Let's face the facts - we just have not had a good season and realistically we could not have said otherwise at any time during the year.
PROBLEM 1 - ATTITUDE
There have been a couple of false glimmers of hope, such as the games against Manly, Melbourne and Penrith. Our other wins have tended to be against lower placed teams. We persist with this attitude that one good win = a trip to the Grand Final. This comes from many of us on this site (including 1eyed himself, but we are all guilty of this), the media and of course affects the players.
We have lost some lazy lazy games (Cronulla, Newcastle) and people post that they are games that "do not matter". As expected that is now costing us badly.The team is not hard working for 80 minutes and gets ahead of itself, like the fans and the media.
As a side the team often looks very lethargic. The players do not do the little things right consistently for 80 minutes - like getting up in defence, being disciplined with penalties and support play in attack.
Even in some of the "big" wins - such as Penrith - we were so lazy that we allowed ourselves to get 22 points behind before starting to play football. And then we all rave about what a great comeback it was.
PROBLEM 2 - ORGANIZATION
In terms of playing personnel, I think we have some firepower across the park - including Hayne, Tahu, Mateo and Horo looks a very good prospect. Unfortunately we are stifling the most threatening player by asking him to do the play-making, kicking, try scoring and try saving.
Fact - we don't have the halves to use the firepower that we have.
PROBLEM 3 - OVER-ESTIMATING OUR ROSTER
We consistently talk bullshit about the next big thing. We did it with Mortimer, we did it with KK (sorry, I just don't see it), and some even did it with Jonathan Wright! Let's let players PROVE THEMSELVES before we call it. I think Horo is quietly proving himself, like Mannah. That's what we should applaud.
Basically, we need to inject some new blood, tactically - players who like the Titans are going to WORK HARD and earn their wins. At the moment we have a team that just wants to deliver KOs and is not willing to win on points. I am not saying that this is any individual player's fault, just that the team as a whole - and the fans - need to have a re-think.
Let's hope we get to 28 points and things go our way but I think our chances are very, very slim.
Replies
Plus side MANNAH, HORO are very good and will get better, HAYNE is the games best player doing it all without a set of halves. We need to blow the bank on CRONK or ORFORD and have some options.
I love to see our side come out and grit a 10 -8 victory but i guess im living in the dark past. Sometimes you have earn what comes your way and this year we have earnt what we have got mid table so - so that's how i will remember it late miracle run or not.
I just dont believe in our game plans, it seems teams keep getting the jump on us, yet we dont work to other teams weaknesses??
Our defensive coach needs the boot im sorry
Perhaps the other teams have shifted gears and we are basically bogged !!!!
As for a game plan - it would appear to be simply :
1: bash it up,
2: try for a offload or shuffle it out the back and
3: hope Hayne gets into some broken field space to work his magic!
4: Plus try to tackle the other team?
We've forgotten about consistent hard work
Other teams believe in the work ethic we seem to think that superhuman efforts will get us out of trouble.
Sick of it.....
on our defence; C'mon Parra!! belt the Broncos in that department next week. Earn some respect for yourselves and we will back you!! Belt the Broncos, JUST DO IT!!
From memory our 9 wins are made up of 2 each against Manly, Cowboys, Bulldogs and then 1 each against Melbourne, Penrith and Souths.
Do they have enough pride to win the last 4 and have a shot? When losing the last couple of weeks, they have not had the wherewithall to save our for and against.