LIVE GAME Round 12 vs. Cowboys

[liltiger]

We haven't had a roster since before Cleary that any coach could be reasonably sacked for. However the push back from fans is generally that they know better than a losing coach and another coach would come in and unearth some magic on a limited playing group despite the obvious weaknesses of the players they bag every week. The magic wand fix is a much easier solution for most, than dealing with the reality. Benji will wear the same scrutiny as an experienced coach, and his inexperience is the fuel to ignite it

All very true, though imo a coach has to be judged on the improvement of their squad during their time. If the squad is regressing then it's prob time for a new coach. The worrying thing is the reporting of all the shopping around of players to fix the salary cap. Ideally you would want a coach who can adapt and coach to the current squads strength not a coach who will look to bring players in to suit a "style" the coach deems necessary

 

[hank37w]

Api should play half back for us … put Simpkin at hooker

For the rest of the season

Preserve his body and he’s our best half back

What is it with Benji and his reluctance to give Api a break, Simpkin about 8 minutes this week, he is going to break poor Api both mentally and physically.

 

[Todd Packer]

Please have a look at the below stats and tell me Bula had a better game. You’re judging it on a couple of half arsed tackle attempts when we were scoring. I tell you what, I’ll take the fullback that makes a couple of mistakes but can generate that sort of output over a bloke that does next to nothing. Those stats from Bula are sickening.

Drinkwater : 3 try assists, 5 tackles (3 missed), 8 tackle busts, 4 line break assists, 1 40/20, 11 runs, 1 error

Bula: 1 try, 5 tackles (1 missed), 0 tackle busts (yes zero!), 0 line breaks, 0 40/20, 0 line break assists, 10 runs, 0 errors

Here's a passage of play that summarises Bula's play.
At the 35 minute mark we get 3 sets on the Cowboys' line. Bula only touches the ball once. The rest of the time he's out the back not in position to support any half break and as a strike player never touching the ball to create an opportunity.
His only touch was a hospital pass to Casey which led to a turnover and a Cowboys raid.
He doesn't involve himself and when he does the option he takes isn't what's expected of a player you'd build your attack around.

 

[hank37w]

Bula took the ball from the opposition's FB and scores.

Just making up for the one Nanai took off him.

Now that you've made up for that one can you start having a go?🤣

 

[4jtigers]

Oh ok I did see that. Wasn’t penalised yeah?

Nah Tucker, they saw it on the replay after a few tackles has already gone. I'm not sure how he'll go with the judiciary. In my opinion, sure they can look at it and they will see he has no case to answer for, maybe a warning is enough but we're the Tigers so anything can happen.

 

[Vicious]

Here's a passage of play that summarises Bula's play.
At the 35 minute mark we get 3 sets on the Cowboys' line. Bula only touches the ball once. The rest of the time he's out the back not in position to support any half break and as a strike player never touching the ball to create an opportunity.
His only touch was a hospital pass to Casey which led to a turnover and a Cowboys raid.
He doesn't involve himself and when he does the option he takes isn't what's expected of a player you'd build your attack around.

What I’ve been saying for a long while, he’s clearly not a fullback.
I can’t blame him for our loss last night, we leaked 42 points and not too many of them directly involved him, but we desperately need to find an elite fullback to be any chance of becoming a top 8 team anytime soon,

 

[mikey]

Why were there no players celebrating Stefano and Twal's try's.
Was a very sombre mood, Is there trouble in camp Concord ?

A certain trip to England and the reality that some are on borrowed time may have something to do with it.
Wests Tigers. The gift that keeps on giving shit.

 

[426Tlgerland]

Effort is the minimum KPI for an elite team.

Farah to the front office
Morris continue with Defence
Brad Arthur , attack coach
Benji head coach
why , after that interview last night I feel for Benji , Ipap wanted out shows he doesn’t feel Benji will get us out of shit even with players with signed for next year . Benji looked beaten himself , he is in a real to real replay in interviews.
Praises Api
says we are trying
we beat our selves
its on me
we’ll do something about it , if he is a good coach he should see we can’t score points , and no one is running off Galvin to break the line or find a hole , He needs help from experienced coach , Brad Arthur would be hear in a flash just to prove a point , his results over 10 years are well above our previous coaches , Sheens , Madge , Benji ,
if we are fair dinkum we get attack coach and move Farah to office

 

[426Tlgerland]

Theyve already put excuses in places (we are focussing on D this year) so there'll be no turning this aroind... Though except for a shitty opening 20 we could've won tonite.
Dunno what Richo doing in ol blighty other than trying to sell firewood... Hopeful some recruiting too tho I thought we had recruitment managers and player agents do these things.
I actually thought for a little bit tonite we'd get them but not to be.
Still can't play 80... Still. Can't do so many facets of the game
.. I've forgotten my point it's the same shit week in week out... Oh yeah that's right they aren't even expecting any turn around so I doubt it will happen albeit maybe microscopic amount

Bateman , Olam , Sezer in the team we win that game , it was there to be had for sure , But your correct we ca;t do the 80

 

[WestsTigers4VR]

Just did a lil research and found out that last year Bula was in the top 15 of the fastest recorded NRL players for 2023.

1. Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks) 37.188km/h

2. Jason Saab (Sea Eagles) 37.116km/h

3. Maika Sivo (Eels) 36.864km/h

4. Dominic Young (Knights) 36.828km/h

5. Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs) 36.756km/h

6. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins) 36.684km/h

7. Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans) 36.144km/h

8. Mitchell Moses (Eels) 36.108km/h

9. Jake Averillo (Bulldogs) 36.072km/h

10. Kalyn Ponga (Knights) 35.892km/h

11. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Roosters) 35.784km/h

12. Dylan Edwards (Panthers) 35.748km/h

13. Jahream Bula (Tigers) 35.748km/h

14. Blake Wilson (Bulldogs) 35.712km/h

15. Tyrell Sloan (Dragons) 35.676km/h

16. Herbie Farnworth (Broncos) 35.64km/h

17. Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles) 35.64km/h

18. Fetalaiga Pauga (Roosters) 35.64km/h

19. Clinton Gutherson (Eels) 35.532km/h

20. Reece Walsh (Broncos) 35.46km/h

 

[Telltails]

All very true, though imo a coach has to be judged on the improvement of their squad during their time. If the squad is regressing then it's prob time for a new coach. The worrying thing is the reporting of all the shopping around of players to fix the salary cap. Ideally you would want a coach who can adapt and coach to the current squads strength not a coach who will look to bring players in to suit a "style" the coach deems necessary

The Bulldogs have completely moved on their squad from 2021 due to skewed salary cap and underperforming players. Gould cops plenty but he knows how to get a club out of the doldrums. I believe Richardson is adopting the same approach. It's a shame about IPap but much the same as Brooks you can't keep players on high salaries who are agitating to get out and we are not alone in that dept.

 

[Speed2burn]

View attachment 12413
Think this photo is the biggest thing to be proud of as a tigers fan. 1 minute to go, nothing on the line, game over and yet we still decided to chase and not just one or two players but 7 jerseys can be seen. If anything effort is there.

And the cowboys still score that same set

Yay… let’s give them all a pat on the back and raise our glass 🍷

 

[twentyforty]

Here's a passage of play that summarises Bula's play.
At the 35 minute mark we get 3 sets on the Cowboys' line. Bula only touches the ball once. The rest of the time he's out the back not in position to support any half break and as a strike player never touching the ball to create an opportunity.
His only touch was a hospital pass to Casey which led to a turnover and a Cowboys raid.
He doesn't involve himself and when he does the option he takes isn't what's expected of a player you'd build your attack around.

There are better options than Bula at FB. I realise this is probably a very unpopular opinion seeing many of you want him gone, but in my mind Staines is a better option at FB. Bula and Staines should swap positions. Not sure where Benji sees Turuva?
We seem to be adopting the Phil Gould cap management approach. buy up all the halves or outside backs, have them compete for their position then offload the poor performers. I think he calls it ‘a floating cap’?

 

[twentyforty]

The Bulldogs have completely moved on their squad from 2021 due to skewed salary cap and underperforming players. Gould cops plenty but he knows how to get a club out of the doldrums. I believe Richardson is adopting the same approach. It's a shame about IPap but much the same as Brooks you can't keep players on high salaries who are agitating to get out and we are not alone in that dept.

Ha just read your post..great minds think alike

 

[TYGA]

We have a very poor roster and given Luai and Turuva came to play for Benji I would suggest he’s more important to our future chances than most.

There are some solid pieces to this team next year. Luai, Turuva, Sam Fainu, Bula, Galvin, Pole, Uto if there, Twal. 8 players won’t cut it I can’t see any of Klemmer, Bateman. Papalli, Staines, Sullivan, Naden, Alaimalo etc there if the clean out is under way.

Unfortunately with 1 bonfide origin player Api you won’t win games. Cowboys have 5 and their squad depth is way better.

 

[hank37w]

Totally different.
Holmes did get knocked onto the legs by Dearden, and that was Sezer’s 4th charge this year. Holmes will get a week.

I think you are right about the week and for the reason Sezer got extras, they will probably just call it a dangerous tackle as well and not a hip drop.

I suppose Klemmer will probably get some time off as well.

 

[hank37w]

Back to NSW cup for Casey. Useless idiot

Ron Massey more appropriately.

 

[hank37w]

On a positive note some construction company has just found a concreter in Casey.

I think someone mentioned a career opportunity earlier on and it got me thinking that Florist would be more his go.

 

[hank37w]

This team has a real crack for Benji. Been saying it all year all teams have to do is go wide where we leak points. Wingers and centres not up to scratch.

Yep, no doubt about it, the defensive cracks open up all the time.

 

[hank37w]

Construction industry is crying out for staff. I reckon they should drop by our training. Plenty to choose from.

Construction much to hard for these blokes.