Flat and no kicking game is the tale

[Snake]

I thought it was obvious that we were flat and lacked energy from the first couple of sets. When you are flat but jag a couple of tries, sometimes you can spook the opposition out of it by playing percentage football. Tonight, we did not play percentages at all. I can't think of one decent last tackle option and that is where we are really missing DCE. When the game is going tit for tat, it comes down to last tackle options to turn the opposition around and stay in the grind. We kept letting the Titans off the hook by giving them the ball around 40m to half way, set after set after set. That meant that we were unable to build any pressure and the game was played down the Titans end of the field.

Also as a side note....the last couple of weeks, Fainu has looked tired. We look better with Api at the moment. I'm not saying that will always be the case, but the zip from Fainu has gone missing the last 3 weeks.

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

100% agree, I have been waiting for this performance for weeks, because while the backs to the wall, grinding out tough wins is outstanding, there is always going to be a week where that catches up with you, and the 5 day turnaround was a red flag for that, and it was obvious Des felt the same way too. Boyle is getting the blame for that 80mins for dropping one ball but the signs were there long before that

The Titans played good footy as well which compounded the problem

 

[nightster]

Tits did to us what we did to the gummies last week ... where was our speedy play the balls and snappy dummy half work ... last tackle plays were very poor

 

[Snake]

100% agree, I have been waiting for this performance for weeks, because while the backs to the wall, grinding out tough wins is outstanding, there is always going to be a week where that catches up with you, and the 5 day turnaround was a red flag for that, and it was obvious Des felt the same way too. Boyle is getting the blame for that 80mins for dropping one ball but the signs were there long before that

The Titans played good footy as well which compounded the problem

Well they were desperate and playing for their season so they were always going to be up this one.

 

[Technical Coach]

Don't think DCE would of made any difference when the team is flat and lacking spark---you would of seen crabbing across the field and the over use of under plays.

Off the pace from the start of the game but if Manly remained sharp and direct out of dummy half we probably could of still snagged a victory even with inexperienced halves of any type.(feeling flat you could see the team was not up for the grind)

Fainu has been poor for a while, have a feeling Des allowed more game time for Fainu to get some game hardened fitness under his belt----Fainu was on for far too long. Too often he is walking to hooker even during good attacking field positions, hand on hips in defense and looks fatigued far too quickly like someone with the Flu---well that is the only acceptable excuse.

 

[maxta]

The kicking game was poor - it was also rushed
Most 5th tackles Manly, were controlled on the ground and the defence was up on tackle 6, in the face of young Cust in particular, which was obviously a tactic....that unfortunately worked.
Had to win that middle and play footy off the back of that.
The errors, kicks, missed tackles and poor options was simply from being whipped in energy and they were twice the tempo controlling that ruck.

 

[Sue]

First time this year Marty and AFB weren’t rolling. Tiredness from a long list of tough games wil grt you in the end.
Our season will depend on DCE and Turbot now. I think we’ll lose the next two away then we are in the dogfight for the bottom part of the eight. A loss like this doesn’t take away from the incredible effort so far this year. Boys gave been great. It’s easy to forget that after a bad loss.

 

[Snake]

I think they'll bounce back next week.

 

[The Wheel]

Totally agree - this was coming for a few weeks

 

[davohan123]

Totally agree - this was coming for a few weeks

Agreed
The thing is we all know that is not our style this year.
Would not surprise me if we come out and win next week.
We will upset a few teams this year.
I think if we get 6th and a home final week 1 from here I call that a success this season

 

[Snake]

Agreed
The thing is we all know that is not our style this year.
Would not surprise me if we come out and win next week.
We will upset a few teams this year.
I think if we get 6th and a home final week 1 from here I call that a success this season

Lots of teams have injuries but not many feature the 2-3 most important players in the line up. The real crisis for Manly is not just quantity, but the quality that has gone down. If we can make the finals in any capacity, I think the season will be a success! Fingers crossed.

I think the issues with the 5th tackle options were present against the Dogs and Sharks and we did really well to grind those wins out because we were energetic without executing. Tonight, we failed to execute again, minus the energy, hence the loss.

 

[Scorpio]

Also as a side note....the last couple of weeks, Fainu has looked tired. We look better with Api at the moment. I'm not saying that will always be the case, but the zip from Fainu has gone missing the last 3 weeks.

I agree... other people here pointed this out and got shouted down for it.

He has all the talent in the world but we really need him firing.

 

[Paw93]

Don't think DCE would of made any difference when the team is flat and lacking spark---you would of seen crabbing across the field and the over use of under plays.

Off the pace from the start of the game but if Manly remained sharp and direct out of dummy half we probably could of still snagged a victory even with inexperienced halves of any type.(feeling flat you could see the team was not up for the grind)

Fainu has been poor for a while, have a feeling Des allowed more game time for Fainu to get some game hardened fitness under his belt----Fainu was on for far too long. Too often he is walking to hooker even during good attacking field positions, hand on hips in defense and looks fatigued far too quickly like someone with the Flu---well that is the only acceptable excuse.

We looked much more dangerous with Api out there. A good learning experience for Fainu but I hope he picks it up quickly.

 

[wombatgc]

For mine it was the shiit house kicking on the 5th. As @Snake said we were giving them the ball back in prime positions. This is where I thought we really missed DCEs long reefs of the footy to the corners. They also did a job on Cust, rushing him. I lost count of the passes he threw to Parker with defenders all over him. I’m disappointed with the loss obviously, but more disappointed in that even though we were flat, I still think that game was winnable with a decent kicking game.
At least we know there’ll be no ambush come Round 15.

 

[The Who]

I think they'll bounce back next week.

Without Jake?
I doubt it.

 

[ALinda]

I think they'll bounce back next week.

Agree and no Cleary should help us

 

[pjayz]

Kicking game was lacking, but I was more disappointed in our defence. Players kept rushing out of the line - Taufua, Walker especially. We seemed to move away from our strong defensive pattern that got us to fifth spot.

This is the period where we should win five straight with our up coming run. We must make the most of it before we meet the tougher sides post origin series.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Massive defensive efforts for a few weeks will drain a side.This sort of game is going to happen no matter how good a side you have(apart from a primed premiership year)we have been going well but this is the NRL and anyone who thinks you can go all season without a dip is a retard.Side is quality and am happy with it,look at the roosters tonight,arguably best side and made to look poor,**** happens.Some fans on this site and I am not talking about this thread...are nuts(talking about the world is falling etc...)This year has shown one thing,if you are 5% off your game you will lose to at least 10 of the other sides of the comp.The most important thing is how we play next week.It will be the best indicator of where we are...

 

[robbiea]

Hate losing to sh!t teams.........

 

[davohan123]

The thing for me however at 26-18 with about 13 minutes left if we had some quality ball in the 20m zone the titans were right for the picking being at the ground live you could feel it but we just through away possession and Titian’s scored down our end game over.

over the comings weeks 3 big games panthers cowboys away then dragons at home.
Panthers game 6 day turn around
Then cowboys 9 days later
Dragons 8 days later.

Des won’t cop a performance like that 2 weeks in a row!!