In saying that I am sure that we all would be happy to be half the athletes that we consider our most modest players to be..
This game was always going to be the hardest for us to win because we do not like playing against the Easts/South styles that usually shows us up wide.
Surprisingly we did pretty good defending our flanks especially considering for a quarter of the game we played with 12.
I was critical of Greig in the lead up and I really cannot criticise him in hindsight, he put in and played above the level I expected in defense, not withstanding it was the middle from where they punished us, Mainly through switches and superior athleticism, i was of an opinion that Suali was overrated at this stage of his development, he took a huge step past that opinion last night.
WE tend to have dysfunctional non athletic players for a long time, you look at the Roosters, they all seemed pretty good movers.
I was disappointed for Hodgson last night, he has had a massive job to do and unfortunately he probably had is worst game, but that was mainly after 25 minutes and the opportunity was there to be taken with bringing Hands on, especially at that point as we had defended with 12 for half that period. BA showed no vision or understanding and the process of switching Hands in even became more obvious when we went down to 12 again not long after.
Sorry BA but a big part of the fail was your lack of game perception, which led to being going in at 16/2 rather than 10/2....the circumstance suggested that 10/2 was a good result.
We are not finished as our overall effort last night was much better than our worst from the previous season and the game where Roosters marched through us. We are a grinding team and will continue to be so until we get a coach with some vision of what athleticism actually means, its constant and ongoing support of his son does not suggest he understands that he doesn't understand. Maybe a couple of assistant coaches may have to explain it.....good luck to them as BA is likely to be more ruthless there than with his chosen team.
Sivo was disgusting last night, he looks scared for some reason of charging into the ruck, his propensity to kick with not much in front of him is now showing up as a further weakness. he cannot be dropped because we have no one better. I was also disappointed in a Simmonson chase in one of their closing tries, poor effort. Waqar Blake has no penetration what so ever. Penisini has risen to a new level, 2 metres faster and he will become the best centre in the game, not sure where he gets that from, the 2 metres that is!.
Finally and in keeping with the heading, I think the type of forwards we are bringing off the bench are lacking athleticism, Doorey being the exception, again not sure who is better than Greig and Makatoa and in saying that I have no problems with their efforts last night, especially Greig who I have been very critical of.
This is meant to be a summation based on honesty and I thought we needed that type of assessment rather than knocking any individual for the sake of picking on same. Hodgson being an example as I noted the well known vulture's always come out and look to pick the bones over.......
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To your point on Sivo, when he runs he seems to lean back, which causes him to be outstrengthed and pushed back. Look at Dunster who is great at post contact metres, he leans forward and uses his legs to make metres. He is exactly the winger we love to have, not as big but uses strength.
Sivo is great on the line but at the moment that is it. Which is a shame.
It seems hard to define as the way he is built you would think he could push like Too' does, only more! I would take Rahwalla or what ever his name is, the Fijian from St George. I admit I thought Sivo was damaged goods the season before last but he showed some match winning form last year and we were all set to go.....maybe the Rooster's were too close to his "chicken".
Sorry Michael. I know you will be disappointed with my comments there.
Sivos problem is he presents his chest and is to high going into contact which gives defenders a bigger target.What he needs to do is find creases between defenders and get skinny swiveling and leading with the shoulder into that crease.
You forgot what side his cock hangs on. Fuck me.
That was Sivo's worst game in top grade. I thought he was very good last week but he was awful last night I agree. I think he was spooked by something I agree. I wouldn't be against a week in Reggie's to shock him back into form.
Blake has to go
Not BA's style to shock anyone selection wise I suspect Mick.....surely Cini or anyone can do a better job than waqar (as i love to call him)
I think he will have to drop Blake. Those instances where he caught the ball running sideways and just shoveled it on to Sivo without even straightening were just embarrassing. Maybe he plays Cartwright at Centre
I think Blake's problems emanate from our attacking structure it's not just him and thats to sideways it's Penisini aswell.
Its why I think we need those running back rowers that run the outside in line like Lane and Doorey do to hold defenders before going wider.Sivo and Simonsson can help themselves by staying wide and occasionally drop under as with that width they can see what the defense is doing.
The best exponents imo are the Sharks back rowers Nikora and Wilton.Our attack is to lateral because of it.
Cini can't play at present as he only on a development contract.
I though it was round 10 too, unless the Club was granted an exemption.
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