Watching the Storm tonight...

[Tommy Smith]

... reminded me of how I felt watching the Panthers in last years Prelim.

What a mildly above average footy team. There's a reason they lost to something like 6 teams coming last.

We went into the finals on the back of supremely powerful and ominous performances against Manly and the Rabbits.

And then we play lethargic in a game that actually matters against a far inferior Storm team.

Two years running. Two woeful losses to two average teams. Two Premierships butchered. How is it possible that no lessons were learned?

I do worry this generation of Roosters will be scarred for the rest of their careers with regards to finals footy. They may be gun shy for the rest of their careers in the big games.

[The Brain]

Thats what I said yesterday to amate they over achieved they should never even made the top 8 really same as Penrith .I tipped all week that Cows would beat them by 30.People laughed at me one mate has just lost a $100 to me .

[Johnny Tobin]

Both seasons we didn't have another gear when we hit the semis.

[Bigchook]

I think a lot of people are under rating the quality of the storm roster. Smith, cronk, chambers, Bromwich are world class. Proctor, duffie, Munster, Mann are a great young crop similar to our young roster of 2013. They are probably one or two more players away from a premiership. If slater was there and Munster excelled in the centres then who knows?

Regardless, doesn't make up for our losses in consecutive years.

[chopstiks]

Only saw bits and pieces, can't cope watching a full Storm game, their over-reliance on penalties and ref piggybacking down the field is mind numbing. Plus.. they're unlikeable.

[dice]

The two weekend results are confirmation of how far off the mark we were without Pearce and JWH. Everyone caught up in the hysteria of our winning streak and used the soft wins against Manly and Souths as confirmation of our premiership credentials without Pearce and JWH.

Regarding JT's comments of going up a gear. Notice that Bennett had a very different defensive game on Friday compared to round 24. This is where I believe Robbo is just as dumb as Sticky in playing all his aces before the finals. The opposition always know what to expect from us.

[Bigchook]

Ryan hinchcliff is a deadset flop. Worst wrestler in the game.

[chopstiks]

Notice that Bennett had a very different defensive game on Friday compared to round 24. This is where I believe Robbo is just as dumb as Sticky in playing all his aces before the finals. The opposition always know what to expect from us.

But we knew what to expect from them.
Broncos said publicly during the week we will attack up the middle! Hello, Milford
Broncos said We will crowd Roger.. and that's where they were headed during the first try wakey wakey SKD.. and again that's where three of them were headed for the 2nd try, wakey wakey Roger & Tup

They told us what they would do!

The thing that makes me sick as well, is how easy Fergo's tries were, both times with Milford there defending, WHY didn't we keep attacking and walking over him, we let them off the hook big time.

[dice]

But we knew what to expect from them.
Broncos said publicly during the week we will attack up the middle! Hello, Milford
Broncos said We will crowd Roger.. and that's where they were headed during the first try wakey wakey SKD.. and again that's where three of them were headed for the 2nd try, wakey wakey Roger & Tup

They told us what they would do!

The Broncos were not hanging back in defense as they have been doing all year. They were very quick off the line and caught Robbo with his pants down. It was only a brief period where Pearce was able to adapt with long kicks and a deeper backline. Other than that we had NFI.

[chopstiks]

The Broncos were not hanging back in defense as they have been doing all year. They were very quick off the line and caught Robbo with his pants down. It was only a brief period where Pearce was able to adapt with long kicks and a deeper backline. Other than that we had NFI.

I agree, and again we all knew Broncos couldn't afford to let them attack and then defend on the line as they'd get eaten alive. I can't buy this notion (from anyone, not saying you) that Bennett pulled the wool over everybody's eyes and was pulling out genius unexpected masterstrokes out of nowhere. They won the psychological battle before you could blink, so never felt threatened. That's huge.

[Halcro]

Please correct me if I'm wrong.....but isn't it a coach's job to see how the game is panning out and how the opposition is structuring itself....and then to make CORRECTIONS to the situation? Especially at half time with the whole team in the sheds....
Unfortunately I've seen enough evidence to realise that this is Trent's biggest (and maybe only) failure as a top grade coach.

[dice]

I agree, and again we all knew Broncos couldn't afford to let them attack and then defend on the line as they'd get eaten alive. I can't buy this notion (from anyone, not saying you) that Bennett pulled the wool over everybody's eyes and was pulling out genius unexpected masterstrokes out of nowhere. They won the psychological battle before you could blink, so never felt threatened. That's huge.

Not blowing smoke up Bennett. It is a criticism of Robbo and Sticky. I remember in 2003 when we blew the Panthers off the park just before the finals. We showed them our best hand when we didn't need to, the Panthers planned the Grand Final on the lessons learnt from that game. Bennett, Hasler, and Bellamy always hold something back for the finals.

[Johnny Tobin]

Not blowing smoke up Bennett. It is a criticism of Robbo and Sticky. I remember in 2003 when we blew the Panthers off the park just before the finals. We showed them our best hand when we didn't need to, the Panthers planned the Grand Final on the lessons learnt from that game. Bennett, Hasler, and Bellamy always hold something back for the finals.

It now turns out that the Broncos game we won was a sucker punch.

[eddie]

I remember in 2003 when we blew the Panthers off the park just before the finals.

Best game Crocker ever played.

[Kingbilly]

Please correct me if I'm wrong.....but isn't it a coach's job to see how the game is panning out and how the opposition is structuring itself....and then to make CORRECTIONS to the situation? Especially at half time with the whole team in the sheds....
Unfortunately I've seen enough evidence to realise that this is Trent's biggest (and maybe only) failure as a top grade coach.

Yes the Bulldogs game is a perfect example of this. (thats sarcasm for those on here that a a bit slow)

Its the execution that is either done or not. The players admit they knew what they had to do but just didn't do it