I can understand why people would see this as a Mini GF but I’m not calling it one.
After consecutive losses it’s just about improving defence and getting confidence back.
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I can understand why people would see this as a Mini GF but I’m not calling it one.
After consecutive losses it’s just about improving defence and getting confidence back.
The only way I can see us winning this team with Fogarty as the halfback (eg bomb on the 5th) is we have to suffocate them through the middle and reduce their forwards go forward through the middle. We have the better forward pack, the starting Knights forwards are comparable to the starting Titans forward pack (Saifiti, Watson, Brailey, Barnett, Frizell, Sue) vs (Wallace, Tino, Rein, Proctor, Fermor, McIntyre) however once you look at the bench you essentially see 4 rookie Knights players up against Mo, Fifita, Jolifee so we should be really taking them through the middle.
As long as we can hold them out or stay with them on the scoreboard until our bench comes on we should get momentum on our side, I've watched all the Knights games this year (thanks to the missus) and they are a very confidence based team, if they don't get on the scoreboard early or think they can't win they will have their hands on their head, we have to reduce the time Clifford/Pearce have with the ball and pin them in their defence end.
But as usual strategy is a lot easier on paper than on the the field with refs, luck, injury and stupidity which often doesn't go the way of the Titans. I'm with psmitty absolutely a mini gf, probably the game of the season for me! Up up the mighty Titans!!
Sportsbet: $1.95 Knights vs $1.85 Titans
Things I am looking forward to:
-Thursday night football
-Watching JC
Things I am not looking forward to:
-The forum meltdown if we lose
-Phil Sami
-Jamal Fogarty
-Kevin Proctor
-Jamal Fogarty failing to play out the back
-Jamal Fogarty failing to give Fifita advantageous ball
-Jamal Fogarty 5th tackle options
-Phil Sami
-Peachey's goal-line defence
-Jake clifford stepping through our slow inside pressure D and scoring
-KP making children of the defensive combination of Fogarty and Fifita
-Phil Sami
Sorry lads, I'm going to have to be the pessimist on this one. Agree with comments that our forward pack overall is better, particularly the bench, but the differential between Brailey and the Rein/Clark combo drags it back pretty close to parity. We are absolutely outclassed in the spine overall and I think that's where the game will be won. I really hope to be proven wrong though.
Add to that list HS the plethora of ridiculous penalties we can conjure up. Very nervous and indeed it’s our gf mini or not.
Is Thompson staying on the left?
That’s right Wilhelm, there spine is so much better it’s not even funny. The knights forward pack dominated the raiders through the middle which our pack has not done. This week they are missing safiti and Klemmer so we should dominate them.
I wonder if Marzhew was dropped because of visions of him having to rush in and cover Proctor and fogartys stuff ups in defence , that's gotta be the only thing the blokes a beast coming up against Bradman best we need a beast out wide to match
See you after the game.
I don’t think we have the defence to win.
Hope I’m wrong.
I reckon the logic is he just wanted to put Herbert and Thompson defending against Ponga's favoured edge with Best & Tuala. This is the only way it makes the slightest bit of sense because Marzhew does look a bit shaky with how he reads the D. Physically he's fine but has made a few errors with his decisions. Could be a communication thing there we aren't seeing on the TV, I dunno. But Ponga & Co could give him a few terrors.
Sami on his familiar left so we're not throwing Marzhew to the wolves by switching sides and trying to defend outside BK & in an edge that is already unfamiliar with Peachey there instead of Ash.
Not looking for a debate as to whether the logic is right or wrong, but if there is any reasoning that makes maybe a smidgen of sense, those are my thoughts on what it would be
I know it's the wrong thread to discuss this, but man, I personally HATE the 6-again rule. I think it needs refining because it gives waaaaay too much advantage to the attacking team and is a big contributor to the massive blowouts this year. So I am very saddened by the results of this fan poll. You are basically giving Vlandys the big green tick of approval despite the poorer quality of football we've seen this year in which the 6-agains have largely contributed to.
https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/08/26/...ll---the-fans/
Well I’d say our season progressing past next week comes down to tonight. Genius or Captain Dip**** (or a mix of both) for the coach tonight. He’s thrown the dice in our most important game so far so let’s see how it pans out. Run hard, tackle hard, no sloppy ruck defence, no dumb penalties, no turnovers after points and most importantly Fermour to score a double.
Rip in boys
Couldn’t agree more about the 6 again rule. It’s changed the game so much is a reason why we are getting so many lopsided scores.
So you would prefer the wrestle that was a huge blight on the game? The game was becoming so slow.
In the last three rounds the number of blowouts has been reduced as players and coaches adapt. The carry on about the 6 again rule has been overstated as most restarts are on the first or second tackle so most teams get 7 or 8 tackles , not 12.
Perhaps the rule can be tweaked, but I'd hate to go back to the way the game was becoming.
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Yes I fear that you are going to be correct as our spine looks useless compared to theirs. (and it looks like little will change in 2022)
Yeah actually I did prefer the wrestle era. It necessitated more creativity from the halves and allowed players like Cooper Cronk to shine. I also prefer test cricket to T20 so maybe it’s a personal thing. I’d be happy for a middle ground between wrestle era and the current momentum era.
GT I am with you 100%. Can’t stand it.
MT give this a read:
https://www.rugbyleagueeyetest.com/2...ts-and-trends/
I prefer test cricket as well ( I watched most of the India v England test that started last night), but I would prefer Warner making 70 in the first session than Lawry making 20 in 2 hours.
I guess we should concentrate on the game soon to start and I share the fears about our spine against theirs. The Knights defence has also improved in the last few weeks. Season on the line tonight and lets hope this isn't the meltdown thread in two hours.
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Interesting read, but my head hurts after reading so many stats!
To clarify, I am not totally wed to the 6 again rule, but something had to be done with the way the game was going.
Good to see Brandy giving us a good wrap
Brandy speaking sense about our halves not getting the ball to Fafita last week. Let’s hope the message got through
I’m in a meeting and will watch as if live later … fingers crossed and good luck
Well done to Mcintryre getting 30m out of our first set of 5 that went 40m
Garbage wide run by proctor: check
**** kick by Foges: check
Thank god for Sam
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Pure luck then that ball was all knights
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Not a bad first run by Sami not gonna lie
**** I love you Fermor. I am sorry I ever doubted you.
Fermy you beauty
Ferrrrrmmmmmooooorrrrrrrrr
Ferrrrrrrmmmmmmooooorrrrrrr
It's not too late to get aboard the Fermor train
How bold is fermour! Onya Sami
Sami looks to be running hard without those little jinks
And just like that Holbrook feels his decision is justified
I've been impressed with Sami too in these opening stages. Had some pretty good runs so far, seems like he's having a good dig