NRL Round 19 - Knights Vs Storm - 3:00pm Saturday 12th July - McDonald Jones Stadium

Melbourne are and have been a great team for a long time, winning is a culture and that shows just about every week even when they are missing players.
I hate them so much and it would have been good if we could of played like we did in the first half all game.
 
I’ll be honest I was undecided on this game and thought Knights had a fair chance until I saw who was reffing and changed it back to Melbourne a few hrs ago.

Not that it would have made a difference I suppose but I knew if it was close at any point, Newcastle wouldn’t have a snowballs chance in hell of getting any of those 50/50 calls that decides a game.
 
Tim said:
I'm confused by the Hastings hate. I thought he was miles better than Cogger today. I'm certainly not saying he was great but I feel hes a massive improvement on what Cogger offers.
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Today he was over calling his halfback and tacking kicks which put us on the back foot more than once.
Not sure if Cogger doesn't have the balls to call for the ball when there is someone louder on the field or if Hastings just demands the ball regardless of what's happening. I just don't think he is the right fit for our team
Maybe I'm wrong it's just how I see it
 
Seano said:
Seems to me that Marz is such a liability under the high ball and with his hands generally that he is a major net negativity whenever he's not making 250m+

Hughes and Bradley gave him a bath today.
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Always has been but the selectors keep picking him 🙃
 
Best part of beating the Storm is getting to watch Bellamy carry on like a 5 year old who just got told they can't have mcdonalds for dinner cos there's food at home. Alas, was not to be today.
 
Mclovin said:
Today he was over calling his halfback and tacking kicks which put us on the back foot more than once.
Not sure if Cogger doesn't have the balls to call for the ball when there is someone louder on the field or if Hastings just demands the ball regardless of what's happening. I just don't think he is the right fit for our team
Maybe I'm wrong it's just how I see it
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That may be fair, I barely notice Cogs perhaps because of this reason. I just felt like Hastings was at least trying something on attack... but he did take the wrong option a few times. He had a few decent kicks too.
 
In 1897 HG Wells wrote The Invisible Man. Cogger re-enacts it on a weekly basis.

Hastings for all his faults is at least showing his jersey in attack and defence.
 
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Was meant to be down the river sipping beers in front of a blazing fire tonight and I would’ve missed the game. Oh well, I’ve still got beers on ice and a fire to help get over the ordeal. And I got to see big Dom do some pretty cool stuff. Have a good night everyone 🍻
 
Ideally you wouldn't want jsaf and Leo both playing over 60 minutes but they sort of had to because everyone else was getting bullied.

That said I thought McEwen was at least as good as Croker and Jones, which is good in one way but concerning in another.
 
Todd Smith is to the Knights what Grant Atkins is to Souths. I wouldn't be surprised if we never win a game with him as a ref. And this is coming from a bloke who usually doesn't go on about referees.

Also I'm not sure where our next win will be this season, I would have said next week against the Warriors considering they've struggled in Newcastle for several years but with several key outs, I'm struggling to see where our points come from without KP, Sharpe and now no Lucas.

Ref aside, we still weren't good enough to win. Gamble has to be picked next week ahead of one of Hastings and Cogger.

Gamble is no superstar but is more reliable than either of them and Gagai was brilliant today. If we are fair dinkum the bloke should be re-signed ASAP.
 
Anyone know the crowd figure from today, didn't look great with plenty of gaps in both stands.

I don't think anybody really thought we were a chance today so with that in mind, we did compete decently.

Melbourne are just light years ahead of us as a club and that was enough to carry them through.

Ref though, Hastings penalty for the push on the kicker, kicker leg on the ground. I can't understand how ref, linesman and bunker can't get that right. And that was a penalty where the ball landed. Another one, NAS way offside on kick chase, nothing done, then penalty against us which was overturned on appeal. Again, what are all the officials doing the onside is one of the crucial things they need to watch.

Anyway, ref didn't impact the result significantly.

Result was as expected.
 
Hindsight!
Thought our selection of starters and use of bench was poor.
Firstly Gamble should have played 6 with Hastings out
Crossland should have started at 13 with Frizell on bench
Gagai despite his efforts should have been in his usual spot at centre
If not Hunt at f/b then Votano, we weakened two spots with changes
Croker should have been used as replacement for Crossland when Brailey relieved
Frizell and Jones should have relieved JSaf and Leo as props in first half
McEwen should have been used as required such as Lucas injury
Overall a very good effort but we struggled after 35 mins, poor interchange, fatigue, if changes made at more realistic times things could have changed, that try, 39min to Storm was critical, we were stuffed, overworked.
Having at least one of JSaf, Leo and Frizell on field playing prop at any time during game was essential for experience and leadership
Using McEwen early instead of Jones was questionable, McEwen might end up the better but Jones has the miles and experience
In my opinion Obi’s has often failed to use the bench to its best effect, maybe not costing victory but more likely score blowout
 
All we have to do from now on 5th tackle kick to dom young have 2 or three players supporting in case dom backs it back
One in the middle running in case dom kicks it back in

That's our game plan from now on

Or early ball to gags and hope gags beats the centre and offloads for dom to runaway
 
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