We have a choice of going out against Melbourne and Penrith and running ourselves into the ground. Or we can save the players and have a circuit breaker. The players need to restart, physically and mentally. I think the only chance we have of getting anywhere in the finals is to give a fair few players a weekend off. Nothing else is working and I don't believe BA would have a game plan that we can perform to a high enough level against these 2 teams.
The only thing we have going for us is our buffer to the teams below and the ability to rest.
What are your thoughts?
Do we need combos working together against the top teams to find something or do we need to preserve them so they are fresh coming in?
Replies
I shared the same thoughts before. Play full strength against cowboys to get some confidence (win the game). Then rest the next 2 weeks to ensure any tired bored has time to recover for chasing the collision
If BA is going to continue with this power game of his, then it's pretty much his only choice.
We've seen pretty much every single one of our 'power' players get slower as the back end of the year has gone on. Look at Paulo, Sivo, Brown, Lane - they need to reset their bodies, and with that hopefully their mind isn't as fatigued as well.
Yeah let's tank
Don't know about this, the ones that go out to slaughter will be filthy afterwards.
Let me ask you this, do you think you put in more physical effort in a 40 point thrashing or a 40 point win? You're talking about metres ran, I'm talking about defence.
We can go out there and get hammered by 50 by both Penrith and the Storm and come out busted and worn out after defending again and again. Is that what the players need? That should have us sitting nicely going into week one of the finals?
Cause we've been doing the above week in and out for the past 4 weeks and the players do look tired, lazy and worn out. Guess just keep throwing them to the slaughter?
Brissy, the season is effectively shot. This isn't a bad suggestion to try and at least partially resurrect it. It's not new for teams to rest players. Bellamy will often do it at the back end if it won't effect the ladder position.
Yes all teams try to win the forward battle but few play an out and our power game like the eels were doing up till about 4 weeks ago.
We are a power side, our best footy was when we had a second rower in the centre ffs. I think it's a reasonable idea to see if some of the power players can get some energy back for a couple of big games.
I wouldn't say they earnt it at all, if anything not one player in the game would want to be rested this time of year.
No they haven't earned it. But take your angry reaction the the last month of footy out of it - which you are entitled to - I would consider any radical idea to finish strong. And cranky Brad - no the players would probably not want it - but I don't think they are entitled to make any demands at the moment.
Ok well I think you have to at least bring in the young guys in Penisini and Dunster. I think Blake goes to a wing - and stays there. Nuikore goes to the centres.
id be dropping / resting Oldield, Opacic, Sivo and Gutho.
it's a rest for Sivo and Gutho who at their best are very important. It's a drop for old field and Opacic. Neither is really up to it in my opinion.
Brissy Fatigue comes from many places. A wise man not only recognises it but also plans for it, and rectifies it. Blind freddy can see we are fatigued, it isn't a physical thing although that's how it manifests, the fatigue is mental, the way they feel, the way structure becomes mundane.
You can suggest all you like about other teams playing hard, that's not all of what i'm suggesting. By every measure available you can see our players disintegrating, is it non stop front loading with no break during the year, is it the coach won't change the defensive structure, is it the players giving up on each other living in each other's pocket for so long has become irritating, is it they are losing faith in BA's way, is it seeing other players not dropped for lazy efforts, is it training has become boring and players aren't allowed to express their footy playing skills. I dont know , is it the covid bubbles, is it being away from home and doing those after hour normal routines. However the fatigue or laziness, or appearing jaded and burnt out or down right giving up that you see is most definitely the signs of burn out.Our players for whatever reason are not responding on the field as a focused finals team., blind freddy can see it and the smart ones know and plan for it. Doing the same old same old, work harder, practise more dosnt always work.
What do they say A holiday cures all and you come back re freshed refocused and ready to go, The smart coaches do this in increments throughout the year.
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