POST GAME Post Game Discussion - Round 1 - South Sydney

[rnabokov]

If you watched the Eels /Manly game last night, Peats and De Gois put up an answer to the two hooker question. Working off a big mobile pack, they had a field day at Manly's expense. Brad Arthur is bringing some exciting ideas into the game.

I don't think the "2 hookers" idea is novel or exciting. It's been around for years. Just ask Ben Hunt.

It might work for some teams, as maybe it did for an Eels outfit who do have a big strong mobile pack - unlike us at the moment, and, against a Manly outfit which was short thanks to injuries.

It's relevance should be applied to the players we have, especially our forwards, the bench, its rotation and of course, Macca.

For mine, we need 4 forwards on the bench - one of whom should be Oates who can play in the backs as well as the forwards. In a game as fast as it is today, IMO, the more forwards on the bench the better.

Macca needs to lift a notch, as do a whole heap of others on the performance v the Bunnies.

I am less concerned with Macca than with our halves - FB combination, back row, centres, passing game and controlling possession ... rather a lot really. Can't wait for the team announcement next week.

 

[Big Pete]

So we have a coach who throws the towel in with a third of the game left? What happened to the whole "play the whole 80" thing?

We've got a coach who's willing to try other things and test out other players when things aren't working out in the first hit-out of the season.

Some people are acting like it was apart of his plan to take McCullough off after 50 when all signs point to it being a off-the-cuff decision brought about by the context of the game.

 

[Alec]

For mine, we need 4 forwards on the bench - one of whom should be Oates who can play in the backs as well as the forwards. In a game as fast as it is today, IMO, the more forwards on the bench the better.

There's really no need for 4 running forwards off the bench, especially as the 4th is generally the worst and takes minutes away from better players.

On the other hand, McCullough isn't good enough to play 80 minutes, and having fresh quick legs out of dummy half to replace him to expose the tiring opposition forwards has always been a very effective move in Rugby League. Puts pressure on McCullough too, which he isn't getting right now.

 

[rnabokov]

There's really no need for 4 running forwards off the bench, especially as the 4th is generally the worst and takes minutes away from better players.

On the other hand, McCullough isn't good enough to play 80 minutes, and having fresh quick legs out of dummy half to replace him to expose the tiring opposition forwards has always been a very effective move in Rugby League. Puts pressure on McCullough too, which he isn't getting right now.

I take your point. I also agree that the "2 hooker" argument has its merits. At the same time, I'll reserve my judgement until a few more games into the season.

I really want to see what Bennett does with the team after Friday night and next week - especially Thaiday, Reed, Whitchurch and ... Oates. I believe Oates is a must for this side wherever he plays.

 

[Cult]

If some of you guys were the coach we would be well over the salary cap, players would be better off not showing up for training, we would probably lose more than Bucking Beads as a fan and we would have shitty tribal looking jerseys with flames on them. This is why Wayne Bennett does his job and you do whatever you do, AP.

 

[Porthoz]

You are proving to be very selective in your reading/comprehension abilities. Good on you.

Am I? Have you seen him play Fullback outside of those 2 games?

 

[Anonymous person]

what have i suggested that is so far out of touch with reality?

play players to their strengths? mcguire gets more minutes because thats how he plays best. thaiday gets less cause hes shit. dodds gets less. mccullough wouldve been gone and we would have granville with some more change in the bank. parcell would be there on the bench if granville cant play 80, but playing 80 would be his priority number 1. endurance isn't a hard thing to train for when youre a professional football player. how mccullough cant do it is beyond me, though he strikes me as a very lazy and "give the minimum" type of guy, so that could be why.

nothing i suggest is unrealistic or head-scratch inducing. just common sense based on watching football for 25 years. feel free to elaborate on what you disagree with in anything ive said, but a drive-by "our team would be way worse if they did your suggestions" with no explanation helps nothing.

 

[mieko]

We've got a coach who's willing to try other things and test out other players when things aren't working out in the first hit-out of the season.

Some people are acting like it was apart of his plan to take McCullough off after 50 when all signs point to it being a off-the-cuff decision brought about by the context of the game.

Actually BP, Kevvie said it was pre determined that Parker was to play dummy half when Macca comes off. Parker knew he was going in there eventually. That decision by Bennett was pretty bad.

 

[Big Pete]

Actually BP, Kevvie said it was pre determined that Parker was to play dummy half when Macca comes off. Parker knew he was going in there eventually. That decision by Bennett was pretty bad.

Got a link?

I'm sure Parker would have known he would have been the guy to fill the role but the move was dictated by the situation.

 

[mieko]

Got a link?

I'm sure Parker would have known he would have been the guy to fill the role but the move was dictated by the situation.

Sorry no, but was from the horses mouth on triple m this morning.

 

[Fozz]

Parker filled at dummy half during the All Stars game so I'm not surprised he went there.

 

[Alec]

Bennett really undervalues the hooker role. Probably more than he (used to?) undervalue the front rowers.

 

[Huge]

Bennett really undervalues the hooker role. Probably more than he (used to?) undervalue the front rowers.

Wb always valued front rowers....read the history of the Broncos especially the section dealing with Glen Lazarus. The thing he didn't do was pay overs for forwards. He did however manage to have some of the best front rowers in the game...they knew he valued their contribution.

 

[Big Pete]

Alec is referring to the way he treated Civoniceiva in 2007 when he was coming off contract and opted to sign Joel Clinton instead because he was cheaper.

Obviously it was one of Wayne's biggest mistakes and it cost us dearly.

But then, I don't think one blemish is entirely indicative of his approach either. He went public about not offering high salaries to prop forwards, but when he's referring to players like Kade Snowden and Justin Poore, you can understand why.

 

[bazza]

Bennett had clear intentions of using Parker at hooker. Parker played hooker in pre-season training sessions as well as in the All Stars. I'm sick of Parker getting stuffed around in the team. He needs to be playing 80 minutes at LOCK. Not at Prop and not at Hooker. It seemed he would finally return to play 80 mins at lock, but now he's being moved around once again.

I understand the need to give McCullough a rest when his pretty much tackling himself to exhaustion, but its no wonder he doesn't have much energy when were attacking. I would prefer if McCullough played smarter rather than harder. He shouldn't have to be making 60 tackles a game. He should be running the ball out of dummy half more, and testing the big boys around the ruck.

 

[Rally Towel]

After a few days to think about it, I'm of the opinion that a harsh reality check in Round 1 will be advantageous to our development this season. You learn more from a loss than a win.

Better than scraping through the early rounds, thinking we are just a few % off the top teams, without a true measure of the improvement required. Getting the stuffing kicked out of us made the disparity between us and the benchmark incredibly apparent.

Should be good motivation to rip on at training, fighting for spots, and working on our shortcomings for the year ahead. I don't think we're a challenger this year, but I daresay we'll be a vastly different beast when we meet again.

 

[rnabokov]

After a few days to think about it, I'm of the opinion that a harsh reality check in Round 1 will be advantageous to our development this season. You learn more from a loss than a win.

Better than scraping through the early rounds, thinking we are just a few % off the top teams, without a true measure of the improvement required. Getting the stuffing kicked out of us made the disparity between us and the benchmark incredibly apparent.

Should be good motivation to rip on at training, fighting for spots, and working on our shortcomings for the year ahead. I don't think we're a challenger this year, but I daresay we'll be a vastly different beast when we meet again.

Gee, we have been learning for a while now it seems. It will be nice to put all that knowledge into practice

 

[Socnorb]

what have i suggested that is so far out of touch with reality?

play players to their strengths? mcguire gets more minutes because thats how he plays best. thaiday gets less cause hes shit. dodds gets less. mccullough wouldve been gone and we would have granville with some more change in the bank. parcell would be there on the bench if granville cant play 80, but playing 80 would be his priority number 1. endurance isn't a hard thing to train for when youre a professional football player. how mccullough cant do it is beyond me, though he strikes me as a very lazy and "give the minimum" type of guy, so that could be why.

nothing i suggest is unrealistic or head-scratch inducing. just common sense based on watching football for 25 years. feel free to elaborate on what you disagree with in anything ive said, but a drive-by "our team would be way worse if they did your suggestions" with no explanation helps nothing.

Mccullogh held the endurance records until piped by Parcell this year. Yep,Sounds lazy to me.