Joey Manu more ball please!

[zac]

Agree. Manu's been great of late. Looks dangerous every time he touches the ball. Maybe Keary could sometimes roam to the right side, running at the line, sucking men in and then give the ball to Manu with a bit of space.

[The Skeez]

I think they mean

Second rowers, less ball please*

* actually, just when we play with width, mostly in the attacking half.. And Tedesco, you don’t have to hog all the ball either!

[Kelby]

I agree with Ennis. The Liu experiment at second row has to end. Matterson is no Wally Lewis but at least he has a pass. He should go back to second row and Isaac can be the second lock.

Matto to 2nd row
Liu to prop with SST
JWH start off from bench (until ribs 100%)

[<ME>]

Maubs killed manu momentum last week to. I like Matto edge for 80. Liu in middle rotation strengthens a weakness in my opinion, and I apply that to both edge and middle.

[theGman]

Everyone knows where the second rowers stand, that's not the issue, the issue is on our backline plays, most teams will either use a second rower as a decoy or to get a quick pass away to the Centre who is running a different line. We do neither. Our second rowers catch the ball and more often than not, tuck it under their arm and run at the defensive line. They are neither effective at breaking the line or getting an offload away. On the odd occasion they pop the ball, the Centre is running on the same angle as the second rower and gets the ball, whilst jammed up near the sideline, giving them no space to work with and rendering the Winger useless.

It kills me when Issac Liu jumps in front of Manu to get the ball and seeing the play die. Likewise Cordner rarely looks to pass and again if he does, Mitchell catches the ball with the defence in his face and with no time or room to move. They need to effectively run a decoy line into space and allow the Centre to get the ball early, or position themselves slightly behind the Centre catching the ball. Alternatively, have the Centre cutting back to receive a pass on the inside but that requires a second rower with decent passing ability which neither Cordner or Liu possess. If you ever watch a game that doesn't involve the Roosters, you will see this sort of thing happen regularly.

Begs the question then, what style of play will our coach have new signing Angus Crighton playing?

[fletch]

Begs the question then, what style of play will our coach have new signing Angus Crighton playing?

good thing with Crichton is he has a very good offload.

[theGman]

good thing with Crichton is he has a very good offload.

Agree Fletch.

Let's hope the head coach doesn't stifle his great skill just for the sake of "structure" and "laying the foundations" yada yada yada.....

[milanja]

good thing with Crichton is he has a very good offload.

angus has looked pretty pedestrian this year, nothing overly exciting about his play.

Hope he changes my mind next year.

[The Lip]

Souths game has changed a lot this year. Last year they had no go forward - the twins weren't putting in and as a result Cook etc had less impact going up the middle from a quick damaging run up the middle from the burgi. As a result they went wider and Crichton got more ball and showed what he had to offer. This year the burgi are having good impact opening up stuff around the ruck for cook etc and that's where a lot of their attack is at least starting from. Hence Crichton out wider has less impact. He hasnt been bad - just not as influential as the previous year due to less opportunity i think. He will be great for us we go wide - second rowers get a lot of opportunity in our team - they just die with the ball way way too often - he wont be in that mould.