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Great game from our forwards under the circumstances. Hopoi has improved a lot.

Young Smithy just getting used to the pace of NRL, will be better for the run.
 
Hounddog said:
Great game from our forwards under the circumstances. Hopoi has improved a lot.

Young Smithy just getting used to the pace of NRL, will be better for the run.
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one of the great wins this year considering five players were out but the media tell you what they just p me off. They just keep talking up the Gooses . .
 
Both sides played well we needed to overcome a lot to win.

Suspensions, injuries, early HIA, very dubious call leading to the second Roosters try after saving a try with great scramble.

A lot to work on in the first half performance, Cirro knows what to fix,

Our end of set kicks at their end in the first half were diabolical.

Usually the halfback steps up and takes those kicks.

Sexton needs to keep practicing. Grubbers and chip kicks, mire skilled halves are starting to do chip kicks.

All we need against the Fins is a semi decent first half. I am happy to lead at half-time our second halves are usually better.
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Was at the game on Friday. What a great win. This side reminds me of our 2002 side. Just never give up. Superb fitness. And stick to the game plan. Every player looks to have bought in. Just great to watch.
 
In saying that. I think our team is so far from the finished project. Ciraldo wants so much more from them. And better players in key positions. Once we develop or buy another halfback and fullback and lock we should be premiership favourites
 
Micko said:
In saying that. I think our team is so far from the finished project. Ciraldo wants so much more from them. And better players in key positions. Once we develop or buy another halfback and fullback and lock we should be premiership favourites
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My rating of halfback kicking games

Sexton- 7/10
Hayward- 7/10
Tia- 7 /10
O'Neill- 8/10.
Woods 10 /10

Kicking in the NRL is more difficult perhaps Sexton is an adjusted 8.5.

Burton is great for the long kicks.

Sexton seems like a bit more confidence and practice might get him over the line.

We also need some more size in the starting pack, like Sexton DSF needs to work on fitness, defence and consistency. But like Sexton he may improve over the remaining rounds.

Hughes, Todd and Underhill also likely to take a while to peak this season but could add a lot in peak form.

We will not be able to buy a halfback as good as Woods.

Tracey is pretty good at fullback, IMO Cochrane looks like a great prospect.

I would have Todd/Hayward or Todd/Tia at lock after Mann retires.

We have some great props arriving next season.

I don’t think that we need to sign anyone, we might if a good player becomes available.

This season we can win the comp if we consistently kick well in the first 20 minutes. All our guys who can kick should be doing a lot of practice. I don't think we can play Woods in the NRL this season.

Cirro is on to all of this.
 
Kiraz injured 4-6 weeks, Max King joining Critter in the NSW side.

DSF out with concussion.

We can move Smith to the centres or play TIA, Wilson on the wing.

Curran can play.

If Mann gets selected for QLD we need 2 more forwards, probably Underhill and Turpin. Times like this Turpin is handy.
 
Team is decimated through injuries, suspensions, HIA protocols and rep duties.

Amazing effort the last few weeks to jag wins especially from being down in the first half.

Its not sustainable so we need troops back.

If we can navigate a win against the Fins, it will be huge going into the bye and then having some players back.

Might need to inject some speed to take on the Fins. They are missing Hammer but still got a fast backline
 
Team named, interesting.
Taffee in the centres, Hughes on the bench.
Underhill, Sua and Woods in the extended squad.

Would be very surprising if Woods made his NRL debut as I don't think he has played reserve grade.

However over the last few weeks Montoya has disappointed me and Sexton hasn't kicked as good as he did earlier in the season.
 
Hounddog said:
Team named, interesting.
Taffee in the centres, Hughes on the bench.
Underhill, Sua and Woods in the extended squad.

Would be very surprising if Woods made his NRL debut as I don't think he has played reserve grade.

However over the last few weeks Montoya has disappointed me and Sexton hasn't kicked as good as he did earlier in the season.
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Interesting to see if CC keeps Taaffe at centre or swaps him with Tracey.

Tracey has been quite good this year although i was not impressed with him not playing at the ball with 2mins left last week and then forced into drop-out.

Wouldnt surprise me if CC switches them. Taaffe will need support on bombs from Katoa and Nikorima though.
 
Smith starting at centre is the other option.

This game anyone in the 23 man squad playing would surprise me.

Even Hutch play 5/8 and Burto moving to centre, but that is option 4 or 5.

The Fins have little time to do video on Woods and don't know if that would be a waste of time.

This game is kind of a free roll of the dice for us, with so many out I'm surprised that we are short odds favourites.
 
For such a talented player Katoa kicks some lame bombs IMO. Not much height because he is focusing on placement.

Overall Fins are a solid side, I think that we can win, but it could be close.

If Woods plays, his kicking game might be the difference. A half that can earn repeat sets and set up trys with kicks would be great to have.

Cirro could judge from training if Woods was ready. Highly unusual probably only a 5% chance.

Underhill 50% chance, Sua 35% chance.

Cirro might know that he needs to roll the dice.
 
No halfback listed in reserve grade.

Hutch, Underhill and Sua listed...

Hmmmm. Not so confident about my %s above now.

Warriors reserve grade side is strong.

First in reserve grade, second in NRL, good depth, playing well. The Warriors tick a lot of boxes.

Edit: Woods is listed in Flegg, Smithy was listed in the squad several times before debut. Underhill probably on standby for Hughes doing a fitness test.
 
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If the 17 is as listed, I'm starting Smithy at right centre and moving Taaffe back to the bench.

The biggest danger this game is Herbie, I think that Smith and Hayes have the strength to contain him and enough speed and mobility. Wilson is also pretty good at defending overlaps.

Taaffe can come on later at fullback with Tracey moving to centre.
 
Hounddog said:
If the 17 is as listed, I'm starting Smithy at right centre and moving Taaffe back to the bench.

The biggest danger this game is Herbie, I think that Smith and Hayes have the strength to contain him and enough speed and mobility. Wilson is also pretty good at defending overlaps.

Taaffe can come on later at fullback with Tracey moving to centre.
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Going to be a massive test for the team . if they win it will be remarkable but the Flippers are not good away team :
 
Game against the Fins is the right thing at the right time for us.

If Burton and Sexton both kick well, we should win. Sexton was kicking better when Burton was out.

I only want the spine kicking and mostly the halves.

Katoa is good at placing kicks, he will not give us many 7 tackle sets.

Aside from kicking well, make our tackles, don't give away silly penalties and don't make unforced errors.

Given the wet conditions I would consider starting Smith at centre, adding Underhill to the bench and moving Taaffe to 18th man.

Regardless, we have a lot of high work rate defenders in the side.

Our points will probably come mainly from Burton and Kiks and mostly at the back end of the game. So stay patient and grid it out. Throw the ball around at the end if necessary.

I think that the players are excited about the challenge.
 
We often struggle in the wet.

Knock on at the scrum base from Marhoney was a turning point.

Hughes only played 17 minutes.

Some dumb soft options at the backend of the game blew the score out. Short, kick offs needed to be better or kick long.

Multiple Short turnarounds into a tough game in the wet not ideal.

Our spine didn't deliver, but too many dropped balls.

I would have taken this position on the table at the start of the season.

Still need to do a lot of work on our game, especially in the wet.
 
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