benjiflickpass95
Member
Every loss we have had for the last two months have been really hard to take anything away from. I mean that from the perspective that we have not had a 100% team for a very long time and to build on what we have would mean taking players away from their natural positions overall. Today is probably the hardest loss in that regard.
I thought position-for-position we were overall the better team. Where players are out of position I do not feel we have anyone doing a bad job, but we just don't have people doing the jobs as good as what our first choices can. That leads us down a path where we probably are looking at a back of house problem as well as a depth problem. For me that means bringing it back to basics is probably our key and leaving as little as possible up to instinct to dictate.
In the conditions I thought what kept us in that game was ADs kicking more than anything. We look like a much more clinical team with him steering the ship. However it appears we do that at the cost of Luai who really struggles with less opportunities under higher pressure. It is also worth noting that some edge players struggle with AD at the helm, and others thrive with Luai. I truly believe this is more of a "salt and pepper" dynamic.
For our forwards that was probably our pack's best overall game in a long time. The absolute slog of minutes they are playing obviously limits impact to a certain point, but I don't see our issue being our forwards but merely how they are played and the minutes they are taking on. We also had considerable carries out of our own 20 from our backs today as well.
Bigger picture though, I see that being the end of the season for us. We have 10 rounds left, and if we go for a 50% strike rate (lets round down not to get our hopes up, plus our bye), that leaves with 4 wins for 8-points. That should end us up on 28-points. Depending on which way the ladder goes that sees us either scraping in, or just missing out. For us to get over the line with no doubt we need to pull out a win against Panthers, Warriors, Roosters or Bulldogs. At this end of the season I see that as a big ask.
Linking that back into my earlier point about the back of house issues that may be at play, I genuinely hope the right players are given the right experience between now and then. I have stated it previously that our post-Luai era is looking troubling with our second and third choices still seemingly lacking in first grade grit and resilience. There probably needs to be a decision made about what direction we go in - if we want to just try and scrap in this year or develop the right people between now and next year.
Just for fairness not to end this on all doom-and-gloom, I need to acknowledge some of the shockers today. Ponga's infringement on Makasini's break, and Turuva getting hit high were pretty big calls that didn't go our way. But I can't overlook our stats at the time that just speak to all the systemic issues I spoke about previously that say we should have had that game done and dusted before that call means anything.
I thought position-for-position we were overall the better team. Where players are out of position I do not feel we have anyone doing a bad job, but we just don't have people doing the jobs as good as what our first choices can. That leads us down a path where we probably are looking at a back of house problem as well as a depth problem. For me that means bringing it back to basics is probably our key and leaving as little as possible up to instinct to dictate.
In the conditions I thought what kept us in that game was ADs kicking more than anything. We look like a much more clinical team with him steering the ship. However it appears we do that at the cost of Luai who really struggles with less opportunities under higher pressure. It is also worth noting that some edge players struggle with AD at the helm, and others thrive with Luai. I truly believe this is more of a "salt and pepper" dynamic.
For our forwards that was probably our pack's best overall game in a long time. The absolute slog of minutes they are playing obviously limits impact to a certain point, but I don't see our issue being our forwards but merely how they are played and the minutes they are taking on. We also had considerable carries out of our own 20 from our backs today as well.
Bigger picture though, I see that being the end of the season for us. We have 10 rounds left, and if we go for a 50% strike rate (lets round down not to get our hopes up, plus our bye), that leaves with 4 wins for 8-points. That should end us up on 28-points. Depending on which way the ladder goes that sees us either scraping in, or just missing out. For us to get over the line with no doubt we need to pull out a win against Panthers, Warriors, Roosters or Bulldogs. At this end of the season I see that as a big ask.
Linking that back into my earlier point about the back of house issues that may be at play, I genuinely hope the right players are given the right experience between now and then. I have stated it previously that our post-Luai era is looking troubling with our second and third choices still seemingly lacking in first grade grit and resilience. There probably needs to be a decision made about what direction we go in - if we want to just try and scrap in this year or develop the right people between now and next year.
Just for fairness not to end this on all doom-and-gloom, I need to acknowledge some of the shockers today. Ponga's infringement on Makasini's break, and Turuva getting hit high were pretty big calls that didn't go our way. But I can't overlook our stats at the time that just speak to all the systemic issues I spoke about previously that say we should have had that game done and dusted before that call means anything.
