TEAM LIST Wests Tigers Team v Cronulla Sharks

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I dont expect a huge form reversal from our team for this game,the sharks have been pretty dynamic so far and our blokes dont even appear to be in the same comp,having said that I have always said it would take some time for this team to gel...
Unfortunately we have guys that should be in the top team sidelined through injury or suspension...No one should blame Madge for these inconveniences and he has done well to produce a team each week that is still youthful and inexperienced mixed with some experience having a go and putting in an effort...
I know its hard to swallow being 0/4 but these guys havent been flogged by 50 and with some better luck and reffing could be 2/4...
Their defense has been very good of late and if they can cut the errors and dumb penalties out of the game they will give themselves the chance to concentrate on the attack which I hope happens this week...Its all a learning curve and I still remain very hopeful of the team becoming more competative in the coming weeks...hang in there Tigers,we are about to roar....
 
We are averaging 19 points against us per game so far. Our defense has improved slightly although our goal line defense is same same.

We are averaging 9.5 points in attack.

These figures may change for the worse shortly.
 
Could be an interesting game & be a very interesting test of character for the boys after 2 games they should've won but lost.

Sharks based on form should walk this in but in the past have been very similar to us in that they lose games they should normally win. They have more points in them than us even on a bad day which isn't something you normally say with the Tigers team.

We on the other hand just have no idea how to score any points let alone win a game, confidence is at an all time low across the park & our energy is 100% focused on defence which against the Sharks won't get the points.

To our credit we have hung in for most games this year and our defensive structures have yet come against a fast paced team like the Sharks so will be an interesting defensive test for us.

Key observations leading into the game
1) Sharks are one of the most creative teams in the comp with breaking down formations. They aren't after post contact meters but rather drop and run. It's all about momentum in the middle, bring in defensive lines to compressed format to then create space on the edge. Seems simple but the Sharks are doing this very effectively this year.
2) The conversion rate of a line break is lethal and they are the best at it in the comp, we are one of the worst in the comp. Whilst our missed tackle count is positive when we miss it's costly against the Sharks speed I expect they will continue a high conversion rate.
3) They do conceded penalties and make errors in games, we need to kick long and capitalise.
4) We need to isolate Moylan he in defense has been a real weakness for them
5) Hynes will run the ball and will switch between bash + decoy plays. There is a pattern to his play. If we hold the line, do not rush up and in to allow the game to speed up, his options taking then is rushed and he struggles with this. He does often when presented with a hold line to use a bash run impact player which I do think we can hold well against as we are defending in numbers.
6) Brooks & Ken combo should be on here. I would be kicking high to Ken's side all game & Ken needs to chase everything. He will get one over Katoa based on form this year.
7) Kick low to the ground to Kotoa's edge. They are averaging less meters from their own half when teams do this. We need to keep Kennedy out of the game.


Interesting note though with the Sharks is they have been where we are today before and have come out the other end through astute team buys over a few years (not 1 season) mixed with development as a big platform and then having a coach who sets up structures to the squads strengths. I'm actually really impressed with how they have been forming their squad.
 
not expecting anything, just want us to play for 80 minutes. they've shown they can hang in games until the last minute, if we can sharpen our attack and defend similarly to what we have in the past couple weeks then that's a pass mark for mine. we always knew this year was going to be a tough one, just want to see some effort that will be boosted by the likes of Hastings, Doueihi and even Kepaoa as the season progresses.
 
I dont expect a huge form reversal from our team for this game,the sharks have been pretty dynamic so far and our blokes dont even appear to be in the same comp,having said that I have always said it would take some time for this team to gel...
Unfortunately we have guys that should be in the top team sidelined through injury or suspension...No one should blame Madge for these inconveniences and he has done well to produce a team each week that is still youthful and inexperienced mixed with some experience having a go and putting in an effort...
I know its hard to swallow being 0/4 but these guys havent been flogged by 50 and with some better luck and reffing could be 2/4...
Their defense has been very good of late and if they can cut the errors and dumb penalties out of the game they will give themselves the chance to concentrate on the attack which I hope happens this week...Its all a learning curve and I still remain very hopeful of the team becoming more competative in the coming weeks...hang in there Tigers,we are about to roar....
Absolutely. Limiting the negative plays is the difference in wins & losses so far. 2nd in errors on 54 behind the Bunnies who are 56, equal 1st in penalties conceded with the Storm on 32 (2 of which was someone in the sin-bin), and 3rd in handling errors with 44 behind the Bunnies & Raiders on 48 & 45.

Those negative plays equals more defensive work. I think the defence has been good given the extra work & pressure they put on themselves from those negative plays. If wasn't for those, I believe the season would be a whole lot different.
 
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I think having an unchanged side again, can help in being cohesive and with what, where and how players get around the paddock.
If our defense can hold them out again we should see an improvement in attack.
Even against a top inform team like Cronulla, we can shock them by limiting the time their ball players have to make decisions/plays and to chase our kicks [field position]
 
I think having an unchanged side again, can help in being cohesive and with what, where and how players get around the paddock.
If our defense can hold them out again we should see an improvement in attack.
Even against a top inform team like Cronulla, we can shock them by limiting the time their ball players have to make decisions/plays and to chase our kicks [field position]

We know it will change next week with Hastings coming in and at this rate Kelma if he gets another head knock will probably miss some time as well.
 
The pressure will be off this week, nobody expects anything.

It's raining the game is a touch slower this year so maybe that gives us an outside chance with nothing to loose.

And generally, Cronulla isn't a bogey side and wasn't for Wests or Balmain either.
 
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