Bottom line is we got murdered in the contact and physical stakes. Like we always do against Easts, and thats why we get flogged. You lose that battle and most the time you lose the game. They ran with power and aggression. They most the time, made easy yards after contact and even before contact. We battled to get out of our own end with a pedestrian go forward game. No players with any real intimidation running the ball, no one really denting the line or defending with mongrel. Take out Woods and we probably have the worst pack in the comp. Unless the ruck speed is somewhere going to go back to where it was in 2005 we could be in for a torrid season. Like people have said teams with aggression lie Souths, Easts, Canterbury will always give us trouble. Newcastle away in Round 1 looks a daunting match already.
The depth we have up front is mostly raw youngsters who are going to be very green. That's why i think with the inevitable injury or two we are in big trouble and 9th to 12th place beckons. I am hoping with the change of coach for some positives and some changes but lets remember its nearly the same playing squad then last year, that were very ordinary most weeks. Its early days and im sure we will have some good days but overall the lack of impact and depth up front means i think we will see many performances resembling 2012 until the squad can be revamped or players gain experience.
