still a few chinks to fix

[1978]

Am super-impressed with the team's development this year.

Could be top four if we fix the following:

1. Slow third quarters
Partly due to referees even up scoring with lopsided penalty counts. But we start second halves too slowly and make dumb errors. Can't let the likes of Brisbane/Raiders back into game.

2. Goal kicking
Still a problem. Wright's second miss was a shocker. Can't be top four when your first-line kicker is Walker/Api (at full strength)

3. Edge backrowers
Still not enough impact. Winterstein rapidly improving. Sironen still too hot and cold and lacking dominance. Need to find ways to increase their output.

4. Left attack not threatening enough
Green/ Kelly/ Winterstein edge not nearly as threatening as other side. We need that edge to lift to give us two big engines in attack (maybe that's coming for the finals).

5. Myles
Perrett has had more impact in attack in a few games than Myles has had all season. Granted, Myles' defence and experience are great. But with Api and Jake in the pack, do we need another defence specialist? Myles has to crank out more metres/ minutes and bend the line.

6. Depth
Still a worry. A few injuries in the top 17 and we will be found wanting again. Bozo needs to shop for a big winger and another prop pre June 30.

 

[Fluffy]

5. If Myles was there yesterday Rapana doesn't score through the middle. His defence is severely under estimated

 

[sheridanstand78]

The team is a work in progress. They have improved their resilience from last year but the 20 minute lapses have to stop. After half time yesterday we did not look like scoring and you kind of knew that one try would have been enough to finish them off but the longer the half went you feared we would be run down. I am concerned about our goal kicking, that is a real weakness for us. I agree that we need more impact from the back row and @Fluffy is dead right about Myles and his defence around the ruck. Yesterday we let in 3 very poor tries that realistically came from three bad one on one misses. I really want to see our wingers improve in dealing with bombs, that is a constant liability for us. It did not cost us but you can sense the panic when a quality bomb is in the air. Tommy Turbo will add a lot when he come back in that regard. Things are building nicely.

 

[PONTIAN SEA EAGLE]

I'd also include discipline it almost cost us the game yesterday.We're giving stupid penalties to easy.

 

[Snake]

Our left edge attack is fine...Taufua is the leading try scorer in our team and I don't remember him doing much more than running over the try line to nab the majority of those 8 tries which tells me someone is doing something right on his inside.

Winterstein runs great lines and most of Tom's destructive work comes down the left as well. Sure, Walker has been super and maybe that skews the perspective a little, but that's more because of how good he has been, as opposed to how below par the left is.

I also think Sironen has played his two best games against the Titans and Raiders respectively, so he is building.

The rest I can agree with.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Thought the thread heading was a tweet from Donald Trump…

 

[Clay]

All these points, we seem to be improving on them week to week.
Myles has been better this year. I am worried once he loses his Origin spot he will stop trying.
Goal kicking is a concern however even Lyon wasn't the sharpest 69% in 2013 and we made the GF. 73-74 overall
With Jorge out for the year Wright will kick em over at low 70s

 

[maxta]

We had a bigger win than the scoreline....learning to win against adversity - to overcome a team with Canberra's quality who had full momentum...
It also asked the question....personally worried with the 14 point lead as trying to play defensive against an attacking machine like Canberra is an invitation back into the game, felt we needed 2nd half points to win that game even at half time...1 more done the job...just.
The defensive tactics are not great with the speed of the modern game and when Raiders collected mass possession, the win was up with Manly's best on the basis of Want, Attitude and guts....not many would have held on imo.
Really think this team is growing both individually with DCE, Taupau and Walker peaking, but more importantly as a team...the best sides find a way in the close games....pretty excited about this sides potential with Tom to come back.
The loss of Taufua needs to be addressed ASAP, as the pillars of success has been the start to most sets with Uate and Taufua smashing into the defence - popping the nose through and winning a quick play the ball....have been arguably the best in the league in 2017 in this area, also Tom, Walker and Kelly deserve credit here too.

 

[wombatgc]

5. If Myles was there yesterday Rapana doesn't score through the middle. His defence is severely under estimated

I thought Korisau was the man who could of potentially stopped Rapana. No surprise Raiders were testing the ruck as soon as Api went off.

 

[Fluffy]

I thought Korisau was the man who could of potentially stopped Rapana. No surprise Raiders were testing the ruck as soon as Api went off.

Ran between Jake and AFB so no hooker nearby Api or Hastings. Myles on the other hand would have been in AFB's position.

 

[Supreme Leader]

Am super-impressed with the team's development this year.

Could be top four if we fix the following:

1. Slow third quarters
Partly due to referees even up scoring with lopsided penalty counts. But we start second halves too slowly and make dumb errors. Can't let the likes of Brisbane/Raiders back into game.

2. Goal kicking
Still a problem. Wright's second miss was a shocker. Can't be top four when your first-line kicker is Walker/Api (at full strength)

3. Edge backrowers
Still not enough impact. Winterstein rapidly improving. Sironen still too hot and cold and lacking dominance. Need to find ways to increase their output.

4. Left attack not threatening enough
Green/ Kelly/ Winterstein edge not nearly as threatening as other side. We need that edge to lift to give us two big engines in attack (maybe that's coming for the finals).

5. Myles
Perrett has had more impact in attack in a few games than Myles has had all season. Granted, Myles' defence and experience are great. But with Api and Jake in the pack, do we need another defence specialist? Myles has to crank out more metres/ minutes and bend the line.

6. Depth
Still a worry. A few injuries in the top 17 and we will be found wanting again. Bozo needs to shop for a big winger and another prop pre June 30.

Hey 1978, can I say this has to be the best thought out thread. Insightful, articulate, factually correct! Congrats

So what the hell are you doing on this site?

 

[maxta]

I thought Korisau was the man who could of potentially stopped Rapana. No surprise Raiders were testing the ruck as soon as Api went off.

Certainly agree - its not his designated area to defend, however off quick play balls such as the Raiders were coming home with, defenders find themselves often out of position and scramble where is needed.
Not sure he would have made THAT tackle, but his defence was definately missed and it was a big part of Raiders roll on once he left the field.

 

[manly al]

I wonder if Tom Turbo would nave stopped Rapana?

 

[Tragic Eagle]

I don't expect he would have turned his back towards him. School boy error.

 

[manly al]

Totally agree, Wright still had a solid game but really made it hard for him to pressure Rapana doing that . Kelly was trying to get closer to Rapana and if wright even slightly forced Rapana towards Kelly's path , there may have been some chance of stopping him .

 

[Snake]

Ran between Jake and AFB so no hooker nearby Api or Hastings. Myles on the other hand would have been in AFB's position.

Myles was the one who Fafita went through in the Origin to set up the Blues first. He is a good defender but the lateral movement is showing signs of slowing down and at 33 years of age, it's to be expected.

The tackle on Rapana was Jake T's tackle every day of the week. You can't blame him for missing it given he played Origin four days earlier but it was his. Rapana ran straight into him at marker and Jake put an arm out. AFB would have wedged in after first contact to help out. It wasn't a hole that AFB needed to close because there was no hole to begin with...it was a missed tackle that opened up the defence.

 

[mave]

Myles was the one who Fafita went through in the Origin to set up the Blues first. He is a good defender but the lateral movement is showing signs of slowing down and at 33 years of age, it's to be expected.

The tackle on Rapana was Jake T's tackle every day of the week. You can't blame him for missing it given he played Origin four days earlier but it was his. Rapana ran straight into him at marker and Jake put an arm out. AFB would have wedged in after first contact to help out. It wasn't a hole that AFB needed to close because there was no hole to begin with...it was a missed tackle that opened up the defence.

Please stop talking footy sense.

 

[brad]

Number 6 pretty close , we need another big winger and a prop , the rest will fall into place.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Mind you, Rapana is a freak and his current form reminds me of the Hayne Plane* at his absolute peak, circa 2009-10. Unless you tackle him effectively in those first few metres he's gone.

*That reminds me, he scored one of his long range specials against Manly, back in 2009 at Lottovale.

 

[StuBoot]

Am super-impressed with the team's development this year.

Could be top four if we fix the following:

1. Slow third quarters
Partly due to referees even up scoring with lopsided penalty counts. But we start second halves too slowly and make dumb errors. Can't let the likes of Brisbane/Raiders back into game.

2. Goal kicking
Still a problem. Wright's second miss was a shocker. Can't be top four when your first-line kicker is Walker/Api (at full strength)

3. Edge backrowers
Still not enough impact. Winterstein rapidly improving. Sironen still too hot and cold and lacking dominance. Need to find ways to increase their output.

4. Left attack not threatening enough
Green/ Kelly/ Winterstein edge not nearly as threatening as other side. We need that edge to lift to give us two big engines in attack (maybe that's coming for the finals).

5. Myles
Perrett has had more impact in attack in a few games than Myles has had all season. Granted, Myles' defence and experience are great. But with Api and Jake in the pack, do we need another defence specialist? Myles has to crank out more metres/ minutes and bend the line.

6. Depth
Still a worry. A few injuries in the top 17 and we will be found wanting again. Bozo needs to shop for a big winger and another prop pre June 30.

1. We didn't touch the ball for the first 7-8 minutes of the 2nd half apart from kicking off.
They got a penalty on tackle 4 of the first set on halfway, then I think at least two repeat sets inside our 20 then scored...
Not much we could've done differently I thought apart from being lazy at marker for Rapana's 1st try.
2. Wright kicks at around 85% career wise so is no bum, Killer was proficient at hitting the post from that mid range area too.
I did mention to my brother at the game that hopefully it wouldn't cost us and it nearly did.
3. Our edge backrowers are doing their job, defend first and DCE and Green will make the space. I'm sure Trent is happy with their output.
4. The left looks pretty good, Kelly is still a rookie remember so it stands to reason he'll be occassionally caught out but his pick up and pass for Jorge's try was topshelf.
5. Don't underestimate the defensive specialist in the middle, it enables us to carry two utilities on the bench that has worked well so far.
6. Depth is an issue at most clubs, if Darcy wasn't suspended we'd be right in the forwards as he, Jake, BJ, Tapau are all up to playing backrow/lock if needed. Brown/Hastings cover both. Both Wrights are experienced backs cover whilst the likes of Schuster, Tom Wright, Parker come along. Yes, they aren't excitement machines but they are more than serviceable 1st graders.