Four point game / a literal 'must win'...

[happy_tiger]

it is so depressing every year we end up in this situation
we need Broncos to kick into gear and wun some games peg some teams back

Every year you are right, we lose the games we should win and end up in this situation, the Titans and Warriors games are going to burn us as usual, we are still a mentally weak club

I think this thinking is wrong, I've been saying it all year. There are no "games you should win", it's about turning up every week and focusing on your consistency of performance. If that happens, the wins come; and you don't rehash your losses, you learn from them.

The NRL isn't such a polar competition that the bottom-ranked sides aren't competitive. Bulldogs for instance have only won 2 matches but 6 of their losses have been by less than 6 points, including both losses to Parramatta. Bulldogs went on an admirable winning run last year despite finishing 12th. Sharks are probably going to make the 8 and they've lost 3 matches to teams currently placed 8 or lower (Souths, Tigers, Dragons).

The real games you need to watch for, as per the OP, are the matches against your similarly-placed opposition. A loss against Souths or Knights effectively a 4-point turnaround at this time of year.

I don't buy it, if we have any designs on a top 8 finish we don't lose to Titans and Warriors, same thing every year, and we finish bottom 8 because we deserve to

That just doesn't happen. Top 8 sides lose to Bottom 8 sides.

Yes, if you manage to beat every Bottom 8 side every match in a season, you are probably playing finals football, because that will have you near enough to 50% win rate.

But I guarantee you the sides placed 5 to 8 have taken losses against Bottom 8 sides. Every match is important. But I think most important are the matches against the opposition near to you on the table, and your competitiveness against the other finals-bound sides. No point making the Top 8 if you can only beat Bottom 8 sides.

And if you get to the end of the season and you are one win short of the finals, it's a mistake to look at one specific match against a lower-ranked opposition and say "that's the one". No, it's all the losses, particularly any large margins which kills your F/A.

The Titans match was important not because it was the Titans, but because we had it won with 2 minutes to go and couldn't close it out.

We can't make the 8 if we can't beat Top 8 sides ...now we will need to knock of at least 4 Top 8 sides

 

[jirskyr]

Warriors have been playing great footy glad to see them get a few wins

Agreed. There is a common fan mistake of forming an opinion about how good a side is based on their roster. Warriors appear to lack firepower and have known relocation issues, so therefore they are a hopeless side.

But actually now they've had two good wins in a row and their team is playing good hard footy, which has generally not been a trait the Warriors have been known for. It seems they have found some form in the face of adversity, and it probably isn't a fluke that it's temporally related to the change in head coach.

Normally, passion and energy will only get you so far across an entire season, if you lack the top-end calibre of player, but it doesn't mean you aren't a worthy or dangerous opponent week in and out.

As another example, I think Dogs are playing quite decently with a very strong lack of talent on-field. I think Manly, Souths and Cronulla are playing quite poorly in spite of their fairly decent rosters.

 

[happy_tiger]

Warriors have been playing great footy glad to see them get a few wins

Agreed. There is a common fan mistake of forming an opinion about how good a side is based on their roster. Warriors appear to lack firepower and have known relocation issues, so therefore they are a hopeless side.

But actually now they've had two good wins in a row and their team is playing good hard footy, which has generally not been a trait the Warriors have been known for. It seems they have found some form in the face of adversity, and it probably isn't a fluke that it's temporally related to the change in head coach.

Normally, passion and energy will only get you so far across an entire season, if you lack the top-end calibre of player, but it doesn't mean you aren't a worthy or dangerous opponent week in and out.

As another example, I think Dogs are playing quite decently with a very strong lack of talent on-field. I think Manly, Souths and Cronulla are playing quite poorly in spite of their fairly decent rosters.

They will be missing Hetherington for at least a month ...Payten mentioned last night having some interesting inspirational speakers Rhino and Brett Finch

Few clubs could learn from that

 

[Geo]

Warriors have been playing great footy glad to see them get a few wins

Agreed. There is a common fan mistake of forming an opinion about how good a side is based on their roster. Warriors appear to lack firepower and have known relocation issues, so therefore they are a hopeless side.

But actually now they've had two good wins in a row and their team is playing good hard footy, which has generally not been a trait the Warriors have been known for. It seems they have found some form in the face of adversity, and it probably isn't a fluke that it's temporally related to the change in head coach.

Normally, passion and energy will only get you so far across an entire season, if you lack the top-end calibre of player, but it doesn't mean you aren't a worthy or dangerous opponent week in and out.

As another example, I think Dogs are playing quite decently with a very strong lack of talent on-field. I think Manly, Souths and Cronulla are playing quite poorly in spite of their fairly decent rosters.

How could Manly not beat them they have DCE game manager 1st class

 

[happy_tiger]

Warriors have been playing great footy glad to see them get a few wins

Agreed. There is a common fan mistake of forming an opinion about how good a side is based on their roster. Warriors appear to lack firepower and have known relocation issues, so therefore they are a hopeless side.

But actually now they've had two good wins in a row and their team is playing good hard footy, which has generally not been a trait the Warriors have been known for. It seems they have found some form in the face of adversity, and it probably isn't a fluke that it's temporally related to the change in head coach.

Normally, passion and energy will only get you so far across an entire season, if you lack the top-end calibre of player, but it doesn't mean you aren't a worthy or dangerous opponent week in and out.

As another example, I think Dogs are playing quite decently with a very strong lack of talent on-field. I think Manly, Souths and Cronulla are playing quite poorly in spite of their fairly decent rosters.

How could Manly not beat them they have DCE game manager 1st class

Can you make sure your posting on the right Forum ....this is the not Silvertails or Steelers forum .....WT's forum

 

[ElleryHanley]

Well, it is pretty clear now...

Lose and we are 4 points outside the eight....and 5 behind Newcastle.

Win and we are 1 point out, right there behind the Knights.

 

[851]

Warriors have been playing great footy glad to see them get a few wins

Agreed. There is a common fan mistake of forming an opinion about how good a side is based on their roster. Warriors appear to lack firepower and have known relocation issues, so therefore they are a hopeless side.

But actually now they've had two good wins in a row and their team is playing good hard footy, which has generally not been a trait the Warriors have been known for. It seems they have found some form in the face of adversity, and it probably isn't a fluke that it's temporally related to the change in head coach.

Normally, passion and energy will only get you so far across an entire season, if you lack the top-end calibre of player, but it doesn't mean you aren't a worthy or dangerous opponent week in and out.

As another example, I think Dogs are playing quite decently with a very strong lack of talent on-field. I think Manly, Souths and Cronulla are playing quite poorly in spite of their fairly decent rosters.

How could Manly not beat them they have DCE game manager 1st class

Manly have been smashed by injuries, and then lost both props during the game, and still nearly won

 

[Geo]

Warriors have been playing great footy glad to see them get a few wins

Agreed. There is a common fan mistake of forming an opinion about how good a side is based on their roster. Warriors appear to lack firepower and have known relocation issues, so therefore they are a hopeless side.

But actually now they've had two good wins in a row and their team is playing good hard footy, which has generally not been a trait the Warriors have been known for. It seems they have found some form in the face of adversity, and it probably isn't a fluke that it's temporally related to the change in head coach.

Normally, passion and energy will only get you so far across an entire season, if you lack the top-end calibre of player, but it doesn't mean you aren't a worthy or dangerous opponent week in and out.

As another example, I think Dogs are playing quite decently with a very strong lack of talent on-field. I think Manly, Souths and Cronulla are playing quite poorly in spite of their fairly decent rosters.

How could Manly not beat them they have DCE game manager 1st class

Manly have been smashed by injuries, and then lost both props during the game, and still nearly won

Almost...cool..same as us against Parra..

 

[851]

Warriors have been playing great footy glad to see them get a few wins

Agreed. There is a common fan mistake of forming an opinion about how good a side is based on their roster. Warriors appear to lack firepower and have known relocation issues, so therefore they are a hopeless side.

But actually now they've had two good wins in a row and their team is playing good hard footy, which has generally not been a trait the Warriors have been known for. It seems they have found some form in the face of adversity, and it probably isn't a fluke that it's temporally related to the change in head coach.

Normally, passion and energy will only get you so far across an entire season, if you lack the top-end calibre of player, but it doesn't mean you aren't a worthy or dangerous opponent week in and out.

As another example, I think Dogs are playing quite decently with a very strong lack of talent on-field. I think Manly, Souths and Cronulla are playing quite poorly in spite of their fairly decent rosters.

How could Manly not beat them they have DCE game manager 1st class

Manly have been smashed by injuries, and then lost both props during the game, and still nearly won

Almost...cool..same as us against Parra..

If you are comparing Brooks and Benji to DCE as a half, you have no idea on footy

 

[ElleryHanley]

Well, we did not show up.

Massive Madge rev up half time last week and again tonight. Neither worked.

Not sure where we go from here as it is clear the rev ups do not work / wrong personality types in the team.

 

[Geo]

Would have been happy with 2..

Like a conversion..

 

[Geo]

Warriors have been playing great footy glad to see them get a few wins

Agreed. There is a common fan mistake of forming an opinion about how good a side is based on their roster. Warriors appear to lack firepower and have known relocation issues, so therefore they are a hopeless side.

But actually now they've had two good wins in a row and their team is playing good hard footy, which has generally not been a trait the Warriors have been known for. It seems they have found some form in the face of adversity, and it probably isn't a fluke that it's temporally related to the change in head coach.

Normally, passion and energy will only get you so far across an entire season, if you lack the top-end calibre of player, but it doesn't mean you aren't a worthy or dangerous opponent week in and out.

As another example, I think Dogs are playing quite decently with a very strong lack of talent on-field. I think Manly, Souths and Cronulla are playing quite poorly in spite of their fairly decent rosters.

How could Manly not beat them they have DCE game manager 1st class

Manly have been smashed by injuries, and then lost both props during the game, and still nearly won

Almost...cool..same as us against Parra..

If you are comparing Brooks and Benji to DCE as a half, you have no idea on footy

No the teams...

 

[jadtiger]

Well, we did not show up.

Massive Madge rev up half time last week and again tonight. Neither worked.

Not sure where we go from here as it is clear the rev ups do not work / wrong personality types in the team.

A change of captain is a bare minimum,we need a someone to rip in and fire up the team on the field nit somebody impersonating a Lowes dummy.

 

[jirskyr]

Well, we did not show up.

Massive Madge rev up half time last week and again tonight. Neither worked.

Not sure where we go from here as it is clear the rev ups do not work / wrong personality types in the team.

A change of captain is a bare minimum,we need a someone to rip in and fire up the team on the field nit somebody impersonating a Lowes dummy.

If that actually makes a difference, it tells you how weak our team is mentally, that you change (c) and they react. Doesn't matter who is (C), there are enough senior experienced footballers out there to do talking and lead by example.

 

[jadtiger]

Well, we did not show up.

Massive Madge rev up half time last week and again tonight. Neither worked.

Not sure where we go from here as it is clear the rev ups do not work / wrong personality types in the team.

A change of captain is a bare minimum,we need a someone to rip in and fire up the team on the field nit somebody impersonating a Lowes dummy.

If that actually makes a difference, it tells you how weak our team is mentally, that you change (c) and they react. Doesn't matter who is (C), there are enough senior experienced footballers out there to do talking and lead by example.

For some it makes a big difference,some players are self motivated and will try their hardest because of pride unfortunately others need motivation.This week like all others you can see the blokes who continue to try and the ones who are half hearted and taper off if things go against them(its only a job).