DoggyStyla
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2018
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The best part of the game was Katoas shoulder into the women assaulters head!
Great summary,we need a ball playing backrower and/or the same with a fullback.We make do with what we have as there isn’t any that I know on the market.Hoppa yes can do it but a backrower gives a lot more options.There were things tonight that I was happy about but there are also areas where we need to change.
I'll start by saying that our defence has picked up right where it left off last season. Perhaps there's even been a touch of improvement. I don't recall Parra getting close to our line without a penalty or unless we made an error. Our fragile edges looked very safe tonight. I can't find fault in anyone's defence. What was a little disappointing was that late in the game we got caught out through a lack of supporting the kick defence after RFM dropped the bomb from Fingersin. When Lewis fumbled and tried to kick the ball dead the rest of the team had switched off. Sadly that resulted in us losing. We looked to have Parra nullified until it happened.
The good things about our attack were that the forwards had the upper hand slightly. Nobody really stood out in my view but they worked harder than Parra and it showed. The big issue I see with our attack is that the forwards actually drift too wide in the attacking 30 metre zone. It's not a new thing. It's a remnant of the Hasler days. Even if our outside backs were outstanding, they'll fail because our forwards barely leave them any room to move. By the time they get the ball they're compressed near the sidelines. It wouldn't be a huge issue if the backs are running from behind them at pace to support passes at the line and inside balls. But they're not. They're trying to remain on the outside of edge runners that are playing incredibly wide. I saw that as a bit of an issue where Lewis would have to turn and pass back inside because of the fact that the backs are well covered because the defence can just drift wide knowing that our attack is compressed. Our attack on the edges wound up looking like a moshpit of defenders. We largely went to the left all night too.
I think the structure restricted what both halves were able to do. I'm seeing a lot of people accusing Lewis of being a hog, but Wakeham didn't really demand the ball much and only really handled it when it was going through a few sets of hands. I think that towering bombs are going to result in less tries this year with the new rules surrounding tackling players in the air. Fingersin drew a couple of penalties by tucking his legs up when a defender was near and jumping into them as did Sivo. I counted at least two penalties conceded when Chrighton touched Sivo in the air and a couple on the other side. Unless our backs are able to time their leaps better, we'll be better served with grubbers out wide. I expect to see a lot of teams doing this to start a set with a penalty.
I find it hard to single out our best players. Jacko and DWZ both made a nice run each, but it was very much a team effort. Napa was aggressive but mostly disciplined, Britt almost gave us our best scoring chance with an offload (which was unfortunately thrown forward). Both halves got a repeat set early. Our previously fragile flanks were very solid. JMK played a simple game but his service was good.
It wasn't an exciting game to watch though. Neither team was creating much. For once I have few complaints about the refereeing. DWZ being called back for stepping off the mark was annoying when Parra were guilty of it too. But there were no huge blunders that I'm angry about.
It's not great to lose on the back of a couple of late errors, but I am happy with our defence. Our attack needs tweaking though.
Thanks big M. I think CHN might have offered that, and assuming the scandal in the media blows over and he's allowed to play again, he will hopefully provide some second phase play after serving a suspension. Britt can also offload and seems to do it sensibly.Great summary,we need a ball playing backrower and/or the same with a fullback.We make do with what we have as there isn’t any that I know on the market.Hoppa yes can do it but a backrower gives a lot more options.
What was it they said...did not make a second effort with his leg? As soon as I saw the way DWZ was felled I called trip and the replay did not change my mind. Begs the question if DWZ was hurt what would have been said then?Fair review. I am pissed off that fingersin didnt get ulled up for his trip though!!
After an entire off season working with Joey the immortal, Parramatta's halves were very much nullified by our defense. That was pleasing to watch.
Sivo would have to be the biggest cat/ sook that I have seen play the game. He was going nowhere last night and should not even have been playing anyway. Just what happened with his supposed court case yesterday?Good report, and I agree with your observations. Parra rarely got beyond their 40 metre line - and this is a team lauded for its huge and fast outside backs, who were supposed to steamroll over our smaller halves. Ch 9 ran footage of how damaging Siva and Ferguson are with line breaks and ease scoring tries against tougher opponents. They were pumped for a big Eels win.
I reckon the club earned a lot of respect last night, and many watching would have thought Parra lucky to win; not deserving of a win. On courage alone, the Dogs were the winners last night.
Our attack needs some work. Maybe Foran can act as mentor, so we can get some value from him.
Yep. Raymond has mongrel and could be a very important part of the side if CHN does not make it back...RFM has to play a bit wider and have some support for his offload. The guy is so hard to handle but we have him running through the middle taking hit ups.
I sadly had to listen to channel 9 commentary. Sp fatty was saying there was nothing in it, yada yada yada, even after the replay that showed clearly that it was a trip. There was even a second movement that made it even more of a trip!What was it they said...did not make a second effort with his leg? As soon as I saw the way DWZ was felled I called trip and the replay did not change my mind. Begs the question if DWZ was hurt what would have been said then?
I made the comment last night that for a side that was talking itself up as premiership threats/ favourites we pretty much locked them out of the game until that mistake. If only we could mount some effective attack we would have at least tied the game if not won it. No two points but kudos to the boys for the efforts.
I sadly had to listen to channel 9 commentary. Sp fatty was saying there was nothing in it, yada yada yada, even after the replay that showed clearly that it was a trip. There was even a second movement that made it even more of a trip!
Looks like he is in strife for the trip now.To the letter of the law it wasn’t a trip. As long as you have something else touching a player you can use your foot to take a player down. Alfie Langer used to tackle like that every game. Ferguson had his hand on DWZ’s shoulder. We got a penalty on the next tackle anyway so even if you thought it was a penalty it didn’t really effect the game.
It was clear as day IMO.funny that when a team are media darlings (which Parra for some reason are now) there is no intent in incidents like that, when you can clearly see Fergo lift his foot.