Well, that esculated quickly, i mean that really got out of hand fast. If you got that reference, you are a legend. What a week in footy can do, 95 points to 12 in two weeks. Now the challenge next week against Melbourne. CommBank, could be a wet and with dew on the surface be a real grind. Could be a nice warm up for semis though wary one in terms of how much energy we let out and if we are flat the week after.
Anyway it was a slowish start but we were in control the whole time, minus a try from a scrum set piece we were pretty flawless. 62% possession was dominating, while 77% possession was due to frustration in second half of Brisbane holding their line. When you score 53 points and conceade 6 all is forgiven. Making close to a thousand more metres from 93 more runs, 8 line-breaks to 2, 52 tackle breaks to 27 and 23 offloads to their 6. In terms of defence not too bad, only 23 missed tackles to their 52 with 86% tackle effeciency. Errors were pretty even with 14 errors to their 15, while we only gave away 5 penalties to their 8 with Brisbane giving up 3 ruck infringements to our 1.
Most Impressive:
Shaun Lane: My man of the match. He is really pushing towards a massive extension, well deserved also. His combination with Dylan is working wonders, with Brown's heavy feet and soft hands creating a chance for Lane to break through the line and improve his confidence. He is constantly looking for offloads and opportunities for 2nd phase play and he is hitting form that would make Freddy look if it was Origin time. He is the best edge back-rower right now in the NRL, right now not all season or anything but right this minute. It seems BA has approached Lane with more responsibility in being a leader in the forwards, he was a captain in a trial and seems to have influence on the playing group. 153 metres off 13 runs, 13!!!!! tackle breaks, 4 offloads and a line-break and line-break assist each. Well Shauny, hope he is happy to stay at the blue and gold.
Mitchell Moses: Hitting nice stride in time for semi's, including a pearler of a ball to Waqa Blake for Gutherson's try. 8/9 in goal kicking also. Nice cool, calm game from Moses.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard: Nice one Reg. I love Reggie, he is one of my favourites, as he had up to 10 runs in his first stint that lasted nearly 35 minutes. 17 runs with 184 metres, 2 tackle breaks and an offoad. The attacking workrate just set the tone for us.
Clint Gutherson: Never had an issue with trying, but just seemed off mid year. Now he is back to his old self, energetic as always but appearing everywhere of late. 189 metres, 5 tackle breaks, 6 offloads, a line-break and assist, 2 try assists and a try. Nice one skipper.
Waqa Blake: He is a winger, i wouldn't mind him back at centre when Dunster returns but Blake is making a hell of a case as world class winger. New lease on life for his footy career, especially coming into a contract year. 157 metres, 3 line-breaks and tackle breaks, a nice try to bring up the half century.
Honorable mentions: Kaufusi, Sivo, pretty much everyone else, hell even JA for his 12 minutes belongs here.
Most Disappointing:
More points: C'mon we could of gotten 70 if we took off after half-time, nitpick i know but c'mon hahaha.
That is it, one more regular season game, it felt like yesterday i was watching Parramatta v Gold Coast to open the season now we are here. With one of the biggest games of the season in the NRL, whoever wins gets top 4. Now Souths have won and both their and Sydney's for and against, we cannot finish 5th as either one of them will overtake us on for and against. So we will either finish 4th or 6th which is not great as i would rather 5th than 6th to be fair as if we lose we either play Souths or Sydney at CommBank, neither are good, especially coming off a hard game to get into top 4 against Melbouren will we be flat? Top 4 is needed desperately if we are to at least get to week 3. Week 3 equals a success as it is an improvement. GF even better, premiership even better.
Team changes? Well now Melbourne lost we will not be resting anyone, we will be going out full-strength. BA might rest one or two or maybe rotate the bench with Cartwright or Ogden swapping with Makatoa or Arthur but i think it will be the same 17.
Anyway, til next week enjoy your Sunday for the battle of the wooden spoon, until then god bless Parramatta.
Replies
My only issue over the last 2 weeks is how the puppies and brongirls scored their tries. Both came from a spread from a scrum close to our line.
I know it's probably nitpicking, but think we should be a bit more alert and slide better in defence to correct this.
Same 17 will not be good IMO. Cartwright should come in for JA and probably Ogden for Maka but the main one is don't waste the spot that JA for some reason continues to hold.
PS Put it another way if Moses was out tomorrow, I still would not play JA, Gutherson showed plenty against the broncs that he could handle half and also has a better kicking game than JA. Pereham is a lessor risk playing fullback or Simmonson for that matter than JA playing anywhere.i.e. Guth straight into the 7 and leave Dyllan where he is. Seamless having Guth run the team from there.
By the way LB you think Blake is world class, mate he would not be in the top 10 in the NRL let alone the rest of the world.That's not a knock just a reality......
Wingers ahead penrith, storm, (2) sharks, cowboys (2), dogs (2), Broncs (2) Manly, Souths, Roosters, Saints, Canberra, Warriors. Maybe Sivo could make that list.
The NRL is the rest of the world.
You would be lucky to find 5 players in Super league in the top 100 in the world
Fair point but the statement stands that he is not world class.
Hang on top 100 in the world......?????
I didn't say he is world class, more so making a case to be.
I think that is how BA will name it too be honest. Not saying it should be same 17, saying i think it will be.
The Broncos try was due to Papali's slow break from the scrum, which allowed the overlap.
Lane, most improved, should play for Aus in the world cup.
Waqa, world class? Yeah nah you are getting a bit excited there.
Niukore starting with Matto on the bench is really working and most impressive, getting the best from both.
Again not saying he is world class, but making a case, give him time and you never know. He is turning into a very good winger.
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