I was left shaking my head listening to one of the podcasts today. Spruiking about next man up and then calling for our replacement players to just "do a job" and not overplay their hand.
This is not what next man up means and is not what our new Tigers are about. We shouldn't be worried about our next man up not being able to cut the mustard. Sure Hope is not Api and Sukkar is not KPP - but that is not the point.
We are about players coming into the side to play the system that they are already embedded in. If Hope has not been understudying Api for the last 7 weeks and is not up for the task then I don't know who is. Sukkar is the right guy to come in and take over that edge because that is where he has been playing in KoE - he knows the system and will perform. Tito is the nominated fallback for Bula and has had plenty of reps there in readiness for this exact situation.
We need to stop over-reacting to the noise and focus on what got us to where we are in the first place - a system that works. Sukkar comes onto that edge and does exactly what he does in Cup, Hope comes into the middle and brings players onto the ball at the advantage line and if he sees an opportunity he goes. Tito catches the ball, pins his ears and chimes into the same shape as Bula.
We may not win on Sunday - but it won't be because we have players "doing a job". It will be because the Sharks lifted agaisnt us and probably a shit refereeing decision. Have some faith!
