Lack of Footy IQ and Awareness

Our performance was abysmal across all facets of the game, and what concerned me most was the off-the-ball play. The lack of football IQ and situational awareness is becoming deeply ingrained, and if we don’t address it, we’re going nowhere fast.  

 

One glaring issue was our kickoff strategy. Unfortunately, we had to kick off frequently, and every single time, we went left. This played directly into the Tigers’ hands, allowing Hunt to dictate their sets while Luai controlled play. If we’re that predictable, we’re making it far too easy for the opposition to establish momentum.  

 

Another example was Joe Ofahengaue’s decoy running in the first half. On two separate occasions, he ran as a decoy with his hands low, showing no intent to receive the ball. A proper decoy should at least create doubt in the defense—without that, it’s a wasted effort.  

 

Our kicking game also lacked tactical execution. Volkman and Brown aren’t natural tactical kickers, and their approach is far too one-dimensional—high kicks with no real purpose beyond hang time. More concerning is the lack of urgency from our chasers, who rarely sprint downfield with intent to force an error or win the ruck.  

 

These aren’t just isolated issues; they point to a deeper failure in game awareness and strategic adaptation. Whether it’s a coaching deficiency or a failure from the playing group to absorb key concepts, this trend cannot continue if we have any ambition of improvement.

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  • We have a dopey Head of Football and a rookie Coach that has no clue. 

  • We just have to get the small things right not to win games but this allows us to compete.

    Our structure hasn't changed at all and the fear for me just adding a few players still glosses over issues.

    For me First Contact Line Speed Kick Chase Complete Sets just doing this error free allows us to compete and if teams beat us I can accept that but right now and in pre season which set the table for this mess we were errors we weren't completing and here we are.

    I hated our pre-season hitouts because I looked at it and this isn't good enough against Melbourne and there we were errors and made it easy for them we gave them a leg up and they put 50 on us.

    Yet round 2 we roll the same shit out again soft as fuck in the middle errors all over the shop and now it's the spooners turn to drop 30 plus on us.

    I don't know what there doing at training but god damn whatever there doing it needs to change.

    • Posing for insta... building their online presence 

    • I really hope that it's a work in process situation and we start to see some improvements sadly i feel the season would of passed us by and we would of secured another wooden spoon

    • Canberra had the right playbook for a small team with their big boppas out.  Their defensive line speed against the Broncos wow !...

    • Probably sitting down with TCT and listening to all the rubbish they have been posting about how good they are. You know, toughest pre season ever, new structures etc etc

  • 2011-2013 but far worse in my estimation

  • https://www.nrl.com/watch/matches/telstra-premiership/2025/round-2/...

    Hmmm I'm wondering what these positive signs are hmmm.

    Eels: Round 2
    Junior Paulo and Jason Ryles chat to the media after their Round 2 clash against the Wests Tigers
    • Sam Moa, Wisemantel and Brown if BA had these guys as assistants we'd be calling for his head. So I'm calling it now Ryles won't see out his contract. I've seen enough after two games.

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