NRL Round 19 - Knights Vs Rabbitohs - 2:00pm Sunday, 12th of July - Accor Stadium

[Macca89]

It annoys me how often Dom has to jump to catch a pass and stunts his go forward

 

[Newygirl]

I was surprised how well Jye Gray contained Dom. I thought he’d run over him. Was a bit disappointing they didn’t kick on the last more to Dom. Half a leap and Jye wouldn’t have gotten close.

He did well but the fact that the halves only put one bad kick up for Dom is horrendous from them.

Cleary or any decent half would be kicking all day at that mismatch. He’s a foot taller than him ffs.

Not sure what it is but when Smith plays in the halves Brown takes a back seat. Smith just doesn’t always seem to be on the same page. Whereas with Sharpe at 6, KP and Brown link up more together and those two play well off each other. Just think with Smith in the halves, it overcomplicates things too much. Too many cooks. Sharpe in the halves, simplifies things

 

[Defence wins games]

The most disgusting game I’ve ever seen.

Gagai got schooled by a lock turned centre and shouldn’t be in the team next week, I honestly couldn’t care less what people here wanna make up, he cost us a try by being stupid, Duncan crapped all over him today making him miss a few times including a try assist, he has offered nothing in attack. Put Hunt, Put Winter, Put McCarthy I just don’t freaking care.

If this club has any balls at all Gagai gets dropped.

Smith and Brown played shocking bad games and if we had depth both would be dropped.

Young got outplayed easily by a 5’5 fullback turned winger.

KP stat padding by being involved a lot and doing ****ing nothing for 90% of the game including a forward 30 metre pass because princess didn’t want to hit it up.

Crossland got outplayed easily by Smith and if I was NZ I’d be looking closely.

Crouch and Hopwood got dominated easily

Now is the test to see if Holbrook has the balls because lots need to change and it starts with Gagai in cup.

Frizell THE ONLY one that can hold his head up. If POS lets him go it will be the dumbest decision he has ever made.

CANT is useless and needs to be let go he offers nothing, we are to go lose actual first graders like ESL and Manu because this useless lump is taking their opportunities.

Before anyone says I don’t ****ing care about late comebacks, I care about playing the ****ing game for 80 minutes, a late comeback is still a loss

And of course when the moment needed it the most, Ponga can’t do it and he never could, when the moment calls for someone to stand up he can’t

Wow!

 

[sherpa]

I think this game had to happen, they've been scrappy for a few weeks now and scrapped through for a win. If Best plays I'm pretty sure we win as his defence is a step above the rest and he takes the pressure off Marzhew.

 

[frankLauda]

Yeah. I don’t get the persistence with trying to go around teams. Sure once there’s some momentum and push through the middle, then throw it wide. And we seem to have joy playing back under. Just a bit of execution let us down also. Hopefully another learning lesson this game. I feel we sort this out we will pump some teams.

 

[Lynchyknight]

I think that score line flatters us big time
Outside the first 10 mins when we conceded those 2 obstructions which I think was fair both was no tries
It was all rabbits from then on
It was 26-6 with 15 mins to go only reason we got back into the game was rabbits was exhausted after losing 2 players in first 15 mins but credit where is due we did keep playing

Massive game against the sharks on Friday, we win back into top 4.. we lose not only does the top 4 break away from us on points but 3 of the 4 teams right behind us likely win next week and put massive pressure on us

 

[MontyBrogan]

Back from the game - 80 minutes of sitting in the Souths members section with my family (all Souths members) wasn't the most fun.

Few on here are definitely right that Souths lifted for the Arrow event, nearly 31k there today which is more than they usually get - they're a less talented team, but played better on the day and deserved the result I thought. Could have stolen it if any of our four disallowed tries had gone slightly differently, but we put ourselves in that position.

Few other thoughts watching from the ground:
- We kept going at that right edge, especially after Gray came on, but it never really looked right. Part of that is Gagai having a pretty poor game and not putting Dom in the right positions, and part of it was Cant not being able to offer a quality or credible inside/straight option to hold their edge and create space. He often got his lines wrong, and even when they were right he wasn't enough of a threat to actually break the line. Really missed McEwen - what happened to him? Late scratch?
- On the same point, noticed KP and Brown started deliberately changing our structure on that side to have Gagai the decoy, with Ponga receiving one-in from Young. Worked better and led to a try and an almost try if Ponga could have managed the flick pass not going forward.
- Very impressed with Ponga's effort in the last 10 (all game, but the last 10 especially) after playing Origin earlier in the week. Two tries and constantly making efforts to support potential offloads out of our own end. Skimming through the comments here it seems people are bashing him about the last pass, but we don't get within a try without him.
- How was the tackle to deny Crouch not a penalty try or at least a sin bin? Dufty jumps to make high contact as the last defender, and that's the only thing that prevents a try... Maybe I'm missing something as I was certainly the only person in my section remonstrating the decision

 

[Frank McWilliams]

Some of our passes were casual, not well directed, poor old Young often had to slow, almost jump to take passes that allowed the defense to close in, he should get the ball in full flight without slowing or stuttering, the difference was a few yards or many yards including breaking through

 

[JOJO82]

He did well but the fact that the halves only put one bad kick up for Dom is horrendous from them.

Cleary or any decent half would be kicking all day at that mismatch. He’s a foot taller than him ffs.

Not sure what it is but when Smith plays in the halves Brown takes a back seat. Smith just doesn’t always seem to be on the same page. Whereas with Sharpe at 6, KP and Brown link up more together and those two play well off each other. Just think with Smith in the halves, it overcomplicates things too much. Too many cooks. Sharpe in the halves, simplifies things

Smith has been pretty poor all year in the halves and goes too sideways for mine and jams everyone in.

 

[Tobe Fair]

Smith has been pretty poor all year in the halves and goes too sideways for mine and jams everyone in.

Smith is a big improvement on who we had last year. I certainly didn't see what you have seen. I have been very happy with the teams attacking style and if we could remove the panic from the attack we would of won today.

 

[jamesgould]

Some of our passes were casual, not well directed, poor old Young often had to slow, almost jump to take passes that allowed the defense to close in, he should get the ball in full flight without slowing or stuttering, the difference was a few yards or many yards including breaking through

Graham was throwing them NFL style for a lot of the game too, was a miracle none got picked up.

Whether that’s misdirected passes or players over-running, it goes back to attention to detail.

 

[Seano]

Brandon Smith missed 12 tackles. IDK how that performance supposedly puts him ahead of Phoenix for the Kiwis, but as an Aussie, I completely endorse that selection.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Smith has been pretty poor all year in the halves and goes too sideways for mine and jams everyone in.

I don’t think he’s been poor but you’re kind of right, Brown & Sharpe in the halves with Kalyn has worked better than Brown & Sandon and we now have a decent sample size. It’s exactly the same thing as how the Broncos look better with Ezra & even Billy Walters at 6 than with Reyno/Hunt in the halves together, and how Clifford is absolutely the best foil to Dearden & Drinky because of how simple his game is & how little he wants the ball.

When you have a fullback as a key playmaker you can run into a too many cooks problem and Sharpe has genuinely combined better with Ponga on that edge because his game is simpler and honestly on that left edge you do not need to create an overlap for him, you just need to give him time & space. By doing too much lead up work even if Sandon does give him numbers, he’s not giving him room. Get him the ball quick & early.

& yeah I think also Brown being forced to be the dominant half by not having Sandon there has been better for the team.

 

[bremsstrahlung]

Slept on that one.

I think my biggest gripe is our inability to manage a game for the 80. To know when to attack, when we need big defensive effort, when we need to grind.
There’s times we just need to settle it down and just aim to tire them out a little, and not force things. I guess our attacking mentality leads to lots of long range tries, so it’s something I don’t want to mess with too much. But how many times did we try and go around them and run out of space?
Case in point, just before half time, we try and go all in on a try, if we do its 12-14. Instead, we turn it over and they score, 6-20.


In an alternate universe we were 2 decoys off putting on a score, imo. We started hot last week too. The first one probably the unluckiest, Mooney gets through line into space, he did his job, but the play unfolded and caught up to him and Murray sells his impediment.

Defence for their first few tries was poor. But I think we recovered well and put in a decent effort.


Rabbits played one of their better games - Bsmith played 20 minutes more than he should have. He was ripe for the picking after his usual 50 minutes and we almost had them targeting his fatigue.

We showed how dangerous we are, in the last 10 minutes. Little bit of a case of too little, too late for this game. But I think it’s evidence that we have potential to flip a game on its head and even when the game looked well and truly over, we could have stolen it. (Frizz knock on, and execution of the last play)

Really tricky to sum up that game. Just another case of us beating ourselves I think. We have a few 1/10 moments and a few 10/10 moments and probably averages out at 6/10. Rabbits gave a consistent 6.5/10 and get the win.

I was impressed with Frizz, Mooney and Lucas - looked like they stepped up. I thought Hopwood was great too in his stints, cant wait til he grows into some more minutes. Crouch decent too - perhaps a bit too soon to pick a battle with Koloamatangi, Kolo and Smith made it their mission to bash him after that, but he still held his own. Promising signs. But we desperately need Saf back. This was a game where I think another decent middle could have helped us a lot.

We missed McEwen and his runs. Cant just doesn’t seem to have the power in his game. Ok with him filling in every now and again - and it seems like a bit of a last minute withdrawal but think 80 minutes was a bit beyond him. His stats look reasonable though - 41T, 0MT, 12 runs for 74m. But the eyeball test, he didn’t really threaten.

Ponga obviously fatigued from Origin, looked a little like he was managing his workload this game especially after Marzhew gets injured. Handing off for others to take the hit ups. And then at 65 minutes felt he had a bit in the tank so emptied it and nearly got us the win.

Agree Sharpe should be back in the 6. Smith has been great at stages in our season. Large reason we are where we are. But he seems to stifle us a little, but then comes up with some big moments. If Sharpe or Brown injured - he goes in.

Hunt was a breath of fresh air when he came on. Great awareness to search for the line, make sure he plants his foot before the ball comes in. It was kind of like he was the only player with a clear mind at times.

Gagai was poor. Some awful balls to Dom. Needs a rest or a big game next week. Shaping up like the best decision to move him on as the weeks go by.

Moving forward - we need consistency of Sharpe and Brown in the halves. Any backline injuries/poor form are covered by Hunt (or Winter or Votano if we need to see what they can do). I like Graham and Smith on the bench. Bring one on depending upon how the game is going. 3 middles to rotate.

A few losses won’t be the worst thing in the coming weeks. Losses hopefully provoke improvement and attention to detail, scrapping wins hasn’t taught us much.

Looking forward to an improved 80 minute effort vs Sharks.

 

[EASBay17]

I havnt watched the replay yet (was at the game) i sat behind the posts which i dont normally do. Did we play as sideways as it looked from that angle, more so than usual i mean? (geniunely not sure if it was just my viewing angle). Literally the only set i can recall where we played direct at the line was in the lead up to the 2nd try of the 3 in 8 minutes.

 

[Seano]

Gags, being as likely as anyone to make a silly mistake in the big moments, is frustrating in a young side needing leadership.

He's been a great servant to our club and the game, but I really think we'd be best served playing Hunt, who offers aerial threat/protection, in his spot for the rest of the season and having Gags on the extended bench.

A real coaching dilemma for Holbrook with a hard run-in and a lot of competition for those finals spots.

 

[bremsstrahlung]

I havnt watched the replay yet (was at the game) i sat behind the posts which i dont normally do. Did we play as sideways as it looked from that angle, more so than usual i mean? (geniunely not sure if it was just my viewing angle). Literally the only set i can recall where we played direct at the line was in the lead up to the 2nd try of the 3 in 8 minutes.

Yeh, very sideways. Often running out of room and ending up going over or needing to throw the Hail Mary in field.

Curious if it was a conscious plan to avoid their bigger middles and save our middles for defence. Or if it’s just a bit of a consequence of our ad lib kind of attack.

I agree, that direct passage of play at the end was beautiful to watch. They were tired and there for the picking.

Our PTB seemed slow as well yesterday. I thought it was them in the ruck, but the passage i was taking note of it, they were off us pretty early and we were just slow to get up.

 

[R_A]

He's been a great servant to our club and the game, but I really think we'd be best served playing Hunt, who offers aerial threat/protection, in his spot for the rest of the season and having Gags on the extended bench.

Hunt has been making plenty of solid one on one tackles as well. Some of those guys would have gotten around or broken out of the tackle and gotten the ball away against Gagai. Willing to let him learn from the old mistake.
Gagais best bet maybe hoping Dom or Marzhew getting injured and stay out on the wing.

- How was the tackle to deny Crouch not a penalty try or at least a sin bin? Dufty jumps to make high contact as the last defender, and that's the only thing that prevents a try... Maybe I'm missing something as I was certainly the only person in my section remonstrating the decision

Fifita was lucky not to get binned for multiple dangerous infringements, as was Keaon. There's probably one or two in there if its not Jai's bday.

 

[EASBay17]

Yeh, very sideways. Often running out of room and ending up going over or needing to throw the Hail Mary in field.

Curious if it was a conscious plan to avoid their bigger middles and save our middles for defence. Or if it’s just a bit of a consequence of our ad lib kind of attack.

I agree, that direct passage of play at the end was beautiful to watch. They were tired and there for the picking.

Our PTB seemed slow as well yesterday. I thought it was them in the ruck, but the passage i was taking note of it, they were off us pretty early and we were just slow to get up.

Not sure what the stats showed but it looked like they won the middle and the ruck comfortably. the last 10 minutes though brandon smith was cooked, would of loved to of seen kp and sharpe just floating in the middle and have our middles just going at him, yet we continued to try and go around them. Jye gray deserves a shout too he had dom covered all day despite showing him the outside all match.

 

[jamesgould]

I havnt watched the replay yet (was at the game) i sat behind the posts which i dont normally do. Did we play as sideways as it looked from that angle, more so than usual i mean? (geniunely not sure if it was just my viewing angle). Literally the only set i can recall where we played direct at the line was in the lead up to the 2nd try of the 3 in 8 minutes.

It's such a good angle to watch the game from ... really does stick out like a sore thumb when a side just goes sideways like we did last night. I try to grab that angle whenever I go to a game (they're usually cheaper tickets too, which is another factor haha).