We are one step closer ...

[Guest]

I'll stick my neck out again as I did after the loss to the Warriors.

After a few weeks of touch footy, today was the perfect preparation for the finals. Our boys would have gained enormous confidence in their defense, and now know winning finals is more about controlling possession than razzle dazzle touch footy.

I can see a lot of similarities between us and the Eels 2001 and Panthers 2003 teams. Panthers learnt what finals were about when we spanked them before the semis and adapted, the Eels didn't learn their lesson until the grand final.

Today is a good day for us.

[fletch]

injuries will determine our fate, we are too thinly spread outwide, if Linnett, Leilua, Maubs and Jones are out I have no idea who would be next in line for a centre/wing spot.

[Chris]

They will learn ALOT from this loss.

As long as they bounce back Friday night, I'm not worried

[BUDDY]

I am not worried at all. I loved this game

[redwhiteandbluester]

Good thread, dice.

There are a lot of positives to be taken. It should sharpen our focus before the run in.

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

If it weren't for the injuries, I'd be feeling upbeat, too. But we're pretty low on troops, now.

[Adolf Fittler]

If it weren't for the injuries, I'd be feeling upbeat, too. But we're pretty low on troops, now.

I hear ya Mr V....but Uncle Brian has thrown a lot of these guys in the deep end this year so im not expecting too much for at least a year or 2.
Well done Chooko's....dumb and error riddled gutsy effort!!

[Guest]

couldn't care less about the loss. over it already. I was only angry that the loss came against the dragons. better that we drop a game now rather than in the finals. the loss will bring them back down to earth and I'm certain we will bounce back and smash cronulla.

[Guest]

They will learn ALOT from this loss.

As long as they bounce back Friday night, I'm not worried

A tall order to back up a few days after such a physical encounter. A loss on Friday night won't phase me even to a lowly Sharks. The test will be against Manly.

Apart from the obvious errors I feel we have a problem with the predictability of our dummy half runs from the likes of Perrett, Mini, and SKD. They were easy meat today for a well-oiled Saints defense. Friend is the one that needs to step up and control the dummy half position only allowing the outside backs to jump in there if he can see that there are easy metres to be gained.

[Guest]

injuries are a worry, and this is not SKD bagging but far out we can NOT afford his errors and brain snaps. his 4 tries against brisbane were great but his pass to no one undoes that.... same for ryles although i hope his were partly because of the opposition.

[Guest]

Ryles had a shocker but I feel there was more to that apparent dumb penalty he gave away. I would not be surprised if Soward did something untoward like biting Ryles' hand.

[Guest]

he's big enough and ugly enough to know better. he's here for his experience. he needed to show that if that was indeed the case.