I am hoping we scrape home with a win... DCE FG 78min...
I did not get to watch the game until late on Sunday(I find when you watch a game and you already know the result it is easier to watch it without the emotion so high).
I know that a lot of people are really hurting with how the side is at the moment and I am not going to get into a back and forth with people about this,but I saw some real positives in the game.
I thought our forwards were all strong and completely outplayed their pack and that includes Croker having a pretty solid game too,and that is something to build on.(I don't think that Keppie was outstanding tho,a couple of hits on Graham does not make a great game,but was an improvement on recent efforts,I think Boyle was better in game 1 and don't get the hate for him)
I was overall happy with our 2-5,Parker is too slow(yes)and Suli got beaten on the outside right at the end.I would like Walker back to centre and move Parker to second row(that is on Des).I don't buy the b.s. that he would get more concussions or could not play there,he gets his headknocks hitting up on the first or second tackle from 2 metres from our own line with 3 props/second rowers smashing him.In the second row he would be getting the ball maybe on the 3rd or 4th hit up at best and an offseason putting on a couple of kilos would not slow a player who lacks real speed too much.
I thought Suli looked good and got involved without Sironen dying with the ball and I don't get the hate for him on here.
The 3 problems I saw were firstly Marty losing the ball in attacking position,in saying that it was seriously wet and it wasn't like the Rabbitohs ball security was outstanding.
The errors and bad decisions from DCE were hard to take and it is on the player himself to turn it around.
Walkers errors from fullback can be rectified by selecting Funa or Harper there and this is on Des to sort.
I honestly believe(and I said at the start,I have no interest in debating with so many people who are hurting at the moment) you take away those 3 factors and that game was ours for the taking,I don't believe any recent hype about the Dragons as I believe the Cowboys will be probably be wooden spooners this year(or Dogs).
I am pretty confident we will win this weekend,but if DCE has a game like that again it may change things.Whilst it will never happen...if DCE can't get his act together I would hope that Schuster moves to 5/8 and have Foran playing a Cronk type of role as half with minimal physical involvement.The best I have ever seen Foran play was his first year with the Eels,they played him as a game manager at 7 and controlling the game,he was simply outstanding until he got injured about half way through the season and has been injury prone since.
