Last week's kick off.......

[Guest]

I forgot to start this thread earlier but when I was at last week's game there was something I noticed with the emotions of the fans when the short kick off was taken. When it was momentarily in the air everyone was thinking "oh S**t, what has our captain done????" and they had that look on their face.

I think that kick off typifies the real problem with Anasta. It's a high risk selfish play which we didn't need to start the game. It's kinda like a basketballer shooting from halfway off the first jumpball.

When he pulls it off he looks like a genius but when he fails he is nothing but a retard.

I know that most of you will say that footy is a game of chance but had the knights got the ball, which is a probable chance, then we were immediately on the back foot and may not have had the same result.

He needs to remove that part of his game and play what he sees imo.

[Guest]

Completely disagree.

That kick off was the highlight last week and Anastanakis executed it purrfectly.
I would be in favour of us trying it more often - low risk when compared to the potential gain.

They would have trained for that all week, it wasn't Anasta's decision.

[Spirit of 66]

Do you honestly think that kick off was Anasta's idea? That he decided just then to do it?

It was obviously something the team had decided to do before they even ran on to the field. Something that Coach Smith had endorsed.

[Guest]

Do you honestly think that kick off was Anasta's idea? That he decided just then to do it?

It was obviously something the team had decided to do before they even ran on to the field. Something that Coach Smith had endorsed.

Then it was a silly idea by smith IMO.

Had the knights caught it which is a likely chance considering the degree of difficulty involved, then we were really on the back foot with newcastle starting their set of 6 inside our half.

Anyway that was the reaction by the fans around me.

[player 1]

My superannuation balance seems to decrease with every half-yearly statement.

And I bought a new car 2 months ago and already there are at least 4 scratches on it.

Somehow, I know Anasta must be to blame. God I hate him.

[stsae]

Lol, you can blame Bwaiff for a lot of stuff but to try and pin that on him is stoopid.

You can't pull a short kick off off on your own, it's not possible.

It's something planned that the whole team has to be prepared for.

Man why do people feel the need to post a thread about every useless thought that enters their melons???

This ones in the Gherkin category.

[Guest]

Then it was a silly idea by smith IMO.

Had the knights caught it which is a likely chance considering the degree of difficulty involved, then we were really on the back foot with newcastle starting their set of 6 inside our half.

Anyway that was the reaction by the fans around me.

Unless Braith kicked it backwards (and as we know that's the last thing that will happen when Braith kicks off) they wouldn't have been starting in our half. Thought it was a great play and the idea and execution should be commended.

[stsae]

Then it was a silly idea by smith IMO.

Had the knights caught it which is a likely chance considering the degree of difficulty involved, then we were really on the back foot with newcastle starting their set of 6 inside our half.

Anyway that was the reaction by the fans around me.

What were you sitting with Fred69er???

[Guest]

What were you sitting with Fred69er???

Maybe????????????

[Guest]

Unless Braith kicked it backwards (and as we know that's the last thing that will happen when Braith kicks off) they wouldn't have been starting in our half. Thought it was a great play and the idea and execution should be commended.

I'm not saying that it wasn't great execution but what I am saying is that had the knights caught the ball , every man and his dog would have stormed this forum to complain about the team culture, how we need carney, and how smith should sack himself as coach.

We don't need high risk plays like that to win games. Melbourne would never do it and neither would manly unless either of them needed a try in the last 5 mins. What we should spend our time in training is trying to build a structure in our attack especially right side. And if you don't think that anasta would have at least had a suggestion in that kick, even if it was smith's idea, then your living in fairly land.

[Cockadoodledoo]

I'm not saying that it wasn't great execution but what I am saying is that had the knights caught the ball , every man and his dog would have stormed this forum to complain about the team culture, how we need carney, and how smith should sack himself as coach.

Rubbish.. I think it was a great idea though not one you want to see every week as it is an indication that the team is willing to take a chance and do something different..

[Guest]

Mate if it was up to you we would stick to 5 dummy half runs and a kick into touch every set.

Lighten up buddy, that kickoff was brilliant and I hope we see more of it.

[stsae]

Maybe????????????

Explains a lot.

All the people I was sitting around, quite a few blokes from this forum actually, were all applauding the use of the short kickoff to start the game.

And watching the replay today all the commentators were similarly minded about the tactic.

They all commented how the shock value alone made the ploy very appealing. Sterlo said he couldn't recall a start to a game quite like it, but emphasized he liked it a lot.

I'm amazed at this thread to be honest, especially considering the tactic worked in as far as us regathering possession.

Next you will be telling us you and Fredos section of the crowd didn't think we deserved to win.

[player 1]

I am guessing, having had the Anzac Day game ripped out from their rightful grasp by a short kick-off, against which Smith graciously took the blame for not having practiced defending, that the team planned to execute this play as a surprise ploy. I don't remember it ever being done as a starting kick off to an NRL game before. It worked perfectly and deserves nothing but congratulations. Had it failed, the consequences were an extra 30 metres conceded to the knights, with 79 and a half minutes of the game remaining to make up for the failed ploy.

Anasta has not lived up to the hopes he would be another Freddy, but his shortcomings have been far outweighed by the unbelievably vitriolic and unreasonable vilification, typified by your moronic post, leveled against him by frustrated wannabes.

[Guest]

I'm not saying that it wasn't great execution but what I am saying is that had the knights caught the ball , every man and his dog would have stormed this forum to complain about the team culture, how we need carney, and how smith should sack himself as coach.

We don't need high risk plays like that to win games. Melbourne would never do it and neither would manly unless either of them needed a try in the last 5 mins. What we should spend our time in training is trying to build a structure in our attack especially right side. And if you don't think that anasta would have at least had a suggestion in that kick, even if it was smith's idea, then your living in fairly land.

Dude, it landed on their 20 meter line. If they caught it they would be tackled in the same spot on the 20 cos our players were there. So it's the same thing as them catching it in-goal and taking a hit-up. If they caught it they would've had maybe a 5 meter advantage than if we kicked it off normally. Why complain?