Credit where credit is due

[TheLoneRooster]

Alot of that makes sense. I just think when you are talking about the 2 best players in the comp missing from a team the commentators are always going to harp on.

There is only a handful of player that are as valuable to a team as those 2 are for the Storm, and none of them play for the RWB!

Commentators didnt bother me at all! A fair and balanced view of things is, they were missing great players, we were missing good players!

Are smith and slater the 2 best players in the comp? Perhaps so, perhaps not. Wouldn't Benji or Lockyer or Thurston or Gallen or even the 2010 Carney be up there somewhere too? It's not as clear cut as you would make it adzta.

I agree that those 2 players are key to the way the storm play - no argument there.

As for the commentators, I don't know about you but I taped and watched the pre-game show, the game and then the post-game show and maybe it's just me, but at the end of it I was sick to the back teeth of hearing so much about the storm and their missing players and comparatively less about how good the Roosters were despite also being without some of their players.

Look, I'm on a hiding to nothing here, expecting fairness in an unfair world is something I need therapy for.

[Guest]

Are smith and slater the 2 best players in the comp? Perhaps so, perhaps not. Wouldn't Benji or Lockyer or Thurston or Gallen or even the 2010 Carney be up there somewhere too? It's not as clear cut as you would make it adzta.

I agree that those 2 players are key to the way the storm play - no argument there.

As for the commentators, I don't know about you but I taped and watched the pre-game show, the game and then the post-game show and maybe it's just me, but at the end of it I was sick to the back teeth of hearing so much about the storm and their missing players and comparatively less about how good the Roosters were despite also being without some of their players.

Look, I'm on a hiding to nothing here, expecting fairness in an unfair world is something I need therapy for.

I did state there are only a handful of players you could compare these 2 with. I also notice the players you list are all from seperate teams, making the loss of those 2 even harder to cover.

I dont think its even a case of fairness, it more of a case of the calibre of players missing from each team. I think the main point is that they harp on because of who they are, and would do the same for the likes of Marshall, Locky and Gal.

[stsae]

IMO the difference is they chose to rest their players.

Our missing players, and there were at least 10 of them, were not playing cos of injury or self inflicted idiocy.

I don't believe they should be given any credit or slide cos they chose to rest their better players.

It's not a our cocks are bigger than yours thingy. It's a fact we have had a nasty run this season with injury and have been able to beat the MPs very well in the last round.

I guess more credit should've been given to our effort rather than their choice to rest players.

[Guest]

Slater and Smith obviously mean a hell of a lot to Melbourne - or any other team they play in. What it highlighted last night is that without these two men, Melbourne are an average team at best.

Puts a target on their head for the finals. They might want to invest in some headgear for the finals....

[TheLoneRooster]

I did state there are only a handful of players you could compare these 2 with. I also notice the players you list are all from seperate teams, making the loss of those 2 even harder to cover.

I dont think its even a case of fairness, it more of a case of the calibre of players missing from each team. I think the main point is that they harp on because of who they are, and would do the same for the likes of Marshall, Locky and Gal.

I mentioned five players - there's your handful so your first sentence is moot. As to your second sentence, I could have mentioned Farah but then that would potentially invite comparisons of him to smith and further pointless arguments about calibre which are muddied by then linking player calibre with the effect on the team the players play for.

You can have the last say, I'm done here.

[stephenj]

i think melbourne miss finch more than we realise?

[player 1]

i think melbourne miss finch more than we realise?

Hahaha...you stirrer!

[Guest]

Go to your room Stephen!!!!

I haven't watched my recording of the game yet but I expected the Storm to be excused by the commentators.

[Game Fowl]

We were up for the game last night, good across the field our boys should feel good for next year.

Storm will only get better after this showing , if Bellyache has not broken them Pshycologically with his gamble.

[Guest]

Exactly. Everyone, including the media, is making a big deal out of the number of players they were missing, but we were missing quite a few too. You can add Aubo, Kennedy, Linnett, and Mitchell to that list too.

And lets not forget Artie Beetson and ron Coote.

[stephenj]

so any game plan must include...break smith! might be worth it to send on a sub just to take him out! as we saw, without smith theyre a very ordinary team?

[Guest]

Not far off ordinary without Smith.

He starts everything they do attack and defence.

[mightyrooster]

And lets not forget Artie Beetson and ron Coote.

A bit harsh?? Yes they were missing Smith and Slater - their two main men. But I guess we were at full strength so I'll shut up.

[stephenj]

well said mario, i noticed you were in fine voice sunday night!must be all that g/beer?