Thought we were poor today

[Hawkeye]

after the previous two big games against Bulldogs and Dragons, the hype, the build up, and the big crowds to both games ...always thought this game against the Panfers was going to be a bit flat.
They were, but still managed to grind out a big win ..... Playing below par and still registering a good win, now that's a good sign !

[Guest]

First 10 minutes was solid in terms of our go forward and how fast our play the ball was. Rest of the half was pretty average at best. Second half was a much better improvement however yeah, we've still got a lot of improvement in us.

[Guest]

I saw 30 minutes of the 1st half only & wasn't to convinced but when Melbourne have just won this year a couple of times most of the experts say things like "they were still able to win even though they didn't play well which shows the signs of a good team".

Souths & Canberra are both in my 8 & are both top sides so are Melbourne, Nth Old & Manly, I think the Roosters need to be on their game against who you mentioned but win or lose it will be the way they do it that I'll be looking at.

I really believe the Roosters can beat Manly but Im not sure on the other 2. The Chooks have beaten no one in the 8 yet unless the Dragons beat Manly & Im not sure if the Broncos are in the 8 so it is way to early to have the Roosters on the top shelf with the other 4.

But from an outsiders view the team is in so much better head space this year all due to the coaching change & they are playing good footy. They will make the 8 from there who knows?

You hit the nail on the head saying the mark of good signs is winning when your not on your game. See its not a case of not being on your game in the sense that you are crap/dont turn up; its typically where the other side is coping well with you and having an extra special crack, or they arent that great/its wet so the game stoops and becomes a slug fest, or the big plays just arent coming off as they normally do - a few players having off days, miscommunications etc. Being able to fall back (as we did today) on the fundamentals (defence, completing sets, low errors/penalties and attitude) got us through.

[BUDDY]

I was watching the AFL yesterday and the Hawks didn't have their best game but still won.
The one comment that stood out made by one of the commentators was that you can't play with the same high intensity every game especially so early on in the year. You would run out of steam. The games against the Raiders and today were clear examples of that especially when playing against teams you are expected to beat easily. We didn't play to our best today but still put on a decent score against a team who I thought defended very well and made very few mistakes in attack. They scored one try off a kick and never looked like breaking our line. I believe we will lift for the next three games.

[Sandgroper]

Yeah bit harsh in my opinion.

We ain't gonna score 50 every week. The razzle dazzle cuts it against the likes of Parra, but it won't cut it against the elite sides like Melbourne and Manly.

Today we showed our versatility and played a very disciplined, patient game, something we were incapable of in the Smith era. Penrith are a better side than most give them credit for I think, and we kept them scoreless in the 2nd half.

In respect to the Canberra game.. as disappointing as it was at the time, the result against the Storm last night paints that match in a different light. Are they a top 4 prospect? No, but on their night they obviously have the talent to beat anyone.

We're getting the job done, bank the 2 points (and the for and against) and move on, the next 3 weeks will really show where we're at.

[Guest]

Regardless of the score we were a little off. Although our first half completion rate was 85% and we got our first 40/20 of the year and more repeat sets then any other game. I watched the replay and the timing and kicking was off otherwise the determination was there and we played an error free game. If Pearce and BBQ found the turf more i think we would have really pumped them. However they were always starting their sets from the 30 and sometimes the 40 so they were never under pressure which had a large neg impact on the game.

[kurtsherlock6]

I was watching the AFL yesterday and the Hawks didn't have their best game but still won.
The one comment that stood out made by one of the commentators was that you can't play with the same high intensity every game especially so early on in the year. You would run out of steam. The games against the Raiders and today were clear examples of that especially when playing against teams you are expected to beat easily. We didn't play to our best today but still put on a decent score against a team who I thought defended very well and made very few mistakes in attack. They scored one try off a kick and never looked like breaking our line. I believe we will lift for the next three games.

Well said Bubby, agree 100%.

[Guest]

Bumped into Andrew.W after the game and I commented that we were scratchy.

He made a good point though...that if that shoreline was achieved last year, we'd be over the moon...we've come a long way to be "disappointed" with that score.

We'll lift our game next week.

This is spot on. This may have been close to our "worst" win this year but it was better than our best last year.

How quickly we forget.

[Rooster_6]

I was watching the AFL yesterday and the Hawks didn't have their best game but still won.
The one comment that stood out made by one of the commentators was that you can't play with the same high intensity every game especially so early on in the year. You would run out of steam. The games against the Raiders and today were clear examples of that especially when playing against teams you are expected to beat easily. We didn't play to our best today but still put on a decent score against a team who I thought defended very well and made very few mistakes in attack. They scored one try off a kick and never looked like breaking our line. I believe we will lift for the next three games.

How do you explain playing wide too early, not playing direct and not earning the yards up the middle in the first half then? That has nothing to do with intensity that's all about being mentally switched on.

There's no doubt this game was lower in intensity and that's acceptable but we were poor tactically & technically in that first half. We really should have put more on them in that first half and it's a poor habit to get into.

Playing with a lower intensity but sticking to your structures & processes is one thing, playing with a lower intensity and trying to take short cuts is a whole other story.

The second half after they copped a spray was a little bit better but still not great. This is a Penrith side who already had a poor roster without the injuries they've suffered this year, the score should mean little.

[Guest]

First half showed little to no patience. Penrith played a perfect game for a good while there and it must have stunned our guys who naturally would have expected to roll them. Add Plum and Docker hitting like they did in defence and we were shocked for a bit there by them.
Robbo must have given them a rev up at half time, because they woke up and turned it on a lot better after the break.
Few of things I took out of the game:
-SBW is a beast.
-RTS is not quick.
-JWH's no-look pass to Pearce was incredible.

[Spanner in the works]

I wouldn't say poor. I would say we were very flat today. May need to rotate some players in the next 2-3 weeks.

[Guest]

First half showed little to no patience. Penrith played a perfect game for a good while there and it must have stunned our guys who naturally would have expected to roll them. Add Plum and Docker hitting like they did in defence and we were shocked for a bit there by them.
Robbo must have given them a rev up at half time, because they woke up and turned it on a lot better after the break.
Few of things I took out of the game:
-SBW is a beast.
-RTS is not quick.
-JWH's no-look pass to Pearce was incredible.

Umm..

[Guest]

I wouldn't say poor. I would say we were very flat today. May need to rotate some players in the next 2-3 weeks.

Because changing/upsetting a winning combination is always a good idea

[roostwin]

First half showed little to no patience. Penrith played a perfect game for a good while there and it must have stunned our guys who naturally would have expected to roll them. Add Plum and Docker hitting like they did in defence and we were shocked for a bit there by them.
Robbo must have given them a rev up at half time, because they woke up and turned it on a lot better after the break.
Few of things I took out of the game:
-SBW is a beast.
-RTS is not quick.
-JWH's no-look pass to Pearce was incredible.

I agree Josh, RTS gets to top speed quick but i don't think that top speed is all that fast.
Probably quicker than Todd Byrne, but I think he will struggle to catch a lot of wingers and centers when he is at fullback and they make a break through our line.

[Guest]

May need to rotate some players in the next 2-3 weeks.

Gee - that's a great idea - mess with a top 4 sides lineup after a win. Are you on crack?