How will we turn up on Anzac Day?

[stsae]

We did beat the Cowboys though right? We did throw away the big lead however. The Panthers game was definitely one that we shouldn't have slipped, though we probably wouldn't had Casty's fairt try been awarded. It is plain to see though that it has become much harder to win those close games as we are not getting any breaks in the second half of matches. I also don't think contract uncertainty is helping or Pearce taking on the captaincy burden.

We also incredibly still sit inside the 8 and have the best for and one of the best defensive rates.

Not bad considering we have lost 4 and won 3.

Also it must be said we haven't been belted.

We have travelled to NQ, Brissy and Melba and played Souffs away. Tough start with away games.

And copped some bad luck with injury and suspension.

Then theres the reffing and the favourites tag we have had to carry. And the contract speculations too.

Definitely need to improve our ability to close out games.

But if we do it tough now we will be better for it later in the season, hopefully.

Glass 3/4 full IMO.

[Cockadoodledoo]

The good thing backwards is that we are not playing badly, there were some terrific performances on the weekend. One thing that really bothers me is that we are no longer giving Jennings that early ball he use to get in 2013. We would often go wide on the second or third tackle and catch out the compressed defences by throwing the cut out to Jennings in space. We seem to be far more content to cart the ball up for 5 and get a kick away at the end which has made our attack much more predictable and easier to defend against and as a result, we are scoring many points against the good sides.

[bondi-boy]

By car...stuff 'climate change/global warming' ["the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind" - Alan Jones]

Our home game, so I'll be there.

Without our best team on the field, and the refs allegedly cheating us every match [refer newspaper article today]...we could struggle to win.

[stsae]

The good thing backwards is that we are not playing badly, there were some terrific performances on the weekend. One thing that really bothers me is that we are no longer giving Jennings that early ball he use to get in 2013. We would often go wide on the second or third tackle and catch out the compressed defences by throwing the cut out to Jennings in space. We seem to be far more content to cart the ball up for 5 and get a kick away at the end which has made our attack much more predictable and easier to defend against and as a result, we are scoring many points against the good sides.

Very true mate.

Is it maybe a case of K.I.S.S stuff for the early season games???

Let us settle into the year and let the newer boys learn the basic go to pattern then unleash some new plays later in the year???

One thing I am sure of, if we can complete like we did in the wet the other night, we will be very hard to stop later in the season.

I have enjoyed seeing our 1/2s pass to each other often during games. That in itself will prove invaluable as the season progresses.

Good thing about playing the Soxes is they couldn't score a root in a brothel. Hustle Bungi and stop Merrin and they struggle for points.

[Tommy Smith]

Souffs also lost 3 in a row at the start of last season (so did we in remarkably similar circumstances to this year). At the same time the Titans were top of the ladder.

So yes, a lot can change.

HOWEVER, we ain't receiving 10 penalties per game like Souffs last year. God help the competition if we did. On the contrary I don't think we've received 10 in a game since rnd 2 last year!

[2026]

Rothfields article has put a spring in my step and i'm freaking pumped for the Anzac Day Clash.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Very true mate.

Is it maybe a case of K.I.S.S stuff for the early season games???

Let us settle into the year and let the newer boys learn the basic go to pattern then unleash some new plays later in the year???

One thing I am sure of, if we can complete like we did in the wet the other night, we will be very hard to stop later in the season.

I have enjoyed seeing our 1/2s pass to each other often during games. That in itself will prove invaluable as the season progresses.

Good thing about playing the Soxes is they couldn't score a root in a brothel. Hustle Bungi and stop Merrin and they struggle for points.

The problem with that is we have had an incredibly stable roster over the past few years, the players should be familiar with the game plans by now. We were throwing Jennings early ball when he joined the club in 2013 but not now. No point not using one of your most potent attacking weapons, I know premierships aren't won in April but the 2 points are as important now as they are in round 26.

[John Corey]

We will turn up for sure.

Does anyone really think a lack of effort was to blame for the last two weeks?

We played good footy but were unlucky.....and screwed over.

[bondi-boy]

We will turn up for sure.

Does anyone really think a lack of effort was to blame for the last two weeks?

We played good footy but were unlucky.....and screwed over.

More screwed over than unlucky.

[John Corey]

More screwed over than unlucky.

We were unlucky that Jimmy hit the crossbar. We were unlucky that Nene did not have a bit more ticker.

[ChookyG]

Has anybody realised that we're also still favourites for the premiership. That seems very odd to me

[roostersrule2]

We were unlucky that Jimmy hit the crossbar. We were unlucky that Nene did not have a bit more ticker.

Indeed.

On Nene not diving lower I rember Toops bombing a couple tries in similar fashion in the early part of last year and I haven't seen him do it since.

Whoever helped Tupou should start working with Macdonald.

[stsae]

The problem with that is we have had an incredibly stable roster over the past few years, the players should be familiar with the game plans by now. We were throwing Jennings early ball when he joined the club in 2013 but not now. No point not using one of your most potent attacking weapons, I know premierships aren't won in April but the 2 points are as important now as they are in round 26.

Yeah I see your point mate.

Thing is we are on top of the attacking stats so I guess when we start using AV again more that's only gonna create some major butthurt for opposition defences.

Maybe AV has an injury we are unaware of???

Or maybe hes just being marked more heavily???

Or maybe we are just trying to give the right side some time with the ball??? That's where the most change has occurred, Flake, SKiD, Mini, RTS, $BW, Che and now Maubs all in and out over there.

Im hoping The Coach has something special up his sleeve for post Origin. IMO last year we lacked that extra gear at the end.

[John Corey]

We need to remember that this is the closest competition in years. Everybody is beating everybody which has no doubt helped us stay in touch.
The reason we are still favourites is because good judges understand we have been very unlucky the last 2 weeks against very good teams.
We are not playing bad, uncompetitive football and we are right in this thing.

[Johnny Tobin]

I think we will win and, if it's dry, win well.

Our main problem is lack of props. But that doesn't matter in this game because they don't have any props either.