LIVE GAME Round 1 vs Knights

[king_sirro]

Other than May, all the middles got dominated in the ruck. Fair play to Twal for getting through a lot of work but the slow PTBs absolutely killed any chance of building momentum. It wasn't just Twal, either: Pole was poor, he and Hunt much less impact than hoped, Bird lively but no impact, Seyfarth a couple of nice runs but limited impact, Fainu completely anonymous. Sione Fainu got 15 minutes - what's the point?

Extremely disappointing up front - we had a lot of ball but rarely turned it into attacking pressure because we got battered in the ruck, then when we started making mistakes we were doomed. Forwards mark: D, with an A- for May.

I don't really blame the backs: we gave them nothing to work with in attack and all the points we conceded came from missed tackles across the park. Skelton and Turuva brought it out well enough, Doueihi didn't cost us any more than anyone else, Faataape was as anonymous as ever. Mason is a backup, would be nice to have a better option but he didn't let anyone down - though of course his one error cost us dearly. Backs mark: B- in defence, ungraded in attack.

Luai started well but put too much faith in Galvin on a day where it clearly wasn't working and his kicking game was below par. Galvin won't have a worse game than that in first grade. Halves mark: D, dragged down by an F for Galvin.

Overall, what worries me is that two of the three major problems - missing one on one tackles and running out of steam - were there last year and shouldn't be things that are rusty in round one. Why can't we get properly conditioned? It shouldn't require coaching genius, just an idea of how teams go about building fitness.

The third major problem was the desperately slow ball throughout. It looked like only May had any idea how to get a quick PTB. If we're not running a lot more second phase we simply cannot afford to lose the ruck as badly as that - and, again, that's a straightforward matter of players' individual skill and training, it's not a combinations thing. Coaching mark: D-.

Next week is already looking like must-win territory. One thing this squad has going for it is that it seems to be fairly cohesive and unified. They need something to feel good about, badly.

Just on the slow play balls comment, May was the worst offender. He is a great player and played great, but he makes no effort at all to play the ball quick

 

[bigsiro]

Geez we a desperate for an explosive centre.

Understatement.

 

[tigerballs]

Neither am I. But week 1 new halves FFS. People are paid to think about this not us. For those that have played in the halves at any level - things don’t work perfectly off the bat. Appreciate your view

Two new halves seemed to work for Newcastle

 

[Vicious]

i honestly think our problems are in the channel with them and our 2nd rowers. So many miss tackles in that area and half or full breaks. where as i though our wingers and middles were good. Where did you see our weaknesses?

I agree, we got physically dominated on the edges and most of our defensive issues were in that area.
Luai playing tighter will not work unless we start dominating the ruck to allow him time and space to play.

 

[Vicious]

Just not enough pace it's a real issue we need to find some, this bash and barge attack just doesn't cut it either where's the depth and shape they should have been practicing all summer needs huge improvement.

First selection mistake of the season is Faatape ahead of Staines.
Would have been better off with Turuva in the centres and Staines on the wing.

 

[Enmore_Tiger]

Other than May, all the middles got dominated in the ruck. Fair play to Twal for getting through a lot of work but the slow PTBs absolutely killed any chance of building momentum. It wasn't just Twal, either: Pole was poor, he and Hunt much less impact than hoped, Bird lively but no impact, Seyfarth a couple of nice runs but limited impact, Fainu completely anonymous. Sione Fainu got 15 minutes - what's the point?

Extremely disappointing up front - we had a lot of ball but rarely turned it into attacking pressure because we got battered in the ruck, then when we started making mistakes we were doomed. Forwards mark: D, with an A- for May.

I don't really blame the backs: we gave them nothing to work with in attack and all the points we conceded came from missed tackles across the park. Skelton and Turuva brought it out well enough, Doueihi didn't cost us any more than anyone else, Faataape was as anonymous as ever. Mason is a backup, would be nice to have a better option but he didn't let anyone down - though of course his one error cost us dearly. Backs mark: B- in defence, ungraded in attack.

Luai started well but put too much faith in Galvin on a day where it clearly wasn't working and his kicking game was below par. Galvin won't have a worse game than that in first grade. Halves mark: D, dragged down by an F for Galvin.

Overall, what worries me is that two of the three major problems - missing one on one tackles and running out of steam - were there last year and shouldn't be things that are rusty in round one. Why can't we get properly conditioned? It shouldn't require coaching genius, just an idea of how teams go about building fitness.

The third major problem was the desperately slow ball throughout. It looked like only May had any idea how to get a quick PTB. If we're not running a lot more second phase we simply cannot afford to lose the ruck as badly as that - and, again, that's a straightforward matter of players' individual skill and training, it's not a combinations thing. Coaching mark: D-.

Next week is already looking like must-win territory. One thing this squad has going for it is that it seems to be fairly cohesive and unified. They need something to feel good about, badly.

I thought the forwards provided heaps of quality field position and the backs failed to convert it to ponts then got shredded in defence.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

First selection mistake of the season is Faatape ahead of Staines.
Would have been better off with Turuva in the centres and Staines on the wing.

Doueihi looked like a long neck tortoise too had nothing.

 

[Vicious]

Two new halves seemed to work for Newcastle

In all fairness, our SG Ball halves could have looked good with all the time and space they had to play with due to dominating the physical battle and the ruck speed.

 

[batboy]

Mason has a lot of relatives that post on the Forum .......rate him against the other 16 fullbacks in the NRL and see where finishes

In about the same spot Bula does…
Ones on 700odd and the other a developments deal.

 

[Dr_Ice]

You can't challenge the linesman's decision? Even though the bunker looked at it they might have looked harder ... they always make mistakes.

The bunker check every try, and the ref blows time off if they want a more detailed look

 

[Vicious]

Doueihi looked like a long neck tortoise too had nothing.

We need players on the edges who hit and stick defensively.
We all know Doueihi struggles defensively, but Faatape is worse and although not much blame can be pointed his way tonight, I’m not convinced Turuva’s defence is any better either.
It might be a case that we have to play Skelton defensively in the centres as he’s a big body that opponents know can hit hard and think twice about running at him.
It could mean Doueihi plays in the centres in attack, but on the wing in defence swapping with Skelton until we find better all round options.

 

[batboy]

Eh not on first watch. Saw it differently. I thought May, Twal, Pole did a good job for most of the game. Sam Fainu was quiet. I remember a 10-15 minute period where knights didnt have a tackle in our half. Their backs cut us to pieces for large parts of the 2nd half.

Im as jaded as anyone but there were some flashes in the game that got me excited.
Knight are a professional side who have been together for a few years now, they looked much more connected than our guys. I think that was the difference.

Professional side that’s been together for a while?
Their halves have barely played together and you could argue one of them isn’t even a half.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

We need players on the edges who hit and stick defensively.
We all know Doueihi struggles defensively, but Faatape is worse and although not much blame can be pointed his way tonight, I’m not convinced Turuva’s defence is any better either.
It might be a case that we have to play Skelton defensively in the centres as he’s a big body that opponents know can hit hard and think twice about running at him.
It could mean Doueihi plays in the centres in attack, but on the wing in defence swapping with Skelton until we find better all round options.

Luai and Turuva looked short of a run, think both centres were picked because of injuries Naden and Toa should be given a go when they return.

 

[bptiger 0]

We definitely have better cattle than last season and it will take some time to gel. Our new buys definitely showed promise, May was great. We need to use them correctly.

Just not enough pace it's a real issue we need to find some, this bash and barge attack just doesn't cut it either where's the depth and shape they should have been practicing all summer needs huge improvement.

Bevan French and mays brother in the centres solves our problem , but for some people reason the powers that be have over looked centres and a better backrow , which is really POOR

 

[Charred]

I only watched the last 30 minutes so can’t say much about it other than it looked pretty grim. The other team was able to get way too many line and tackle breaks and advance straight up the field throughout this period, however, our scramble was generally quite good and managed to reduce the score to only 2 tries in the end and we appeared fitter than previous years as this would have been very taxing.

In terms of attack, it was very bland. May made some good runs and so did Skelton and even Twal however I saw a whole lot of sideways and not much forwards. The attack was very clunky at the line. Luai to Galvin looked good but then everything seemed to stall as soon as Galvin got the ball. I think Galvin was the more dominant player but he wasn’t providing much at all and most of his kicked sucked. Hardly saw Luai kick. Also play the ball speed was mostly trash, the player stood there for a couple seconds looking at the ref almost each play. Knights on other hand were just getting on with it and getting a lot of momentum.

And we need Mason over Bula at the back because Mason clearly can’t catch under pressure. He would know this and it needs to be worked on ASAP or he is no chance of getting consistent first grade in fullback. Would like to see if he could do a job in centres.

Players I thought were quite good were: May, Twal, Pole, Skelton, Doueihi (defended better than normal in last 30 minutes), Bird. Hoping it’s just a bit of first game shakies and inclusion of Bula and Api next week and hopefully Naden,To’a in future to help us out.

A bit disappointed but 10-8 isn’t too bad and I’d much rather that than 40-32. Onwards and upwards hopefully.

 

[Droppy05]

I don’t know how much we have to work with. I think our backs are so slow even if we fix our attacking shapes it won’t make that much difference. We’ll be relying on Skelton and Douhie to power over defenders as opposed to beating defenders with pace and skill.

There just is no speed right across the park.

 

[happy_tiger]

In about the same spot Bula does…
Ones on 700odd and the other a developments deal.

One has a huge weakness in his game ......would of preferred Turuva at the back

 

[bigsiro]

Have to appreciate that all the pre-season hype is only because we signed Luai.

There’s simply not one dynamic back with ability to evade or beat a man with speed.
This isn’t news. But I hoped our halves might be creative enough to make them look good.

Didn’t happen tonight.

Galvin wasn’t good, but he won’t be that bad again hopefully.
Luai was clearly reluctant to step up and take control, which was extremely disappointing.

Regardless, the backline on paper is IMO still the worst in the league.
The forward pack wasn’t dreadful tonight, but any pack with Seyfarth and Twal starting is obviously subpar.

Need to give combos a chance to click, but based on tonight, unless we miraculously unearth a gun centre and forward, I fear it’s going to be a frustrating year.

 

[Dr_Ice]

Attack was good, missed 5 tackles.

Was it Bird who missed the tackle on Marzhew after the loose pass for the try?

 

[Enmore_Tiger]

It may have already been said but Hope's service on the line butchered opportunities in both halves. If points could have been scored energy would have been injected into defence. Not scoring energised the Knights. Hope's poor service hurt a lot.