Defense has certainly been at the forefront of our season, so I expect our attack to be a work in progress. As much as the loss disappoints me, I can definitely see the improvements on last year. Let's look at some stats:
Our tackle efficiency was 88.08% to their 90.75%, and we missed 29 tackles to their 23, yet we made 399 tackles to their 265.
Add to this line breaks were only 4-3 their way, tackle breaks only 29-23 their way, and average set metres 36.97 - 36.08 their way.
Parramatta had 13 more sets with ball in hand, had 240 runs to our 156, and completed at 89% to our 72%.
Add to this that the fox played busted for 10 mins and didnt play the second half, causing a us to move salmon out of his ball playing link role to the centres, and kiraz to the other side of the field.
If you look at these stats you would expect that we got pumped! Especially since we were up against a side with much better halves, and a far superior forward pack, that were looking for redemption after a very poor 2023. Yet the game ended 4 tries to 2. Hardly the flogging that the stats suggest.