LIVE GAME Round 9 vs. Bulldogs

Live Game Discussion
batboy said:
Say it as many times as you like.

Until these 'kids' you're referring too, Start making a decent fist of the Grade they're in (Which they're not)
They shouldn't be anywhere near NRL.
Click to expand...
If theyre good enough theyre old enough,
 
batboy said:
Say it as many times as you like.

Until these 'kids' you're referring too, Start making a decent fist of the Grade they're in (Which they're not)
They shouldn't be anywhere near NRL.
Click to expand...
Yep, I think they are just names on paper to a lot of people. I'm convinced they haven't actually seem them kick a ball this year.

Reality is all those guys have individually struggled at different points in the lower grades this year. Kit Laulilii has looked out of his depth on several occasions, Sione Fainu has hardly played, Sukkar has done very little. There is a lot to lose by throwing in undeveloped kids low on confidence into first grade. Yes, there is promise, but now is definitely not the time to be throwing in the likes of Miller and Faagatu to get bashed off the bench.

IMO the only one remotely ready is Latu, who has had a dodgy hamstring, and maybe Matamua.
 
Last edited:
Wearyfan22 said:
Yep, I think they are just names on paper to a lot of people. I'm convinced they haven't actually seem them kick a ball this year.

Reality is all those guys have individually struggled at different points in the lower grades this year. Kit Laulilii has looked out of his depth on several occasions, Sione Fainu has hardly played, Sukkar has done very little. There is a lot to lose by throwing in undeveloped kids low on confidence into first grade. Yes, there is promise, but now is definitely not the time to be throwing in the likes of Miller and Faagatu to get bashed off the bench.

IMO the only one remotely ready is Latu, who has had a dodgy hamstring, and maybe Matamua.
Click to expand...
Faatape, Sukkar, Matamua & Feledy have all looked to have upped their game from previous seasons (Faatape obviously being a 1st year guy is an exception).

Miller & Fa'agutu need more time on the field to develop. I'm off the belief that Lualili'i could play a role off the bench in 1sts. I'd still count Simpkin in the young players list.

Just because the collective of players isn't working doesn't mean the individuals are not performing. Matamua & Sukkar in particular have handled the physical game quite well. Porter & Lui-Toso are doing a bulk of the reserves work which you'd expect.

Tumeth is just spinning his wheels at this point. Defensively he holds up, but he's missing in attack.

In my opinion, the 1sts team is better off playing either Matamua or Sukkar off the bench than Twal & Seyfarth combined. You don't flood the bench in one game, but if Sukkar can see the field for 3-4 games & Lualili'i for a couple as well, while Matamua is more often- they are in better shape for next season.

Or...

You commit to developing Kepaoa.
 
Jolls said:
This game was not lost by the skill of our players, although as many have pointed out the benchies certainly affect our ability to maintain momentumn. This game was lost between the ears yet again. Ill discipline is the issue we are battling; the opposition gets a roll on and we go away from the game plan, start to run sideways, get frustrated and don't have the ability to dig ourselves out of that situation (less the Eels win).

Could we do with some player upgrades and a bit of depth? Sure, but it isn't happening in 2024. Wish what you want but the answer to our problems right now aren't so much about the ball and defensive skills of the playing group, although they could both improve, it is about our resillience as a team.

We showed we have it in us in the dig against the Eels. I trust Benji is cool enough to sit back and use this last loss as a lesson to be learned as opposed to going off about our lack of discipline. This is the time to pull each individual aside and chat with them about how they react to game stress. In simple terms each player needs to ask themselves, in a facilitated way: was my reaction natural, was it helpful and what can I do to improve it? Call it grit, determination, mongrel if you are old, call it resillience if you are a younger generation. Regardless of the nametag; Wests Tigers lacks it. We just don't do the 1%ers at critical times to change the outcome. Yes, we have an inexperienced side; but when our leaders should be urging them on they are dropping the bundle.

You see teams doing breathing exercises after tries to bring themselves back down and focus on the task at hand, others simply have such a well exercised routine that it is second nature. Penrith is probably the best at it in the competition and have three premierships to show for it. They clearly demonstrated what it looks like in last years GF, but as recent as this week they dug their way out of the fast start by the Donkeys by being calm during adversity and turning the momentum around.

We don''t have the player skill set to get to that level yet; however, turning this around is as much about work on the training paddock as it is about each player understanding their own reaction to game day stress; understanding when it is happening and doing something about it. Then as a collective urging each other to perform and overcome it.

This is where a great coach comes in; I hope Benji was taking notes!
Click to expand...
It's one thing to do something in training and replicating it under game pressure. I don't want to bang on about Brooks but I thought he never handled stress well.
 
Stevec said:
Braith carefully listening to replay with on field audio reveals what David Klemmer said to Casey Badger
He said " that wasn't a shoulder charge " the response 10 in the bin
Doesn't sound like the worst thing said on a football field
Click to expand...
Bahaha surely not...
 
The Chad said:
Faatape, Sukkar, Matamua & Feledy have all looked to have upped their game from previous seasons (Faatape obviously being a 1st year guy is an exception).

Miller & Fa'agutu need more time on the field to develop. I'm off the belief that Lualili'i could play a role off the bench in 1sts. I'd still count Simpkin in the young players list.

Just because the collective of players isn't working doesn't mean the individuals are not performing. Matamua & Sukkar in particular have handled the physical game quite well. Porter & Lui-Toso are doing a bulk of the reserves work which you'd expect.

Tumeth is just spinning his wheels at this point. Defensively he holds up, but he's missing in attack.

In my opinion, the 1sts team is better off playing either Matamua or Sukkar off the bench than Twal & Seyfarth combined. You don't flood the bench in one game, but if Sukkar can see the field for 3-4 games & Lualili'i for a couple as well, while Matamua is more often- they are in better shape for next season.

Or...

You commit to developing Kepaoa.
Click to expand...
Its a fair point, I think where we might disagree is that imo at this stage based on form in inferior competitions, all mentioned bar maybe matamua and s fainu would be significant downgrades on Twal and Seyfarth. Im not happy about it, but i think thats the reality.

I just dont think downgrading our bench in the interests of development is something a team who has lost 5 straight can really afford.
 
upthetigers said:
It's one thing to do something in training and replicating it under game pressure. I don't want to bang on about Brooks but I thought he never handled stress well.
Click to expand...
Manly currently 5th and could be higher if they win some close games. Much less stressful in a good team.
 
cktiger said:
Yes, he would.
If you think he cost us the game you’re obviously letting your unwarranted hate for him take over your thinking.
Click to expand...
It went a long way towards costing us the game.
If you are happy with that lack of effort, than you’re easily pleased.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

Total: 520 (members: 4, guests: 516)
Forever online: Tigergran, Geo
Back
Top