@fibrodreaming said in [Parra\.\.\.\.\.The aftermath](/post/1189765) said:
Our performance against Parra has left me feeling pretty disappointed.
We learnt nothing new about the team but witnessed the continuation of a worrying trend – that is, we can’t go with the top teams for the full 80 minutes.
The best we can do is compete for 40 minutes but then poor discipline and incomplete sets mean we are defending grimly for the other 40 minutes.
In the second half, Parra had 60% of the ball and had 6 times the number of tackles in our 20 and they completed over 70% more sets than us.
We have been caned in the penalties against the Titans, Raiders, Panthers, Souths and now the Eels.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Other teams can cop a flogging and still not give away an avalanche of penalties and set restarts and also maintain a decent completion rate. For example, check out the stats for the Broncos for the last two weeks. They have been beaten 94 – 8 and yet their discipline and execution have been OK given the circumstances. They have been flogged by teams playing better football, not because the officials gave their opponents a leg-up.
If we can’t get at least 50% of the ball, then I don’t see us worrying any of the top teams. (In fact since the resumption we have only enjoyed 50% or more ball in two games, and it won’t take much insight to work out who our opponents were).
Find me a team that can have two players down for 40 minutes (one spine position too,) and compete for 80. Even Easts and Melbourne would struggle with the new rules.
As soon as Doueihi went down the game was gone. We were fielding a spare parts pack as it was. They did well to make it a respectable scoreline. Parra should have scored 30 points in the second half. They didn't. There are more worrying signs for Parramatta than for Wests.
We aren't without problems, you will get no argument from me there, we are still on the improve have yet to hit our ceiling. Games like Penrith, Parra in years gone by with injuries on the bench we'd have laid down and conceded 40 points. We've managed to lose by 8 to first place, and 10 to second place with a vastly inferior roster than either of them. Madge's efforts are starting to be impressed upon the squad. Nofoaluma was dropped last year, has come back to be one of the in form wingers, Benji and Reynolds have both been dropped and stood up when promoted. Packer has come back out of necessity but has been better for being dropped. Time will tell for Brooks.
I agree with the thrust of your post; however, you don't really address my main concern.
I was not disappointed with our effort in the games against the Panthers and Parra. I was disappointed with our discipline and execution.
Losing players (especially one's full back) is disruptive no doubt. But that does not excuse us conceding 8 penalties for the match (Parra conceded 2) and completing 10 of 17 sets in the second half (Parra completed 20).
At the back end of the game, when we got some field position, we certainly worried them. There was some very slick back line play from Brooks and Mybe to get Talau over the line.
We can compete against the best teams when we get our share of the ball but, so far, we are making too many errors and giving away too many penalties to give ourselves the chance.
