Well this is the best start to a season since.....2012 I think.
POSITIVES
Forwards hunted as a pack, were brutal in defence, and hardly allowed a break thru the centre all night. Special mentions to Junior who was absolutely outstanding and Tepai absolutely brutal in defence. Also IDG deserves praise for his continued outstanding effort, was plucked from obscurity by BA, and has never played a bad game for Parra yet. Was thinking what Moanly's forwards were going to do after half time as they were manhandled by our defence and became obvious they were spend and offered nothing.
Halves completely outplayed their much heralded opposition, imo Norman outplayed Sandow but only just, they were simply outstanding.
Taka was a revelation, played opposite one of the best centres in the world, and made him look second rate. Champion and Hoppa were solid without shining and Reece will get better when Champion improves.
NEGATIVES
Trys still being scored too easily out wide, this needs to be fixed pronto. In reality Moanly should have scored 4 trys in first half. Completion rate poor and gave away too many penalties.
REALITY CHECK
Next week we play one of the premier packs of the competition in the Dogs. This will show us where we are at, either a team on the rise or a false dawn.
If I was coach, in reality I'm probably not a coach's arsehole, I would drop Sefa. Not sure what he brings to the team but on yesterdays form we don't need another half. I would stay with the two dummy halves, they get the forwards going forward and complement each other. I would bring Pauli in and if Tepai injured bring in a big forward playing for Wenty (even if NRL debut), not Wicks as think he is underdone, to fight fire with fire, big pack against big pack.
Replies
Totally agree with most GLE, though tries being scored easily I don't, I think ball handling as it was only from dropped balls that gave manly the oppertunity to score tries and put the pressure on our defence as we defended really well for the 80 minutes.