Sure, I don't really like Latrell Mitchell. But, boy can he play! He is a genuine X-factor player. He was one of two things that beat us last night. The other was ourselves.
Defensively.
We all talk about second-phase play in attack, but what was frightfully obvious last night is we have no second-phase play in defence. The number of times you could see us opening up and no attempt was made to close the gap or even put themselves in place to cover and defend.
Onto our MIddles and edges
Now the big boys are copping shit, I see no effort issues with RCG or Junior. Junior is frustrated. Joe O had what I would have said was his best game for the club offensively, but I may have missed some of his defensive criticisms.
Matto was very good but should be regarded as a middle only from now on.
I did not want to comment on individual players but to me last night some stood out that need to be addressed. Shaun Lane needs to be immediately dropped from the 17. I don't know if it's an effort or he has just lost it. He is moving so slowly that he cannot be a first grade NRL player.
Cartwright was asleep at the wheel last night and needs to be back to the bench or dropped outright. The effort in his case just wasn't there and his body language was very easy to read. What's the problem: Is he returning to his old ways or the sans Arthur factor? The other player defensively is Hands, after looking so bright and enthusiastic taking over from Lussick, he now looks tired. Went through a similar path last year, a good coach would/should be asking "What's the problem?"
Our centres.
Russell in the centres is a roadblock to any attack and Penisini is in all sorts of trouble. Neither of those two lack effort. In Russell's case: He is just not good enough. I assume there is a confidence issue with Penisini rather than a lack of talent. He is a better player than he is showing and I suspect he is a victim rather than a cause.
Gutherson was outstanding and it continues to astound me that every second man and his dog want's to get rid of him and change his position. Why?
One other aspect that comes home to me is that with our two match winners Moses and Brown their physical size stops them from dominating. You will note that Souths two destroyers being Latrell and Wighton have a physical presence to dominate. We do not have that type of presence, at least not until Lomax arrives regardless what position he ends up playing. We still need another back to open up opposition or even draw a threat. Sivo was once the answer but those days are gone from an intimidation perspective.
Now for a couple of positives.
Charlie Guymer was outstanding. He is unknown to me to look at but a lot of positives have been directed by EA and LB perhaps have understated what he had to offer. When I look at some of the "logs" we have running around calling themselves FG Forwards, why hasn't this guy appeared earlier?
The other thing was Blaize Talagi (above) who I am very critical of because of the way we have built him up (not his fault, but his management hasn't missed the opportunity). That in itself is unchanged, but he went well last night and delivered on his promise of better things to come and I believe he is suited to the wing in his current environment. Especially when you look at the alternatives! Tago looks handy and also should have been thought of earlier, straight swap for Russell.
The question marks and the roads ahead of us are still to resolve but we need to get this team acting as one, the last thing we need is all the negatives that are appearing without the resolve.
Finally, the negativity and dumb comments that are coming from this site do nothing to enhance us as the club you have chosen to support and follow. By all means, give an opinion but the knowledge and ignorance that comes with the predictions of what is happening is more destructive than constructive.
Replies
Why dont you like Latrell? Im just curious?
In most part agree with your comments, but thought Cartwright is one of the few putting the efforts in, but just hasnt got it right.
Im so frustrated at Penisini.
I think he deliberately played the "race card" for a long time..... may have learnt something recently? I have no doubt he "was" singularly the most unpopular in the game for some time.
Firstly, great write up Pops - lots of awesome info in there and I'll reply properly later.
But just on the Latrell thing, honestly the only "race card" the guy has played is being proud of his heritage. And how can we fault someone for that? Don't get me wrong, Latrell has had faults that have largely come from him being young, talented, and by all accounts not as hard of a worker as some others - but that's got nothing to do with his race because we can call out many players who fell into the same trap (Dylan had his "grow up" moment last year, Hayne had more than I could count).
On the flip side of the coin, Latrell has 100% copped hate from people because he's Aboriginal - sure people will find another angle (lazy, entitled, does silly things) but they forget that those attributes are present in a HEAP of these young athletes in the NRL and for some reason they manage to single out Latrell...I wonder why...
I dislike Latrell when he's against us in a Bunnies uniform because he has the ability to tear us to pieces. Equally I love the guy when he's in the Blues outfit because he tears Qld to pieces.
And I totally agree with you that HE is what a true X-Factor player looks like. Same as Walsh is, or Hayne was - someone who can break a game open on their own and who's passion and brilliance lifts the entire team around them.
If Gutho was born with the kind of natural abilities that Walsh or Latrell had he would be an incredible X-Factor player, because he has the passion, the hunger and the never-give-up attitude. Unfortunately he is just a "very good" player who just gives 200% every single week, which turns him into an excellent team asset, but stops short of him ever being an X-Factor player.
We really do need to start setting our sights on some true X-Factors to put in our team. Lomax is a start, but even he (to me) just falls into the "very good" category, he just happens to be in a purple patch.
Excellent comment from you and great Blog from Pop's and totally agree about what you said about Latrell in being passionate about his culture and heritage. You have to walk in his shoes to understand where he's coming from.
Thanks for your considered reply Cappy and I readily agree that X Factor is overly exercised as a description, the same as champion for a racehorse.
That dislike with Latrell can go a number of ways and it has nothing to do with his race or anybody's race for that matter. I am very strongly a non racist, so its not driven from that end. Sandow was one of my favourite players and I defended him on many occasions with my heart rather than my head. Wiz would tell you that because he called him Sambo and I reacted rather badly. In hindsight Wiz was taking the piss and did not mean it as such. I wanted Wiz to adopt him and keep an eye on him. LOL
I think to go into explanation with Latrell it was/is a personality issue. I also am aware of some things he did in a off season game when he played under another name and nearly killed some one. So I am a little tainted in my view. It was not a coincidence that Easts did not keep him and he does/did have attitude problems.
In saying all that your points are salutary, and well meant from a perspective of overall perception, rather than singling him out.
so am I Penisini has no speed and no defensive smarts ...speed compensates for that ...but again he is lacking ....as crazy as this sounds the fastest outside back we had was Micheal Jennings ...and he needs more just for men then I do ...........
I have been noticing this for a long time and have refrained from commenting thus far but ...
As always, at the end of your long winded blog, you find a way to state that your opinion is the only one that is correct and that comments from others you don't agree with or you deem "dumb" are from idiots. This blog would have been ok, still long winded, but for the last paragraph. No-one cares what comments you think enhances the club or what you think is negative in this supporter site.
As Madge said ....glass houses.
I also know you will make some comment that what I wrote is wrong, so go at it.
OK, you asked for it.....
Finally the negativity and dumb comments that are coming from this site do nothing to enhance us as the club you have chosen to support and follow........by all means give an opinion but the knowledge and ignorance that comes with the predictions of what is happening is more destructive than constructive.
Can you deny I am wrong in expressing that opinion?
That was my opinion on the incumbents and is no different to the whole blog i.e an opinion.... but my opinion was restricted to negativity and dumb comments........ to be upset by that you have to be guilty of making negative or dumb comments, otherwise you would think it has no application.
Finally by stating that "No-one cares what comments " means you have decided to speak for the whole site, who is the arrogant one really, you or me?
I particularly like your analysis of penisini and Russell as you mentioned penisini has shown enough of his potential to deserve his spot Russell on the other hand sorry to the young lad but not good enough with both defence or attack and just isn't smart enough to be a first grader has had enough time and opportunitys even put them to one side the main problem I think he doesn't have the brains or wits about him to be a regular first grader must definetly 100% must go because he is taking up cap space and stopping either another signing or youngster coming through would not be in any other nrl team I'm thinking he should of gone with ba who obviously put him in there due to other reasons and not talent and for gutho love the bloke great player with the biggest heart but speed and injuries are becoming more of a problem every game and for me the big one Dylan brown I'm over having to wait 2 games a year where he pulls his finger out of his arse and has a good game has enormous talent just not the desire to be the best 6 in the game upsetting considering the amount of cap space he takes up and the amount of effort and investment the club has done for him he needs Bennet type of coach to work out what problems his got going through his head and to keep him focused would not be upset at all if he left there's better out there I think
Pops, good blog, interesting read.
Agree with a lot of what you have said here, think you nailed it with Penisini.
For me personally, and it's just opinion & could be very wrong, there was only one difference between the teams last night and that was execution on the goal line - in attack & defence.
We left 3/4 tries on the field, Rabbitohs took their chances outside of one Walker blown try. Outside of Gutho, we failed to defend our line & against basic movements from Souths - the try on half time was awful - the Rabbits scrambled & fought to protect theirs, over & over again.
No doubt Latrell's presence helps, he also saved two tries from Dylan (in-goal grubber and tackle on the line break). But he, Wighton & Walker are players you can frustrate & take out of the game if relentless defensively.
Their X-Factor becomes frustration, error, penalties, & it's why they never beat the Panthers, imo.
We simply don't pressure teams, we can't protect our line, and we can't finish our opportunities. Teams just have to stay in the game with our possession & field position, which they seem to do comfortably, knowing both will turn & they will strike.
Last night there were some positives as you mentioned in the debutants, but, for the first time this year I felt we looked & felt like a deserving spoon winner.
It can only go up form here, I hope Pops?
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