THIS IS THE REASON WE ARE LOSING. So the priority has to be for us to COMPLETE OUR SETS - i.e cut down our drop ball (e.g. Morts with his first touch yesterday) and cut down our penalties.
What will help is:
1. To change our style of play. Grind out the metres, get a kick away. Keep doing it. Forget about the razzle until we get the rhythm back. With field position, we will win games. Against Cronulla, we were constantly starting sets back at our own 10 m line. Almost never got in the opposition 20 and when we did ... we dropped the ball!
2. Player changes will only solve this to a minor degree e.g. Mateo is a big culprit and should be benched at the least. Maybe also get a sharper dummy half in there, to steer the sets.
So instead of massive, disruptive changes, which will only make things worse, just make a couple of tactical adjustments to the squad, AND focus on the basics.
Replies
Mateo is super talented but i believe is playing poorly due to unfitness, being over weight, playing lock instead of probably wanting to play 6 and not knowing if he is staying or going. Must piss him off watching others getting signed before him and him not knowing what his place is with the team if he has one. If he doesnt feel the love and see the signature you will only get mediocrity from him all year.
I reckon this is the best;
1. Hayne
6. Mateo
7. Morts
9. KK
14. MK / Humble
1,6,7 and 9 wins you the comp, look at Storm.
Yes you need the forward pack to step up but i am just focusing on getting this combination right. But if Mateo is not in our plans it should be;
1. Hayne
6. KK
7. Morts
9. MK - cant stand him but have to play him if KK is in the halves and should work combinations with his brother
14. Humble
13. Either B Smith or Mateo and maybe Mateo back to impact player off the bench
Love your creativity, but you're completely missing the point of this post. The point is that fiddling around with positions is not going to change things as much as changing our game plan and focussing on the basics. Yet most posters on this site spend all their energy pontificating on how to mess around with the line-up.
The Storm wins the competition because they are thoroughly professional and clinical in their execution. They have a few key players and build their game around them. This is a hallmark of a solid game plan and solid coaching.
If we stop coughing up the pill, and stop giving away silly penalties, we will have better field position. And with more sets in the opposition 20, we have the personnel to put on points. The problem is that we are camped in our own half for much of the game - and much of that in the past few weeks has been spent defending repeat sets.
Ball control and discipline will change our fortunes - not alchemy with the team structure.
R.