I think there are some things to worrie about and again its the right edge defense, DWZ And Ali Leiataua could leak a ton of points each week.
I think we lacked any intensity in that first half, it wasn't until the kids came on that we sparked.
I really dont give a shit about the result tonight, but the imagine what DCE, can do down our right edge is scary.
Ali Leiataua was fucken Awful on D tonight!
I think
Ali just further underscored what a lot of us have been saying (well I have gotten carried away on this topic in the past tbf) but he is why he never gets out of NSW cup - not
Andrew Webster.
He cannot be selected in that form. So no need to worry, he won't make the team anyway. I certainly won't bash him anymore, he has a problem, a psychological hurdle to overcome, hey look at it this way, most of us would arm grab in that competition, I mean sure maybe make the first hit full of adrenaline with the Whanau watching and TV camera's - but I recon after the buzz wore off I would either be getting carted off or bloody trying not to kill myself in the next four tackles - and I used to play center...
If it were me coaching the bloke, I know one old trick that has worked since the first footy was kicked....tackle around the waist or legs side on, at least make tackle, even if you get dragged over the line -
Taine Tuapiki and guys like him have to make a career out of side on legs tackles. Do that and eventually you stop being scared to go higher.
He might get a one game reprieve to see if he improves with our best defensive line up on his inside. But I think
Ali is going to learn a hard lesson this season.
In terms of the lack of intensity till the young guns came on....it is clear
Webster has told the old boys to just get some contact in and try combos and ignore the scoreboard, you can see after two games that they have been told to hold back and save the body for round one.
The boost we get from the bench is a thing in
Webster ball, we get through our seasons well using youthful energy, everything is working as it should be imo.