TELL HIM HE'S DREAMING

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

paul taylor August 6, 2010 at 9:53pm

Excellent POST mate. Agree 100%. The roster as a whole has not come up like we would have hoped at start of the year. SHACKLETON gone round 1 ( Blow ), TAHU indifferent year, not a stroke on hsi last year in league in 2007, POORE very average IMO. He is very easily contained and I dont rate him at all. MORTIMER has struggled all year whilst INU has only hit form last 4 weeks. MATEO up and down, BURT just and CAYLESS one year too long.

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.
RV August 6, 2010 at 9:57pm

Agree - even Orford would be a good signing. He has a great attitude.
EELATION August 6, 2010 at 9:59pm

Agree...!! We are a flashy team not a tough team!!
pride has no excuses August 6, 2010 at 10:06pm

Its nice to read words from soemone who actually sees the results of the club this year as it truely is. Its all good to prance around and read about how good you are in telegraph its another thing to rip in roll up your sleeves and play football for the jumper.
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.
Make Parra Great Again August 6, 2010 at 10:09pm

PROBLEM 4.... OUR GAME PLAN

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
The Badger August 6, 2010 at 10:23pm

Funny how this defensive issue is now apparent and yet 5 weeks ago we were one of the toughest teams to score against in the comp. WTF has happened??? Maybe they already have sacked him??? They certainly are not well drilled against kicks to the in goal.

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?
crazeel August 6, 2010 at 10:27pm

Good blog spot on...no more next big things.
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.....
Jpav August 7, 2010 at 12:10am

ageing players as well. tahu was bought because he is good mates with ozzy? he did nothing in union past he;s best, i thought poore was a good signing mabe better next year
Vlozy August 7, 2010 at 12:23am

agree, no team is second guesssing what we have in store for them on a weekly basis.

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!!
RV August 7, 2010 at 7:10am

The other thing I realised was that we have played all 16 teams this year but have only beaten 6 of them. That says a lot. 10 teams have been too good for us, some of them more than once.

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.