NRL Round 14 - Knights Vs Storm - 6:00pm Friday, 5th of June - AAMI Park

Realistically, 2 things are all thats hurting us from big scores regularly.

1 the defence isn't as good as it could be. This yeah has big scores, but we are bottom 5 in its against.

2 handling errors, alot which come from overplaying out hand and pushing passes we dont need to.

If we can be calm and composed, attach as we do, but dont push stupid passes, we are top tier.
 
In all honesty against Parra we had Ponga, Brown, Smith, Frizzell drop the ball. Very rare for these lads to drop a ball in a game, never mind all of them in the same game. The penalties blown against us for head highs were just jokes, considering Ponga nearly had his head removed on two occasions. Melbourne still are not at their best and we can beat them just like everyone says hold the ball and we will. We will win against Melbourne by how many not sure but we will win.
 
Only thing that worries me is Hunt and Gags this week if they are the centres
Both have had some bad reads at centre and Grant/Munster will be licking their lips at that
Bradman would have been awesome but can’t rush him back early
Only options would be McArthy or CeCourcey so Hunt almost be default as Gamble or Matthew Hunter aren’t quite up to NRL levels at moment for halves options either
 
BETTERTHANLEGO said:
After the game Francis had in cup I’d be putting him somewhere in the 20
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Francis played left second row in reserves and Lucas played left second row in firsts - both played 80 minutes.

Francis - 14 tackles - 3 missed
Lucas - 46 tackles - 1 missed

Not against finding a role for Francis, but I think his last firstgrade game shows he needs to work on defence a lot before he gets another run.
 
knights80 said:
Only thing that worries me is Hunt and Gags this week if they are the centres
Both have had some bad reads at centre and Grant/Munster will be licking their lips at that
Bradman would have been awesome but can’t rush him back early
Only options would be McArthy or CeCourcey so Hunt almost be default as Gamble or Matthew Hunter aren’t quite up to NRL levels at moment for halves options either
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I believe your thoughts on Hunt and Gagai are incorrect. Both players can tackle both players can read the game, Gagai can read the attack better then most and his experience helps him break down that attack. Hunt is still learning the game but he keeps going and has a good tackle technique that closes down attacking plays. Hunt is not centre by default he is centre due to his ability.
 
People need to chill with Francis, first the Lucas comparisons are weird because Lucas was what 23, 24? When he debuted and had time to figure things out, what’s Francis? 20,21?.

Francis has things to work on for sure, granted Lucas wasn’t even close to doing the kinda of crazy stuff that Francis is doing in attack either.

Francis will be a international and a constant first grader in the future if he keeps up, he is just insanely talented.

If anything because Francis is so crazy at attack he can afford to back off that kind of training and focus more on defensive play.

But for now I’m fine with giving him the Hopwood treatment and give him a few games here and there and not just pushing him in, as that’s the correct way to develop talent, he will be considered a top top talent in the future but not now, people just gotta calm down.
 
Tobe Fair said:
I believe your thoughts on Hunt and Gagai are incorrect. Both players can tackle both players can read the game, Gagai can read the attack better then most and his experience helps him break down that attack. Hunt is still learning the game but he keeps going and has a good tackle technique that closes down attacking plays. Hunt is not centre by default he is centre due to his ability.
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I mean Gagai is in the top 10 missed tackles in the comp, he actually has more than Smith (a guy that gets destroyed on here for having “awful defence”, I get Gagai gets the “legend tax” so lots of bad things he does gets a pass, Hunt and Gagai also are in the top 10 for errors in the comp.

Hunt is number one in the comp for handling errors and Gagai is eleventh in that same stat.

The fear of them being bad in defence lately and error prone is completely accurate even with the “legend tax” with Gags and the “junior tax” for Hunt.
 
KPGreatness said:
People need to chill with Francis, first the Lucas comparisons are weird because Lucas was what 23, 24? When he debuted and had time to figure things out, what’s Francis? 20,21?.

Francis has things to work on for sure, granted Lucas wasn’t even close to doing the kinda of crazy stuff that Francis is doing in attack either.

Francis will be a international and a constant first grader in the future if he keeps up, he is just insanely talented.

If anything because Francis is so crazy at attack he can afford to back off that kind of training and focus more on defensive play.

But for now I’m fine with giving him the Hopwood treatment and give him a few games here and there and not just pushing him in, as that’s the correct way to develop talent, he will be considered a top top talent in the future but not now, people just gotta calm down.
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Definitely agree we have to keep that mindset and let him develop but just meant to reward him for the way he played and his ability to break tackles and run lines with conviction.
 
I think he just needs to settle a bit. He has a different voice when he commentates compared to when he’s on the sideline and also seems to over call. Think it was Ritchie Benaud said that the less said the better
 
Seano said:
IDK what the big deal is tbh, seems OK to me. Better Duke than Gould any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Also, I've been tempted to create a Blocker Roach Cliche drinking game "That'll do me me", "Turn it up", "Been doing it all day"....etc..*drink*..... but I didn't want to risk giving anyone alcohol poisoning...
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Ah yes, I loved this. It is brilliantly funny!
 
KPGreatness said:
I mean Gagai is in the top 10 missed tackles in the comp, he actually has more than Smith (a guy that gets destroyed on here for having “awful defence”, I get Gagai gets the “legend tax” so lots of bad things he does gets a pass, Hunt and Gagai also are in the top 10 for errors in the comp.

Hunt is number one in the comp for handling errors and Gagai is eleventh in that same stat.

The fear of them being bad in defence lately and error prone is completely accurate even with the “legend tax” with Gags and the “junior tax” for Hunt.
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There is no legend or junior tax. They are the best centres we have with Best out and Sharpe at half. You can pull up all the statistics you want there is no better way to set our team up. Gags and Hunt can do their job and do it well.
 
KPGreatness said:
I mean Gagai is in the top 10 missed tackles in the comp, he actually has more than Smith (a guy that gets destroyed on here for having “awful defence”, I get Gagai gets the “legend tax” so lots of bad things he does gets a pass, Hunt and Gagai also are in the top 10 for errors in the comp.

Hunt is number one in the comp for handling errors and Gagai is eleventh in that same stat.

The fear of them being bad in defence lately and error prone is completely accurate even with the “legend tax” with Gags and the “junior tax” for Hunt.
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I mean yeah but look at the misses, they are from kick chases where he will miss the initial tackle then he will round them up, from him chasing 20 meters in field to dive at someone which results in a miss. Just not something you can go off for all players. (Gags)
 
If I’m right McCarthy has been little used in firsts this season where others have been tried, DeCourcey, Schiller, Hunt.
McCarthy has been strong in Cup and has been shifted left to right centre, plays strong and tackles well.
My thoughts is give him this week at Bests spot to encourage his efforts and assess his ability.
Play Hunt on bench as his versatility is very good.
Assuming Best still out, Ponga fit and ok, Sharpe at 6 with Smith possibly out.
If Smith ok then Sharpe at centre and McCarthy in Cup
 
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