Fuck.... to say I was angry with our team in the second half would be an understatement.
But on reflection you can see how the roosters were able to dominate us all things considered.
The main thing was mental.
At 26 to nill up, against a team who lost their star fullback to a head knock, a player sent off and a halfback off also with a head knock it would have been very easy for the dogs to mentally drop off and essentially check out.
No doubt in their minds they had the game won and was just going through the motions.
On the other side, the roosters, on the back of Luke Keary in my opinion, went out with the intent to claw back some pride.
They had it all to play for and managed to get momentum despite being a man down and losing 2 key players to head knocks.
Once they got momentum they were hard to stop and got the dogs on the back foot
When that happens, the mistakes creep in and the 6 agains mount and that fuels the momentum.
What the roosters game identified more than any game previously is the simple fact we don't have a true leader in our team.
We need a dominate halfback who reads the game and sets up the plays.
Luke Keary got the roosters in that game against all odds.
We couldn't change momentum because we didn't have a player in our team capable of doing it.
To further ram home this point.
This is the reason the roosters got rid of Mitch Pearce for Cooper cronk.
The 2 premierships the roosters managed were on the back of cronk.
The state of origin dominance from Queensland, was on the back of superior halves and game management, to change momentum and ice the wins when it counted.
The origin win last year when the blues had it won and Queensland cane from behind to win with a man down, was on the back of smart plays identify what needed to happen I'm the moment.
For all the talk about who the coach should pick and shouldng pick from arm chair coaches here on the kennel, I tell you this.
Until we get a REAL halfback, we won't be climbing up the ladder.
Our current squad is not far off.
Taafe despite the criticism from those that don't know what they are talking about is actually developing well at fullback.
Barba dropped plenty of balls early on at fullback, just remember that.
I think taafe will be fine at fullback long term.
Critta is one of the best centres in the game. He should remain there.
Burton is a great 5 8th, just needs a good halfback running the game and Burton with thrive at 5 8th on the back of that.
Another front rower would be nice.
But halfback is where its at.
We need a smart game manager on the field who knows how to win games and can execute plays and controll a game.
We simply don't have that.
