Who impressed? And who didn't?

[globaleagle]

I agree Jethro. I was quite impressed by Levi today. For his first hit out I thought there were a lot of positives. I don't understand the bashing of him on here .

We lost. That's usually the reason.

lol

 

[mickqld]

We lacked variety in attack. DCE tried but we were simply outplayed by the Strum. Their defense smothered us, no quick play the balls, not enough offloads to create 2nd phase play. Not enough switching the attack and certainly no repeat sets. Walker is a center not a 5/8th. Couple of big name forwards were pedestrian.

 

[MuzztheEagle]

Just looked at Haumole's stats - 18 mins, no runs, 7 tackles (1 missed 1 ineffective). We probably didn't have much ball when he was on - but seriously, not one run in 18 mins that has to raise some questions.
Des' tactics yesterday and last year revolved around the quick play the ball and second phase but the Storm completely shut that down. It happened a few times at the back end of last season once teams figured out that that was about all we had. Plus the Scummos looked like they had been spending a lot more time at the dojo in the off season. Their tackling style looked very different to ours and it showed - The Storm hit high and twist up the limbs and torso then have a third man come in and put everyone on the ground so that everyone needs to get up, while we hit low and then have a second man prevent the offload. And yesterday it wasn't just in the forward battle. Tafua, Garrick and Suli all had average play the ball speeds over 4 seconds and they we had a lot of runs out wide (to possibly counter the expected wrestle in the middle)
I hate it, it needs to stop but we also need a back up plan for when teams decide to use it as a tactic or our props need to set up big time if Dessie wants to stick with his plan.

 

[QueefRichards]

DCE gets paid too much for off days

I thought Levi was solid but he was lucky not to get called on his dummy half passes.

 

[The Who]

Just looked at Haumole's stats - 18 mins, no runs, 7 tackles (1 missed 1 ineffective). We probably didn't have much ball when he was on - but seriously, not one run in 18 mins that has to raise some questions.
Des' tactics yesterday and last year revolved around the quick play the ball and second phase but the Storm completely shut that down. It happened a few times at the back end of last season once teams figured out that that was about all we had. Plus the Scummos looked like they had been spending a lot more time at the dojo in the off season. Their tackling style looked very different to ours and it showed - The Storm hit high and twist up the limbs and torso then have a third man come in and put everyone on the ground so that everyone needs to get up, while we hit low and then have a second man prevent the offload. And yesterday it wasn't just in the forward battle. Tafua, Garrick and Suli all had average play the ball speeds over 4 seconds and they we had a lot of runs out wide (to possibly counter the expected wrestle in the middle)
I hate it, it needs to stop but we also need a back up plan for when teams decide to use it as a tactic or our props need to set up big time if Dessie wants to stick with his plan.

It seems to me that players are being held down in tackles longer then ever. This kills attack.
Also going down with a 'serious' injury at a critical stage of the match because the refs have to call a halt in play.
It's nonsense to suspend momentum for a bloke getting his head bandaged. That should be done off the field.
The concussion worry is being rorted by clever coaches and captains. There is more stop-start in our sport than ever, and it's making defences harder to crack. It seems that the no. 1 option to score these days is with a kick, not via skilled passing or running.

 

[MuzztheEagle]

It seems to me that players are being held down in tackles longer then ever. This kills attack.
Also going down with a 'serious' injury at a critical stage of the match because the refs have to call a halt in play.
It's nonsense to suspend momentum for a bloke getting his head bandaged. That should be done off the field.
The concussion worry is being rorted by clever coaches and captains. There is more stop-start in our sport than ever, and it's making defences harder to crack. It seems that the no. 1 option to score these days is with a kick, not via skilled passing or running.

Exactly, teams are now scoring of mistakes and luck rather than skill and creativity. It's a recipe for boring games, that the NRL will applaud as the most even in the game's history.

 

[johnperi01]

Exactly, teams are now scoring of mistakes and luck rather than skill and creativity. It's a recipe for boring games, that the NRL will applaud as the most even in the game's history.

Couldn’t agree more. The fact that the NRL allows Melbourne to lie all over the player and give 3 defenders all the time in the world to roll away just kills the spectacle. The players are so fit and with interchange, the exciting passages of play are few and far between. If I hadn’t been following Manly for 50 years I would give up. In some ways I hope the season is cancelled, but that’s just me being selfish, as I don’t think the product will ever match the halcyon days of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

 

[XV-1]

I too was impressed with Tommys defence. Those two try savers he pulled off had Brett Stuart urgency written all over them.

Very true. Last year Tom would just slide over them in D and miss. Those two try saving tackles were excellent as he put his body on the line.

 

[Clivus00]

We have to have a better last tackle option than to punt it into the air... Time after time after time DCE launched the ball into the sky with no real hope of anyone other than a storm defender scooping it up & making it well past the twenty. It was pants to watch. I knew it would come to nothing as did you & everyone else..... It was a yawn fest...

However - In Des I trust & I know he will address it. Just hope the cattle can take it on board...

The problem with Dce is his short kicks and last tackle kicks are terrible. His bombs don’t go high enough or go too far and our chasers have no chance. He’s only good at 40/20s

 

[Andyvb88]

Dce bombs were fine, tom and others were under it every time. We were playing safe as it was wet weather footy. Levi defended like a champ and will get better in attack after one game and one trial.

 

[Briza]

My vote goes to Boyle and keppie. Were sensational coming off the bench.
Levi looked sharp and has a super crisp pass.
Walker needs to run more!
The main boys looked underdone after no trial games but we will be better for the run. Storm scored all 3 tries from kicks so not all bad.
EDIT: Not sure what impact croker offers off the bench.

Keppie was brilliant and Boyle had his best game in Maroon and White.
If Levi can consistently produce his first 40 we are into a winner.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

We gave away far too much possession with errors. It doesn't matter who you play in this comp if you giver them a bulk of possession you loose. As Des rightly pointed out during the post match interview they didn't reward their goal line defence when they had the ball. We need to be clinical with the ball and the last tackle kick must be spot on otherwise the 7 tackle set means you are likely to be defending your own goal line at the end of that set. Melbourne managed to get repeat sets with good kicks and we didn't. These are things that can be fixed. Turbo was great in defence and it was his first game back. A couple of players had an off day and they know who they are without me bagging them but that happens in sport from time to time. the boys will bounce back and I hope its this week against the Rorters.

 

[Woodsie]

DCE, Walker and Levi were a little below par .... playing behind a pack that never really bent the Storms line, and with poor field position for most of the game .... well there is a surprise ....

Looking forward to seeing the boys on a dry track playing off the back of monster games from AFB, Kapow and Keppie .....

 

[Andrew..]

The storm's dirty wrestling technics virtually strangled us out of the game. I thought we played really well for our first hit-out and for me, talk of dropping players after just one game is way too premature. I'm very excited about the potential of this team and I think we are in for one hell of a season.

 

[Jerry1]

Dce bombs were fine, tom and others were under it every time. We were playing safe as it was wet weather footy. Levi defended like a champ and will get better in attack after one game and one trial.

What was the score in the game you were watching. The one I watched we didn't get over the stripe or really near it... The bombs were just passing the ball back to the opposition. Its was amateurish..

 

[joeboy]

Agreed with all saying DCEs kicking was terrible, he used to have such a great short kicking game, but it seems to have gone the way of his running game. Lost, hopefully not gone forever.

He used to be such a multi dimensional threat. Now? I just don’t know

 

[recuerom]

I have a feeling Hoppa Jnr may get a chance once he has proved his fitness.

Jorge yeah how long can it go on. Great fella clubman yeap but issue has not changed leaks tries.

You can bet Robbo has had Keary practising kicks to Jorge's wing all week. They will get tries or repeats. He is not sustainable, i know people love his big hits but they actually yield little , I doubt he would run away from anyone these days ad he is a winger. I would look to bring Funa (least disruption) to wing or Schuster to 6 and Parker to wing. If Schuster is such a talent (which he is) we should fast track him as Parra did with Dylan Brown.

 

[Fibro Eagle]

You can bet Robbo has had Keary practising kicks to Jorge's wing all week. They will get tries or repeats. He is not sustainable, i know people love his big hits but they actually yield little , I doubt he would run away from anyone these days ad he is a winger. I would look to bring Funa (least disruption) to wing or Schuster to 6 and Parker to wing. If Schuster is such a talent (which he is) we should fast track him as Parra did with Dylan Brown.

Parker isn’t a winger his form has been much better playing centre
Has Funa impressed that much in Reggie’s to warrant first grade
You only replace a player when you have someone better and I don’t think we have a better or performing winger than Jorge at the moment , That doesn’t mean Jorge doesn’t have his own faults , Jorge does a lot more good things than bad imo

 

[47MVEagle]

I think it would be detrimental to both Parker & our structure to move him back to the wing.

He's proven himself as a centre under Des & putting him on the wing again would essentially be throwing B-Park under the bus & destroy the confidence he's regained since playing in his specialised position.

 

[globaleagle]

You can bet Robbo has had Keary practising kicks to Jorge's wing all week. They will get tries or repeats. He is not sustainable, i know people love his big hits but they actually yield little , I doubt he would run away from anyone these days ad he is a winger. I would look to bring Funa (least disruption) to wing or Schuster to 6 and Parker to wing. If Schuster is such a talent (which he is) we should fast track him as Parra did with Dylan Brown.

Welcome aboard as well!