I may be the only one who liked that we did not push attempts to score against the Titans but waited patiently until we tired them out and then took the opportunities that presented. This seemed like a deliberate plan this game. I like that we are taking the 2 points unless we have a clear reason to take the tap. I have been very critical of our game management in previous years but really liking what I see this year. As a fan we want to see them score every play, but that provides the occassional entertaining game and a lot of disappointment. The teams that often play grandfinals know how to play the odds and are still sitting at the table when it counts. This is the final piece of the premiership puzzle - if we keep this up we will be in the running each year.
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When Reed Mahoney went down and Gutho was forced into DH, we no longer had Gutho on the sweep, so it forced us to play direct and just bash it into the Titans wall play after play. Not having Gutho out the back meant we couldn't go around the Titans, we had to go through them.
Our game plan became simple then, just tuck it under the wing and get their tackle count up, burn as much of their energy as possible and wait for them to crack. The fact they kept dropping the ball was what allowed us to win by 40, but even if they didn't drop the ball the way they did, we still would have won, just not by 40.
I also liked the way we attacked down their right side in the second half, really exposing Ash Taylor & Cartwright.
Let's hope this is a lesson well learnt, don't try and go around them, go through them.
Gutho needs to run off these fellows, and stop trying the sweep all the time. Also centres need to run inside lines of the edge forwards, then on the 4th and 5th spread wide, on the 5th attack or kick.
Agree, good to see DB inject himself into the game. He may yet prove ME WRONG.
I thought our game management was superb. You could see the impact Johns is having on our spine. They didn't overplay their hand, they built pressure, kicked early and forced the Titans forwards to go back and start their sets from deep. Dylan Brown particularly has seemed to improve his short kicking game. The couple of grubbers he put in were from Johns' play book the way he straightened and rolled the ball on its belly rather than the more traditional end over end which is easier to cover.
Loving it. If this is Johns's influence then make sure he is here more and for a while.