The Elephant in the Room...Fumbles Ikuvalu

[Bondicigar]

Thats really harsh- watch it again

Walker was defending 2 off the ruck at least 20 metres from the sideline. He ran across following Brian Kelly and had him covered when JMoz made the decision come in - Fermor made the break about a metre in from the sideline-that's nowhere near going straight at him
Ikavalu didn't commit to making a tackle to either Fermor or Sami- just back pedalled and landed straight on his arse.inbetween them both. He needed to follow Morris in and take Fermor and leave Sami to Walker

Yep Walker missed Fermor but he he flying across field and got himself to a situation where most players would have still been standing 20 metres in from the sideline

That's how I saw it too

[Random Rooster]

Sorry, they went straight to the area where he was.

No need to apologise. 20 metres infield was the area where he was- he followed the play. If Brian Kelly got the ball and ran straight at Walker & he missed the tackle i would say yep he was targeted- like he was with TPJ against the Broncos. To say he was targeted 20 metres away from where he was in the defensive line would mean that Justin Holbrook has the greatest analytical rugby league mind in the history of the NRL....and his players aren't far behind

[rented tracksuit]

Thats really harsh- watch it again

Walker was defending 2 off the ruck at least 20 metres from the sideline. He ran across following Brian Kelly and had him covered when JMoz made the decision come in - Fermor made the break about a metre in from the sideline-that's nowhere near going straight at him
Ikavalu didn't commit to making a tackle to either Fermor or Sami- just back pedalled and landed straight on his arse.inbetween them both. He needed to follow Morris in and take Fermor and leave Sami to Walker

Yep Walker missed Fermor but he he flying across field and got himself to a situation where most players would have still been standing 20 metres in from the sideline

that tackle by Walker saved the match and our season. If it’s not made, they score then and don’t bomb the next play.

[Yak]

Walker clearly shot out of the line (because that’s what he does to ensure early contact giving the chance for teammates to help out) but he was wrong-footed by Kelly who gets on his outside. Sam has to get on his bike to track down Kelly as he tries to engage JMoz. Any other defender inside and Morris probably holds his width more but if Walker misses the cover on Kelly it’s a 3 on 1 down the field. Morris bites and Ikavalu has a 2 on 1. Takes the dummy from Fermor. Walker eats a palm but manages to keep his feet. Sam has essentially missed two assignments now. Credit to him for getting himself pack in position to help Tedesco. Teddy does an incredible job to herd Fermor sideways which buys Walker time to get back in the play. The tackle from Walker was interesting. He sort of slips over Sami’s head but manages to grip him enough to pull him down with him. Then shifts him two or three metres further out from the goal line. It seems minor at the time but I means our guys don’t have to go right back to the line. If you look at the wide shot Tupou retreats to 10m beyond the play the ball but not to where the ref does which is slightly in front of the line. Maybe the refs don’t blow a penalty anyway but the subjectiveness of the 10m not being the goal line may have made it more difficult to make a call.

In hindsight for the Titans it’s all the little things that you build through Nov-January that let them down on that last play. Jayden Campbell is young but he doesn’t react to the break until Fermor beats Walker with the fend. In the last minute of a game you have to push up if there is even an inkling of a break. If he gets on his bike as soon as Kelly gets the 3 on 2 he would’ve been inside for Fermor to pass to and it’s goodnight.

On the shift no Titans player engages the line to hold up the sliding cover. One pass off a left foot would’ve held up Hutch enough to interest Keighran earlier and there would’ve been a clear 3 on 1 with a heap of space.

Why is Fifita standing outside Herbert? Well this unfortunately for David is why he may never reach his potential. Outside defenders don’t have to get there as early. If he gets the ball instead of Herbert I’m sorry but we don’t stop him.

And lastly, even without Fifita, Herbert has a clear two on one. You spend all summer training to nail those in September and he obviously thought he was training to nail them in January.

The Titans only have themselves to blame. We gifted them 18 points. Plus the Morris escort penalty was ridiculous (you’re allowed to run towards the ball). They were not the better team for any more than a total of 10 minutes in that game against a side with 10 players out and a one man bench for all but 10 mins of game.

[Roosterfarian]

that tackle by Walker saved the match and our season. If it’s not made, they score then and don’t bomb the next play.

If he makes the first tackle like he would be expected to then we aren’t even in that position RT.

[rented tracksuit]

If he makes the first tackle like he would be expected to then we aren’t even in that position RT.

True but he got there eventually.