Forwards

[ChookMaster]

I think the biggest disappointment so far of the season for us has been our big blokes.Weve been dominated twice in our 3 games. I think the raiders matched us tbh. But didnt dominate. Our game v the cows, we got completely outclassed in the forwads in every aspect.The very first few sets of the game we were making 30-40 meters meanwhile they were marching down the field making 60-70. We tried going set for set with them and just couldnt keep up. Forced passes. Bad errors. Dumb offloads.Soft D. Its poor. I fail to accept that the conditions thusfar have been to blame. Because that is what the pre season is for. We flew over to stinking hot dubai and spent a week there. We trained under the summer heat all day every day in the pre season. Training and match fitness is apple and oranges but i still cannot accept that as a legitmate excuse for our poor performances. Guerra hit the nail on the head in a interview, the conditions are the same for both teams. Our biggest strength leading into the season which kept us considered as top 8 contenders was our untouched, strong forward pack. Our senior guys in the pack have failed to take the heat off our young halves. If anything they have only made things harder for them to operate.I blame 90% of our losses to our pack. Jwh and Cords no doubt are a big loss but we have Napa, Moa, Evans, Guerra and Liu. Who are all/will be rep players. SST really looks like the only one who is putting in 100%. Take this anyway you guys please to but i love my club and i am simply expressing my thoughts. In saying that i believe we will hopefully get a big boost from the return of JWH and Cords. Go easts.

[2026]

Young bulls like Napa and Evans need to play alongside experienced forwards like JWH, Cords and Moa to fire.

Eventually they'll be leading the way.

[2026]

Guerra you are officially on notice.

Pull your socks up or you can fark off to Wyong for a spell.

[One Eyed Willy]

Young bulls like Napa and Evans need to play alongside experienced forwards like JWH, Cords and Moa to fire.

Eventually they'll be leading the way.

I've been really disappointed in Moa
He has to take JWH role on as the go to metre man. Strong hard charges getting them on the back foot not ball playing out the back

[Salvatori Grubber]

I've been really disappointed in Moa
He has to take JWH role on as the go to metre man. Strong hard charges getting them on the back foot not ball playing out the back

See I'm on the other side here. I admit that I switched the game off with 15 to go, but in the 65 minutes I did watch I thought Moa was immense.

He went hunting for Taumololo, nailed him once, would have nailed him a second time if Taumololo hadn't passed before the line, and his carries were savage. He took ownership of (trying to) nullify their second best player.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I think the biggest disappointment so far of the season for us has been our big blokes.Weve been dominated twice in our 3 games. I think the raiders matched us tbh. But didnt dominate. Our game v the cows, we got completely outclassed in the forwads in every aspect.The very first few sets of the game we were making 30-40 meters meanwhile they were marching down the field making 60-70. We tried going set for set with them and just couldnt keep up. Forced passes. Bad errors. Dumb offloads.Soft D. Its poor. I fail to accept that the conditions thusfar have been to blame. Because that is what the pre season is for. We flew over to stinking hot dubai and spent a week there. We trained under the summer heat all day every day in the pre season. Training and match fitness is apple and oranges but i still cannot accept that as a legitmate excuse for our poor performances. Guerra hit the nail on the head in a interview, the conditions are the same for both teams. Our biggest strength leading into the season which kept us considered as top 8 contenders was our untouched, strong forward pack. Our senior guys in the pack have failed to take the heat off our young halves. If anything they have only made things harder for them to operate.I blame 90% of our losses to our pack. Jwh and Cords no doubt are a big loss but we have Napa, Moa, Evans, Guerra and Liu. Who are all/will be rep players. SST really looks like the only one who is putting in 100%. Take this anyway you guys please to but i love my club and i am simply expressing my thoughts. In saying that i believe we will hopefully get a big boost from the return of JWH and Cords. Go easts.

You are spot on mate.

Plus a little poor coaching and misread of the environment by them.

Brad Arthur gets his squad playing with grunt and execution regardless who is in his lineup...our bloke and his staff need to lift their game.

[LargeMike]

The same Brad Arthur who came 12th last season after buying half of his squad?

... and needed to buy more superstars to be competitive.

Please....

[Guest]

The praise for Brad Arthur is a simple case of the grass is greener on the other side when our team does not play well.

I thought that Sam "Victa" Moa was one of our very few good players on thursday night as well.

[eddie]

The praise for Brad Arthur is a simple case of the grass is greener on the other side when our team does not play well.
I thought that Sam "Victa" Moa was one of our very few good players on thursday night as well.

There you go.
I agree 100% with Braith "Anasta's" Wallet in this case.

The OP was excellent as well , but I wish Chook "THE MASTER" Master would consider using paragraphs.
Don't wanna sound like a winger with a H , but it was a tad difficult for me to read.

Moa and JWH play a very different game in any case.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

The same Brad Arthur who came 12th last season after buying half of his squad?

... and needed to buy more superstars to be competitive.

Please....

I assume yes, it is that same guy.

I wonder how many East's fans would have swapped rosters with Parra before a ball was kicked in anger this year?

Damn sure I wouldn't have.

It's about attitude and transferring your game from the training paddock to match time. Parra are doing that well atm and we aren't. Simple.

Things can and will change though. Not saying Robbo is a poor coach by any stretch, just that he isn't meeting the current challenges.

[Guest]

Are you aware of our key players that are absent from the team?

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Are you aware of our key players that are absent from the team?

Yes...including their nicknames.

But their absence doesn't cause players to miss basic one on one tackles or cause our defensive shape to get easily outnumbered on the flanks. Its about attitude and preparation.

Fitzy as D coach must take some of this responsibility too.

[2026]

A teams D is the window to their attitude.

Ours = Half arsed.

[milanja]

Yes...including their nicknames.

But their absence doesn't cause players to miss basic one on one tackles or cause our defensive shape to get easily outnumbered on the flanks. Its about attitude and preparation.

Fitzy as D coach must take some of this responsibility too.

Exactly, watching titans and Newcastle yesterday does not give me any confidence that we would beat them with our team at the moment.

Young ash taylor plays with more confidence than jackson. Hastings should be allowed to play his own game, then we may see a change in our team.

[Monaco's Fan Club]

I think our team are just waiting for our "big three" to return.. Sadly, our pain is only set to continue.