'd have said it was extremely unlikely preseason, so we're still going strong.

 

[TIGERPOWER]

With our draw , new players and pretty much new coach, if anyone said we would be 5-4 I’m sure we would have all taken it. Decisions go our way Agaisnt Brisbane and Newcastle and we are 7-2\. We’ve had adversity or bad decisions in every game we have lost. We have injuries that we can’t cover with the squad we have. People need to take a chill pill and calm down. Our biggest issue is injuries and completion rates. I’m enjoying this year more than I have in a long time and it’s because we are giving our best and competing in every game. Keep going Ivan the faith is still there.

 

[Wa_Mag_Tig]

3 losses on the trot got the last coach punted…. :astonished:

No meandering now Justin...

3 loses on the trot is not why the last coach got punted. He got punted coz he is not and never will be a first grade coach. No man management, gets punched out by his own players and helped us into what we were when he was in charge. 3 loses will happen to every team. You have no faith. Stop dragging the team down so early. Things will swing. I'm confident.

 

[happy_tiger]

3 losses on the trot got the last coach punted…. :astonished:

No meandering now Justin...

Makes you wonder if we will ever find the perfect coach , doesn't it ??

I reckon Pascoe starts ringing around the minute we lose a game

 

[maxxy86]

People are underestimating the injury toll we have. We can’t go long stretches without Packer, Liddle, Reynolds, Lawrence, ET out of the squad. In addition Tui has been injured and looks unfit + we have cap space and 2 positions not taken with Milne, Sironen.
Given we have played Storm twice, Warriors, Roosters and moved two home games we are placed well. We also play until round 21 in Sydney and won’t be origin affected.

I hope Cleary gets a couple of players in the squad before the season drifts as we need another hooker, a back rower and an impact forward preferably on an edge.

There’s a good point you bring up there about where we play in the coming weeks and we won’t be origin affected. But we have to get our spine playing more together and that has to start in the next month.
Think it starts by putting Marshall on the bench against the cows. Bring in Gamble as a foil for Brooks until Grub is ready to slip into the 6\. Desperately need Liddle injury free as our other options are not up to scratch. If he can’t get back on the field I think Ivan should look for a quality hooker currently playing for North’s in ISP.

 

[Russell]

People are underestimating the injury toll we have. We can’t go long stretches without Packer, Liddle, Reynolds, Lawrence, ET out of the squad. In addition Tui has been injured and looks unfit + we have cap space and 2 positions not taken with Milne, Sironen.
Given we have played Storm twice, Warriors, Roosters and moved two home games we are placed well. We also play until round 21 in Sydney and won’t be origin affected.

I hope Cleary gets a couple of players in the squad before the season drifts as we need another hooker, a back rower and an impact forward preferably on an edge.

There’s a good point you bring up there about where we play in the coming weeks and we won’t be origin affected. But we have to get our spine playing more together and that has to start in the next month.
Think it starts by putting Marshall on the bench against the cows. Bring in Gamble as a foil for Brooks until Grub is ready to slip into the 6\. Desperately need Liddle injury free as our other options are not up to scratch. If he can’t get back on the field I think Ivan should look for a quality hooker currently playing for North’s in ISP.

Not you too!!!! Maybe we could look at buying Mario Fenech or Danny Buderus - he's nearly as old.

 

[maxxy86]

People are underestimating the injury toll we have. We can’t go long stretches without Packer, Liddle, Reynolds, Lawrence, ET out of the squad. In addition Tui has been injured and looks unfit + we have cap space and 2 positions not taken with Milne, Sironen.
Given we have played Storm twice, Warriors, Roosters and moved two home games we are placed well. We also play until round 21 in Sydney and won’t be origin affected.

I hope Cleary gets a couple of players in the squad before the season drifts as we need another hooker, a back rower and an impact forward preferably on an edge.

There’s a good point you bring up there about where we play in the coming weeks and we won’t be origin affected. But we have to get our spine playing more together and that has to start in the next month.
Think it starts by putting Marshall on the bench against the cows. Bring in Gamble as a foil for Brooks until Grub is ready to slip into the 6\. Desperately need Liddle injury free as our other options are not up to scratch. If he can’t get back on the field I think Ivan should look for a quality hooker currently playing for North’s in ISP.

Not you too!!!! Maybe we could look at buying Mario Fenech or Danny Buderus - he's nearly as old.

They’d have to be registered with the nrl Russ
Then yes I’d look into it.

 

[TIGER]

People are underestimating the injury toll we have. We can’t go long stretches without Packer, Liddle, Reynolds, Lawrence, ET out of the squad. In addition Tui has been injured and looks unfit + we have cap space and 2 positions not taken with Milne, Sironen.
Given we have played Storm twice, Warriors, Roosters and moved two home games we are placed well. We also play until round 21 in Sydney and won’t be origin affected.

I hope Cleary gets a couple of players in the squad before the season drifts as we need another hooker, a back rower and an impact forward preferably on an edge.

I think people are over exaggerating the injurys, compared to other sides our injuries are nothing.
To me we've only had 2 injuries that effect us Packer and Liddle.

Reynolds has never played in this team so it's not as if he's being missed and it's not as if he's at the peak of his powers in career best form.
The rest of them have been niggles hammys out for a week or two and easily accommodated for.
I have no idea what's going on with Tui but on form he doesn't get picked anyway, no great loss.

Look at the Panthers run of long-term serious injuries, to key players and look where they are on the ladder.
Look at the Broncos or Parra or Titans or Cronulla or just about every club bar St George.
Newcastle lost Mitchell Pearce and they're still winning games, how do you think we'd go if we lost Brooks?
South's lost Reynolds and they still won games, the Warriors lost Johnson and we're still winning.

We haven't had a bad injury run yet!!
Anyone who is using injuries as an excuse is doing exactly that, using it as an excuse.

The same as people saying Ben Matulino will be better when Packer comes back, if Matulino can't play unless Packer is in the team then he can go back to the Warriors as far as I'm concerned. That's just an excuse.

If you think Packer or Liddle are going to change us much your gonna be in for a shock, the wheels have well n truly fallen off this team.
If you think Ivan doesn't know it you can't read body language,
Ivan is a cool customer but I'm telling you now he's feeling the pressure.
If we loose this game on Thursday night you watch the Sydney media pile on the pressure big time.
Whatever we had that was keeping us in games for 80mins has vanished, and it's real hard to get back once it goes.

 

[TYGA]

People are underestimating the injury toll we have. We can’t go long stretches without Packer, Liddle, Reynolds, Lawrence, ET out of the squad. In addition Tui has been injured and looks unfit + we have cap space and 2 positions not taken with Milne, Sironen.
Given we have played Storm twice, Warriors, Roosters and moved two home games we are placed well. We also play until round 21 in Sydney and won’t be origin affected.

I hope Cleary gets a couple of players in the squad before the season drifts as we need another hooker, a back rower and an impact forward preferably on an edge.

There’s a good point you bring up there about where we play in the coming weeks and we won’t be origin affected. But we have to get our spine playing more together and that has to start in the next month.
Think it starts by putting Marshall on the bench against the cows. Bring in Gamble as a foil for Brooks until Grub is ready to slip into the 6\. Desperately need Liddle injury free as our other options are not up to scratch. If he can’t get back on the field I think Ivan should look for a quality hooker currently playing for North’s in ISP.

The drop off from Liddle to ET, Goodinet or Mcilwrick is huge. Packers play and leadership can’t be replaced. These are the key injuries albeit Reynolds had to be starting at 5/8 when fit. Marshall is the perfect bench utility.

I don’t think we are good enough to be missing key players for long periods it’s catching up with us now.

 

[TIGER]

People are underestimating the injury toll we have. We can’t go long stretches without Packer, Liddle, Reynolds, Lawrence, ET out of the squad. In addition Tui has been injured and looks unfit + we have cap space and 2 positions not taken with Milne, Sironen.
Given we have played Storm twice, Warriors, Roosters and moved two home games we are placed well. We also play until round 21 in Sydney and won’t be origin affected.

I hope Cleary gets a couple of players in the squad before the season drifts as we need another hooker, a back rower and an impact forward preferably on an edge.

There’s a good point you bring up there about where we play in the coming weeks and we won’t be origin affected. But we have to get our spine playing more together and that has to start in the next month.
Think it starts by putting Marshall on the bench against the cows. Bring in Gamble as a foil for Brooks until Grub is ready to slip into the 6\. Desperately need Liddle injury free as our other options are not up to scratch. If he can’t get back on the field I think Ivan should look for a quality hooker currently playing for North’s in ISP.

Not a great idea throwing a rookie to the wolves at a packed Leichhardt TV game in a close-to must win match against the best player the game has ever seen.

It's just not how you introduce a young player into the NRL if you don't have to.
Gamble will get his time probably due to injury later in the season, you can't expect a rookie to turn this team around.

 

[maxxy86]

Everyone is missing my point about bringing in Gamble…...
I’ve never been the biggest Luke Brooks fan I’ll be honest, but this is the best I’ve seen him play ever. He looks in control and progressing well when it comes to game management. The last 3 weeks Benji has been overplaying his hand and negating the good work Luke has put in.
SOLUTION!!!!
This is why I want Gamble in the team so
Luke Brooks can own this team by himself and I’m sure Tyson will account for himself just fine. Benji can be used sparingly from the bench.

 

[Russell]

We're not missing your point - we are saying don't throw a "0 NRL game rookie" to the wolves.

Thurston and Morgan would make mincemeat of him. Then you would be screaming for him to go back to the Queensland Cup.

You need experience against experience - Benji just needs to be told "Do as I tell you, or you can go and shake hands with Hodgo."

 

[FreddyK]

What I find interesting is that the "recent collapse" has occurred after the Manly game. Once we have tried to get our attack going things have fallen apart. It has also been a time when Benji has overplayed his hand and taken over the team. Interesting that when a penalty was awarded against the Warriors the bench was signalled to take two points - Benji went for the heroics and ignored the bench. I don't have problems with Benji playing but he must cut out the attempted heroics.

 

[Geo]

We're not missing your point - we are saying don't throw a "0 NRL game rookie" to the wolves.

Thurston and Morgan would make mincemeat of him. Then you would be screaming for him to go back to the Queensland Cup.

You need experience against experience - Benji just needs to be told "Do as I tell you, or you can go and shake hands with Hodgo."

I think the whole team got that instruction after the Parra game were the reports coming from the sheds…Footy players might need 2 weeks for it to sink in tho..

 

[maxxy86]

We're not missing your point - we are saying don't throw a "0 NRL game rookie" to the wolves.

Thurston and Morgan would make mincemeat of him. Then you would be screaming for him to go back to the Queensland Cup.

You need experience against experience - Benji just needs to be told "Do as I tell you, or you can go and shake hands with Hodgo."

Don't think Benji can be told tho to be honest….. It's just his natural game and its NOT helping Brooks.
We look so much sharper when Luke takes control. ( Never thought I'd say those words)

 

[TIGER]

Everyone is missing my point about bringing in Gamble…...
I’ve never been the biggest Luke Brooks fan I’ll be honest, but this is the best I’ve seen him play ever. He looks in control and progressing well when it comes to game management. The last 3 weeks Benji has been overplaying his hand and negating the good work Luke has put in.
SOLUTION!!!!
This is why I want Gamble in the team so
Luke Brooks can own this team by himself and I’m sure Tyson will account for himself just fine. Benji can be used sparingly from the bench.

What's stopping Brooks from owning this team now?
He's come out at the start of the season saying Ivan has told him it's his team.
Benji knows it too and I'm sure he's happy for Brooks to take ownership so he can just play off the back of it.

Brooks hasn't looked like he wants to.
He had two really good games and I thought he'd turned the corner but he's gone back in his shell.

At the moment I don't know who's team it is, but I know earlier in the season it looked like it was Benji's team not Brook's.

We have 5 leaders and none of them are leading, especially our prop which is where everything starts imo and I don't want to sound like a broken record but at the moment Ben Matalino isn't leading from the front like be should be and that's the main reason we're getting beat.
I asked the question yesterday, who is our leader in the pack?

My issue with Brooks is he only wants to play when everything is going smoothly and when we're on top.
He waits for the game to come to him, for all the pieces of the puzzle to be in place before he puts himself in the game instead of taking the game to them.
Admittedly it's difficult when the last two weeks the leader of your pack makes 50m.

 

[colmcd]

What I find interesting is that the "recent collapse" has occurred after the Manly game. Once we have tried to get our attack going things have fallen apart. It has also been a time when Benji has overplayed his hand and taken over the team. Interesting that when a penalty was awarded against the Warriors the bench was signalled to take two points - Benji went for the heroics and ignored the bench. I don't have problems with Benji playing but he must cut out the attempted heroics.

Agreed, particularly that when we have focused on Attack our gameplan and teamplan seemed to fall apart.

Causation and Correlation can be very different though. Clearly Packer added a lot in Defense so did Lawrence. Yes Lawrence has come back, but the Warriors were firing and we needed our big guys.

So what's happened in the last 3?

Our wingers! Thompson has gone Fullback and we have leaked points off his wing. MWZ was not playing and look we leaked to NZ. Whatever problems Tui has, we have missed him because him being Fullback means Thompson secures his wing.

So I totally agree with your comments. Get Packer and Reynolds back and just hire a Fullback to move Thompson back to his wing. Then we will return to our round 4 performance and we can be solid on Defense again.

Marshall is still awesome value, Just pick him over Godinet when you want a ballplaying Hooker! I think this is why Cleary has persisted with Godinet, he is your Peter Wallace a halfback that has turned hooker that can get good ball to the halves.