Where to begin?
This game, like the Broncos game was lost early and in the forwards.
The Storm players made too many metres, quick play of the balls and got our defenders on the back foot. The defence, hit and stick MUST improve.
Injuries, beginning to be a worry. We can no longer think of this team as the same that started the season, too many changes and too much time missed for guys for fans and the team to expect the roll to continue from here.
It is back to square one and that NEEDS to be the mindset. Forget the first 6 games, it is now about the very next ONE game.
Paasi still looks underdone. hw is a serially poor defender who lets the runner come to him. I'm not sure what to do with him as he is one of our best running props... maybe bench impact until he gets back close to 100%
Afoa did ok but mostly in his 2nd stint. Another who lets the runner come to him.
Losing Luke early was disastrous... to think if some had their way we would;ve had no hooker cover (not that
Tevaga was great at all)
Mannering - looks old and is still unco asf on attack. He is no longer an edge forward in my opinion. Happy for him to play as a middle either in the 13 or off the bench.
Papali'i - he was brave and worked hard, this wasn't his fault.
Blair was fair today.
Lino is exactly who anyone who has watched him thought he was, a decent back-up half. He is not a first choicer and his lack of kicking distance is a genuine team weakness when we face a dominant pack who are winning the field position battle.
Green was quiet but was getting some abysmal service out of dummy.
Maumalo wasn't able to impose himself with ball in hand but he didn't do much wrong.
Gelling was exposed in the first half, however... the forwards were not doing their job and this accentuated the flaws in our centres. He had a decent crack in the second half. Realistically he is our 4th or 5th choice.
Hiku is a liability on d, everyone knows this... but he is also feeding the best tryscorer in the NRL in 2018. I am happy to keep him but he really missed
Harris inside him.
Fusitu'a could get more involved running the ball in the middle. He is hard to criticise.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, the dude tries his guts out and I would've taken him off with 30 to go because what was the point.
Tevaga, glad we had hooker cover... sucks that it was him. He is not a first grade quality hooker and he is simply too small to be an effective backrower. I love his heart and energy. But he has not got the necessary skill.
Lisone... I have gone from being his biggest fan early to really questioning him as a player who belongs in this level. He is a second away from a mistake or penalty at all times and simply too small and gets manhandled by back-up hookers. I wouldn't pick him again in a hurry. It is sad.
Vete is too slow and was exposed on defence. We have better options.
Vuna, loved his energy and intensity.
Gavet,
Johnson, Sao,
Harris and
Pulu must come back asap
While this was a fucking disgrace of a game... it is only 2 points and we are still in a good spot on the ladder. What's done is done and the focus has to be on starting the next game strong, powerful and imposing this teams will on the opposition.
I am not a fan of the grand final or even the top 4 talk... it has to be a week to week thing and a slow grind to build.
Like
ToiletDuck I'm not counting my chickens or my eggs or anything.
but we still have a chance to win next week
