Yesterday's game was unfortunate. Not just for the putrid 32-10 scoreline to honour Junior's 200th after looking up for the game in the first half or the second half implosion. But because it told us that we are not going anywhere, despite our hope for this ongoing improvement and the highlight reels of attractive football.
Entertaining the football world with this fast fizzy game...that is a bit like BAZBALL (Cricket Parlance) brought to the Rugby League world.
The following is a post I made yesterday on the game day blog at half time.
"TDS made a bit of difference when he came on, his service and enthusiasm was encouraging.
Like everyone else I am pissed off with the referee and our unforced errors, what happened in that last 30 seconds, we lost control, got it back and still fcuked it up.
Being pretty is nice, but unless you put it to bed, no point in dressing up."
I probably can't add much to that half time comment, notwithstanding the score change and events of capitulation in the second half.
I think the coaching staff and Ryles have given this style a good go. But, we simply are not good enough to do it — at least, not yet. We found that out a bit yesterday.
Kitione Kautoga keeps improving despite coming off injured in the 39th minute (Getty Images)
Positives — Isaiah longi's game continues on its exponential path. Tallyn Da Silva looks promising, and Bailey Simonsson has gone to a new level as the centre we so sorely need. A stong runner, and strong tackler. His flick pass to set up Lomax's try in the 33' would've made Matt Gidley proud. Sam Tuivaiti was also very good and fit after his injury. Dylan Walker was Walkerish.
Negatives — Joash Papalii is not going to be our future 5/8, though he is a fine Reserve Grade backup at fullback. Yesterday's experiment with his move to 5/8 and Brown to hooker was a disaster. But it's a move, I can understand was worth trying. It just did not work.
Promising debutant Taylln Da Silva and new-nine Dylan Brown discussing raking strategies pre-game. Brown got head-taped to look the part, but only Da Silva was prepared to run the ball, yesterday (Getty Images)
Dylan Brown was only passing and tackling from dummy half, which showed he didn't want to or deserve to be there and that rightly pissed Ryles off to explain his benching after 29 minutes and non reappearance till six minutes from the end. Ryles did this to tell everybody he was not injured and just didn't contribute, and probably more to the point — didn't really want to put in enough, despite Ryles' claim of Brown's 'selflessness'. Actions speak louder than words. We only need to use Brown to suit our requirements now, not his. Unfortunately, this may mean him starting as a 5/8 until we can find, locate or select someone that could have a future there. It could be the case that a talent youngster from our NSW Cup team (say a Matthew Hunter or Te Hurinui Twidle) that beat a talented Panthers team yesterday, might get a go while Brown shakes hands with the Reserve Grade Coach.
Finally in summary, let's stop worrying about being pretty and focus on the fundamentals starting with better ball control, reducing errors (20 v 9 yesterday) despite the Panthers having the lion's share of possesion (54%). There is a balance in this process. There's nothing like adding smart to a pretty face.
Replies
If Joash can get anything like Kodi Nikorima then you are right.
BUT Kodi was a real journey man until he turned up at the Warriors (I think) and now Dolphins, that said he is a lot thicker and stronger now.....you may be right about Joash in the long term but I still cannot seem him being ready next year. I will stand with someone like Sandon Smith who is ready to take on semi - final football in a side we would like to see there next year. .....in saying that I am not sure what the problem is with this guy as I said earlier.
I do not think attack with be Joash problem. After a pre-season I recon he would combine well with Moses. Very instinctive player and loves to run. The issue for me will always be his defence. He is a massive target. Can easily be used to generate quick play the balls.
A few things that struck me yesterday.
- The expansive style needs to be re-adjusted. Sure it's fun to watch and (according to Vossy) fun to commentate but it won't win games when it matters. Penrith didn't really do much but because of their usual high completion, high defence work-rate mentality the game simply opened up for them as the Eels fatigued. The Eels must respect the ball a lot more if they ever want to be taken seriously. That's a non-negotiable.
- We need more middles. A few of our guys are reserve grade quality, we need some 50+ gamers in the middle. Jnr is by far and away our best middle and he's over 250 games. He's not going to improve, he needs back-up. Tuivati is great but he should continue to be a bench player for a while.
- Da Silva looked good. He and Ryley will be a great 1-2 punch.
- We need a 6. Get Sandon Smith signed FFS
You have mirrored my thoughts, just about exactly MM.
Sandon Smith I think the club doesn't want. Even Roosters don't want him, they have Dockar-Clay over him.
But I saw it very early on with Penrith, they targeted the middle, were patient and didn't show any panic. They constantly poked their head through in the middle then we got more and more fatigued, errors adding to it, and they reaped the rewards. That's a squad who knows what they were doing. Cleary came on and just lead them to where they needed to go.
We showed some nice signs but I agree with the middles. As to why we signed De Belin but I feel we need that balance of age and experience in the middle. A mid to late 20's Prop with between 70-120 games experience.
You saw the cherry on the cake LB. That is about as optimistic as we will see on this blog at my guess.
We need a 6. Get Sandon Smith signed FFS!!
Yep couldn't agree more. He's in reserve grade FFS, surely it shouldn't be that hard to tempt him away from the beach - it's freaking winter.
Right, who is to say we want Sandon Smith? Roosters prefer Dockar-Clay over him at 14. We re-sign Samrani and Papali'i people comment that great we signed reserve graders as a knock yet are fine to sign Smith from reserve grade also?
I have no issues if we signed Smith but there is no certainty the club wants Smith. We would abuse the club for recruiting a player out of desperation to fill a spot yet that is what we would be doing with Smith, signing him as we need a 6 when there could be options coming up later in the year. No guarentees but good chance Pezet comes available, i know i would rather him than Smith. Yes he is playing reserve grade too but has been fit in at 14 and is coming back from injury last few weeks plus Melbourne like him enough to give him a deal til 2029 incase Hughes or Munster leave.
I never said we want him. I'm saying we should want him.
I've watched enough Roosters games to see that he is easily a better 6 than anyone at our club. It's not a question of whether he is better than ZDC. ZDC is a hooker and is playing 14 as a Hooker. Smith is a half so with Walker returning they're going with Savala and Walker. Fair enough but Smith has shown he's up to regular FG standard.
Smith is a known quantity. He will deliver as an NRL 6. He's played some awesome games at 6.
Pezet has been in and out of FG, never really setting the world on fire. He's a risk.
Joash is a massive risk.
For me it's Sandon Smith at 6 easily. He'd be a great pick up.
What Carlo says when she's hot.
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