LIVE GAME Round 16 v Raiders

[Tucker]

And Api is the team captain and competes on everything 4 points the difference - not too difficult to understand why he backs his captain for more than one reason and especially if Talyn has got one foot out the door.

Maybe he has one foot out the door because the club is not treating him well?
The team lays far better when Api doesn’t go the full 80.

 

[rihannafan1]

I’m far from convinced about Benji’s coaching skills but I’ll give you 2 - Sione Fainu, Starford To’a.

Both are having their best ever seasons.

Yes. We are definitely better. Starford is amazing. Players play for him and are improving. But like every Benji year, our redzone attack is terrible and there have to be questions about his in-game management.

He's a smart guy and it'll come together. I just think he needs some outside help with their attack.

 

[BBTF]

Maybe he has one foot out the door because the club is not treating him well?
The team lays far better when Api doesn’t go the full 80.

I think TDS has a fair bit to work on, but the TDS injection for 20-25 minutes from Rounds 2-8 (or so) hugely improved the side. We are clearly lacking a punch in attack with no real threats in certain positions that a speedy hooker against tired forwards is huge for us.

 

[lathami]

It just seems with bunji, that de Silva is not in ‘his club’. And poor little bunji’s ego can’t handle anyone who is not in the bunji club! Api showed last nite he doesn’t have what it takes to play well over the 80. That is only going to get worse with his age, yet the great bunji is happy to let Tallyn leave, why???
In his age group he is easily the best hooker coming through, yet we have given up on him. I blame Richo as well, he should be keeping bunji in line. Is starts with the boys club coaching team no experience head in the group. Why, cause little bunji’s ego can’t handle it…

 

[Tucker]

Or shock horror maybe they just aren't as good as the other players. If you think Api is worse than TDS you are on crack and Latu is a far superior player than Galvin.

I don’t think TDS is superior to Api and explained that to you on many occasions yesterday afternoon. There’s only so many ways I can say it before I give up on expecting the person I’m speaking with to understand what I’m saying.
As for Latu being a better half than Galvin….go-back through the 2024 threads. I am one of the only people that has consistently said that. I copped huge amounts of abuse for holding this view. Now everyone is on that bandwagon and suddenly I don’t understand this theory?
Cool story.

 

[tiger_one]

Was it a try?

 

[Tito Santana]

He has a far better team this year.
A pass mark is several more wins than last year.

Rare I agree with you but i do in this instance.

 

[Tony Taco]

I think TDS has a fair bit to work on, but the TDS injection for 20-25 minutes from Rounds 2-8 (or so) hugely improved the side. We are clearly lacking a punch in attack with no real threats in certain positions that a speedy hooker against tired

Was it a try?





View attachment 24222

On the line looks like. TRY. Refs killing us.

 

[boonboon]

I get a lot of flak for this, but Bula continues to be very overrated by our supporters.
5 handling errors and 3 penalties, at this stage he still doesn't have the game awareness to be a top fullback.
In the big moments he isn't clutch.

Didn't watch the game just looked at the stat sheet I see

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Sione was fat and got himself fit, not sure how much Benji contributed to that ?
Benji has no man management skills and considering what’s been happening with Talyn’s contract negotiations he could have and should have got off his backside, took five steps to his left and had a chat with Talyn, maybe give the kid a bit of encouragement and reassurance since he wasn’t going to put him on the field.
He is too arrogant and we will not progress to a top 8 team unless he changes his ways and that’s very unlikely.

So a player unfit playing NYC who has stepped up to being a NRL bench prop and Benji gets zero credit?

The team are playing as a team, they are fighting - that doesn’t happen if the players aren’t playing for the coach.

 

[Tucker]

Was it a try?





View attachment 24222

No and he was smart to cover up the double movement and give us another chance at scoring over on the left.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Samuela played well, but someone like David Fifita would have scored 2 or 3 tries with the same opportunities.
Samuela’s extra leg speed would make him very valuable in the middle and still capable of shifting to the edge when required.
Api is one of our games great competitors, he’s been a great player for us, but he’s running on old legs and our coach is too blind to see it.
Talyn is just about the quickest number 9 in the NRL, giving him no game time when we were on the front foot as much as we were tonight was a massive mistake.

Part of why we were on the front foot was because of Api. He was hitting them hard defensively and keeping the Raiders pinned in the 20-30mtr area. The Raiders managed the ruck very well for us, not even Api was able to dart much (and he spots it better than anyone).

I get you’re emotional over some players you love but Api didn’t cost us the match & we have zero idea what would’ve happened in TDS played.

 

[Telltails]

Maybe he has one foot out the door because the club is not treating him well?
The team lays far better when Api doesn’t go the full 80.

The path is there if he wants it for an emerging DH to take over from Api. I have no doubt they want to keep him but he has interest from elsewhere and who knows what they are selling, how he views it and more importantly how much they are prepared to pay to get it.

 

[gregjm87]

Was it a try?





View attachment 24222

Na, was a double movement




View attachment 24222
[/QUOTE]

 

[Tucker]

Is it related to today's announcement that TDS can make enquiries with other clubs? Maybe does not want to enhance his value on the open market so as we resign him on lower salary?

Possibly.
If true, making interchange decisions based on anything external to winning the game at hand is not good coaching.

 

[Aceshigh]

Mason can f right off. Him and Sayfarth cost us that game. Sayfarth at least redeemed himself abit in the second half, Mason did nothing but stifle the attack and allow Canberra to either run through him or around him. Da Silva to 14. Other thing I don't get, if we have Dasilva on the bench why isn't he at hooker and Api at 14 when the Raiders pack were out on their feet. Wtf is Benji doing.

Was it a try?





View attachment 24222

Looks like it to me

 

[Tito Santana]

I’m far from convinced about Benji’s coaching skills but I’ll give you 2 - Sione Fainu, Starford To’a.

Both are having their best ever seasons.

Sione Fainu I thought until recently was a bit run of the mill. How wrong was I?

That guy is a beast. Love the way he plays. Really noticed his go forward when he came back on in the second half.

Agree Toa is having the best year he’s played. Geez he’s strong.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Sione Fainu I thought until recently was a bit run of the mill. How wrong was I?

That guy is a beast. Love the way he plays. Really noticed his go forward when he came back on in the second half.

Agree Toa is having the best year he’s played. Geez he’s strong.

Pole also has improved and prior to his injury the WTs front row was rated right up there by the pundits. Sukkar has gone along way to establishing himself as a quality second row forward under Marshall. It is not only a coach improving players but the coaching team having the vision to know what players have the improvement in them to be NRL quality.

 

[watersider]

We lack killer instinct.

When actually competing for the game we go into our shell in attack. When we're down by too much we play decent football direct and fast.

Then trying to get the go ahead try it's all this hesitation and sideways movement and passivity in our running.

Doueihi, seyfarth, Twal just seem to come up with a loaping run or slow up in ways that kills us.

Everybody all of a sudden starts looking around at someone else, starts doing one thing then another rather than direct and fast and building momentum. Yes, Canberra slowed the play the ball, but we allowed it by not building momentum and trying to run through the tackle.

It's so frustrating watching a big guy like Twal pull up so meekly. Run through em! Doueihi just backwards and forwards then hesitating then sideways again and we're all bunched up and they're laying on us and then seyfarth collapses into a heap again and then fainu finally gets a floating pass with three raiders right in his face. Build the set, dig in, run hard. Leave the thinking to the halves, doueihi, that's not your go.

How did this club choose Galvin over Latu as a half with their million dollar off to him? Latu is so fast and clever with the ball, he's got the best short ball I've seen from a tiger and his play is so smooth under pressure. And watching him from the sideline he's just so strong, I just kept repeating it the way he pushed away from contact and created. He is so damn good. Galvin has ability but he's so much slower in all aspects of his play. It is frightening that this club didn't recognise this and offered Galvin the million dollar contract. This is a massive oversight that needs serious reflection from the club. I get short term playing Galvin with latu's injury, but also thinking Galvin was the long term option is a scarily bad decision. Latu has everything you want in a half. He was also doing great organising out there, lots of talk and pushing players around.

Pole, Sione and May all looked excellent in defensive contact. I haven't seen that from pole before, he really hit hard.

Bird tires quickly. His play early in the stint is strong and direct and crisp, then he loses his legs a bit and gets dominated when being tackled. He's really good when fresh.

Interesting to see all the criticism of Bula on here. At the game I just felt like he was our only attacking chance outside of Latu and he was putting himself everywhere. He had uncharacteristic errors, but I thought he was one of our best.

People knocking the crowd and atmosphere and yes it was dead quiet tonight. But we're all just bundled up, not many of us there and feeling uncertain about what we're gonna see. To all those typewriter critics, how bout you get off the screens and come to a game if you want that to be different? All this whining about the venue. My kids and I love going to Campbelltown and we hardly ever see a win. You've got the big friendly islander families all having a good time behind the posts, the real proper footy fans everywhere, it's a crowd of diehards who love the club and keep turning up. Why don't you join us? I'm a Balmain and Leichhardt oval die hard as well. I'm sick of this sooking about Campbelltown.

And finally, turuva! How he doesn't make 6 line breaks a game is tribute to the quality of defensive play in the NRL. He runs so fast and and his sharp cutting around the ruck makes him so effective. He is so good early in our sets and must be one of the best in the league. What a player.

 

[hodgo]

After losing my mind last night and reassessing this morning I'm excited for where we are heading. Right now sucks but it's clear we are 3 or 4 first graders from being a real good side.

On the api point he didn't play 80 at the Panthers because he didn't have to. Watch the 2nd half without him our line speed is almost non existent. Yeah he misses a few but it's due to him getting up and in there face no matter the size.

As sad as it is to say we are close to being a decent team. Canberra are shit hot and we looked the better team for most.

Would pay money for some red line offence though