The keys to our machine

[Guest]

I thought great win by our boys and solid start to the tear but seriously If anyone is happy with our 9,7&1 after 3 weeks then I must be watching a different game.
These 3 have been playing together and still look like strangers. Friend has no idea of which way to attack ? Pearce is impatient and can't get a repeat set and mini well he is just past it.
Our best period in attack are when morts come in and thats more due to his speed and selective passing. And thank god we have Maloney and SBW to create something.
We are a Ferrari with no steering wheel. I hope it gets better.
Btw geez I love Jennings. Someone else posted this but I'd put RTS next to Jennings. I think SKD may ruin Shecks confidence.
Not trying to be negative. Just concerned.
Go the chooks.

[Rooster_6]

If we had as much field position as the Broncos and we only scored 8 points, then I'd be concerned. Unfortunately it felt like 90% of the game was played in our own half. We were forced to make 120 extra tackles, last night was not the night where I got concerned about our attacking performance, maybe you should put their performances into context.

[Guest]

Well I'm looking at all 3 games. I dont measure players only after 1 performance. also the difference in most of the possession was due to the broncos getting repeat sets and our last tackle options being poor. Wrong players are getting ball at the wrong time. Unfortunately this is not only just my concern. There are other more important people with similar concerns.

[Guest]

If we had as much field position as the Broncos and we only scored 8 points, then I'd be concerned. Unfortunately it felt like 90% of the game was played in our own half. We were forced to make 120 extra tackles, last night was not the night where I got concerned about our attacking performance, maybe you should put their performances into context.

It's not the points or dropped ball it's how we are structured mate.

For me it isn't about last night I said it after the foundation cup game.

We have two competent halves we should just split them on each side. It will make it so much easier and you won't get as many broken plays which we are still seeing.

Also we are still too deep. We can be much flatter especially with a quicker ruck now.

[Rooster_6]

Well I'm looking at all 3 games. I dont measure players only after 1 performance. also the difference in most of the possession was due to the broncos getting repeat sets and our last tackle options being poor. Wrong players are getting ball at the wrong time. Unfortunately this is not only just my concern. There are other more important people with similar concerns.

Well Mini is past it, I think 99% of the forum is with you there.

What is actually wrong with Pearce aside from his short kicking game? Structurally he played very direct last night, ran the ball well I thought (it's not often your halfback has more tackle busts than any other play on the field) and his long kicking game was nothing short of superb.

Friend was solid again, 46 tackles for only 1 missed is exceptionally good and his service was solid as always. Had his forwards running hard onto advantage line all night. I also like the fact that he's kicking more often this year, kicking out of dummy half is such an underrated tactic imo.

Structurally Pearce and Maloney still look like they're trying to click imo, playing a traditional first and second receiver partnership is something neither would have ever done in First Grade. However the amount of space Maloney is in when Pearce plays out the back of a decoy is very exciting.

I fail to see the main criticisms of Pearce & Friend. A short kicking game isn't the be all and end all of a player, you'll have to expand on that.

[Guest]

R6, we found a flaw in his game, he, or even Robbo, needs to assess that.
us members of the chookpen demand perfection, and if pearce comes out next week and continues with his rubbish short kicking game, he will continue to be critiscised. however, if he hands the short kicking options to Maloney, he (or robbo) will be praised.
pearce had a good game last night, the only area he was bad was his short kicking, that's why it stuck out to all of us.

[Rooster_6]

It's not the points or dropped ball it's how we are structured mate.

For me it isn't about last night I said it after the foundation cup game.

We have two competent halves we should just split them on each side. It will make it so much easier and you won't get as many broken plays which we are still seeing.

Also we are still too deep. We can be much flatter especially with a quicker ruck now.

Brisbane were an example of a side who were playing way too deep. At times when they were attacking on our goal line their winger was on the 40m line. Trust me, we're not playing too deep.

Playing too flat can be dangerous, results in a lot of drop ball even if it does create more opportunities. Pearce already plays direct and flat enough.

I also disagree wholeheartedly about splitting the halves. I'm a massive fan of Robbo/JT going with a traditional formation, Maloney is finding so much space at the moment when he receives the ball at second receiver and it also allows him to roam around the field instead of trying to organise his left hand side of the field. I wasn't that excited about Maloney's signing but he's playing in a role that suits him to a tee and that's why we're seeing such great performances with him.

[Rooster_6]

R6, we found a flaw in his game, he, or even Robbo, needs to assess that.
us members of the chookpen demand perfection, and if pearce comes out next week and continues with his rubbish short kicking game, he will continue to be critiscised. however, if he hands the short kicking options to Maloney, he (or robbo) will be praised.
pearce had a good game last night, the only area he was bad was his short kicking, that's why it stuck out to all of us.

Maloney has taken on some of the short kicking duties in the opening 3 rounds and he hasn't been much better, it's usually just a big up and under. Bit of a lottery ball... I actually reckon Friend probably has the best short kicking game of all. I wouldn't be opposed to him kicking out of dummy half on last (like we saw him do on one occasion last night), Farah has great success with it for the Tigers.

[Guest]

Maloney has taken on some of the short kicking duties in the opening 3 rounds and he hasn't been much better, it's usually just a big up and under. Bit of a lottery ball... I actually reckon Friend probably has the best short kicking game of all. I wouldn't be opposed to him kicking out of dummy half on last (like we saw him do on one occasion last night), Farah has great success with it for the Tigers.

agreed, farah has been very good with his short kicking out of dummy half. friend should take a leaf.
its a problem that needs to be addressed.

[Bansai Pipeline]

I fail to see the main criticisms of Pearce & Friend. A short kicking game isn't the be all and end all of a player, you'll have to expand on that.

Well, the main criticism is that they're unremarkable.

What's so difficult to grasp about that?

They're both pretty mediocre.

They might have alright stats, but they lack that something extra.

And you need that something extra in your 7 and/or 9 in order to give the competition a shake.

[Guest]

Well, the main criticism is that they're unremarkable.

What's so difficult to grasp about that?

They're both pretty mediocre.

They might have alright stats, but they lack that something extra.

And you need that something extra in your 7 and/or 9 in order to give the competition a shake.

really? the dragqueens won the premiership in 2010, with one of the most boring 7/9 combinations in Hornby/fien ive ever seen.

[Guest]

Brisbane were an example of a side who were playing way too deep. At times when they were attacking on our goal line their winger was on the 40m line. Trust me, we're not playing too deep.

Playing too flat can be dangerous, results in a lot of drop ball even if it does create more opportunities. Pearce already plays direct and flat enough.

I also disagree wholeheartedly about splitting the halves. I'm a massive fan of Robbo/JT going with a traditional formation, Maloney is finding so much space at the moment when he receives the ball at second receiver and it also allows him to roam around the field instead of trying to organise his left hand side of the field. I wasn't that excited about Maloney's signing but he's playing in a role that suits him to a tee and that's why we're seeing such great performances with him.

Nah fair enough mate. This style or structure is just much harder to learn though IMO.

What about our wrestle last night?

I know they don't have much but we strangled the life out of them. Massive improvement from last year.

[Bansai Pipeline]

really? the dragqueens won the premiership in 2010, with one of the most boring 7/9 combinations in Hornby/fien ive ever seen.

True.

[Guest]

True.

they won that premiership off the back of a gritty defence, which, I think we may be working towards this year.

[Guest]

I don't think 3 games is enough to be castin judgement. The first was against a dominant forward pack that had a lot of ball due to a 8 -1 penalty count and many errors coupled with the nerves of a new group of players playing together for the first time. The second game was in NZ in poor conditions and the 3rd was against a 60/40 possession rate and territory disadvantage. Granted that it shouldn't matter as a game of football is a game of football but I think we need a larger sample size for a more accurate judgement.