So what went wrong?

[Lydon]

Those who think we lost this year because of injuries need to think again.
Even without JWH we have a gun outfit
The Broncos have lost Josh Maguire (Origin player) yet have never used that as an excuse.
If we can't overcome losing JWH and Pearce with the team we already have,questions of player attitudes must come into question.

[Arties Pie]

In my humble opinion here Semi Finals are played very differently to most round games very much like SOO and in general referee'd very differently as well. In most semi finals the teams are allowed a bit longer in the ruck and the 10m isn't usually what it is in a round game. So our power game isn't as effective as we can't get the quick roll on as the defence is set and not back pedalling. In short they are played at a slower pace (usually). We get caught up in the niggle and are easily baited, we also don't play for the penalties ( most good teams do ) and don't lie down for the ones we deserve, all this in tandem with our poor completion rate when frustrated doesn't bode well to win a semi final.

[2026]

I guess Robbo talks about the boys "trusting their instinct" and "playing our style of footy". The flip side to that is the occasional dog's breakfast performance like the one we displayed against the Broncos.

[Guest]

In my humble opinion here Semi Finals are played very differently to most round games very much like SOO and in general referee'd very differently as well. In most semi finals the teams are allowed a bit longer in the ruck and the 10m isn't usually what it is in a round game. So our power game isn't as effective as we can't get the quick roll on as the defence is set and not back pedalling. In short they are played at a slower pace (usually). We get caught up in the niggle and are easily baited, we also don't play for the penalties ( most good teams do ) and don't lie down for the ones we deserve, all this in tandem with our poor completion rate when frustrated doesn't bode well to win a semi final.

You can have your pie and eat it too..

[Johnny.]

Those who think we lost this year because of injuries need to think again.
Even without JWH we have a gun outfit
The Broncos have lost Josh Maguire (Origin player) yet have never used that as an excuse.
If we can't overcome losing JWH and Pearce with the team we already have,questions of player attitudes must come into question.

'I jumped up to pull a penalty...that's why Justin Hodges isn't guilty.'

I'll give Pearce this, he's the little Aussie battler. He might not be a halfback's colloca but he tries his best. A few players in this team do not.

[Thirteen]

It's clearly a coaches fault. This team is coached to give away penalties and commit dozens of errors and perform low completion rates due to the flashy style of play. In finals that spells elimination. No wonder weve been eliminated two years in a row. Our reckless ball handing created an error rate that gave 57% possession to Brisbane. You can't win without decent possession. Robbo has had 3 years to fix our error rate so why doesn't he?? Because his game plan is to play a risk ridden game that mostly relies on a power game to win. But in finals the other side raises intensity so a power game is useless. You need short passes, good completion rates and a good kick and chase game. Our strategy was to still play risky options. SKD shouldn't have played. Elliott has no issues and is a safer choice. Pearce should not have played and WHY weren't 4-5 players rested for the Souths game????? Bennett rested players now his team is in the GF and we didn't and we are losers.

Bennett primed his team for the slog using an error free game plan, completing sets and having a good kick and chase game. Robbo tried to force things. He was out smarted and made to look a complete idiot with his sanctioning of long passes with an undefended, unguarded goal line.

We don't need Pearce nor Johns nor another year of Robbo's error ridden coaching which will result in another elimination.

If you had s brain you'd be dangerous!

[ism22]

The NRL is the hardest competition to win in world sport. So much needs to go right. You can have a great team, but in such a tight comp with invariably 2 or 3 very good teams, it only takes a season ending injury to a key player to ruin your season.

We had 2 season ending injuries to key players. Both in the space of 5 minutes. 3 weeks out from the finals. DISASTER. No coach would have been able to overcome the loss of their best forward and halfback on such short notice. We were still a chance on the strength of our team, but ultimately in proved the difference.

Had we beaten the Storm I reckon the Cowboys would have done us over without JWH and a half fit Pearce anyway. No doubt.

As for 2014, the loss of desire killed us. You can have all the talent in the world but you must be hungry.

Agreed and I think that's what's awesome about it. The comp is genuinely even and when you win, you're under the pump because you start losing players.

AFL? Yaaaawn... Hawks again! If you lost this year then you get first grabs at the up and coming juniors.

English and European soccer? Same teams every year. No regulations... you just sign whoever you want and the richest club wins. Also there's no knockout finals series, so teams don't go at you with tactics designed to break your team specifically (e.g. the Storm on us).

I'm happy that the comp let us go from 2009 to 2013. Has any team gone from last to first in such a short period of time? Whoever the hell is at the bottom of the AFL and English soccer can be guaranteed that they're gonna do about as well next year. GWS and Goldcoast might as well not be in the comp. EPL? Whoever's down the bottom will be relegated and won't be able to pay 1st grade players (as a result) so good luck. Man United and Chelsea will sign anybody who looks semi-good to ensure there's no hope of there being any serious competition.

[Chook]

Coming up one game short doesn't hurt as much as last year.

Whether it's because I'm mellowing, or that lol@souffs is not there, or that I'm still euphoric from seeing the worst PM in history utterly humiliated on national TV, not sure, but the sting is already gone.

Already looking forward to next year.

Chook.

[Chook]

Johns is an NRL prostitute who sells himself to any club, why do we need Johns when we have Fittler who imo was as good as Johns. No to druggies.

Were you in a coma in 2008-2009? Freddy "Coach" Fittler humiliated himself and the club in that position and lead us to a wooden spoon.

Chook.

[The Brain]

I am for Johns to teach but from a distance the only reason Manly and him split is because he influenced the young blokes at Manly and a few first graders to get on the drink.Thats a worry.

[Ray Stehr]

Were you in a coma in 2008-2009? Freddy "Coach" Fittler humiliated himself and the club in that position and lead us to a wooden spoon.

Chook.

Mentoring our halves doofus.

[Double]

I'd like to see some focus on coaching our spine and not just our halves. Would rather someone like Adrian Lam take on the job who I think can teach the subtlties and patience we need.

[Bigchook]

Were you in a coma in 2008-2009? Freddy "Coach" Fittler humiliated himself and the club in that position and lead us to a wooden spoon.

Chook.

I was laughing at the advocacy for fittler due to the no to druggie Johns.

[ROC181]

'I jumped up to pull a penalty...that's why Justin Hodges isn't guilty.'

I'll give Pearce this, he's the little Aussie battler. He might not be a halfback's colloca but he tries his best. A few players in this team do not.

Yes the poor little Aussie battler. Tries his heart out. Shame that's all he is.

[Chook]

Mentoring our halves doofus.

Mentoring, coaching, call it what you want, Fittler is shit at it.

Chook.