LIVE GAME Trial 2 vs. Dragons

[Tucker]

You collate the stats, I'll watch the game. You neglect to mention just about all WT attack went to the right with few opportunities in broken play and no set play whatsoever to the left. Still managed 1 offload and 1 tackle break in 4 runs. Also left out the steal and big hit on Sua.

Righto mate, you need further education on the game.
He is a SHITHOUSE backrower.

 

[Vicious]

Righto mate, you need further education on the game.
He is a SHITHOUSE backrower.

Tucker tell us what you really think 😂
I don’t agree with Tucker on much at all, but he’s one of my favourite posters just through the raw honestly, no sugar coating.
For the record and as poor as he’s been in recent seasons, I just have a feeling Kepaoa will come good and be a more than handy edge forward.
Finding someone to give all our edge players some decent ball could be the issue. From what I’ve seen of him in the lower grades, someone like Latu Fainu could really unlock a player like Kepaoa.
Maybe Papali’i to 13 to accomodate it ?

 

[Kaito]

I agree. Our defence on the right has been rubbish for many years. But usually we are stripped for numbers and the opposition gets a one two man overlap.

The other night, however, we had bodies in front of them. They just ran over the top of us.

Our defence was so passive it was depressing.

I was wondering if, as a number of our colleagues have suggested above, that Benji told the guys that this trial was to reinforce certain processes, and that they should not play an expansive attacking game in Saints' red zone. (I must confess this thought occurred to me also.)

If that is true, what message does send to the players? Probably that the result is not particularly important.

We all know that defence is a function of attitude. If the guys went into the game with one attacking hand tied behind their back, perhaps this flowed into their defensive mind-set.

I'm clutching at straws here, but it is plausible.

No I think you and a few other posters might be
onto it. The messaging you mentioned is a good
point, one that I didn't consider but that makes sense

 

[Kaito]

I don’t need to say told you so.
Your subconscience will do that for me 😎

Haha. Hope it doesn't come to that for all of our sake ...

 

[Vicious]

No I think you and a few other posters might be
onto it. The messaging you mentioned is a good
point, one that I didn't consider but that makes sense

Ice is generally one of the best front on defenders in the game and Seyfarth is generally a very strong one on one defender too.
In saying this there are not too many players in the game who run the ball as hard and aggressively as Suli, Sua and Ravalawa. It won’t be the last time each of them run over their opponents this season.

 

[hank37w]

Exactly what I thought watching (and rewatching) the game jr. They just looked like they were only showing half their hand on purpose.

I don't think either the style, nor the ability of this squad has actually been seen yet.

Doesn't explain why Benji, Robbie and Bomber looked so worried after the game, but then if they went out there deliberately not showing their hand then maybe their looks of concern were part of the charade.

I hope that you and @jrtiger are right and that we are deliberately not giving anything away until the season proper begins, but in the meantime I'm having recurring nightmares of Canberra putting 50 on us.

 

[Kaito]

Ice is generally one of the best front on defenders in the game and Seyfarth is generally a very strong one on one defender too.
In saying this there are not too many players in the game who run the ball as hard and aggressively as Suli, Sua and Ravalawa. It won’t be the last time each of them run over their opponents this season.

Yeah, the issue wasn't with defensive structures
like all the doom & gloomers are suggesting. It was
purely down to 1v1 tackles & commitment. That's
all. Toa's first game of the season too. I'll allow it

 

[Kaito]

Have enough negativity in my life to read the shit
on here all day. Not going 2 log off, just tread lighter
and chose who to engage with more carefully smh

 

[Vicious]

Yeah, the issue wasn't with defensive structures
like all the doom & gloomers are suggesting. It was
purely down to 1v1 tackles & commitment. That's
all. Toa's first game of the season too. I'll allow it

I can’t bag anyone on our edges for how badly we attacked as even Mal Meninga at his best would have struggled with the crap quality of ball that come their way.

 

[jrtiger]

Doesn't explain why Benji, Robbie and Bomber looked so worried after the game, but then if they went out there deliberately not showing their hand then maybe their looks of concern were part of the charade.

I hope that you and @jrtiger are right and that we are deliberately not giving anything away until the season proper begins, but in the meantime I'm having recurring nightmares of Canberra putting 50 on us.

there were definitely reasons to be concerned that we weren't at the races. the attack will come. defensively and from an attitude point of view we were blown off the park. let's hope that there is an adjustment in attitude that results in a marked improvement on both sides of the ball come Round 2.

 

[Kaito]

I can’t bag anyone on our edges for how badly we attacked as even Mal Meninga at his best would have struggled with the crap quality of ball that come their way.

There was no quality ball out on the edges, because
there wasn't any ball being thrown to the edges lol.
I'd hate to harp on about it, but we haven't got out
of gear yet. Everything was coming from the 9.
Once we start swinging it (quick ball from ruck base)
straight to our halves we'll find points & ask questions
of defences. Surely it's not too much to ask folks
to be patient for a month or 2? Some of these guys
it's a new team, new coach, give it some time haha.
We dominated the key stats (except 4 missed
tackles), some people already regret extending their
memberships because we didn't whoop bloody St
George Dragons' ass in a trial. Spare me that shit

 

[BAGNF05]

There was no quality ball out on the edges, because
there wasn't any ball being thrown to the edges lol.
I'd hate to harp on about it, but we haven't got out
of gear yet. Everything was coming from the 9.
Once we start swinging it (quick ball from ruck base)
straight to our halves we'll find points & ask questions
of defences. Surely it's not too much to ask folks
to be patient for a month or 2? Some of these guys
it's a new team, new coach, give it some time haha.
We dominated the key stats (except 4 missed
tackles), some people already regret extending their
memberships because we didn't whoop bloody St
George Dragons' ass in a trial. Spare me that shit

You can’t simply throw it to the edges, you need to earn the right by creating numbers or momentum.

 

[Kaito]

You can’t simply throw it to the edges, you need to earn the right by creating numbers or momentum.

%100 I meant to say that! Don't think they were even
mandated to throw it around either by the way we
played. Benji would have been disappointed in the
attitude & 1v1 tackles not because of the scoreline.

 

[Kelce68]

Doesn't explain why Benji, Robbie and Bomber looked so worried after the game, but then if they went out there deliberately not showing their hand then maybe their looks of concern were part of the charade.

I hope that you and @jrtiger are right and that we are deliberately not giving anything away until the season proper begins, but in the meantime I'm having recurring nightmares of Canberra putting 50 on us.

Yeh, look, it wasn't the best look, particularly off the back of what has been a positive pre season by all reports.

Can only hope it's a well-timed wake up call on the eve of the season.

 

[BAGNF05]

%100 I meant to say that! Don't think they were even
mandated to throw it around either by the way we
played. Benji would have been disappointed in the
attitude & 1v1 tackles not because of the scoreline.

He spoke well, was very adamant the issue was with our attitude. My concern is heads are going to drop like that if we can’t turn pressure into points. Hope they prove me wrong in rd 2.

 

[Vicious]

Putting the trial game aside, I’d like to see both Klem and Stef look to offload a lot more. I realise that would mean the odd mistake in their generally mistake free game, but sure the risk for reward factor would outweigh the odd mistake from each of them.

 

[Buttface]

You collate the stats, I'll watch the game. You neglect to mention just about all WT attack went to the right with few opportunities in broken play and no set play whatsoever to the left. Still managed 1 offload and 1 tackle break in 4 runs. Also left out the steal and big hit on Sua.

Balls, are you still defending one of the most inept footballers we’ve ever had try and catch the ball? Not to mention his inability to stay in the D line. If his defending was as good as yours he’d be a keeper. Move away from the mower fuel.

 

[tigerballs]

Balls, are you still defending one of the most inept footballers we’ve ever had try and catch the ball? Not to mention his inability to stay in the D line. If his defending was as good as yours he’d be a keeper. Move away from the mower fuel.

He won't be catching bombs in number 12. He did nothing wrong on Saturday and quite a few things right. Wait and see. You can rip into me in 6 weeks time if I'm wrong, I won't mind.

 

[supercoach]

Our attack will not improve until we have more playmaking options other than just our two halves.
No other NRL team only has just their two halves as playmaking options, they all have their lock and/or fullback heavily contributing to the playmaking for a reason.

So true, the good teams have a no1 who can play make and a 13 who can ball play. We are flat in attack with very little shape or structure and lack flair. Iam not bagging Bula, but at this stage of his career he is only a runner, he is not a creator and you need a no1 who can do both. Anyway Iam sure he will get there, but at present he is a work in progress…and what other options do we have!

 

[Vicious]

Balls, are you still defending one of the most inept footballers we’ve ever had try and catch the ball? Not to mention his inability to stay in the D line. If his defending was as good as yours he’d be a keeper. Move away from the mower fuel.

You cannot have an entire forward pack who all look like they are running in gum boots, ideally you need at least a few of them with a bit of speed and athletic ability.
More often than not the ones with speed and athletic ability need a lot of fine tuning.