Post Match Warriors v Eels - [Round 22, 2024]

[wizard of Tauranga]

We’re tactically using our energy in the wrong areas and it has cost us the season.

We have strong aggressive defence once the tackle is engaged but are to exhausted to make tackles due to fatigue. Many holes from tired defenders and to many times players left on the ground instead of at marker. Put less in after the tackle is engaged and more into marking in defence.

We are the king of post contact meters on attack… and then have nothing left in the tank to score in attacking positions. Slow motion dummy runners, players to deep, a step to slow to make a break, etc.

Same every week - we dominate the stats but the opposition outscore us and we can’t score enough points.

We’ve trained ourselves for endurance at the cost of speed and quick reflexes.

And to cap it off our intensity in the contact; fighting out post contact meters and bodies aimed at endurance, have resulted in the most injuries in the NRL.

A lot for the coaches to think about for next year.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I hope we now use the remaining games with 2025 in mind. I may have bagged our young Centres but I hope they get more game time. The FG experience will be invaluable. Leka needs more time on the edge. Guy will be a weapon there. Would like to see Sifakula and Maiu'u get more time as impact props but not in the same game. I do not think we have anyone who can really cover lock so that needs to be sorted.

Would also like to see new blood in the assistant coaches. Stacey has been there way to long. We need speed out back. We look like plodders. Hopefully we look at why we have the worst injury list in the NRL. It is way to high and if we need to do every thing we can to mitigate it. Also if there are players causing division behind the scenes cut them.

 

[Inruin]

Thats harsh. Every player speaks glowingly about Webster and the club. He is probably what we need, but do we have the players we need?

Do a review of all players sorted by salary in descending order. We arent getting enough bang for buck from players on the higher end. Those are the players who are paid to turn the game in our favour.

And review our game plan. I get last season - if we do these certain things we have a good chance of winning games. This season the wheels fell off to a degree, for various reasons, but we couldn't adapt. Then when we apparently simplified the game plan and had a run of unexpected wins and a strong cowboys game we reverted back to the old game plan again. Even from after the titans game it felt like AW wanted us to play that robotic style which didn't suit the style of player we had in TMM as a dominant half and CHT as a 6, despite the results (and no it wasn't anywhere near perfect but at least we had a chance and tried to play football). Back to SJ tonight and back to robotic play that hasn't worked this season. Just a real lack of adaptability and using a game plan for the players we had and their strengths. Obviously lots of variables as well. Injuries the big one, recruitment, selections , bench use, changes in assistant coaches, seemingly being fixated on last seasons player form etc

An honest review at the end of the season and relevant changes made where needed.

The last point I'll make is that last season was awesome but it was an anomaly. We just arent that good. And we are a number of seasons off being consistently good I think.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

CNK 308m

Carries the team on his back

Thing is i would gladly trade 100 of those metres (which are mostly hit ups) for someone who just runs a support line around the middle of the ruck....even if he doesnt get the ball. The 4 or so one out hit ups after the continuous deep Asi kicks was just easy fodder for the Eels.....and they just played for the inevitable error (which we eventually obliged), got on a roll from there.....(probably the game plan we wanted to do).
.....then again dont know wether its a coached thing but offloading (which is strange for a Warriors side youd have thought) isnt really part of our vocabulary....hasnt been for a while (we we're having enough trouble catching no pressure passes so i guess....)
Just saw and was thinking tho with a few of those half breaks around the ruck youd have seen in other teams someone like the Hammer sniffing around all over them.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

For sure. But what do you call mentally tough? And which players have it and which don't?

Come hither and regard my tale of last night.

When Gutho was lining up that side line conversion, he was about 5 metres infront of me. Let me tell you, the abuse that was coming from bay 28 was monstrous. Death threats, your mum jokes, all the works.

As he's lining up his kick, he turns and grins at a guy who 'baas' like a sheep.

Cooly, he slots the conversion, turns around and gives our lot a thumbs up.

THAT is mental toughness, my friend.

THAT is what we want in our team. Players that thrive under pressure.