Here we go, post-match player scores:
1. KNik - He dropped a sitter but took an absolute screamer so that kind of equals itself out anyway. He was sublime in chiming in whenever he wanted ans that play to set up Roberts was absolute class and something he is becoming quite renowned for. You know he's going to run it on the outside shoulder, the defense knows he's going to do it and yet he does it and it works anyway, classy. He was great all night but there is one thing I really want to give him a wrap for - his kick returns. He is tiny and got smashed repeatedly, particularly by Campbell-Gillard (who was great for them by the way, he is becoming something special) but kept getting up and kept running back at pace, that shows a lot of guts. what a gun. 9
2. Oates - He was causing headaches to the Panthers right side defense before getting a massive headache of his own to end his night on what was just an absolute 'what the' moment. Losing him made a massive difference even though Mead was actually excellent in replacing Oates, showed just how good Oates was going. 7
3. Roberts - He needs KNik at 7 because they just read each other so well. He did a lot of tidy up work in defense and is just so electric he is making the most of very limited opportunities in the back end of the season...look for that to change next week...just a hunch. 7
4. Moga - I am one of his biggest critics but he was very good last night. Yes he gave a bonehead penalty and kept rushing in BUT he learned from last week. He rushed in and made it count when he needed to, shows that big melon of his does have a little bit of thinking happening. He was really good. 8
5. Kahu - What on earth was with the goal kicking? This is a major problem for us moving into next week. Kahu was solid and total respect for a guy playing on one leg, he is one gutsy player that's for sure and how good was that drop goal! 7
6. Milford - A really weird game from the Milf. He was responsible for KOing Oates which was a massive turning point in the game. He kept making half breaks and looked dangerous a lot of the game but mixed it up with some real head scratchers as well, particularly THAT pass. He gets smashed repeatedly but just keeps going, he is a tough little nut that's for sure. It wasn't his best game but he was still very dangerous, look out Melbourne, that's all I can say because you just know he is going to have a big game. 6
7. Marshall - It has been said a few times that he isn't an 80 minute player anymore...I agree BUT he offers us something very important off the bench and we will see that next week with Boyd hopefully back. I have the sneaking suspicion these are the games he was bought to the club for and he may well be the difference next week, I just have a hunch. His defense was a lot better than I remember for a while last night. That try to the prime ministers wasn't his fault really. 7
8. Thaiday - He doesn't have full seasons of quality in him anymore but what he does have is big game experience and that will be vital next week. He was pretty good mostly with the exception of the miss on RCG (sheesh his name is long) which was really, really poor. He also knocked himself out on a night when it seemed pretty much everyone was doing that as well. BUT his intimidation of Mansour at a crucial moment served to fire the boys up, he is primed for a big game against the Storm, just wait and see. 6
9. Hunt - Man we are losing a good 'un. He is the next best hooker in the game right now behind Smith and that is some achievement for a guy who has been there for like six weeks. 44 tackles...in the middle of the field...against big blokes...from a halfback, wow! He was desperate all night and made a number of big tackles at crucial moments and you could see how fired up he was EVERY SINGLE TIME...and there were many times. Macca could do that as well sure BUT Hunt offers so much in attack as well. His pass to Oates for his try showed such good vision as well. He is picking his runs, passes and kicks well, really well and kicked the ball straight into Wallace's ugly face as well, top stuff. Yes he gave away that penalty but goodness me, that sort of offside happens every tackle, every game, doesn't stop him getting a perfect score from me, he was just that good. 10
10. Blair - He must have his future sorted because he wanted it last night, badly. He ran like a man possessed, tackled like a man possessed and had some nice offloads. He is a big key for us up against his old club next week, look out Melbourne this is one guy who is primed and ready to explode. 9
11. Glenn - How good has he been in the back half of this season! He made it his mission to terrorize the Panthers right side defense and tackled enough for three guys to shut down their right side all night, what a game. He is just so important for us to be playing so well on the left given Gillett on the right is having a few issues of late. Dare I say it, he is playin Teo-like. Glenn was just shaded by Hunt on the night, just and that says it all. 9.5
12. Gillett - Shocking first half from the best second-rower in the world but he went a long way to making amends in the second half. He really stepped it up in that second forty and he needs to do that and more for the full 80 next week to shut down the Storm's left side attack because what he produced in the first forty last night was awful. He is a big game player though these days so I'm confident he will. 5
13. McGuire - I am really beginning to think (like others) he should probably be the next captain. He leads by example, and goodness me what an example that is. He is just so quick off the mark and has such good footwork for a guy his size. He hits hard and he sticks, he is the second best forward in the game these days (Burgess hasn't had the best season) behind Taumololo and that says it all. He has such a big motor too and given our injuries, he might well be required to play 80 next week or the one after and he looks like he could do so easily...probably even 160. He is the heart andsoul of our forward pack since Gillett has gone backwards in the back end of the year. 9.5
14. Mead - Ok, aside from
@meady, who else actually was excited when he came on after Oates knocked himself out? I for one was extremely worried and then Mead decided that he was going to put egg on a lot of our faces by proceeding to be absolutely excellent for the rest of the game. He took a number of high pressure catches, great kick returns, took Moga's horrid pass and tackled solidly. Chapeau sir, chapeau! 8.5
15. Arrow - He went on, knocked himself out, wobbled back into the defensive line, pulled off a number of good tackles, VERY reluctantly got taken off three minutes later for HIA, failed his HIA, came back to the sideline with an interchange card somehow, got told he couldn't go back on, looked incredibly disappointed and stood there waiting. That is why some of us rate him so highly, he has sort an amazing work ethic and does not want to let anyone down. I'm giving him a 6 simply because his three minutes was highly entertaining. 6
16. Joffa - Anyone see his stats? NRL.com has him at 51 minutes, 15 runs for 124 metres, 35 tackles...and he looked like he could have kept on going. It isn't really surprising to be honest because coming through the ranks, him and Arrow were renowned for having such big motors. Joffa is turning momentum when he comes on and he has been doing it since coming back into the side and his one-two punch with TPJ will be a massive weapon for us next week if the starting the guys can simply hold their own in the opening 20 which is a big ask up against the relentless Storm machine. Joffa is a machine and an absolute gun for us. He could easily be starting and when he came back on after Thaiday KO'd himself, we actually seemed to go better. Great game from the kid. 8.5
17. Ese'ese - Like Joffa, is a massive weapon off the bench and his career will go to new heights down in Newcastle next season, oh well you can't keep them all. How do we fit Ese'ese, Joffa, TPJ, Arrow and Marshall on the same bench? You need Marshall which means one of those other four misses out unfortunately and for me, it is a real toss of the coin between Ese2 and Arrow but I'd go with Arrow because he just offers more defensively which you need against Melbourne. Joffa and TPJ are non-negotiable. Anyway, back on topic, Ese2 was really good once again, well done. 7