LIVE GAME Rd 5 NRL discussion

[Telltails]

The Storms roster has been weakened since last season add a few key injuries and they just havnt replaced them and don't appear to have a whole lot of options. Munster and Hughes one year older and Grant can only do so much. This will be a real test for Bellamy.

 

[orange&black]

But if you listen to some on here he should be developing in the junior grades - imagine how good he would be if Penrith held him back to develop "properly".

I remember last year he had some errors in him on both sides of the ball and it took him a little while to get settled, but look at him now.
Benji has never been afraid to give the young guys an opportunity if he believes they can handle it.

 

[426Tlgerland]

This comp could be very different by season end when finals roll round , Melb seen to have dropped , dogs dropped , Dolphins dropped , top 8 could be very different this year

 

[EllisFan]

This comp could be very different by season end when finals roll round , Melb seen to have dropped , dogs dropped , Dolphins dropped , top 8 could be very different this year

This part of the season is normally a bit unpredictable and then from about round 10 the cream rises to the top.

I hope there’s a few new clubs in the mix come seasons end.

 

[stevied]

Storm threw a fair bit at them sporadically, completed at 94%, had less errors and received more penalties….they would have beaten quite a few teams last night.
Panthers were just that good. They kept the ball alive and their passing was extremely accurate - always out in front of the runner so they could steam onto it. Their second phase play was deadly.
Can’t see them maintaining that level for too long but my god their start to this season has been incredible.

Thank you. Wow, so Penrith just way too good. I agree, maintaining that superhuman standard could be a challenge.

 

[innsaneink]

I think the problem was the Storm's contact in defense.

They have very good players and are at a very high level, but they've been inconsistent defensively for a while now, and they aren't strong tacklers and allowed lots of offloads and space out wide due to Penrith pushing through in contact. That's mainly just Penrith being so good and strong, but Melbourne are also not the imposing defensive side of past years.

I don't think the storm did much wrong in attack, it's just suffocating playing Penrith, their line speed is so good.

Yeah thats what Bellamy said in the presser....wasnt happy with thei initial contact

As good as they were there Penrith committed 5 or 6 errors in about the last 20 odd minutes so maintaining that intense, near perfect type of play they showed in the first 60 isnt always easy for them

I think they mentioned in the commentary last night they only have trailed on the scoreboard for 11 minutes all season so far, round 3 v Roosters where it took them 15 mins to score, Toia scored in the 4th.

their h/t scores

Rd 1, 18-0
18-0
24-4
30-4
26-6

If a team can go with them for the first 40 minutes ...or even two blocks of 20 mins...might be in with a show

 

[innsaneink]

I remember last year he had some errors in him on both sides of the ball and it took him a little while to get settled, but look at him now.
Benji has never been afraid to give the young guys an opportunity if he believes they can handle it.

McLean had 3 errors the last 25 mins last night

 

[Flippedy]

This comp could be very different by season end when finals roll round , Melb seen to have dropped , dogs dropped , Dolphins dropped , top 8 could be very different this year

Still very early days, but yeah.

 

[Tiger Tarl]

Crichton looks to be out for 8 weeks with a shoulder injury. That puts him in line to return for the game against us.

 

[tiger_one]

I think they mentioned in the commentary last night they only have trailed on the scoreboard for 11 minutes all season so far, round 3 v Roosters where it took them 15 mins to score, Toia scored in the 4th.

WOW!!

 

[tiger_one]

Crichton looks to be out for 8 weeks with a shoulder injury. That puts him in line to return for the game against us.

Don't they always .... 😉