Charges from last night

[stsae]

I'm not saying it will cost us guys... just that it might. You take enough bricks out of the wall and eventually it collapses.

And now next week we might face Souffs without Friend, FPN, Guerra and Napa.

That'll be very tough.

Hopefully we end up with a fortuitous path to the GF like last year.

I'd rather face Souffs next week if it puts us on the other side of the draw to them and the Storm. The Storm will beat Souffs so I want that to be Prelim for a laugh.

Last year that last game vs Souffs from memory we were missing Cords, Maubs, RTS and pLOD.

We had Napa, Areola, MLK and Liu in a shuffled lineup. Napa played 80 in the backrow and Che played in the centres.

While not ideal what's happened, nothing's impossible.

[Waerea-Beast!]

Happy with Guerra only getting a week... the Souffs player did make an absolute meal of it though!

[Danish]

Guerra will take the plea. Napa they'll obviously roll the dice to get a downgrade since 3 weeks effectively ends his season anyway and the 4th would just be served during some ponce trial match.

If he can successfully get a downgrade he'll be back for the GF.

So funny how closely this year is starting to mirror last year. Another battle for the MP against souffs in Rd 26. Again it came off the back of a short turnaround for us and a long turnaround for them. Again we had a few starting players out injured. Again we dominated them. Again we get a couple players charged out of the match while mysteriously the Souffs grubs get off (Burgess and his kicks/knees last year, Walker and Burgess again this year).

Evans will slot into Napa's spot while he is gone and either FPN will come back with Maubs and Hastings sharing the hooking duties again or is Stranger is fit he'll slot into the 9 with Maubs moving into the backrow. Friendy will then be back for the prelim. No biggie

[milanja]

If I had a choice to pick a player to miss the finals, it would be napa, too ill disciplined and doesn't learn from prior situations.

[Tommy Smith]

But he sure does hit like a tank. He handed the Burgess sisters their own arses last night.

But more importantly he offers that solid D in the first 20, which allows Moa to come off the bench and carve up.

Evans now has that job.

[player 1]

I don't hope we don't play Souffs again next week. Apart from the superstition that it would be their "turn" to win if we play them again next week, I think Cowboys are at least as likely to give us trouble if we play them - did you see what Thurston did to Souffs a couple of weeks ago behind a forward pack that made zero errors? If he is on, they could be very hard to toss - and they did thrash us earlier on this year. And if it's panfers - well, that will be a game we are "expected" to win and we all know what can happen to Easts when that happens. I agree with Robbo - we play who we play and we need to beat them.

[bondi-boy]

Well Napa needs to go for a downgrade.

If Matai get nothing he should get a grade 1.

What a stupid young man.

The rotation with him starting and Moa coming on off the bench was lethal.

He may have cost us the title.

Surely we can find another tough forward and train them up in 7 days to bash, smash, and trash the opposition next week...legally.

Evans, Meehan, any other big forwards in the lower grades...put some headgear, shoulder pads, and tape on them and train them this week to make effective legal tackles, and take the ball up without passing or dropping it...tell them to treat the ball as if it's their new baby.

[The Axe]

Not surprised we got two charges.

No wonder Souffs want access to Heffron. Maguire has introduced a new coach

[Bansai Pipeline]

I don't hope we don't play Souffs again next week. Apart from the superstition that it would be their "turn" to win if we play them again next week, I think Cowboys are at least as likely to give us trouble if we play them - did you see what Thurston did to Souffs a couple of weeks ago behind a forward pack that made zero errors? If he is on, they could be very hard to toss - and they did thrash us earlier on this year. And if it's panfers - well, that will be a game we are "expected" to win and we all know what can happen to Easts when that happens. I agree with Robbo - we play who we play and we need to beat them.

I think the Broncs could cause some damage if they scrape in.

[Rooster_6]

Losing Guerra, Friend, FPN & Napa in the space of 2 weeks is HUGE. It's a massive chunk of our middle third and is really going to stretch our depth.

A win next week is a must if we're any hope of going back to back. The week off is a must. But I fear a bench of Hastings, Meehan, Evans & Casty will prove way too inexperienced come finals time.

[fletch]

Losing Guerra, Friend, FPN & Napa in the space of 2 weeks is HUGE. It's a massive chunk of our middle third and is really going to stretch our depth.

A win next week is a must if we're any hope of going back to back. The week off is a must. But I fear a bench of Hastings, Meehan, Evans & Casty will prove way too inexperienced come finals time.

if that was the scenario I think either Evans might start with Moa going back to the bench to add some experience.

we obviously have to have the mentality that we can beat anyone anywhere anytime, but I'm sure deep down we are hoping to get the Panthers in round 1 of the finals.

[milanja]

if that was the scenario I think either Evans might start with Moa going back to the bench to add some experience.

we obviously have to have the mentality that we can beat anyone anywhere anytime, but I'm sure deep down we are hoping to get the Panthers in round 1 of the finals.

The way pearce is playing, and sonny warming up, things are looking good regardless of afew missing, manly are missing their staring hooker and lock which will only make their bench worse, penrith are busted, I don't think there are many really strong benches.

Sonny and jnr to take us further.

[Rooster_6]

if that was the scenario I think either Evans might start with Moa going back to the bench to add some experience.

we obviously have to have the mentality that we can beat anyone anywhere anytime, but I'm sure deep down we are hoping to get the Panthers in round 1 of the finals.

I doubt it. I reckon JWH & Moa would play 60+ minutes each with Evans & Meehan only getting short 10 minutes stints.

Casty would share the lock role with Liu.

[Rooster_6]

if that was the scenario I think either Evans might start with Moa going back to the bench to add some experience.

we obviously have to have the mentality that we can beat anyone anywhere anytime, but I'm sure deep down we are hoping to get the Panthers in round 1 of the finals.

I doubt it. I reckon JWH & Moa would play 60+ minutes each with Evans & Meehan only getting short 10 minutes stints.

Casty would share the lock role with Liu.

[Tommy Smith]

I don't think it is crucial to win in week 1.

Manly lost 4 nil to us and were leading the GF 18-8 with 30min to go 3 weeks later.

That said, I'd certainly back us to beat the Panthers or Cowboys for that matter in week one of the finals despite our long absentee list.

Should we do that then realistically we're looking at a Prelim Final with only Dylan Napa missing. Presumably with Casty/Evans taking his spot in the starting line-up. Depending on what Robbo would prefer. Obviously this would be the ideal scenario.