The little things

[silvertail]

Must start off by saying I absolutely love 2V, always have, always will.

I remember when he first started coaching us and referred to his predecessor, Des, as being a little anal; every waking moment, analysing and preparing his side leaving nothing to chance.

Moving forward, 2V should work his team a little harder, focusing on the little things.

Like regularly reaching the try line or in-goal area from kick offs.

Like regularly catching the ball when the opposition decides to take a short kick off.

Like regularly catching bombs, or at least as well as other good teams.

Like regularly setting up properly to execute a field goal.

Like regularly having a capable back up field goal specialist in good position, in case the first kicker can't get a clear shot.

I appreciate that we did well this year, but it would have been nice if we had spent a little more time working on the little things.

 

[sheridanstand78]

All the points you raise are very valid and need to be worked on over the off season.

However the team also did a hell of a lot of things right to be finishing equal 2nd over a season.

We will be back!

 

[RiverEagle]

I'd like to add (and accept bein' called a dinosaur for it too)...Field-goals should not be having such resonance in deciding games; especially finals football.

It should be "Golden Try" only in extra-time.

Then, the better footy team wins. Not just who has got the best field-goal kicker or execution.

Same as improving our "bomb reception", especially our wingers. Yes, we need to improve there; but it's still a lottery and used too often when a team can't score "through" Us and our Defence. (Horhay needs some practice; Hiku, Snake and Blair are OK right now).

It's just pot-luck and moving more toward Aussie Rules footy "skills" for my liking.

And, overall, we did far more "little things" right this year (than the points raised). I'm still grieving of course; but had the Dogs game gone to "Golden Try" not just "Golden Point" it could've been a different and fairer outcome.

(All it proved was Hodkinson is a pro at field-goals. Not who was the better overall football team on the night).

 

[EagleFromMay1967]

Yes, we did v well to finish where we did with the troops we had, and considering the draw we had. We had a tough draw, esp towards the end. I will mention 2v's lack of bench rotation, thrughout the year, may also have contributed to our running out of steam, in the forwards.

 

[Ralphie]

We were August Premiers, completely imploded in the last 4-6 weeks and crashed out in straight sets. It was an utter embarrassment and I feel like a souffs supporter must do each year.

I know some will criticise my assessment, but it was a disgraceful exhibition from the round 22 loss to souffs onwards.

 

[RiverEagle]

We were August Premiers, completely imploded in the last 4-6 weeks and crashed out in straight sets. It was an utter embarrassment and I feel like a souffs supporter must do each year.

I know some will criticise my assessment, but it was a disgraceful exhibition from the round 22 loss to souffs onwards.

Well I DO disagree with you Ralphie; and strongly.

We had no Gift (virtually all year). Lost BJ and Horo initially (in August); then Buhrer, Ballin and Choc (the last game). Plus men like Skivi, Kingy, even DCE (and Taufua) were clealy playing "wounded" for August/September.

Any team would struggle with 4 or 5 of the top 17 out; plus injuries to those that still made the effort to play.

It was a LONG way short of disgraceful IMO.

And I couldn't have been prouder that we went down swinging against the Dogs.

 

[The Who]

You can't control certain elements in each match. However, one you can control is your kick-off. It frustrated me that our kick-offs were all the same . . . and were ineffective. Surely our players and coaches saw how Richards mixed up his kick-offs for the Tigers this season.
I'd like to see short kick off being tried regularly, not just when we are behind on the scoreboard and desperate for possession.
Another frustration for me is not occasionally kicking over the top from a scrum when the opposition fullback is in the line. I admit we don;t have any real speedsters currently, but when we do this should be a regular tactic. It is the easiest way I know to scoring a try.
Generally, let's not be so predictable. Where is the innovation we saw in the 70s from coaches such as Jack Gibson?

 

[Ralphie]

We were August Premiers, completely imploded in the last 4-6 weeks and crashed out in straight sets. It was an utter embarrassment and I feel like a souffs supporter must do each year.

I know some will criticise my assessment, but it was a disgraceful exhibition from the round 22 loss to souffs onwards.

Well I DO disagree with you Ralphie; and strongly.

We had no Gift (virtually all year). Lost BJ and Horo initially (in August); then Buhrer, Ballin and Choc (the last game). Plus men like Skivi, Kingy, even DCE (and Taufua) were clealy playing "wounded" for August/September.

Any team would struggle with 4 or 5 of the top 17 out; plus injuries to those that still made the effort to play.

It was a LONG way short of disgraceful IMO.

And I couldn't have been prouder that we went down swinging against the Dogs.

I respect your opinion, :shy: but they are the same excuses used by teams like souffs for years.:huh:

 

[Crusher_Cleal]

Why we can never seem to kick the ball into the in-goal area from a kickoff drives me crazy. We are regularly short.

---

Plus our execution of bombs (poor wording?) has always been terrible, even in the Des years.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

You can't control certain elements in each match. However, one you can control is your kick-off. It frustrated me that our kick-offs were all the same . . . and were ineffective. Surely our players and coaches saw how Richards mixed up his kick-offs for the Tigers this season.
I'd like to see short kick off being tried regularly, not just when we are behind on the scoreboard and desperate for possession.
Another frustration for me is not occasionally kicking over the top from a scrum when the opposition fullback is in the line. I admit we don;t have any real speedsters currently, but when we do this should be a regular tactic. It is the easiest way I know to scoring a try.
Generally, let's not be so predictable. Where is the innovation we saw in the 70s from coaches such as Jack Gibson?

Trouble is mate the WHOLE game is predictable these days. We only get the occasional line break and if one ends up as a try the commentators almost Jizz themselves .

Oh how I remember the Cliffy or Phil Blake days, pure genius and EVERY game not just once in a month of Sundays.

---

I really think the NRL needs to change the scoring, 2 points only for try's scored as bombs with conversions only 1 point.

You'd still get bombs but only in close games and even then in the last 10 minutes only.

 

[susan]

Yes Mark the bombs need to be dealt with but there is a real aversion by many to reducing the value of what is a try and has been for a hundred years to 2 points and I can sort of see that.

My suggestion is to only reward "clean" tries from bombs. That is as soon as the defender or attacker drops the ball play stops immediately, regardless if the ball goes forwards or backwards. 2 exceptions to this are

1.If the defending side drops it backwards and retains the ball they keep possession and

2.If the ball hits the ground uncontested without being touched it is simply play on.

That way these horrible lucky dip tries with the ball bouncing everywhere after being spilled by either side are not rewarded.Play restarts with a scrum or turnover with the side who didn't make the error getting the ball from the restart.You will see a lot of defensive sides who sense real trouble simply play at the ball to kill it instantly and this would have a two fold effect of only an exceptional leap by the attacking side being rewarded and thus the flow on would be a lot less bombs.

That way only tries from clean catches due to pure skill by the attacking side are rewarded and every other scenario results in a restart or the defending side keeping possession.We maintain the integrity of the value of the try and only reward skill,not luck.

 

[Wombat Legacy]

We were August Premiers, completely imploded in the last 4-6 weeks and crashed out in straight sets. It was an utter embarrassment and I feel like a souffs supporter must do each year.

I know some will criticise my assessment, but it was a disgraceful exhibition from the round 22 loss to souffs onwards.

Well I DO disagree with you Ralphie; and strongly.

We had no Gift (virtually all year). Lost BJ and Horo initially (in August); then Buhrer, Ballin and Choc (the last game). Plus men like Skivi, Kingy, even DCE (and Taufua) were clealy playing "wounded" for August/September.

Any team would struggle with 4 or 5 of the top 17 out; plus injuries to those that still made the effort to play.

It was a LONG way short of disgraceful IMO.

And I couldn't have been prouder that we went down swinging against the Dogs.

Disgraceful is a little harsh-but using injuries is a cop out. We still had the team to win, however we played poorly and without that famous cohesion we built for several years. Excuses like injuries don't cut it IMO. We played brave in the second half against the Dogs and should have pinched it....disappointing season bowing out like we did.

 

[Daveagle]

Despite all the negatives, IF the pinkies did as they should have with Reynolds being off side in GP, then we would still be alive. So, at this point in time the classification of disgraceful is applicable to the NRL and it's gutless refs.

 

[Arko-admirer]

When the game went to golden point I knew we would lose.
The Doggies are good at that, we aren't.
One non-league fan asked me why Manly wasn't going for the field goal in our last set. He was confused because we went wide in a play and then our attempt was the normal panic/scramble that overly relies on DCE's talent.
By contrast the Dogs only drive down the middle and set up for the point. Yes that's more boring but it's the way to win

---

On another point and some may disagree, I think our discipline needs to be better, even as I aknowledge it's an aggressive testerone-driven sport.

As we had the penalty there was no need for Starling to throw the punch. I guess it could be argued it helped fire us up but obviously it put us down a man when we were already getting on top.
Also the niggle to Ennis was not necessary and only plays his game. Yes it got us a send-off but arguably that stoppage cost us momentum when we were getting on top and may have put Lyon off his kick. (On that matter we also need a better goal kicker.)

 

[Shoe1]

We were August Premiers, completely imploded in the last 4-6 weeks and crashed out in straight sets. It was an utter embarrassment and I feel like a souffs supporter must do each year.

I know some will criticise my assessment, but it was a disgraceful exhibition from the round 22 loss to souffs onwards.

Well I DO disagree with you Ralphie; and strongly.

We had no Gift (virtually all year). Lost BJ and Horo initially (in August); then Buhrer, Ballin and Choc (the last game). Plus men like Skivi, Kingy, even DCE (and Taufua) were clealy playing "wounded" for August/September.

Any team would struggle with 4 or 5 of the top 17 out; plus injuries to those that still made the effort to play.

It was a LONG way short of disgraceful IMO.

And I couldn't have been prouder that we went down swinging against the Dogs.

Disgraceful is a little harsh-but using injuries is a cop out. We still had the team to win, however we played poorly and without that famous cohesion we built for several years. Excuses like injuries don't cut it IMO. We played brave in the second half against the Dogs and should have pinched it....disappointing season bowing out like we did.

What @rivereagle said.

 

[Masked Eagle]

I might be on my own here, (but I don't think I am) but I thank the good lord that we've had him at the steering wheel since Des the deserter left at the end of 2011. I'm fearful of what might have become of the club without him at the helm.

To think we don't practice all of those things and more is ridiculous. Players make mistakes regardless of what happens at training during the week.

 

[RiverEagle]

Even wide-spread commentary, normally uber-biased against Manly acknowledged the late injuries and suspensions as a significant factor in our struggles in August / September. (As did 2V, Killer, and several senior players).

So I disagree that referring to that is a "cop-out" in any way @"Wombat Legacy"

And @Ralphie

Go follow bloody Souths then if Manly disappoint you so much.

It's beyond me why so many blokes here don't give credit where it's due, or when it's needed most. Instead spend so much energy on the negative; even to the point of nit-picking.

This Thread itself is indicative of that perfectly.

 

[voicefromthehill]

"Go follow Souths" the Sea Eagles supporters equivalent of Godwins Law

 

[Wombat Legacy]

Even wide-spread commentary, normally uber-biased against Manly acknowledged the late injuries and suspensions as a significant factor in our struggles in August / September. (As did 2V, Killer, and several senior players).

So I disagree that referring to that is a "cop-out" in any way @"Wombat Legacy"

And @Ralphie

Go follow bloody Souths then if Manly disappoint you so much.

It's beyond me why so many blokes here don't give credit where it's due, or when it's needed most. Instead spend so much energy on the negative; even to the point of nit-picking.

This Thread itself is indicative of that perfectly.

Thanks River Eagle-I love it when someone is passionate enough to speak from the heart.
I disagree with you-get over it!

 

[HK_Eagle]

Injuries are an excuse. I expect 2V and the coaching staff won't be fooling themselves with that tripe. The injuries do not correspond to our performances, with the exception of perhaps Balin and Buhrer (stretching us too far). Even still, our best performance in two months came from that last game when we had the most players out.