The fact you can collect 2 points when playing the worst game of your season speaks to either how bad the Tigers are or the luck we have as a unit. It was looking embarrassing, some even saying it was a loss that Wests got so close. Credit where credit is due, we were bad and Wests capitalised.
Anyway lets make this quick. Stats not going to go over too much, but 47% possession and 78 % completion and still win shows we are a quality team that had a bad day at the races. Wests beat us all across the park in stats from offloads, less missed tackles, line breaks, run metres, tackle effeciency and set distance. We seemed conservative, more so trying not to lose as oppose to trying to win. We got to a 22-6 lead and pumped the breaks, it worked to a certain extent as a win is all that matters but we need that foot to the throat mentality. 22-6 could have easily been 40-6.
Most Impressive:
Mitchell Moses: 4 try assists, the $1.2million man was on song today against his former club. Switching across the field from right to left with ease is a piece that Barrett has worked on, and he has adapted to that easily. Moses kicking game was sublime to the point where it being called the best of the round is very warranted.
Ryan Matterson: Set up the match winner with a tremendous run, creating room for Gutho to cut that ball out to Sivo. Matterson was at his old best, with not a damaging performance but he made metres and got through a lot of work. 191 metres and 42 tackles, great effort.
Bryce Cartwright: Nothing phenomenal, but was sound and worth his spot there. Carty is proving to be a very mature and disciplined back-rower, could this be due to being off-contract? Maybe, but he has said openly he wants to stay so hopefully we can keep him on a deal worth not too much. But working with Moses was better for him, Brown needs a back-rower to create space for him, while Moses needs a decent defender and someone to run simple lines to create the next play, Cartwright can do that.
Sean Russell: Over a year since his last NRL game, even better his first game in the Centres at any level of note. Never played Centre in Cup or Flegg so for him to do it in the NRL in game 4 is incredible. He was not amazing but not awful either and got going after some time. Russell is just a footballer though, seems can adapt to any situation put in front of him, he is one for the future.
Most Disappointing:
Haze Dunster: This hurts, as i really like Haze, think he is a good kid and tough footy player. First half he was fine, second half my lord he was off. He got the yips and it has happened to him before. Round 15, 2021 he had the same in a rainy game against Canterbury. But he got over it and moved on to some decent performances. I have not lost faith in Dunster due to that, also he is coming back from a serious knee injury, so it takes time. Let's hope against Okunbor, who is prone to a howler also, he holds his own.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard: Probably the first time since i have been doing this that RCG has appeared on this list. RCG was not at his best, hasn't been for a few weeks. Not sure if it is fatigue from the WC or he is pacing himself but in a game like that he should have racked up countless metres. Though he is still a test quality Prop forward so nothing too concerning, just an off period for him. With Paulo back he will have some attention taken off himself.
Right edge defence: Penisini and Dunster didn't click, Kepaoa and Tupou had a great day on that edge with the metres they made, it brought some momentum for Wests and brought them back into the game. It is a shame for Penisini who has had a wondeful 2023 so far, including being one of the best defensive Centres in the game, to have a performance like that. Was it an unfamiliar connection to Dunster who he has not played with since 2021 NSW cup? Or simply the competition was too good on the day?
Short drop outs: Yes they have worked at times, but seriously leading 22-16, to do a short drop out whether it works or not is too risky to even think about. I understand it can be seen as backing your defence but dear lord, do it when behind and desperate or have a decent lead. Had it been 22-10 i would still be annoyed but not as much as the risk is significantly reduced.
Hopgood bench usage: I didn't like how he was used. I understood what they were doing, taking him out of the heat of a fresh opposing middle team and let him ease into full-time first grade from the bench, similar role to Matterson's last year. But Hopgood and Matterson, though having similarities, are two different players. Matterson is a metre eater forward who can offload and defend really well. Hopgood is an offloader and passer, making metres but more so looking for 2nd phase style of play and displays high energy, basically he is a Nathan Brown type of player with more finesse. Playing as practically a Prop alongside RCG suits Matterson more as that metre eater, taking 2-3 players with him out around the ruck. I think Matterson starting on the bench and coming on as first sub then later in the game, give Hopgood a rest and leave Matterson out there a bit longer then let Hopgood see out the final 10-15 for Matterson. Hopgood being that bench player takes his unconservative aspect out of his game, he his a high energy player. I understand to rest him to adapt as he has only played 15 NRL games, that is massive to expect him to play 80mins week in and out in the middle, look at Penisini he struggled early last year which was first full year in the top grade. Come late 2022 and he started to get going as he adjusted, now he is fine. Hopgood that will happen, Penisini had a great first 5 or so games in FG then struggled, Hopgood is same but i feel starting him and giving him 55-60 mins overall is better for him and this team, Matterson off the bench works better with better impact.
That is it, my apologies for it being so late, had a busy week. Reed Mahoney returns to CommBank, this is exciting. Love beating Canterbury. Is this a should win? Yes. Is this a must win? Sort of, though the closeness of this competition at the moment is keep us in range. Had this been 2021 or 2019 or mid 2010's? Then top 4 is gone practically, though due to the tightness where teams like Newcastle, Gold Coast, Warriors even Canberra last week are beating good teams it opens it up. Of course come mid year i think it will start evening out with quality prevailing, with clubs like Penrith, Cronulla, Sydney, Souths and us around top 6, then Brisbane, Manly and the Warriors the best of the rest at the moment, NQ however are the only one of the ones last year where you say they miss the 8.
Canterbury are a team like Newcastle etc. that can knock off a good team. From team list it seems Burns is out and Okunbor is on the wing, which is a win for us as he is rocks and diamonds. Their bench is skinny with Topine, Waddell and Davey not really impact players, three back-rowers and a hooker/five-eighth with TPJ back and possibly struggling with fitness, Mahoney will be vulnerable in the middle. Big chance for RCG and Paulo to set the tone in the first half and really finish the half and begin the second half strong. Canterbury still struggle to score points, which can be dangerous for us as we seem to settle on a lead and park the bus once we feel the job is done. If we are up 24-0 with 30 to go, you make it 54-0. Canterbury will be a top team, but not quite yet. They are. bulding a good system but i think they are a year or two off yet while they build a squd, pathways and culture.
As for team changes as i usally mention, i would have said Paulo in for either Greig or Murchie. Murchie went from ou first rotation to not even in the 17, Makatoa been good of late where Murchie is just a worker. Both played similar roles, Makatoa at the moment must be giving BA more of what he is looking for.
Enjoy your footy tomorrow.
Replies
As you noted Haze was good in the first half but got some bad calls and the opposing winging got the better of him and he lost confidence.
There were a number of bad calls from the ref that helped Tigers get back into the match. For example the knock that was clearly knocked back from Dunster in the first half. I have forgotten the others but I think there was a clear knock on from Tigers on their goal line that was ignored.
BA is now criticising his own players publically. Refs are an important part of the game. They are human and their discresion and errors can change who wins and by how much and how hard you need to work so injuries and suspensions. BA needs to realise that teh presser and media is how coaches influence the refs to give their team a fair go. He needs to play the game.
Four Facts 1 . West had a crack 2. We started good then fell away 3 Dunster Defensive not good as usual even as before his injury so in my humble opinion is not up to first gade standard .Fact 4 We got the 2 points
Refs in general are protected species. I play Oz Tag locally on Monday and Wednesday nights, different i know but i am trying to show my argument. Anyway i understand that players at times can talk to refs like crap but recently the delegate for my team asked a simple question as to why a penalty was called to which the ref looked at him and told him to shoosh and kept going, then says to all of us he has been reffing for 15 years and can see if a try is a try so its a good try despite missing a clear knock on earlier before. We versed a brand new team who you can tell they wanted to look after to keep their hopes up and keep coming back as the last 5mins the ref let it go and we scored 4 tries in that final part. But just the attitude and ability to change the game is scary and ridiculous.
At times the way they talk to players is disgraceful, some deserve it but when they use a power play is awful. I have had refs in past simply say to a player "Thats what i saw that is the call", that is fine i prefer that. But do not talk to us like children and start using power plays to show you are superier. That is where issues with players happen. But as soon as a player goes off they call it quits and carry on and are protected.
No refs equal no games, and i played another game in the week and the ref had a great game, we lost convincingly but he called a sound game, couple of odd 50/50's but nobody is perfect. That is how it should be, but they need to be held accountable or they will do as they want and dictate surroundings knowing they will protected.
Refs are part of the game and variable that needs work just like any other part of the game. If we ignore it then it will cost us because all other teams work on influencing the ref
Great stuff as always LB, was wondering where this had got to this week - a great read.
Interesting thoughts on Hopgood's use also, seems to be an interesting topic right now amongst us all.
Thanks for the effort.