Where do we go from here-Constructive discussion

[Steakface]

While tonight’s loss was terrible I had come to the conclusion after the Penrith loss that we are a bottom of the 8 maybe missing the 8 standard team.

We are so far from competing against the top teams let alone in the running to win the premiership

Before you come at me that it’s only round 4 etc and I’m over reacting , my conclusion was based on how we have performed over a number of years and not seeing seeing any real improvement, plus knowing we would have the usual suspensions and injuries ( see tonight) as the season unfolds

I’m at a loss , there are smarter minds on here than me, what do we need to do.

I want constructive thought , not just rants about how shit xyz player and coach is .

I think the answer is fairly simple actually.

We probably don't play conservative enough.

We have a lot of talent in the team - more than most teams - and we are lucky in that regard. But we need to get away a bit from the ad lib, get a bit more into the set completions focus if we are to be consistent and definintely make top 4.

It's not a case of an extreme lurch, but having set completion/post 5th kick field position as the core foundation, with everything else coming second.

It'll be much more boring to watch, but will result in more victories.

[BraveTheWorld]

I really couldn't care less about the overall completion rate of our team, but there are acceptable errors (and acceptable times to make them), and times where it is paramount that you simply complete the set.
It's not just that we push passes and drop balls, but we push terrible passes (where even if they go to hand, nothing would happen) and drop balls on the first or second tackle, in our own half, when the game has already been difficult. We do this absolutely constantly.

We also seem largely frantic whenever we play. When the scores are even or we're 6 or so points behind, it almost seems like immediate panic, even if there's 60 odd minutes of football left. It's a cliché but they actualy do look as though they feel the need to score on every play. Cooper Cronk didn't play his best footy with us, but having someone who could just settle these guys down and get them to follow a plan is sorely missed.

I think Hargreaves, Teddy, Kerry and co are excellent "leaders - but they're a specific type of leader. Ones that take a tough run or put on a shot in defense. We need the kind of leader who doesn't panic and maintains a bit of composure, gets the team to pull their heads in and weathers the difficult passage of play. Ala Reynolds, Cleary, Cherry-Evans etc. I feel that is almost where we struggle most.

[Thirteen]

Suddenly we are shit cause Sandon Smith isn’t playing.

We have a top 2 roster. The issue is attitude.

Don’t make excuses.

[Thirteen]

Our two Centres are liabilities in defence. Every team knows Sua'ali'i doesn't have a clue when he has numbers coming at him. Manu great with the ball, but also a liability in defence.
Stop playing Sua'ali'i at centre, wing is his position. Manu and Young defending together is turnstyle city. I don't know the solution to that, maybe Keary at 7 again and Manu 6.
Walker gives away too many penalties and six-agains and seems to struggle getting back on side.

Manu still couldn’t tackle the wind. The one thing I won’t miss about him is his defence. What defence!? It’s weak as piss.

[BondiBob]

Our two Centres are liabilities in defence. Every team knows Sua'ali'i doesn't have a clue when he has numbers coming at him. Manu great with the ball, but also a liability in defence.
Stop playing Sua'ali'i at centre, wing is his position. Manu and Young defending together is turnstyle city. I don't know the solution to that, maybe Keary at 7 again and Manu 6.
Walker gives away too many penalties and six-agains and seems to struggle getting back on side.

Maybe Sandton Smith and Keary in the halves Walker tries but just to small and defence very ordinary. if billy smith ever gets fit move Sualli to the wing and let Young improve his D in lower grades. We will benefit when spencer returns as well

[ism22]

It was a bit of an ambush... torrential rain (favouring a slower style of game), they were hungrier for a win and they had all their old club legends in-house for that anniversary of the 2004 GF.

This turns our good start to the season into a shyte start to the season with a loss we shouldn't have had.

Where to from here? Well there's a game next week!!! We won't have Teddy, Young, Walker or Leniu but we can beat teams with 11 of the field, excluding these guys.

Can I be controversial and say that Keary's playing great, it's Walker who's now struggling and the hot pirate has earned a start (though Sandon should be back?)

Manu at FB, Watson/Smith in the halves and Jennings putting on a vintage effort could be just what we need!!!

[Team Evil]

We have zero long kicking game, so when our forwards get dominated (which is happening way to much lately) we have have no way to kick ourselves out of danger.

[tloos1999]

It was a bit of an ambush... torrential rain (favouring a slower style of game), they were hungrier for a win and they had all their old club legends in-house for that anniversary of the 2004 GF.

This turns our good start to the season into a shyte start to the season with a loss we shouldn't have had.

Where to from here? Well there's a game next week!!! We won't have Teddy, Young, Walker or Leniu but we can beat teams with 11 of the field, excluding these guys.

Can I be controversial and say that Keary's playing great, it's Walker who's now struggling and the hot pirate has earned a start (though Sandon should be back?)

Manu at FB, Watson/Smith in the halves and Jennings putting on a vintage effort could be just what we need!!!

What a dumb comment re Walker/Keary. More fuel to the fire that you don’t actually watch a minute of Rugby League. Walker played 18 minutes yesterday and was one of, it not our best against Brisbane and Souths. Keary has only played well when the game was lost and there was no pressure on him - against both Penrith and Dogs.

[PLV012]

I was guilty of screaming at my tv after watching in total disbelief what unfolded in the 1st. From the outside looking in, it looked like a case of not respecting the opposition enough, to be ready at the kickoff.

With the personnel still on the park, I expected a turnaround, & they almost delivered. Won the round but lost the fight. Good thing we get to fight again next week.

Agree on our poor starts, then playing pressured catch up footy.

Also agree, a focus on "boring" completed sets vs razzle dazzle... got to find the balance & need the general (usually a spine player) that knows when to pull the trigger!

Like all families, there is always a bit of dysfunction. We have our rant, kick our bucket or the dog. Get over it. Say sorry & get back to work. Until the next family drama lol.

2024... we not done yet!

E2W
RWB

[RoosterBooster]

I think in summary we need an experienced controlling HB to get us through our sets to achieve high completion rates, a big boot to get us out of trouble and to take the pressure off Walker who can play eyes up footy at 5/8th

I was guilty of screaming at my tv after watching in total disbelief what unfolded in the 1st. From the outside looking in, it looked like a case of not respecting the opposition enough, to be ready at the kickoff.

With the personnel still on the park, I expected a turnaround, & they almost delivered. Won the round but lost the fight. Good thing we get to fight again next week.

Agree on our poor starts, then playing pressured catch up footy.

Also agree, a focus on "boring" completed sets vs razzle dazzle... got to find the balance & need the general (usually a spine player) that knows when to pull the trigger!

Like all families, there is always a bit of dysfunction. We have our rant, kick our bucket or the dog. Get over it. Say sorry & get back to work. Until the next family drama lol.

2024... we not done yet!

E2W
RWB

[ism22]

What a dumb comment re Walker/Keary. More fuel to the fire that you don’t actually watch a minute of Rugby League. Walker played 18 minutes yesterday and was one of, it not our best against Brisbane and Souths. Keary has only played well when the game was lost and there was no pressure on him - against both Penrith and Dogs.

LOLz calm down bro. No need to get personal, it's just footy...

[roosterproud]

I had to go to Adelaide for work. Pretty poor timing due to the Afls gather round, so i couldnt find anywhere to watch the game. Was like looking for a steak sandwich at a vegan convention..
could someone fill me in with whos out next week and why
Dom on report. 2 weeks
Teddy hia 1 week
Victor sin binned yet Trent says it was Watto.
Sam???
Cheese burger what happened to him

[Dr. Voodoo Man]

What a dumb comment re Walker/Keary. More fuel to the fire that you don’t actually watch a minute of Rugby League. Walker played 18 minutes yesterday and was one of, it not our best against Brisbane and Souths. Keary has only played well when the game was lost and there was no pressure on him - against both Penrith and Dogs.

GooseJism has a brick for a brain.

[Ron Burgundy]

That was two decades ago.

The game has changed.

For me the Panthers are relentless because they're all 23, have the same back rower body shape (even their halves) and seem generally impervious to injury.

We have different bodies all over the park. Bur particularly in our halves.

That was very noticeable against Penrith, how uniformly strong they are across the park. There are no real weak links you can target whereas with us everyone goes straight at the halves and Dom Young.

Think we need some bigger halves and probably also consider whether all the behemoths we have in the outside backs are as agile as they need to be in the modern game.

[Ron Burgundy]

I really couldn't care less about the overall completion rate of our team, but there are acceptable errors (and acceptable times to make them), and times where it is paramount that you simply complete the set.
It's not just that we push passes and drop balls, but we push terrible passes (where even if they go to hand, nothing would happen) and drop balls on the first or second tackle, in our own half, when the game has already been difficult. We do this absolutely constantly.

We also seem largely frantic whenever we play. When the scores are even or we're 6 or so points behind, it almost seems like immediate panic, even if there's 60 odd minutes of football left. It's a cliché but they actualy do look as though they feel the need to score on every play. Cooper Cronk didn't play his best footy with us, but having someone who could just settle these guys down and get them to follow a plan is sorely missed.

I think Hargreaves, Teddy, Kerry and co are excellent "leaders - but they're a specific type of leader. Ones that take a tough run or put on a shot in defense. We need the kind of leader who doesn't panic and maintains a bit of composure, gets the team to pull their heads in and weathers the difficult passage of play. Ala Reynolds, Cleary, Cherry-Evans etc. I feel that is almost where we struggle most.

We have never replaced Cronk’s poise under pressure. It’s a major weakness. Last night we got to only 6 behind with a long way still to go. At that point everyone just needed to stay calm and grind out some sets and keep the pressure on and we probably could have won quite easily. Instead there were frantic pushed passes and turnovers and we were back under the pump.