Result sucked, but there were enough positives
- Thread starter Sabre
- Start date
Josh Reynolds' kicking game an 'ironic' silver lining for Wests Tigers in loss to Penrith Panthers, says Peter Sterling
By WWOS staff
3 hours ago
NRL legend Peter Sterling pointed out an unfortunate irony for Wests Tigers.After the game, Sterling noted that despite Cleary's clutch heroics, it was the Tigers who had the superior kicking game, led by Josh Reynolds. It was a classy display from the former NSW Origin playmaker, who appeared to show up the incumbent Blues pairing of Cleary and James Maloney.
"What I found ironic tonight was I thought the Wests Tigers kicked them [Penrith] off the park tonight," Sterling said. "But in the end, the Josh Reynolds field goal that missed, I think that wins them the game. The missed conversions they were vital, but the Wests Tigers, I thought they kicked beautifully. A couple of tries [off kicks]. "It's a cardinal sin in today's game, where you can't kick the ball dead, and they just got it right. There's an art to kicking it in the field of play and they got that right. "
In his first NRL game since last July, Reynolds showed glimpses of being back to his dynamic best by setting up both his team's tries on Friday. And while he missed five tackles, Reynolds also went within a whisker of nailing what could've been a game-sealing field goal late in the match. His display could leave coach Michael Maguire with a headache for next week's match against Brisbane, with Benji Marshall a chance to return from injury.
"I'll assess that when the time comes," Maguire said. He said it was important Reynolds proved that his body would allow him to string together back-to-back games of football. The former Canterbury star managed just five matches last year. "We spoke about him just going back and playing a couple of reserve grade games and just enjoying playing football. That's one thing he showed," he said. Benji had that slight strain to his hammy which gave an opportunity and those two work really hard together. "I can imagine down the track, I'll be trying to work out how we can get them into the team."
Maguire also hinted he would consider playing either Reynolds or Marshall off the bench after his forwards punched out some major minutes against Penrith. "It's all dependent on your forwards and how you can roll your forwards. That was something there I had to look at in the first few rounds," he said. "Obviously our rotations through the middle and how much time they can play plays a part in how you're going to carry your bench, your impact. "It's one of those ones that when the time comes, I'll assess where we're at. "A number of our forwards are starting to get some really good game time now so it allows me to carry a different bench if need be."
By WWOS staff
3 hours ago
NRL legend Peter Sterling pointed out an unfortunate irony for Wests Tigers.After the game, Sterling noted that despite Cleary's clutch heroics, it was the Tigers who had the superior kicking game, led by Josh Reynolds. It was a classy display from the former NSW Origin playmaker, who appeared to show up the incumbent Blues pairing of Cleary and James Maloney.
"What I found ironic tonight was I thought the Wests Tigers kicked them [Penrith] off the park tonight," Sterling said. "But in the end, the Josh Reynolds field goal that missed, I think that wins them the game. The missed conversions they were vital, but the Wests Tigers, I thought they kicked beautifully. A couple of tries [off kicks]. "It's a cardinal sin in today's game, where you can't kick the ball dead, and they just got it right. There's an art to kicking it in the field of play and they got that right. "
In his first NRL game since last July, Reynolds showed glimpses of being back to his dynamic best by setting up both his team's tries on Friday. And while he missed five tackles, Reynolds also went within a whisker of nailing what could've been a game-sealing field goal late in the match. His display could leave coach Michael Maguire with a headache for next week's match against Brisbane, with Benji Marshall a chance to return from injury.
"I'll assess that when the time comes," Maguire said. He said it was important Reynolds proved that his body would allow him to string together back-to-back games of football. The former Canterbury star managed just five matches last year. "We spoke about him just going back and playing a couple of reserve grade games and just enjoying playing football. That's one thing he showed," he said. Benji had that slight strain to his hammy which gave an opportunity and those two work really hard together. "I can imagine down the track, I'll be trying to work out how we can get them into the team."
Maguire also hinted he would consider playing either Reynolds or Marshall off the bench after his forwards punched out some major minutes against Penrith. "It's all dependent on your forwards and how you can roll your forwards. That was something there I had to look at in the first few rounds," he said. "Obviously our rotations through the middle and how much time they can play plays a part in how you're going to carry your bench, your impact. "It's one of those ones that when the time comes, I'll assess where we're at. "A number of our forwards are starting to get some really good game time now so it allows me to carry a different bench if need be."
earl
Well-known member
@Sabre said:
Apart from dropping the pill which led to the only try Penrith scored and coming off his wing when there was no need when they scored.
I really like him but he was a key factor in Penrith being able to score and Penrith were terrible.
earl
Well-known member
There were some positives though.
* Penrith have a really good team and we were just as bad as them.
* Reynolds was really good.
* Matterson was really good.
* Aloiai was good.
* Packerlino were good
* Twal was good.
* Thompson was good apart from his key stuff-ups
* Penrith have a really good team and we were just as bad as them.
* Reynolds was really good.
* Matterson was really good.
* Aloiai was good.
* Packerlino were good
* Twal was good.
* Thompson was good apart from his key stuff-ups
CocaCola
Active member
* 4 rounds in, it may only be the Roosters with a better defensive record heading into next round.
* We have only been outplayed 1 game this year against the Dogs.
* Reynolds will only get better with match fitness.
* Mybe & Jennings are yet to find form, things can only improve from here on in?
* Lawrence & Nofo still to debut this season.
* We have only been outplayed 1 game this year against the Dogs.
* Reynolds will only get better with match fitness.
* Mybe & Jennings are yet to find form, things can only improve from here on in?
* Lawrence & Nofo still to debut this season.
Roar_Power
Well-known member
Agreed mate, its not all doom and gloom.
fibrodreaming
Well-known member
@Sabre said:
I like your "glass half full" approach of looking for positives in a gut wrenching loss Sabre , but I have to endorse Earl's comments above regarding Thompson.
I don't get why so many are giving Thommo points in the 3-2-1 thread.
He dropped the ball early in the tackle count to give Penrith their last chance to save the game. He then left his wing to help Jennings, who didn't need help - he had his man covered, and left Edwards with a clear run to the line.
In the context of the game, he made two monumental blunders in the last 4 minutes which ended up costing us the game. Or, at least, that's the way I saw it. I don't have the stomach to watch a replay to confirm.
jirskyr
Well-known member
@Earl said:
Honestly that was Jennings' fault. Brooks let his man get on the outside but still had him covered, Jennings pushed in as Brooks was already making the tackle and Thompson came in with his centre. If Thompson doesn't I see Waqa Blake scoring anyway.
And it's not as if we didn't have cover - Mbye had plenty of time to put a shot on Edwards but was completely beaten by the step.
fibrodreaming
Well-known member
@jirskyr said:
As I said above, I don't want to watch the replay to clarify; but, Jennings had his man covered and brought him down. Thompson left his wing, and took nobody and left Edwards unmarked. If Thompson trusts Jennings they don't score - well, not on that play anyway.
voice_of_reason
Well-known member
@fibrodreaming said:
No, it was Jennings who went in and created the overlap. Thompson wanted to stay out but had no choice when Jennings went it. It's the classic "blame Noffo for not staying out" argument - it started inside Thompson and he had no other choice.
Thompson looked filthy with Jennings after the play and had good reason.
larrycorowa
New member
we couldn't get within 40 of this mob last year
Harvey
Well-known member
Blame Nofa!!!!!
Tim Sheens
Well-known member
@Sabre said:
Nah, was good, but not so in the closing stages when it really mattered.
Tiger_Steve
New member
But they were absolutely terrible!! Would have been lapped by most teams
fibrodreaming
Well-known member
@voice_of_reason said:
No he didn't. Jennings was on his opposite (Blake) and Thompson was on Edwards. There was no overlap initially.
Jennings didn't go in as you say. Blake was attempting to get on his outside and Jennings moved inside out to cover him. It was Thompson coming in to help that created the overlap.
earl
Well-known member
I agree. Jennings was there. It was a terrible defensive play by Thompson.
