The real issue we have to fix

[Kez]

I dont know if anybody else has noticed but as soon as we either make an error or concede a penalty everything then seems to go down hill..we end up defending repeat sets, then more penalties and restarts start to wear us down, then more errors creep in the game, restarts and penalties pile , its a major problem for us, we need to be better disciplined and the wins will start to become more consistent, you cant expect players to shine when fatigued by constantly defending their line in the first 40

 

[Simonmyers11]

I dont know if anybody else has noticed but as soon as we either make an error or concede a penalty everything then seems to go down hill..we end up defending repeat sets, then more penalties and restarts start to wear us down, then more errors creep in the game, restarts and penalties pile , its a major problem for us, we need to be better disciplined and the wins will start to become more consistent, you cant expect players to shine when fatigued by constantly defending their line in the first 40

yep, the games we have lost by plenty recently are due to massive lapses in defense which have been brought on by poor handling and giving away repeat sets. We don't make it easy on ourselves a lot of the time

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Joel has given away repeat sets, including late in the count. I'm sure Des keeps stats about that stuff but we sure need to improve.

 

[jbb/james]

The team knows who it is and what it is capable of. It plays better on the front foot on a dry track. As far as resilience with defence, they are very good, but when they points add up the belief in there attack looks pretty iffy

We look like a good kick chase team on paper

 

[BOZO]

We can fix out attitude and start showing our greatness once again

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

It's been an issue with this team for years. Des has built a bit more resiliency into them but we're still prone to lapses.

 

[Nordburg]

I dont know if anybody else has noticed but as soon as we either make an error or concede a penalty everything then seems to go down hill..we end up defending repeat sets, then more penalties and restarts start to wear us down, then more errors creep in the game, restarts and penalties pile , its a major problem for us, we need to be better disciplined and the wins will start to become more consistent, you cant expect players to shine when fatigued by constantly defending their line in the first 40

This has been a problem since the Barrett years and for some reason Des has not rectified it.They drop their bundle quickly in some games

 

[frank stokes]

yep, the games we have lost by plenty recently are due to massive lapses in defense which have been brought on by poor handling and giving away repeat sets. We don't make it easy on ourselves a lot of the time

The Knights game was a horrendous example...

 

[Tomay]

Jake might be the most penalised player in the competition. If he isn’t, he is easily leading the “having your name called by the ref” as soon as you touch someone statistic.

 

[MissKate]

Seems like all of our errors and penalties are absolute killers. Almost everytime we make a simple error or get penalised, you know the opposition will go straight and score a really easy try

 

[John Nicholson]

I agree, we have had this part time defeatist attitude for a several years.

Every time a penalty, which appears to be unfair or unjustified, is awarded against us, the team goes into that "every one hates us " mood. Also happens when an unfavourable bounce of the ball prevents scoring.

That may be part of the Club's lexicon, however the players are thinking "we are hard done by; it's not fair", rather than recovering from the setback and doing something positive to offset the "punch in the guts, which just hurt" feeling.

I am sure the Club uses sports psychologists to train against this negative (but natural) reaction, however the message is not getting through to the (especially younger) players.

It is up to the senior players (who can also show signs of "hurt"), to get into the younger players heads and make them lift. They themselves also have to control their own emotions and get on with the game.

Remember what happened in the 2007 GF v. Storm, when Brett Stewart was taken out with an elbow to the head? The Manly players dropped their heads and didn't compete from that point onwards.

 

[sheridanstand78]

The game is about fundamentals and right now other teams are doing them much better than we do. The game is all about building pressure by gaining good field position and then either scoring or getting repeat sets.

Our attack at the moment is very predictable especially whe DCE does not have a creative half to work with. teams that play us know that if you shut down DCE then Manly are not much of a threat.

We get killed by the speed of the ruck week in week out and our line speed in the last month is way worse than it was in the first few games back.

The team is crying out for fresh blood, we have injuries now so there is NO excuse not to blood some of the idle talent that is out in the cold at the moment.

 

[Chip and Chase]

Joel has given away repeat sets, including late in the count. I'm sure Des keeps stats about that stuff but we sure need to improve.

There was a thread floating around here recently that had penalties conceded and set restarts conceded listed by player

As for that drop your head attitude when the going gets tough, that comes from leadership and senior playing group. We were spoilt there for years when we had a mentally "as hard as nails' team that let nothing faze them - Killer, Kite, Kingdog, the Stewarts, Skivvi, Choc - just all super composed and experienced.

 

[BOZO]

Seems like all of our errors and penalties are absolute killers. Almost everytime we make a simple error or get penalised, you know the opposition will go straight and score a really easy try

Most of the time we are our own worst enemy

 

[BOZO]

There was a thread floating around here recently that had penalties conceded and set restarts conceded listed by player

As for that drop your head attitude when the going gets tough, that comes from leadership and senior playing group. We were spoilt there for years when we had a mentally "as hard as nails' team that let nothing faze them - Killer, Kite, Kingdog, the Stewarts, Skivvi, Choc - just all super composed and experienced.

The Great DCE 007 can only do so much ...

 

[The Indian]

Our issues are easily fixed this week against the Warriors.

If you hold the ball and complete and kick and chase and make them bring it out from their own end set after set ....you beat the Warriors every time. They will turn it up sooner or later and you'll get away from them and break their spirit.

If you drop the ball and give them possession and let them have a sniff early you'll be in for a fight. This may be true of most teams BUT doubly so against the Warriors. If we turn up and complete and run and tackle hard and DCE offers some attacking shape and structure we'll beat them every time.

I'm pretty confident we'll beat them if the boys are stinging after that last loss.

 

[frank stokes]

The Great DCE 007 can only do so much ...

I see what you did there... lol

 

[Chip and Chase]

The Great DCE 007 can only do so much ...

Not just DCE, you've got Thommo and Marty to throw in there as senior players too. We are a pretty young side in terms of NRL experience so you can see why it can happen. Look at the Broncos - similar issue with lack of experienced leaders to put a lid on things when the going gets tough.

 

[Kez]

Obviously a few player changes are needed but i still believe if we can get our discipline and attitude right good football will follow how do we get it right i dont know maybe more local blood would be good rather than other clubs rejects, maybe players being accountable and dropped when needed i dont know but it is a problem

 

[BOZO]

Not just DCE, you've got Thommo and Marty to throw in there as senior players too. We are a pretty young side in terms of NRL experience so you can see why it can happen. Look at the Broncos - similar issue with lack of experienced leaders to put a lid on things when the going gets tough.

You do make a good point there but history will also prove a talented young team without a host of experience players but an experienced great coach can still be resilient enough to win a premiership
Examples
1977 Dragons Baths babies
2005 Tigers Sheens Teens