Finch vs Pearce

[Guest]

Pearce did play well

His running and passing game is brilliant...

He bombs have imporved so much

But yea his composure was terrible....
He didnt seem himself.. needs to go back to what he was doing at the begging of the year


Dead set the turning point of the whole game
Was SKD not being able to score the simplest of tries

[Parkway_Drive]

I felt he was ordinary tonight for a SOO halfback that 3rd tackle kick in the second half when we were two behind was a dead set coach killer. Was he trying to prove to us in the chookpen that he has a decent short kicking game.....or just like SKD he has not much between the ears.

I hope Morts has a blinder next week...athough I am concerned he wont be match fit as he gets very little game time.

[Guest]

Lots of people mentioning the 3rd tackle kick which was a poor decision but not many are mentioning the deft little kick for a repeat set which has been a cry all season.

James Maloney's low trajectory kicks across to Daniel Tupou were equally as poor as the 3rd tackle Pearce kick.

[Chook Norris]

James Maloney's low trajectory kicks across to Daniel Tupou were equally as poor as the 3rd tackle Pearce kick.

lol no. why didyou even attempt to compare the two

Lots of people mentioning the 3rd tackle kick which was a poor decision but not many are mentioning the deft little kick for a repeat set which has been a cry all season.

The "deft little kick" was because he saw a try scoring opportunity, not because he was aiming for a repeat set. He was lucky that was a by-product. Pearce rarely goes for the grubber kick for a repeat set otherwise.

The reason no one is mentioning that repeat set kick is obviously because the two are in two completely different contexts. One is in the first half. The other shocking 3rd tackle kick was right in a high pressure moment of the game. One of the most crucial moments in the game towards the end of the match. And what did Pearce do? He completely f**d it up. He is a State of Origin representative half. He is meant to be able to show composure. It's worrying how our halfback is one of the least composed players on the field. He rushes almost every play. He is even worse when all he needs to do is settle it

You seriously want us to compare the two kicks to even it up? Are you kidding me?

[Guest]

The repeat set happened in the second half as well. The reason why nobody is mentioning the repeat set is because it would not fit the agenda against the kid from sections of our fan base.

I brought up the repeat set simply because he has been criticized all season long for rarely producing these kicks and tonight he did. It is fair to recognize the poor 3rd tackle decision as it is only fair to recognize that he was able to sustain pressure with a repeat set. It is also laughable that you can brush it off as a try scoring opportunity, does that not show vision and composure in an attacking position?

Yes I am also serious with Maloney's kicks. In try scoring opportunities he rarely presented a contest between the attack and defence they were almost always taken under no pressure because of how poorly they were kicked. If it were Mitchell Pearce kicking those low kicks that were easily contained they would be mentioned many times across numerous discussions.

[Cockadoodledoo]

The repeat set happened in the second half as well. The reason why nobody is mentioning the repeat set is because it would not fit the agenda against the kid from sections of our fan base.

I brought up the repeat set simply because he has been criticized all season long for rarely producing these kicks and tonight he did. It is fair to recognize the poor 3rd tackle decision as it is only fair to recognize that he was able to sustain pressure with a repeat set. It is also laughable that you can brush it off as a try scoring opportunity, does that not show vision and composure in an attacking position?

Yes I am also serious with Maloney's kicks. In try scoring opportunities he rarely presented a contest between the attack and defence they were almost always taken under no pressure because of how poorly they were kicked. If it were Mitchell Pearce kicking those low kicks that were easily contained they would be mentioned many times across numerous discussions.

Keep digging.. Why not then mention the repeat set from one of Maloney's kicks. The fact that you highlight Pearce's repeat set in response to criticism of his inability to regularly do so does not render that criticism unwarranted. He has to do it on a far more consistent basis.

Comparing his third tackle brain explosion to Maloney's poor last tackle kicks also is hardly a fair comparison. Maloney's kicks were the result of poor execution but he probably did have to kick in those situations. Pearce's kick was not just poor execution, it was dreadful timing as we still had three tackles up our sleeves with the Warriors defending their line.

[Chook Norris]

The repeat set happened in the second half as well. The reason why nobody is mentioning the repeat set is because it would not fit the agenda against the kid from sections of our fan base.

The reason why everyone is mentioning the 3rd tackle option and only that is because it was a big moment in the match. Pure and simple. Nothing else. If Maloney produces the exact same play and does *that* kick at that position of the field, at that moment in the match, damn right he will be criticised. It was a shocker. What makes it worse is that Pearce has demonstrated similar plays in similar moments in a match various times before. It is not a first. Definitely not a first.
It is somewhat confusing how that despite being in first grade for 7 years he is still yet to show much growth in composure.
Until Pearce regularly demonstrates he understands what composure is and the need to obtain repeat sets on a regular basis, week in week out, he has proven shit.

It is also laughable that you can brush it off as a try scoring opportunity, does that not show vision and composure in an attacking position?

It does show vision and does show an ounce of composure. However, what it also shows is an over reliance on the kick. That over reliance is what lead to a shocking and lackadaisical kick on the 3rd with the game on the line

Yes I am also serious with Maloney's kicks.

You compared his kicks to being as worse as Pearce's 3rd tackle kick option. That is Maloney's accuracy. Yes Maloney's kicks have also been sub-par. Pearce's kick, however, was a thousand times worse given the circumstances. You cannot dispute that.

In a game, what do you care about? What are the talking points of a match? Ordinary kicks that don't exactly entail negative results. Or a shocking kick that didnt need to be executed in the first place right when the game was on the line.

You tell me

[Guest]

As has been mentioned before the length of time a player has been with our club determines the criticism leveled at him.

James Maloney was equally as poor in kicking tonight but one poor moment from Pearce in the night, regardless of the past, is being systematically picked apart while Maloney is escaping any sort of criticism because he is the new boy. James Maloney is also a state of origin representative and must surely produce better execution after numerous attempts.

In fact was it not a poor cross field kick from James Maloney that lead to the first try for Auckland in the second half?

The poor 3rd tackle kick was not Pearce's worst moment of the match as that belongs to his silly decision to pass to the blindside on the last to Kenny-Dowall who was covered by two men which led to his poor kick that sealed a win for Auckland. Shaun Kenny-Dowall is taking the blame for that when he should never have been given the ball in the first place.

I'm not defending Pearce in any way intentionally I only wish to see the balance of positive things highlighted along with the negative ones that get brought up constantly.

[Guest]

The repeat set happened in the second half as well. The reason why nobody is mentioning the repeat set is because it would not fit the agenda against the kid from sections of our fan base.

I brought up the repeat set simply because he has been criticized all season long for rarely producing these kicks and tonight he did. It is fair to recognize the poor 3rd tackle decision as it is only fair to recognize that he was able to sustain pressure with a repeat set. It is also laughable that you can brush it off as a try scoring opportunity, does that not show vision and composure in an attacking position?

Yes I am also serious with Maloney's kicks. In try scoring opportunities he rarely presented a contest between the attack and defence they were almost always taken under no pressure because of how poorly they were kicked. If it were Mitchell Pearce kicking those low kicks that were easily contained they would be mentioned many times across numerous discussions.

That's because a seemingly growing number of us have had a gutful of The Golden Boy doing sweet FA for us for over half a decade now and escaping more deserved and harsher criticism because of his surname, compared to a guy who has done more for this team in half a season than The Golden Boy has done in seven of them.

[Rooster_6]

It does show vision and does show an ounce of composure. However, what it also shows is an over reliance on the kick.

Are you seriously suggesting Pearce is over-reliant on his kicking game to create points?

Not even his most staunch critic could honestly sit there with a straight face and suggest that, yes I'm looking at you PWN.

Maybe I mis-read/understood you but that seems like a strange criticism?

[Chook Norris]

Are you seriously suggesting Pearce is over-reliant on his kicking game to create points?

Not even his most staunch critic could honestly sit there with a straight face and suggest that, yes I'm looking at you PWN.

Maybe I mis-read/understood you but that seems like a strange criticism?

Sorry, let me clarify. I recognise his passing game is quite good. He creates plenty of opportunities and line-breaks through the hands. However, it is also of my opinion that he still has this tendency to kick it when he can simply shuffle it through the hands, settle it, or throw a cut out ball. Another clear example of that was the poor 3rd tackle kick. It is still a habit of his in his game. Kicking it when nothing is on. I did not say that the grubber to attain the repeat set was a bad option. More so, it shows a habit of his throughout the years to kick

In fact was it not a poor cross field kick from James Maloney that lead to the first try for Auckland in the second half?

It was. However, there was an unfortunate deflection was there not?

The poor 3rd tackle kick was not Pearce's worst moment of the match as that belongs to his silly decision to pass to the blindside on the last to Kenny-Dowall who was covered by two men which led to his poor kick that sealed a win for Auckland. Shaun Kenny-Dowall is taking the blame for that when he should never have been given the ball in the first place.

I equate the two moments on similar terms. It was a poor panic option with nothing going on. I also agree SKD unfairly got the blame on that occasion

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

I think both Pearce and Maloney overplay that bomb to Tupou. Why go for the try every time? Why not sometimes go for the repeat set? And why do bombs these days always seem to go to the wingers? Why not put them up so they come down near the goalposts?

[Rooster_6]

I think both Pearce and Maloney overplay that bomb to Tupou. Why go for the try every time? Why not sometimes go for the repeat set? And why do bombs these days always seem to go to the wingers? Why not put them up so they come down near the goalposts?

You mean like Pearce's to Guerra late in the second half that nearly came off? I agree, it's an underused play but I don't really blame our kickers.

It was a go to play for Pearce to Guerra in the past but I just don't think he or Jimmy have any confidence in mini/maubs/Cordner/SBW being able to get up for a bomb like Guerra seems able too and fair enough I don't see it happening either. Not coincidentally Guerra playing his first game on the fringes this year and it nearly came off.

Kicking to Toops makes sense he's 5m tall but I just don't see the competitiveness in him to ever be a really lethal aerial weapon for us, maybe it's just his nature and I'm out of place here but I can't say I ever have any confidence in him catching one of those bombs. In comparison to the way his other 3 foot winger RTS attacks the ball and takes bombs it just makes you wonder why he can't?

[Guest]

You can add Maloney top that group, he was farking hopeless last night.

Both he and Pearce and Jennings had their minds on Origin.

Chook.

[Guest]

I just love the bombs from 40 out with no pressure. Boooooombs awayyyyy