1 from 5 against top 8 sides is a growing concern

[fletch]

Obviously injury is a major factor in the drop off in from over the last month but it is certainly concerning we are only 1 from 5 against fellow top 8 sides so far this season, the lone win against the Eels and losses against the Storm/Raiders/Panthers/Sea Eagles.

On top of the injury concerns some of the veteran guys like Friend/Maubs/JWH look to be really struggling in recent weeks.

Without doubt though the loss of Radley has been massive we have seen the attack fall off significantly since he was injured but also the middle of the ruck has been soft in recent weeks.

Hopefully we can scratch out a few wins over the next 4-6 until Crichton and Toups return and then launch an assault on the finals.

[stringaz]

I feel like the only game we were really outplayed in was Penrith back in round 1. Toops catches ball against storm, keary grounds ball against manly, ikuvalu try against raiders wasn't forward etc.

I can handle the mid season scrap, but the injuries mounting is hurting our ability to absorb every team being "up for it" and them lying all over us in the ruck with a skinny ten on the side every week.

The sooner we get some troops back the better. Whose first back besides cordner? Anyone over the next month?

[Kentucky_Fried_Rooster]

I have little concern, we lost 2 of those games after flying overseas and we had also just come off the B2B.
Injuries are not helping at the moment and SBW won't do anything flash on the field, I feel age and lack of game time recently is against him. I don't think we signed him to be a game buster but more for his attitude.
No one trains as hard as him and that will rub off onto his team mates helping us to the three peat.

[Bansai Pipeline]

I think we should rest everyone for a month. Reconcile ourselves to a few losses.

[ism22]

Interestingly though... no losses by more than 6 points this season? We seem to have a knack of staying within reach.

What we need is SBW to rev us up (lie a caged beast after isolation) and spank some discipline into everybody.

[Mickie Lane]

Obviously injury is a major factor in the drop off in from over the last month but it is certainly concerning we are only 1 from 5 against fellow top 8 sides so far this season, the lone win against the Eels and losses against the Storm/Raiders/Panthers/Sea Eagles.

On top of the injury concerns some of the veteran guys like Friend/Maubs/JWH look to be really struggling in recent weeks.

Without doubt though the loss of Radley has been massive we have seen the attack fall off significantly since he was injured but also the middle of the ruck has been soft in recent weeks.

Hopefully we can scratch out a few wins over the next 4-6 until Crichton and Toups return and then launch an assault on the finals.

I agree. If they were 3 from 5 I think they could account for the 2 teams that have beaten them come final 5 rds & semi's but 1 from 5 is a big ask to have to beat Penrith , Canberra , Melbourne & Manly probably twice to win the thing.

[Mad_Rabid_Rooster]

I have little concern, we lost 2 of those games after flying overseas and we had also just come off the B2B.
Injuries are not helping at the moment and SBW won't do anything flash on the field, I feel age and lack of game time recently is against him. I don't think we signed him to be a game buster but more for his attitude.
No one trains as hard as him and that will rub off onto his team mates helping us to the three peat.

I agree KFR, along with ism's point about the narrow losses. We can't be up for every single game for the entire season. As long as we are in the top four come seasons end, and we get a few troops back, we will come close. Keep the faith.

[elo]

We'll see, past 3 matches we have clearly dropped intensity from the first 6 back......Robbo and staff are very good at turning these guys on and off at the right time, think we'll ramp it back up either against the Dragons or Storm for another high intensity burst and sit solid within the top 4 then have another break before the finals.

I do still wish he'd pull Friend off the field when he's off though, he brings the entire team down with him when he stinks it up.

[Bahrain Rooster]

If there’s any team who can win the premiership from 8th, it’s us. The biggest question is how do we best fill the void left by Radley. None of the three locks we have used since has been brilliant. Can’t get Angus and Toops back quick enough.

[Mickie Lane]

If there’s any team who can win the premiership from 8th, it’s us. The biggest question is how do we best fill the void left by Radley. None of the three locks we have used since has been brilliant. Can’t get Angus and Toops back quick enough.

To finish 8th & then win the comp for a 3peat would be the greatest achievement any team has achieved in the time the game has been fully professional. Imagine if it happened like that.

[Rooster4life]

Ffs we have gone b2b I’m sure robos has a plan for a 3peat trust in Trent serious all you doubters

[BUDDY]

Obviously injury is a major factor in the drop off in from over the last month but it is certainly concerning we are only 1 from 5 against fellow top 8 sides so far this season, the lone win against the Eels and losses against the Storm/Raiders/Panthers/Sea Eagles.

On top of the injury concerns some of the veteran guys like Friend/Maubs/JWH look to be really struggling in recent weeks.

Without doubt though the loss of Radley has been massive we have seen the attack fall off significantly since he was injured but also the middle of the ruck has been soft in recent weeks.

Hopefully we can scratch out a few wins over the next 4-6 until Crichton and Toups return and then launch an assault on the finals.

First two games were before the season was shortened. Since the Robbo era we have won 2 out of 8 in R1. As stated the Manly game was a Keary drop ball, the Storm was just a mistake riddled game by us and all their tries were from our errors, the Canberra game was our try was called forward and there's wasn't and we had 50% completions in the second half. I think we lost those games more than the opposition won them.

Remember last year we lost 5 out of 7 from R10. The pattern of how we play during the year is not unusual. Robbo will have them peaking at the right time.

Our season hinges on whether we have a full strength team come semis less the obvious two boys. I don't believe any team is better than us at full strength. Toups, Cordner, Crichton and now Sonny will add plenty to the team.

[zac]

we're not a crap team beating up crappier teams but struggling v the better ones. we haven't lost a game by more than a converted try all season.

like robbo says - every season is a diff journey.

[Crab]

We'll see, past 3 matches we have clearly dropped intensity from the first 6 back......Robbo and staff are very good at turning these guys on and off at the right time, think we'll ramp it back up either against the Dragons or Storm for another high intensity burst and sit solid within the top 4 then have another break before the finals.

I do still wish he'd pull Friend off the field when he's off though, he brings the entire team down with him when he stinks it up.

If Sam wasn't injured Jake would be playing less minutes . Yes he makes mistakes when he's knackered, but with his workload who wouldn't be ? Good to see Lam getting some Gametime too. He'll be ok .

[Thirteen]

Beaten by ourselves in all these games. If we turn up to play no team can beat us. If!