ABC Grandstand interview with Smithy

[BUDDY]

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/rugbyleague/audio/

He sounded disappointed but I feel he has plenty of positives to come out of the game. It was a big week for the boys leading up to this game. Some may have been a bit overawed by the occasion.

[redwhiteandbluester]

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/rugbyleague/audio/

He sounded disappointed but I feel he has plenty of positives to come out of the game. It was a big week for the boys leading up to this game. Some may have been a bit overawed by the occasion.

If this is the case, then it's great experience.

In a sense, it makes it a worthwhile loss/loss we had to have.

[BUDDY]

If this is the case, then it's great experience.

In a sense, it makes it a worthwhile loss/loss we had to have.

Absolutely RWB. Better gain that experience of a big game, media hype, interrupted week, pretty much finals week, now rather than when the finals come around. I can't believe some of the comments today. We played shit against the competition front runners and with a bit of luck and less stupid brainsnaps, we actually win comfortably. We were shot in the first half yet they couldn't really break our line except for that Creagh try. How much improvement do we have and how much do they have?

[Guest]

I really like Smithy's attitude. When everyone is saying Saints dominated us in the first half and were unlucky not to be leading at halftime, Smithy says we were unlucky not to be up by 20 and halftime and that our stupid mistakes in try-scoring positions let them into the game.

[Guest]

I think he gives some real perspective to the loss. Our team is very young and quite inexperienced. The club has had a lot of focus on it recently and yeah, you can understand if a few got a little overwhelmed.

I don't think we played well at all today. St Merge hardly set the world on fire but their forwards comprehensively beat ours and that was where the battle was lost. When we did have the ball, we squandered our few opportunities by forcing the pass or making outright handling errors.

However, there is a lot to be learned from an experience like this. I thought our defence was desperate and was one positive if you consider how much possession (and also good field position) the Saints had. Also despite not firing, we almost snatched the win which to me showed how much we have improved. The Roosters of earlier this year would have got smashed. Our defence would have fell apart a lot sooner and we would have lost all confidence.

Our team has resolve, resilience and competitiveness even when we are not on our game. Also, with so many young players and team combinations still in their early stages we also have a massive scope for improvement. I'm confident this year and this loss hasn't dampened that sentiment at all.

Go Easts!

[Guest]

Our team has resolve, resilience and competitiveness even when we are not on our game.

We certainly do. The fact we were just one stray pass away from what seemed to be another unlikely victory will just add to their resolve.

[Guest]

we will prevail
we will prevail

[Guest]

the build up this week probably got the better of them. the loss will help us build for finals type matches