Defence this year

[Yossarian]

Leaving aside the Dogs debacle, it’s been 1 try, 1 try, 1 try (last minute), 2 tries (one in final 77 minutes).

Very impressive stuff.

 

[Guest]

Agreed Yoss, the structure Maguire has put in place is really impressive, the players are working well as a team and we definitely look fitter than last year which is helping.

 

[Roar_Power]

Played for the whole 80 tonight. They are turning a major corner. Not completely there yet but making definite strides in the right diredtion.

 

[Yossarian]

Structure, line speed and effort. In the final game debacle last year they looked like a rabble. A 10 man rabble. This year we’re making teams make the play rather than poor decision making.

 

[Geo]

Leaving aside the Dogs debacle, it’s been 1 try, 1 try, 1 try (last minute), 2 tries (one in final 77 minutes).

Very impressive stuff.

Posted similar after the 1st 2 Rounds and was told that they were in the wet not a fast track..

Well tonight looked dry as a bone and our defence was excellent against a big mobile Broncos pack..

 

[Tim Sheens]

Nearly the whole team defended very well, but Garner was not up to scratch on a few occasions.

 

[Doc_Tiger]

Over the course of a year, if you keep teams to 14 or less per game on average, you win grand finals. Just putting it out there. Long way to go, but defensively, I think the boys are really getting better. Question is, how good can they get and will we get too many injuries as per normal?

 

[Furious1]

Its definately improved but i thought there were some worrying signs through the middle in the first half. Our wrestle went out the window and the Broncos were making 70 metres a set. We couldn't get them on their backs and at times couldn't get them on the ground which allowed them quick play the balls and had us on the back foot. We were better in the second half and when we play the Eels next week the boys are going to have to be dominant in that area from the start or Paulo, Fergo and co will have a field day.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Pretty well agree, though it wasn't too bad as they threw a lot at us. Still, WT got lucky on a few occasions when we really should have scored tries scored against us.

 

[hsvjones]

Understand we got lucky but that also comes from the pressure we put on them. Pressure makes them try even harder and that's when mistakes happen as they know they have to work for it.
Now this start is the same as last year but I think we will learn from that and have to give the coach credit for the teams fitness. We seem to look stringer for longer periods of the game and keep the ball in play a lot.

 

[yeti]

It was only 2 years ago when every team that went down our right side scored. Last year was the start of the improvement but this year has been dramatic. Credit where it is due. Garner had a bad miss on Niko' but will learn from that.
Matterson is all class and has definitely stiffened up the r.h.s.
Very happy with what the boys are putting together.
As others have said, a long way to go, but huge strides forward thus far.

 

[fibrodreaming]

Still, WT got lucky on a few occasions when we really should have scored tries scored against us.

We bombed two tries ourselves.

 

[simonthetiger]

Garners defense at times was woeful. Some arm grabbers that led to tries.

 

[yeti]

I think he is still struggling a bit with the long minutes. He actually has brilliant technique with his one on one tackles when he is fresh. One of the better tacklers. He loses his form when struggling with fatigue. Remember, this is his first season starting. He will improve.

 

[Russell]

Wasn't just Garner on those couple of occasions FG.

Add Reynolds and Brooks to the Bird break.

Add Brooks also to the (Nicorema) second break.

Not excusing him but he wasn't Robinson Crusoe.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Not discounting the opportunities WT failed to capitalise upon, though this is a thread about WT defence. Sure, it only let two tries in, but was breached a further number of times.

@Russell sure Garner wasn't alone, but he was responsible for the positioning and decision making, that the others you mentioned then became part of. I can't though place any blame on Reynolds for a diving miss whilst coming across to cover a break.

 

[Harvey]

Garner would have usually got a 15-20 minute break though MCK. Injuries again impacted our rotation.

Agree he looked tired at times last night and got caught out a couple of times. Surprised Aloiai or Huth did not get 10 mins on the edge to spell him.