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[ism22]

I know it's a vastly different game today, but I would love to see defence be our focus in the back half of the year, a la 2013 when we held sides to nil on four or five occasions throughout the season. I think our defence will decide our fate and we're not far off where we need to be. Come on boys!

As you've said... it'd be nice but the current rules seem to enable shyte teams to score at least a couple of sympathy meat pies if they're getting destroyed.

With the Eels as an example, the commentators were all saying 'hoooow farking good have the Eels' backs been?!?!?' after their tries (aside from the Brown one). Whereas I was like 'FFS... these backs are shyyyyyyte!!!! The problem is that they keep getting shyte penalties followed by repeat sets so SOMEBODY has to score eventually... the fact it's only backs scoring out wide off B2B repeat sets says it all... they lack the skills to break our defence, but NOBODY can defend B2B 12-18 tackle sets for 80 minutes... EVENTUALLY there's gonna be a man short on the outside no matter how shyte the Eels are...'

Bloke in a Bar is a massive Brisbane man and even he was saying the refs robbed us during the second half. IMO the game has changed such that shyte calls are more likely to result in tries. The 6 again rule was introduced to prevent us from (supposedly) conceding calculated penalties in order to kill teams' momentum (thus defeating try scoring opportunities). I reckon it's achieved that goal... however we never intentionally conceded penalties... we simply got robbed by shyte refs (who now have an even more annoying tool in their belt that receives less scrutiny as it isn't even a 'penalty').

[Waylander]

I know it's a vastly different game today, but I would love to see defence be our focus in the back half of the year, a la 2013 when we held sides to nil on four or five occasions throughout the season. I think our defence will decide our fate and we're not far off where we need to be. Come on boys!

It was 5 times in the regular season, plus the 4 - 0 win over Manly in the first semi. You won't see that happen again under the current rules.

[Nicola Tesla]

The play of the ball before the Brown try was interesting. The eels player was tackled low but wasn't held. Manu and Radley then come in to make a tackle but the eels player plays the ball. For me it should have been a knock on as no tackle was made.

100%.... I was saying that straight away! Touch footy NRL! They got an advantage they didn't earn!

[Rooster_6]

I saw the same thing, I believe it was Tuilagi. He was never tackled.

I was wondering whether we could challenge the play, technically the bunker can't review anything prior to play the ball but if he was never tackled then there should've been no play the ball. But then if the ref has allowed the play the ball can the bunker rule on anything before that...?

[roosterproud]

In the last decade or so, we've seen people, normally to escape being pushed out or being tackled in-goal, simply dive to the ground without any defender touching them. According to the laws of the game this is a voluntary tackle and should be penalised.

[Billy Gunn]

I'd say we have to get a couple of single digit scores on the run home if we want to be competitive in September.

[Andrew Walker]

We rank 3rd for fewest points conceded at 19.4pts per game.

Only Penrith 15.4pts and Canterbury 16.2 average less.

Seems very tough this year to defend when momentum goes against you, it’s such an open game. If you can keep a side to under 3 tries that’s an excellent defensive effort these days.

Interesting with Canterbury yet quite a few on here are just expecting us to get the two points on Saturday

[Rooster_6]

Interesting with Canterbury yet quite a few on here are just expecting us to get the two points on Saturday

They smashed the Knights 32-2 without their Origin players only a few weeks ago and we lost to a poor Cowboys side... our pack without Collins, Crichton and Leniu really didn't show much.

Certainly won't be an easy game, Kikau named in 23 has me concerned too... I'd be happy if he wants to sit this one out.

[RoosterFanNZ]

They smashed the Knights 32-2 without their Origin players only a few weeks ago and we lost to a poor Cowboys side... our pack without Collins, Crichton and Leniu really didn't show much.

Certainly won't be an easy game, Kikau named in 23 has me concerned too... I'd be happy if he wants to sit this one out.

Every time an important player is named on the extended bench vs us, they always seem to get picked.

he is the make or break for me.

it is impressive how fast theyve turned it around especially compared to the other basket cases in the league. That bloke who’s suing them and the captain who got kicked don’t really have a leg to stand on now that their methods have brought a much improved team environment and results.

will be close but I’m thinking we may just Knick it, if the refs give us a good go at it

[Andrew Walker]

They smashed the Knights 32-2 without their Origin players only a few weeks ago and we lost to a poor Cowboys side... our pack without Collins, Crichton and Leniu really didn't show much.

Certainly won't be an easy game, Kikau named in 23 has me concerned too... I'd be happy if he wants to sit this one out.

Agreed I rate them this year. Very sound defensively and they ask a lot of questions with their ball movement in attack.

[takethe 2]

It was 5 times in the regular season, plus the 4 - 0 win over Manly in the first semi. You won't see that happen again under the current rules.

That was so satisfying keeping all those teams to 0.

also that year we did another remarkable thing- we beat Manly 4 times. Once in the trials, then in the premiership rounds, then the Semi final and then the GF.

Quite an achievement considering Manly has been a difficult side for our boys to beat traditionally

[horrie hastings]

It was 5 times in the regular season, plus the 4 - 0 win over Manly in the first semi. You won't see that happen again under the current rules.

I also remember in 1977 where we won 5 games to nil in the premiership rounds, Manly twice, Norths twice and also Souths at Redfern.

[HunchoRooster]

They smashed the Knights 32-2 without their Origin players only a few weeks ago and we lost to a poor Cowboys side... our pack without Collins, Crichton and Leniu really didn't show much.

Certainly won't be an easy game, Kikau named in 23 has me concerned too... I'd be happy if he wants to sit this one out.

I definitely agree it will be a tough game but I reckon that Knights performance ranks amongst the worst I’ve ever seen from a professional outfit. I think they completed at around 50% and missed a massive amount of tackles. Hoping our boys toss up something a lot better than that.

You are right though, Dogs are a completely different proposition over the last couple of seasons.

[HunchoRooster]

That was so satisfying keeping all those teams to 0.

also that year we did another remarkable thing- we beat Manly 4 times. Once in the trials, then in the premiership rounds, then the Semi final and then the GF.

Quite an achievement considering Manly has been a difficult side for our boys to beat traditionally

Was also a really really good Manly team. Probably their last “great” premiership threatening side. To turn up against them in all the big games and win in different ways shows how good our 2013 side was.

[Bates]

That was so satisfying keeping all those teams to 0.

also that year we did another remarkable thing- we beat Manly 4 times. Once in the trials, then in the premiership rounds, then the Semi final and then the GF.

Quite an achievement considering Manly has been a difficult side for our boys to beat traditionally

Our 2013 team would lap the current Panthers outfit. What a team, what a year that was!