LIVE GAME Round 25 v Cowboys

Live Game Discussion
lathami said:
Just soft defence as usual, expected to win at home full crowd! Shite effort, up by 10 then let in 3 tries! Hate to say it but typical tigers, all they had too do was play the smart football after the two try advantage. But instead they play like they’re behind risky pass when not needed, get to the kick moron, work down the field kick ti the corner! Instead shite!!
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Who are you talking to?
 
The loss was classic Wests Tigers - We got to a 12 point lead. I looked at the Cowboys players behind the try line while Api was taking the kick and their body language (for the first time all afternoon) was poor. They were thinking this game is lost. ALL WE HAD TO DO was play smart, control the game and respect the ball. So 5 hit ups, kick long to the corner and try to pin them down. Game would have been over.

But not the Benji boys - just like their coach in his heyday, they think to themselves "We have them on toast, we can put on a show!" So on just the third tackle a risky play to Latu who drops it. Cowboys suddenly energised. Score straight away and score again and again.

We simply threw it away. WE have no game management. Benji was the same when he played. This has been happening for over 15 years. If we had a Scott Prince or a Cameron Smith on the field yesterday they would have done what I said above and easily won the game. And dozens of others like it over the years.

Benji says he is changing the culture. While I like the effort from most in the team this year and the energy and competitiveness, until we get smart and learn game management we will continue to lose games we simply should not lose and we will never fully succeed.
 
orange&black said:
Feeling very flat and disappointed tonight. Was on the hill with my whole family and some friends, and the atmosphere was awesome for much of the game. At the point we were up by 12 everyone was so excited, then to lose the way we did was such a let down.
Still not quite sure how we can lose focus and concentration like that. We basically stopped thinking about how to win - you would have to think leadership failed at that point in the game and game management went out the window.
A good team knows when and how to step up when needed and how to switch gears or adopt various game plans instantly. We simply are not at that level yet.
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Our right edge got carved up all afternoon. The lead only hid that fact. Naden is cooked and Benji has to be criticised for giving him too many opportunities.
 
Sad ending to our season - played well enough to win but too many poor moments got us in the end.

Didn't really learn much new though - we knew we didnt have enough depth in the middles and that came through. Thought the lack of middles meant we couldnt put the game to bed earlier. Also thought our line speed yesterday was poor.

We did struggle to contain their starting middles both in first half and second half when they were on together. Too many of our starting forwards don't hit hard in defence and mostly catch players. Means against powerful forwards with good running games, opposition teams make a lot of metres and often get fast play the balls.

Think it's really important we can find a lock/hooker hybrid that is strong defensively who can play the first 15 minutes at dummy half and then sits on the bench for the rest of the match unless injuries strike. Only player we have on the books currently that is even capable of potentially playing that role is Murray. Would honestly be telling him to work on his dummy half play the entire off season. Defensively he is stronger than Api but at the moment he doesn't have the passing game to play that role for us. You'd think 3ish months practicing that he might be able to do that role. Not sure though.

Did think Latu looked decent at 7. Really not sure if he should be 7 or 14 next season. Good problem that though.
 
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