Metcalf is a skinny half, he's MEANT to be the worst defender in the team. Marata is this supposed big nuts rep back rower who is getting embarrassed by CHT on edge defence

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Metcalf is a skinny half, he's MEANT to be the worst defender in the team. Marata is this supposed big nuts rep back rower who is getting embarrassed by CHT on edge defence
Agreed. But we have seemingly sacrificed a 7 who was defensively strong, a creative ball player and a solid short kicking game for Metcalf who wants to be a 7 and can kick long, though fairly ineffectively in this game. CHT has his issues but at least he defends well and he should have had another try assist to his name today with a good little kick in behind for RTS. The sum of the two halves has dropped significantly imo.
I also want to know the answer to this questionSo how are we going to be over the next few games on a full size field against teams that are tipped to finish well inside the 8?
If we run out with that same team the answer is badly. Hope for a wet track to hopefully bring us closerI also want to know the answer to this question
My solutions don't take everything into consideration at nearly enough layers and levels but:If we run out with that same team the answer is badly. Hope for a wet track to hopefully bring us closer
I agree. The problem I have is that in our starting forward pack we have Capewell, Niukore and to slightly lesser extent Ford who really aren't contributing a hell of a lot in the way of forward dominance. That's a huge responsibility on Barney and JFH. Having said all that we didn't end up too badly in the game stats. As for the halves I don't believe we have enough there to create enough points for us.My solutions don't take everything into consideration at nearly enough layers and levels but:
Muscle up in the middle or we get dominated like today.
Build off that platform and pull your offensive triggers.
We knew we couldn't break or bend them in the middle so we desperately started trying to go around them.
Neither of those things work. In Barney's second stint he ran and tackled the way they all should have.
If we are to improve, our middles need to set the platform for the team to follow. Apart from that, we need to dig deeper when we are blowing because "sand dunes" that's why.
Apart from that, our halves need to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and inject themselves dominantly whether we are winning the ruck or not.
Should be right from there
Doesn't matter who our forwards are unless we get go forward we are not going to be competitiveI agree. The problem I have is that in our starting forward pack we have Capewell, Niukore and to slightly lesser extent Ford who really aren't contributing a hell of a lot in the way of forward dominance. That's a huge responsibility on Barney and JFH. Having said all that we didn't end up too badly in the game stats. As for the halves I don't believe we have enough there to create enough points for us.
Ah well, let's see if there is any improvement for next game. I don't have high expectations though
Your point about our halves is hard to measure on the back of today but if it's true we're fudged until Jett gets his adult Cleary chinI agree. The problem I have is that in our starting forward pack we have Capewell, Niukore and to slightly lesser extent Ford who really aren't contributing a hell of a lot in the way of forward dominance. That's a huge responsibility on Barney and JFH. Having said all that we didn't end up too badly in the game stats. As for the halves I don't believe we have enough there to create enough points for us.
Ah well, let's see if there is any improvement for next game. I don't have high expectations though
Niukore could have shouldered more weight. That may have helped.Also in what world does Jackson ford play more minutes than the kiwis captain? He played the same mins as Barnett too.
He also dragged Barnett & fish off after 22 and 25 mins. These two are the heart and soul of our pack, and not having at least one of those through to the half was a terrible use of exchanges.
Webby needs to own some of the issues today were on him.
This agar situation has further tainted a shit day for the warriors. Hope it’s sorted quickly, whatever the outcome is.
Too Many!
Barnett starting lock reminded me of Kiwis starting Leo Thompson lock and Naufahu Whyte off the bench. Thought we would have gone with Barnett prop and Erin Clark lockIn terms of attack, I’m not reading too much into that game - we got dominated in the middle so had no platform to get going, and ended up going sideways.
I just can’t understand the middle rotation. I can see why you might want to start with bigger middles to match Canberra’s physicality early, but Ford is hardly a physical presence. Then to not bring on Vaimauga and instead run a Ford - Clark - Walker middle made my head explode.
The backrowers looked at sea and I agree Niukore is on thin ice.
Defensively the right edge was not connected, there’s problems to iron out there. But until we sort out the middle we aren’t going anywhere.
38 tackles in the opposition 20 and against 12 for some of them, and looked devoid of ideas. That doesn't rely on our go forward.In terms of attack, I’m not reading too much into that game - we got dominated in the middle so had no platform to get going, and ended up going sideways.
I just can’t understand the middle rotation. I can see why you might want to start with bigger middles to match Canberra’s physicality early, but Ford is hardly a physical presence. Then to not bring on Vaimauga and instead run a Ford - Clark - Walker middle made my head explode.
The backrowers looked at sea and I agree Niukore is on thin ice.
Defensively the right edge was not connected, there’s problems to iron out there. But until we sort out the middle we aren’t going anywhere.
Welcome back to the mad house!In terms of attack, I’m not reading too much into that game - we got dominated in the middle so had no platform to get going, and ended up going sideways.
I just can’t understand the middle rotation. I can see why you might want to start with bigger middles to match Canberra’s physicality early, but Ford is hardly a physical presence. Then to not bring on Vaimauga and instead run a Ford - Clark - Walker middle made my head explode.
The backrowers looked at sea and I agree Niukore is on thin ice.
Defensively the right edge was not connected, there’s problems to iron out there. But until we sort out the middle we aren’t going anywhere.