What if the match finished at half time...

In all seriousness, if the match ended at half-time, what would your reaction be. We had the better of that half - we got over the line four times. One of the tries we conceded resulted from an absolutely freakish pass that was impossible to defend against.

Realistically, we could have won that first half 18 to 24 to six. So if the half had of ended there, we'd have been saying that it was a nice controlled performance and we'd been robbed by the referee.

So in effect, those of you who are going off absolutely half-cocked are doing so, based on essentially 25 minutes of football, where we had a bit of poor luck and the boys just dropped their bundle.

This is the culture/attitude that needs to change in the club. This is the conversation I had with Brad Arthur, about how quickly you can change a mindset that has been ingrained in the club for years. If you expect it to happen overnight you are delusional. These players have to learn how to grind their way back into the match. This is a side that will do ok, if it gets out in front - and I think had we got those early points it would have been a totally different match, but it has no idea yet how to come from behind. It doesn't have patience, it doesn't have the self-belief to think that they can earn their way back into the match. It's a side that clearly knows there are weaknesses - and those are there for all of us to see - and so subsequently is short on confidence as soon as things start to fall against them.

So a lot of you might just seriously do well to consider - what if the game was stopped at half time and do you think its worth the extreme reactions we're seeing tonight over a sloppy 25 minutes.

Take a nice deep breath...

Replies

PM www.sportfirstnambucca.com.au March 25, 2011 at 10:54pm

it did finish at half time in some players minds i think.
Parra Mafia March 25, 2011 at 10:55pm

Give me a break Phil. If that is going to be the excuse all year we have bigger problems than I thought
Chris Johnstone March 25, 2011 at 10:55pm

Good call Phil........
Mav69 March 25, 2011 at 10:56pm

Fair point but the simple fact is we dont have NRL standard halves that are going to be able to bring us back when we get behind in games. Until we do we are going to struggle big time. I do agree it would have been a different game if the ref hadn't screwed us in the first ten.
Perfecta Amundo March 25, 2011 at 10:57pm

They came back in the last 10 minutes, thanks to the stalwarts of the Swarm standing at the front waving our giant flags like maniacs and chanting. So in fact they actually dropped their bundle for less than 25 minutes.
RV March 25, 2011 at 11:01pm

Well said.

@ Parra Mafia - Phil is not making excuses - I think he is trying to make a point about the potential in the side, and the things that need to change to achieve it.

The fact is those two disallowed tries did change the game - you cannot argue with that. Definitely the two worst decisions by refs yet this season.
Make Parra Great Again March 25, 2011 at 11:02pm

Reality is its a 80min game, not 40???

Same as premierships are not won in round 3...

I do get the point your making however. Worst thing for Parra was the half-time siren.
ELECTRIFYING MAXFORCE EELS 2014 March 25, 2011 at 11:03pm

NO this side is clearly the wrong line up
Jpav March 25, 2011 at 11:04pm

we had alot of bad luck no doubt an mabe some overboard comments but you expect that it will simmer down soon enough. i blame ozzy he killed us last year with you know what. but only matters after 80 mins not 25 or 40
Perfecta Amundo March 25, 2011 at 11:04pm

Exactly RV - you must have been sitting near me, and from where I was we were winning. We just weren't that bad.