Miserable Middles To Dominate Middles.

[robbiea]

How Vera got another contract is beyond me .
One of our worst forward signings since Gallen's punching bag.

 

[Pete W]

How Vera got another contract is beyond me .
One of our worst forward signings since Gallen's punching bag.

Collectively, they're as soft as our coach. Considering how nice the Trbojevics are, the team really needs to counter-balance this with some angry, aggressive forwards.

One can't ignore the fact that the bulk of our middles were looking for contract extensions recently. Aloiai, Brown, Paseka, (Lodge last year) can look like world beaters when forced into 'survival mode'. Almost immediately after long-term financial security is granted, they become unwilling to do it tough. Our club seems to fall for this every time. The Aloiai re-signing in particular guarantees our pack will never be top 4 any time soon. Letting go of Samuela was another huge fail. As much as I'm a fan of Ola'akautu, his contract term will be yet another massive over-investment.

We always seem to be out of balance. 2018-19 we had a great forward rotation, with the slowest and most inept back 5. Five years later, it's reversed.

 

[skull61]

Unfortunately our dummy half play is atrocious the forwards hitting it up were getting the ball 5 meters behind the ruck so were unable to get over the advantage line so the defence was able to dominate and slow down the ruck

 

[mickqld]

We need offloads from our mid props and Jake. They'd have to be near worst in the comp for offloads. We have the speed to capitalise on 2nd phase play but we just don't seem to get it.

 

[HK_Eagle]

We need offloads from our mid props and Jake. They'd have to be near worst in the comp for offloads. We have the speed to capitalise on 2nd phase play but we just don't seem to get it.

Do you remember at the start of the 20th century when Jake use to offload regularLy? Remember his inside passes to Turbo up the guts? Or perhaps it’s all just a dream? 🤔

 

[madmax]

Ever since the Rorters out muscled the forward pack they have been below par up until the game last night where they were diabolical.

To get past week one of the finals the pack needs change, the way Stefano dominated the pack in the first 20 minutes was an embarrassing performance from the pack leaders, if you Don’t win the ruck you get beat 95% of the time.

Need an injection of enthusiasm for me it’s time for Navake, Lodge and Simpkin, back to the pine Croker and back to NSW cup for Alioia and Waddell, throw in Ben T if Lawton is fit.

Disagree about Aloiai mate…..he’s one who has been trying. For mine the biggest disappointments are Brbo, Jrbo, Waddell, Croker & Paseka up to a point. Cannot understand why Simpkin was dropped. His passing game & dummy half play was one reason we were winning before he was dropped. Next week………
Trbo
Saab
Garrick
Talau
Hoppa
Brooks
DCE
Paseka
Simpkin
Aloiai
Olakau’atu
Lawman
Jrbo
Res: Coca Koula, Brown, Sipley, Navale

 

[madmax]

Collectively, they're as soft as our coach. Considering how nice the Trbojevics are, the team really needs to counter-balance this with some angry, aggressive forwards.

One can't ignore the fact that the bulk of our middles were looking for contract extensions recently. Aloiai, Brown, Paseka, (Lodge last year) can look like world beaters when forced into 'survival mode'. Almost immediately after long-term financial security is granted, they become unwilling to do it tough. Our club seems to fall for this every time. The Aloiai re-signing in particular guarantees our pack will never be top 4 any time soon. Letting go of Samuela was another huge fail. As much as I'm a fan of Ola'akautu, his contract term will be yet another massive over-investment.

We always seem to be out of balance. 2018-19 we had a great forward rotation, with the slowest and most inept back 5. Five years later, it's reversed.

Cannot understand why the Aloiai dislike? This year he has been one of our most consistent & best forwards. Has kept his mouth shut, hasn’t given away too many penalties & just gone hard on the field. I wish Jrbo ran as hard & made as many meters rather than slowing down the play & making SFA go forward!

 

[Highflier]

I still think it all comes down to the 9 , and for the life of me if I can see it surely Seabold can , Simpkin as a natural 9 ran the forwards onto the ball and with some of the size they have they made good meters bent the line and created space and so we get room for the backs and on it goes
For all the D Croker does he still just doesn’t get the 9 role , he still runs when there is nothing on still does that 3 Rd or 4 th tackle kick just after we haven’t had any possession, it drives me nuts
Anyways if they don’t win another game this year they have to beat dogs on Friday
Also Paseka still needs to up the ante he needs to get angry. But again I thought he went thru a real purple patch off the Simpkin service at 9

 

[Dion Johnson]

Disagree about Aloiai mate…..he’s one who has been trying. For mine the biggest disappointments are Brbo, Jrbo, Waddell, Croker & Paseka up to a point. Cannot understand why Simpkin was dropped. His passing game & dummy half play was one reason we were winning before he was dropped. Next week………
Trbo
Saab
Garrick
Talau
Hoppa
Brooks
DCE
Paseka
Simpkin
Aloiai
Olakau’atu
Lawman
Jrbo
Res: Coca Koula, Brown, Sipley, Navale

Many have Simpkin the best nine at the club, Croker hangs with the individuals that have a larger say, getting that ball to the ball runner to get them over the advantage line whilst they are bracing for contact doesn’t get enough credit.

The extra time the halves have even though there’s a slight difference helps.

Simpkin should be in the 17 this week at least.

 

[silvereagle]

Cannot understand why the Aloiai dislike? This year he has been one of our most consistent & best forwards. Has kept his mouth shut, hasn’t given away too many penalties & just gone hard on the field. I wish Jrbo ran as hard & made as many meters rather than slowing down the play & making SFA go forward!

I am definitely in the "dislike" camp. The main reason is how quickly he goes down when he hits the defensive line. Absolutely no chance of any post contact metres let alone 2nd phase play. The most embarrassing statistic for Josh is that Tolu Koala has more post contact metres this year.

 

[HoldenV8]

Without going into long winded explanations why, this is what I would do:

• Move Lachlan Croker to lock and use him as an extra ball player and kicker.
• Bring Jake Simpkin up to be the teams No.9 and with Froggy in 13, leave Gordon at 14.
• Move Jake Trbojevic to prop and play him no more than 60 to 65 minutes per game.

My starting pack would be: Paseka, Simpkin, Jake, Haumole, Burbo, Froggy.
My bench would be (from): Gordon, Aloiai, Bullemor, Brown, Lawton, Lodge, Waddell, Sipley.

Of course ... none of that will happen.

I am definitely in the "dislike" camp. The main reason is how quickly he goes down when he hits the defensive line. Absolutely no chance of any post contact metres let alone 2nd phase play. The most embarrassing statistic for Josh is that Tolu Koala has more post contact metres this year.

I hate ragging on Jake Trbojevic but has anyone taken a look at his lack of post contact metres per game?? Jake's post contacts make Aloiai look like Addin Fonua-Blake and James Fisher-Harris combined. And its not just a new thing ... go back over his stats for the past few years and you'll see the pattern.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Do you remember at the start of the 20th century when Jake use to offload regularLy? Remember his inside passes to Turbo up the guts? Or perhaps it’s all just a dream? 🤔

Lol the start of the 20th century??!! That's like, er, 1901.
Oh look there's Jake perfecting his flop

 

[manly al]

Before he was injured and last playing i st grade this season , Lodge was a bit ordinary and far from the more dominant efforts he was showing at various stages previously in Manly colors .
Maybe or hopefully he has picked up a bit on his return but again , played at 13 for Blacktown last week so not sure if any reasonable display there would necessarily have him suitable for a prop i st grade role again .
Just have not noticed Alioai showing much in the way of solid ruck input recently and especially after the Tigers debacle .
Is a real problem right now with the pack and ruck defence ,
Paseko and Haumole at their best will trouble any opposition pack , Bully and Brown [ when he is fully energised ] very useful , Lawton with his lively type play also .
Then the gap to try and get some ruck parity or even some degree of dominance - - Jake who essentially is or can be a tackling machine only , Burbo able to go quite well sometimes , Alioai 's very indifferent form .
Have the backs and at their best to go on with it , with especially Turbo really on his game lately .
Somehow have to get the pack collectively and whatever 9 combo to the required competitive level if the side still wants to make a statement this season and just somehow also some reliable midfield and consistent defence

 

[silvereagle]

I am still in shock after Thursday night. Our forwards have put in some real inept and miserable performances this year but that one surely takes the cake. Not sure whether it's just coincidence but ever since we extended the contracts for Paseka, Aloiai and Haumole their collective form has dropped alarmingly. Not sure what a nice coach like Seibold does about that with only 2 games to go but I am guessing nothing. What a huge let down these guys are to the rest of their team and us supporters. Disgraceful. Time to now deliver gentlemen on your side of the contract. Win the next 6 games and you become our cult heroes instead!!!

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

How Vera got another contract is beyond me .
One of our worst forward signings since Gallen's punching bag.

Vera…as in Aloe Vera?

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Lol the start of the 20th century??!! That's like, er, 1901.
Oh look there's Jake perfecting his flop

View attachment 27991

Jake as a Sydneysider certainly favoured Edmund Barton, over Melbourne’s Alfred Deakin, in those early exchanges.

I understand that Jake is now closing in on 2,200 first grade games.

 

[CRPSI eagle]

Disagree about Aloiai mate…..he’s one who has been trying. For mine the biggest disappointments are Brbo, Jrbo, Waddell, Croker & Paseka up to a point. Cannot understand why Simpkin was dropped. His passing game & dummy half play was one reason we were winning before he was dropped. Next week………
Trbo
Saab
Garrick
Talau
Hoppa
Brooks
DCE
Paseka
Simpkin
Aloiai
Olakau’atu
Lawman
Jrbo
Res: Coca Koula, Brown, Sipley, Navale

Good side.

 

[HoldenV8]

Nathan Brown......for all the hype that his "off the back fence" kick returns get ... there is little actual return from it. Seriously, he runs the ball back at a million miles an hour, then gets stopped dead in his tracks every single time. He might run fast at the defence, but he rarely breaks or even bends the line. He's got no driving power in his legs.

TBH on his kick returns I'm surprised that he hasn't copped a shoulder to the head and been a Category 1 HIA by now (here's hoping that never actually happens). He doesn't lean into the defence or use his hips and shoulders to try to bump tacklers off ... he hits the line almost bolt upright.

I'd just love to see him getting more out of those runs than continually being smashed by the defence. The collision may look and sound good, the type TV will use as hype over and over. But sadly there is little, if anything, gained from it. He's got more skills to his arsenal than just being a battering ram.

 

[mickqld]

Nathan Brown......for all the hype that his "off the back fence" kick returns get ... there is little actual return from it. Seriously, he runs the ball back at a million miles an hour, then gets stopped dead in his tracks every single time. He might run fast at the defence, but he rarely breaks or even bends the line. He's got no driving power in his legs.

TBH on his kick returns I'm surprised that he hasn't copped a shoulder to the head and been a Category 1 HIA by now (here's hoping that never actually happens). He doesn't lean into the defence or use his hips and shoulders to try to bump tacklers off ... he hits the line almost bolt upright.

I'd just love to see him getting more out of those runs than continually being smashed by the defence. The collision may look and sound good, the type TV will use as hype over and over. But sadly there is little, if anything, gained from it. He's got more skills to his arsenal than just being a battering ram.

Maybe he should transfer that back fence running into Paseka and Olakau'atu. At least he makes the effort with all he has rather than ambling into the defense at half speed.

 

[HoldenV8]

Maybe he should transfer that back fence running into Paseka and Olakau'atu. At least he makes the effort with all he has rather than ambling into the defense at half speed.

I love the effort from Brown. I wish all of our forwards ran with such enthusiasm (especially Houmule and Paseka. Those two don't know just how seriously damaging they could be to opposition defences). But there isn't a lot of power to Brown's off the back fence runs. Jason Saab drives further through on his kick returns and his legs are matches with the wood shaved off.