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Cronulla have ticker, Roosters are chicken-hearts
Greg Prichard | May 18, 2009
SYDNEY Roosters are ahead of Cronulla on the competition table, and beat the Sharks the only time they met this season, but the Roosters are more deserving of criticism than the Sharks.
At least Cronulla have a red-hot go every week. They might have proved to be inept in some key areas, but they continue to try hard to break their losing streak - even though their confidence must have taken a battering. The Roosters turn up to play sometimes, and at other times they don't. Or, if a game is getting away from them, they don't seem to want to fight hard to at least try to minimise the damage.
Saturday night's double was a case in point. The Roosters played early, and were smashed 38-6 by Newcastle at the SFS. The Sharks played late, and refused to give in against Penrith, taking the game down to the wire before losing 26-22 at CUA Stadium.
The Knights led 22-0 at half-time, and the second half was one in which 40 minutes seemed to take 80, so predictable was the outcome. There was a look of resignation on the faces of the Roosters players, and a couple of the breaks the Knights made as the second half wore on were the result of sheer lack of effort from the defence.
The Sharks trailed 20-6 in the second half, but came back to cut the deficit to two points and give themselves a realistic chance of winning. They might not have been good enough to get that win, in the end, but the fact they were prepared to go in search of it was a positive thing. The Cronulla players were clearly devastated by the loss.
There are big holes in both sides, but the Roosters look better on paper, and they did to register a 19-12 win over the Sharks in round eight. But the Roosters, who have a win-loss record of 3-7, have now lost five games by a margin of 13-plus. The Sharks, who are 1-9 and have lost eight in a row, have only lost by a 13-plus margin once.
This is not meant to excuse an eight-match losing streak. It's just meant to point out that when you look at results on a win or loss basis, it doesn't always tell the full story.
The story at the Panthers is that while the team is heading in the right direction, they need to develop more of a killer instinct. Playing at home and leading by 14 points during the second half, they should have been able to go on and beat the Sharks comfortably. Maybe they didn't pay the commitment of the Sharks enough respect; whatever the case, they have to learn from that close shave.
Penrith are good to watch. They have power and excitement, but they're still trying to learn how to tie it all together for 80 minutes.
Newcastle's development as a team that is rising again after a few lean years is more enhanced. They announced they were on the way back last season, when they narrowly missed the finals, and now they are one of four teams on 14 points at the top of the competition table. The Knights had admonished themselves for only winning "ugly" a couple of times recently, and looked very attractive in disposing of the Roosters.
This is an even competition, and Newcastle have a genuine shot at winning it.
Greg Prichard | May 18, 2009
SYDNEY Roosters are ahead of Cronulla on the competition table, and beat the Sharks the only time they met this season, but the Roosters are more deserving of criticism than the Sharks.
At least Cronulla have a red-hot go every week. They might have proved to be inept in some key areas, but they continue to try hard to break their losing streak - even though their confidence must have taken a battering. The Roosters turn up to play sometimes, and at other times they don't. Or, if a game is getting away from them, they don't seem to want to fight hard to at least try to minimise the damage.
Saturday night's double was a case in point. The Roosters played early, and were smashed 38-6 by Newcastle at the SFS. The Sharks played late, and refused to give in against Penrith, taking the game down to the wire before losing 26-22 at CUA Stadium.
The Knights led 22-0 at half-time, and the second half was one in which 40 minutes seemed to take 80, so predictable was the outcome. There was a look of resignation on the faces of the Roosters players, and a couple of the breaks the Knights made as the second half wore on were the result of sheer lack of effort from the defence.
The Sharks trailed 20-6 in the second half, but came back to cut the deficit to two points and give themselves a realistic chance of winning. They might not have been good enough to get that win, in the end, but the fact they were prepared to go in search of it was a positive thing. The Cronulla players were clearly devastated by the loss.
There are big holes in both sides, but the Roosters look better on paper, and they did to register a 19-12 win over the Sharks in round eight. But the Roosters, who have a win-loss record of 3-7, have now lost five games by a margin of 13-plus. The Sharks, who are 1-9 and have lost eight in a row, have only lost by a 13-plus margin once.
This is not meant to excuse an eight-match losing streak. It's just meant to point out that when you look at results on a win or loss basis, it doesn't always tell the full story.
The story at the Panthers is that while the team is heading in the right direction, they need to develop more of a killer instinct. Playing at home and leading by 14 points during the second half, they should have been able to go on and beat the Sharks comfortably. Maybe they didn't pay the commitment of the Sharks enough respect; whatever the case, they have to learn from that close shave.
Penrith are good to watch. They have power and excitement, but they're still trying to learn how to tie it all together for 80 minutes.
Newcastle's development as a team that is rising again after a few lean years is more enhanced. They announced they were on the way back last season, when they narrowly missed the finals, and now they are one of four teams on 14 points at the top of the competition table. The Knights had admonished themselves for only winning "ugly" a couple of times recently, and looked very attractive in disposing of the Roosters.
This is an even competition, and Newcastle have a genuine shot at winning it.
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