I think with the cornerstone of our pack
Barnett gone, and
Metcalf most likely gone as well. We'll be top 8 no doubt if we tidy ourselves up, but a deep season push if it was a possibility feels unlikely.
The pack rallied and got up for the Sharks game for
Barnett, but as we've seen the past two weeks thats not sustainable. I knew what we were getting from
Fish, so im not surprised as others that are upset. If you look at his numbers they have been trending slowly down the past four years. Without a Leota or
Barnett to go off the back off, hes not as effective as he once was. That's not a knock, that's just a fact. But the intangibles he brings to the club and juniors will hopefully pay off in the long run, so im not bothered.
We've been outclassed and out enthused two weeks in a row unfortunately. We earnt our position on the ladder, but we definitely had some luck go our way in some of those close wins. The past two weeks the bounce of the ball and injuries just haven't gone our way. Hopefully
Webby can stem the flow over the bye, but weve been dog water after every bye so who knows. The kick chase, low error rate, and discipline is how weve won games this year and that has gone out the window the past two weeks.
Can't really make changes in the forwards as noone can replace
Barnett, so we'll have to just make do there. Hope the forum doesn't turn feral if
Boyd doesn't look like a Dally M halfback as NSW cup and NRL is a different level completely. But I don't think you can run
TMM there with our forward pack getting monstered as he doesn't have the boot like
Boyd to get us out of trouble. The old
Ford is unfortunately back, which is disappointing.
Berry may have been there out of necessity, but he was well off the mark so can't be 100% got completely outclassed by Shibasaki. Hopefully he can stay fit and build back to some form. You have to imagine
Taine to fullback for
CNK, hope that doesn't leave us with
Kosi again as thats not feasible.
They didn't fold in the second half which was atleast pleasing. Other than that, pretty grim with a comprehensive loss and two more injuries. The squad will need to do some soul searching over the bye. At least it will give
Webby another couple weeks to work out the make up of the half's going forward.