Lost to a better coach

[Guest]

I dont think you can blame the refs, or the players... our blokes tried there guts out.
Brian Smith played with 4 front rowers on the bench, something we haven’t done all year. i don’t understand why Brian would do this, our bench rotation added no variety to our performance. Brian proved that he can take a side to a grand final and left it at that. in a year where our attack is arguably the best in the game he stifled it with a having 7 front rowers in our 17. Its easy to say in hindsight but i did mention this in another thread that this rotation would play in Saints favour and it did.

[Johnny Tobin]

We were murdered by referee incompetence.

Five of their tries should not have happened.

The coach had nothing to do with that.

[Guest]

Sorry mate...an average coach would have beaten SMith today as well with the help from the officials stuffing up the calls...

[The General]

I knew that if we lost the Grand Final people would blame Brian Smith.

[Guest]

What a ****ing joke.

[Guest]

I knew that if we lost the Grand Final people would blame Brian Smith.

You trying to say having a bench consisting of 4 props was a good move?

[Johnny Tobin]

You trying to say having a bench consisting of 4 props was a good move?

I am saying it didn't cost us the game.

The result of that was Jake playing the whole game.

That had no effect on the result at all.

The officials, however ......

[Guest]

LOL. Love the 20/20 hindsight. Mr Magic you would be calling Smith a genius for having four forwards on the bench if we'd won.

Smith took a club that was a complete rabble to within a bees dick of a premiership. What more could you want.

[trewhella]

LOL. Love the 20/20 hindsight. Mr Magic you would be calling Smith a genius for having four forwards on the bench if we'd won.

Smith took a club that was a complete rabble to within a bees dick of a premiership. What more could you want.

A premiership

[Guest]

A premiership

exactly.
friend ended up playing 80min, offered little in attack cause the little bloke made 60 odd tackles. i'd much rather he make 30 tackles and have a try assist next to his name.
i dont want to be over critical of brian but i just think it was a bad move. you only get one shot at it (brians had 4) and it wasnt the best plan of attack IMO.

[melon....]

exactly.
friend ended up playing 80min, offered little in attack cause the little bloke made 60 odd tackles. i'd much rather he make 30 tackles and have a try assist next to his name.
i dont want to be over critical of brian but i just think it was a bad move. you only get one shot at it (brians had 4) and it wasnt the best plan of attack IMO.

Trewhellas love child

[Guest]

I dont think you can blame the refs, or the players... our blokes tried there guts out.
Brian Smith played with 4 front rowers on the bench, something we haven’t done all year. i don’t understand why Brian would do this, our bench rotation added no variety to our performance. Brian proved that he can take a side to a grand final and left it at that. in a year where our attack is arguably the best in the game he stifled it with a having 7 front rowers in our 17. Its easy to say in hindsight but i did mention this in another thread that this rotation would play in Saints favour and it did.

Sorry but I beg to differ, the front rowers put on a powerhouse display and had the St George pack covered in attack and defence, all that was needed was a repeat performance in the second half.

Pearce and Carney ran too sideways for my liking but still many times were just caught almost getting through. Our attack out wide was well covered by the Dragons, the wet ground didn't help us. BUT very dumb moves by Pearce and Anasta at the end of the first half may have cost us a try.

A bewildering lack of intensity at the start of the second half allowed St George back in the game and we just weren't in it at all in the second half. I don't think we ever got near their tryline.

[Guest]

I dont think you can blame the refs, or the players... our blokes tried there guts out.
Brian Smith played with 4 front rowers on the bench, something we havent done all year. i dont understand why Brian would do this, our bench rotation added no variety to our performance. Brian proved that he can take a side to a grand final and left it at that. in a year where our attack is arguably the best in the game he stifled it with a having 7 front rowers in our 17. Its easy to say in hindsight but i did mention this in another thread that this rotation would play in Saints favour and it did.

Thanks for the 'exclusive' Buzz...

[Guest]

Sorry but I beg to differ, the front rowers put on a powerhouse display and had the St George pack covered in attack and defence, all that was needed was a repeat performance in the second half.

Pearce and Carney ran too sideways for my liking but still many times were just caught almost getting through. Our attack out wide was well covered by the Dragons, the wet ground didn't help us. BUT very dumb moves by Pearce and Anasta at the end of the first half may have cost us a try.

A bewildering lack of intensity at the start of the second half allowed St George back in the game and we just weren't in it at all in the second half. I don't think we ever got near their tryline.

you make a good point. we should have scored more points in the first half, we had much more posession and should have converted into points.

I still think having 4 front rowers (for the first time this year) on the bench was a bad move, we had very little variety coming off the bench.

[Guest]

If jaubs or Lopini were to play on in the finals then why did we continue with Kouparitsis all season