A little rationality kicks in after a couple of days I feel.
That was an awful performance, no doubt.
The problems, as I see them:
Both Brooks & Moses are targeted, and fail often, in defense. Physically, they are small, so the failing I understand. What is clear is that they need some protection in defense. Enter Joel Edwards. I think he should play that "protector' role, probably for Moses. He's probably the most capable option. The other option is Lovett, who i personally think is travelling ok. Maybe he should be the bench option, coming on to do the 'protection' in that middle 3rd of the game we are losing so badly. Of course, Elijah Taylor would be a big help here.
The forward momentum we had in games 1 & 2 is dwindling. Woods, Grant & Sue formed a very damaging trio in the middle early. The Tigers need to get back to that, with Ava off the bench. With Woods out, I'd be playing Sue & Grant at the start with Ava coming off the bench. That 4th prop position, or the lock position, needs another damaging runner. Sue at lock has worked. They need to get that balance in attack together.
Forwards & their defense. Last week the Tigers stood & waited for Canberra to run at them. This has become an increasing issue over the last few weeks. The backs rush up, but the forwards are not. Farah in particular is bad at this- he might be making the stat tackle, but it's 10m from the play of the ball & being pushed back. This only assists the opposition's ability to get forward momentum.
Sironen's defense. It's awful. If he's not missing tackles, he's turned around, or giving up penalties. He's a bench forward right now. Maybe. He should be used to spell Lawrence.
Halatau can't be in the team with Farah. They offer the same thing- stat tackles. But they make zero impact in defense. It's one or the other.
The speed at the play of the ball. A combination of no forward momentum, losing the 'wrestle' & slow service out of dummy half is just setting the next forward up to get smashed, or putting the halves in a lateral attack instead of running at the opposition. I believe Cherrington is a better option in regard to getting the ball out quickly, also a sharper runner from dummy half. On top of that, he doesn't overplay his hand, taking away ball handles from the halves.
The halves- they need some blame. I can handle the errors to be honest, but they simply need to learn how to sustain an attack. Repeat sets. And they have to learn to drop the kill shot & let the athletes outside them BE athletes. I can't remember the last time Simona was given the ball in an attacking position & asked to beat his man. Kev is very good 1 on 1\. So is Nofa. Simona is better than both, but sees far less of the ball.
It's easy to point at the team & call for Taylor's head. It's easy to say the players are not good enough. Fact is, this is STILL a developing team. That doesn't excuse them that Canberra performance, but if you put a bit of perspective toward it, maybe everything isn't doom & gloom, maybe Taylor isn't the worst coach & maybe there is something to work with in the halves.
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Lastly- CUT DOWN REPEAT PENALTIES. With a lack of forward momentum, and a soft defense (no desire to run up & stop them at the play of the ball), the last thing you can do is give a team back to back penalties & be down in your 20 with 6 tackles to play with. And yet- it happens all the time. Sue, Sironen & Lovett are my biggest offenders here, but Woods & Grant have their moments too. It's DUMB play. Dumber than a lot of the errors our halves are being tagged with.
Anyway, that's what I think should be done..
