LIVE GAME Round 17 versus Knights

[BlackWhiteGold]

I can’t believe how rubbish that performance was. How can we all see playing May 80mins kills our middle and he stifles so much attack when he is fatigued. Just get him a break somewhere for 10mins

Yep I know we have poor depth but it’s head scratching how long that Benji leaves Terrell on for. Should have had a spell after 50 mins at the maximum. The Lucas try highlighted his fatigue.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Saukuru should be left centre next week

Yes but at least named in the 19 at the very least. If he isn’t, I’d say Saukuru’s papers are stamped. Then he’ll go and be a revelation at the Bulldogs. Benji, select the kid FFS.

 

[Tucker]

He should bulk up and play back row looks too slow for the centres

I find it demeaning to the position, as a lifelong backrower myself, everytime I see statements like this.
A useless winger will not transform into an NRL level backrower.

 

[Droppy05]

That infuriates me,, they don’t trail the ball runner ever and not one player thinks of setting another player up or attempt to create space for them. lazy and dumb, also starting to not hit hard but instead hug the ball runner … so bloody frustrating

Agree with you. What does Benji do all week? He must not watch the games or replays. It is obvious to all but he can't solve the problem. Clueless as a coach.

 

[Odessa]

I've been incredibly critical of him, but his defence today was superb. He really battles in attack when AD is halfback. He needs a 7 that is one and 2 plays ahead setting things up to use Jerome's strengths. This is a huge issue at the club. AD's influence on the team demands he stay at either 6 or 7. Luai as captain and marquee demands he stays in the halves to. Yet both play better with either Latu or Jock beside them.

This debacle will continue next year of Luai stays. At best we might scrape into the 8 if we have a great run with injuries. For us to be top 4 team we need Latu to partner Adam Doueihi. Hear Javon talk about how easy it is to play with Latu inside him? Thats what Latu does, he makes life easy for his other half. Doueihi will have a field day partnering Latu.

A huge call needs to be made by Benji, Jerome and the club, otherwise we fail again next yeat

Excellent post

Need Benji to read this

 

[tig_prmz]

We are so slow. I know it was raining but man we are soooo slow...

Seriously just because May can stay on the field doesn't mean he should. His carries are a waste.

 

[mickkoso]

Tigers must be the lowest IQ team in the nrl

Ridiculous

Same play the ball speed from the 90’s

 

[TigerNeddyK]

Thought he got the bench all wrong today. For a start - cannot understand what he sees in Geyer who looks well off the pace. Latu should not be anywhere near 9, To'a should have gone straight to centre after Young gave Masi a bath the first time, Tavana would jump over 3 Mazhews.

Praise Benji when he gets it right, thought he missed the mark today

Agree, Benji is by far the best option we have got.. the players are all in awe of him, he is building a culture and a destination club from nothing.. he is definitely learning on the fly and we are on the journey with him and I think he will be awesome results wise in the near future,,, but we are having to experience the journey with him , ups and downs,,, sone of the players that are coming into the squad in the next couple of seasons will fix a lot of our shortcomings and hopefully soon we can expect some consistent success

 

[Tito Santana]

If Makasini is Averillo, does Averillo score that try?

 

[tiges69]

I've been incredibly critical of him, but his defence today was superb. He really battles in attack when AD is halfback. He needs a 7 that is one and 2 plays ahead setting things up to use Jerome's strengths. This is a huge issue at the club. AD's influence on the team demands he stay at either 6 or 7. Luai as captain and marquee demands he stays in the halves to. Yet both play better with either Latu or Jock beside them.

This debacle will continue next year of Luai stays. At best we might scrape into the 8 if we have a great run with injuries. For us to be top 4 team we need Latu to partner Adam Doueihi. Hear Javon talk about how easy it is to play with Latu inside him? Thats what Latu does, he makes life easy for his other half. Doueihi will have a field day partnering Latu.

A huge call needs to be made by Benji, Jerome and the club, otherwise we fail again next yeat

Absolutely. Latu should have been in weeks ago. I watched him toy with Manly in state cup a week or so back. The way Benji is using him at the moment is an absolute waste of talent.

 

[N1troaf]

St George will have a win next week.

You'd like to think we'd be up for it with twal and samuela back

 

[tiges69]

Mate T’oa is the last back I’d be getting rid of after that. He saved our ass plenty of times

Toa was very strong today.

 

[Tigerdazz2]

That game reminded me of the loss to Souths. WT had enough ball in the opposition 20 to have put at the very least 2 more tries.

The boys made plenty of metres up the middle coming out of their own half & Doueihi's kicks were nice & deep (something sadly lacking while he was out injured) gaining better field position than the Knights most of the game.

The Boys defended real well, very well infact though admittedly the Knights were on the flat side. Conversely they were clunky, disjointed in attack, had poor last tackle options, made too many 2nd half handling errors (after a stella, safe 1st half) and that bloody spray for their hands needs to be dialed down a touch. They remained in the game until the end.

Another game, another (or should I say: repeat) injury to one of our best, though overall I must say I thought had the boys managed to have scored one more time in the 1st half Newcastle would have been shot.
They were unlucky to lose a game they looked the better team (again) but the lack of direction in attack cost them, not their defence which was admirable.

I note that Makasini is OBVIOUSLY playing injured, as was Taylin May or at least he was underdone & I also think Luai has an injury as he was hanging out on the wing in defence.
It's a gamble to play an injured player, this time it didn't pay off. The good teams will be looking to target Makasini not because he is raw, but because he is favouring his shoulder badly, (like a Benji did back when he did his) I don't know where Benji goes with that issue.

The WT chances of making the 8?

I'd say it's out of their hands now, they will need to win virtually every remaining game to crack the 8th, sadly I think they will finish on the perennial Wests Tigers ladder spot .......NINTH, still a huge improvement on recent years.

 

[Tigerdazz2]

I agree. I thought he was put in some terrible positions defensively yet came up with the tackle. Really good game from Toa IMO. He basically defended for 2 people as Maka missed nearly every single tackle

Makasini has obviously been carrying a shoulder injury for weeks now. Any opposition in the next few weeks will target him for that & his youth.

 

[TYGA]

Do you understand Rugby League?
That game was an abortion and they should all be ashamed of their “performance”.

I played the game for 20 years made the junior sides of the dragons and magpies and played reserve grade. They played hard and lost in a close game to a better team in bad conditions away from home. It’s simple walk up to our front rowers and criticise them.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Yep I know we have poor depth but it’s head scratching how long that Benji leaves Terrell on for. Should have had a spell after 50 mins at the maximum. The Lucas try highlighted his fatigue.

I sometimes wonder if Benji is the coach or the players are at times.

May often kills our momentum, he like some others just don’t play their actual role which will add increased value. May as a ball player adds zero value 90% of the time.

 

[Tucker]

I played the game for 20 years made the junior sides of the dragons and magpies and played reserve grade. They played hard and lost in a close game to a better team in bad conditions away from home. It’s simple walk up to our front rowers and criticise them.

That game was embarrassing.
Newcastle were a 3.5 out of 10 performance and that’s generous. They weren’t the better team today, they were dreadful. Ponga struggled to come up with anything positive to say in the post game interview. He settled on good goaline defence…neglecting to mention that we threw bugger all at them

 

[tiger_one]

 

[Tiger-ferret]

View attachment 39714

Based on this and on paper with talent, we are a bottom 4 side

 

[TYGA]

That game was embarrassing.
Newcastle were a 3.5 out of 10 performance and that’s generous. They weren’t the better team today, they were dreadful. Ponga struggled to come up with anything positive to say in the post game interview. He settled on good goaline defence…neglecting to mention that we threw bugger all at them

That’s fair but we bashed them in the forwards. We created the poor play from the Knights. Our attack was poor. That’s the game. Api had his worst game of game of the year. May played too long as did Bunty. It’s an injury issue for us which is my point it’s not a lack of effort. We need to pay attention to how good Sam Fainu and KPP are we will struggle to beat anyone without these players.