What I see is not too many blockbuster openings of Storm V Roosters or similar. Mostly mid field games, whichever way you look at it.
Yes that is a reasonable motivation for the scheduling bias. Spectator numbers have a major influence .
I thought he was ok as well. He was being tackled as he was receiving the ball.
When a playmaker runs to the line it creates space and forces the defence to make fast decisions. When Brooks step back inside it is because there were no players outside him in position for a pass. There should be 3 guys there, ready to run into a hole, be a decoy, be outside the winger for a cut-out pass.
I think Hastings after a couple of more games and training sessions he is gong to get those legs of his toned up and be a bit more nippy, he's a bit sluggish atm. I'm not satisfied with the result and I'm not critical either, you could say that was our first hit out with the top squad gor 80min. More work on with defensive structures.
Thought that Blore was developing well last year, particularly in his defensive role and putting a solid 80 minutes together week on week.
For me it was more that unlike the trial where he really shone against the chooks backups, Melbourne, just like they do to Brooks and all halves, worked on Hastings performance from that match and targeted him to often take most of his time away.
I am still devastated he is out for the year. I believe he was ready to make a huge impact and difference to our team defensively. As you said, he really was starting to develop nicely last year and then this major setback. The kid needs some luck!
In the replacement role as lock I'd agree, not so much in the nine.
That has been the clubs biggest issue for many years though. We don’t back those efforts up. If only I had a dollar for every time we have taken it up to a heavyweight, only to lose to a team down the bottom of the ladder the very next week.
Agree 100%, if anything Knights may be the real test to see if we have improved next week. Again, we put together a full year of effort, regardless of the result last night, we will be in a decent position.
Yeah, I try not to lament those departed, but despite media talk around those missing from other teams, WT went into that match without several certain members of the top 17. Shawn included amongst them as part of half a dozen realistic options sidelined for round one.
Blore is great! But we need 9 great forwards on game day. Wouldn’t it be a luxury to have the bench and the starters at the same high performance level, with another few not far off?
I agree.
