Well BA did it, got us into a top 4 finish for the second time in 3 years. We are now embarking on a rematch from week 2 last year, Penrith. My fear heading into last night was not so much win or lose but how we came out of the game in terms of fitness and energy. After the game we looked sweet if being honest, didn't seem battered or bruised and honestly looked physically ready for another half of footy. We looked calm and confident last night, first 15 mins was a bit flighty in terms of Munster running a muck but quickly got control of the game and went through the motions to pick up points. Melbourne never really had control in the game, they had glimpses of getting control, it was not until towards the last 10mins where they got some points and that was us zoning out more so as they were soft tries.
53% possession and 85% completion percentage won this game, simply having the ball equals being in control. It also led to us not being as battered and bruised heading into Penrith for week 1. Around the middle with quick the balls however showed Melbourne gaining the same amount of metres (1900) on 15 less runs. They also had more line-breaks (5-3), more tackle breaks (38-27) and missed tackles (27-38) though that was it for leading in stats. We may have had more missed tackles, though we had better tackle effeciency with only 12 ineffective tackles to their 23, we conceaded less penalties with 6 to their 8, less errors 9 to their 11. A few errors early on, though i put that down to nerves of how big of an occasion this game was.
Most Impressive:
Junior Paulo: My man of the match. Has not featured at all really this year on this blog, but glad he featured this week as Big Junz lead by example on Thursday night. 216 metres, 2 tackle breaks and 3 offloads. Nice captains knock for Junz who had minutes reduced to rest up to face JFH and Leota on Friday.
Tom Opacic: This bloke has been a good serviceman for this club, nothing special but gets the job done and done well. His stats weren't all that flash yet he shut off Melbourne's left side well gave Marion Seve nothing to work with, causing Munster to make something happen on that side himself.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard: Set the tone, alongside Paulo. BA apparently a couple of weeks ago accused them of being soft so to speak, RCG took on NAS and Bromwich and didn't miss a beat, showing we have the best front-row in the comp on our day. 185 metres in limited minutes is wonderful from RCG.
Clint Gutherson: A great game from our leaders, an absolute beautiful ball to Sivo for his try in the second half. 3 tackle breaks, 2 line-break assists, 2 try assists and 144 metres brings Gutho back into form.
Honorable mentions: Brown, Sivo, Moses, Niukore.
Most Disappointing:
The realisation that JA will be on bench for Penrith: Not knocking JA himself, i do not want this to be a hating JA blog either as i am sick of them, but calling it like i see it JA on bench v Penrith cannot happen at all. Cartwright should be on the bench, i understand if Moses, Brown or Mahoney go down you need someone, but Rein or Cartwright are serviceable enough anyway. Put it this way, you lose Moses for the game and no matter what back-up you bring in i very highly doubt it changes the result. It's nice JA is getting some game time in the top grade though limited but getting into the big time Cartwright and his versatility and experience is a no brainer.
NAS not being sin binned: Had Moses been hurt from that late hit, that is on the NRL. This bloke is a liability and a WHS issue for NRL.
Letting Melbourne score: No need for us to let them back in, we did and didn't change the result but need a tad more killer instinct.
That is it for the regular season, now to the big time, getting to week 3 minimum is a successful season as it is an improvement. Of course we strive higher for a GF or a premiership, we beat Penrith and i think we become easily 2nd favourite to win the title. It is a weird time considering 4 weeks ago we were thinking we are a chance of missing the 8 and BA is gone to being a premiership favourite after Penrith.
In terms of team changes, i think it will be same 17. If there is a change it could be Cartwright for JA for more beef on the bench, but i would put money on the same 17. Hey it has worked so why not.
Until next week, god bless Parramatta.
Replies
JA on the bench or in 1st grade at all is criminal. That's the only finger I can point at BA at the moment but it's a pretty pointy one, pointy and into his chest.
I wouldn't say that NAS's late hit on Moses was binnable. He wasnt in their air and they was no shoulder to the head. That challenge if anything woke Moses up and got him in the boil to smash KB later on.
100%
For once, can we just leave JA alone? Let the Parra management do what they are paid to do.
I am calling like i see it and it is not a bashing blog Brissy, i even said it is not on JA. Seems you see JA mentioned and straight away go "Here we go" i am saying simply going into Penrith i do no think we have him simple. This was a part of a blog not the focus so yes it was not a bashing blog.
I think you showed by quoting those stats LB, that they are pretty meaningless.
Lol what does that have to do with JA Poppa? hahah
In terms of stats, i always like looking over them and seeing how stats can be pretty level yet shows one team dominating, it can show our defence has gotten a lot better over the last few weeks.
Longfin if you read it i do say it is not on JA at all, it is i would rather him be 18th man and hanging around incase Moses or Brown are hurt, we need a big bench v Penrith.
I think Dylan Brown is the difference. Not saying he is our best player, but I think he holds the key because Gutho and Moses are the mature heads who are playing outstanding, and I'm pretty confident they can keep that up. However, for us to be successful, I think Dylan has to keep firing. Will be very interesting to see how it all unfolds.
If Reed could pick up some slack from dummy too, as we know he is capable, that would be an added bonus. His running game has been down and we don't see his crafty kicks as often any more either.
It may be a case of when Mitch calls for the ball he has to give it to him as opposed to playing what he seems fit. Let's not forget in the game vs the Storm at AAMI when Mitch dropped back and called to kick the field goal. Reed played down the short side, we gave over possesion and they scored like a couple minutes later.
Reed did that twice in the space of 3 weeks if my memory serves me correctly. Mitch is our best and most important player. He needs to get the ball when he calls for it in the big moments.
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