Round 14 Discussion

[rnabokov]

When reflecting on the Storm's game last night, apart from Bromwich, Hughes and Paps there were no other real outstanding performances. What was noticeable however, was that every player was 100% committed to everything they did. There were no flashes of brilliance just a team willing to put their bodies on the line for a full 80 minutes.

The other glaring point was their execution. They made little if any errors that actually cost them. This one telling stat ensured the Roosters got no easy meterage, no easy access to the ball and no easy way out of their own 20M zone. Added to this there was next to no 6 agains given away which suggests their discipline was the most outstanding aspect of their game last night. It's no coincidence that our discipline is almost the polar opposite to the Storm's.

It was beautiful to watch. To get to that terrific level of execution for mine, takes a few years at least. It tells me that our game planning so to speak for the last multiple years is way behind anything these 2 teams showed. We are years away from that no matter who coaches us.

It also shows me the quality of the Storms recruitment as much as their coaching.

 

[rnabokov]

It’s so simple but you have to be fit enough and be committed to the little things to achieve it. It bothers me greatly because we are way to lazy to even come close to what is essentially the simplest of game plans.

Yep. Fit mentally as well as physically.

 

[rnabokov]

Watching Hughes play reminded me again of why Bellamy let Croft go.

 

[Jedhead]

It was beautiful to watch. To get to that terrific level of execution for mine, takes a few years at least. It tells me that our game planning so to speak for the last multiple years is way behind anything these 2 teams showed. We are years away from that no matter who coaches us.

It also shows me the quality of the Storms recruitment as much as their coaching.

Agreed. You need a core group to be drilled in the art of execution. Once you have that you can afford to introduce new (pre-disciplined) players slowly to the group.

I can't fathom why Croft's execution has fallen apart with us. I've never seen him look so uncoordinated. Is it the regime, is it the coaching, is it the culture surrounding the team ethos? Perhaps it's a mixture of all three.

 

[rnabokov]

Agreed. You need a core group to be drilled in the art of execution. Once you have that you can afford to introduce new (per-disciplined) players slowly to the group.

I can't fathom why Croft's execution has fallen apart with us. I've never seen him look so uncoordinated. Is it the regime, is it the coaching, is it the culture surrounding the team ethos? Perhaps it's a mixture of all three.

All 3 for mine. It's almost like Croft can't trust anyone to be anywhere specific as per the game plan. It's all up to him to make things happen, rather than just fitting into a side that's so well drilled you can execute with your eyes closed because everyone trusts everyone else to always be in the right place at the right time.

 

[Sproj]

Watching Hughes play reminded me again of why Bellamy let Croft go.

Hughes is highly underrated

 

[Jedhead]

All 3 for mine. It's almost like Croft can't trust anyone to be anywhere specific as per the game plan. It's all up to him to make things happen, rather than just fitting into a side that's so well drilled you can execute with your eyes closed because everyone trusts everyone else to always be in the right place at the right time.

So at present to use a simple analogy - The water in the pot is at boiling point and controlling its output is currently impossible. Water is spitting and boiling over the sides at the least sign of agitation. What we need is for the heat to be turned down a notch to allow the water to find a steady equilibrium.

How you turn down the heat in a one team town remains to be seen.

 

[rnabokov]

Hughes is highly underrated

Him and BSmith, the ideal utilities, can't be underestimated say, when injuries strike

 

[rnabokov]

Also can't underestimate the absolute importance of a good kicking game to maintain the pressure. If anything, it gives the team time to set their structures, instead of constantly scrambling under pressure, particularly given the increased speed of the "new" game.

 

[mrslong]

How good would some tactics be at the broncos

I think we can blame Wayne for some of that. He was always of the belief that league is a simple game built on the back of defence and go forward, anything beyond that comes from individual brilliance ala Alf and Locky. Sadly, the game has gone past him because of the complicated game plans of the defence.

 

[rnabokov]

So at present to use a simple analogy - The water in the pot is at boiling point and controlling its output is currently impossible. Water is spitting and boiling over the sides at the least sign of agitation. What we need is for the heat to be turned down a notch to allow the water to find a steady equilibrium.

How you turn down the heat in a one team town remains to be seen.

An argument for a good kicking game, one answer I'd say, whether or not we are a one team town. Constant scrambling is not good for composure which then screws execution

 

[rnabokov]

I think we can blame Wayne for some of that. He was always of the belief that league is a simple game built on the back of defence and go forward, anything beyond that comes from individual brilliance ala Alf and Locky. Sadly, the game has gone past him because of the complicated game plans of the defence.

Exactly. Which is why Souths are now almost there but never more. Bennett gets the best from his players but that is no longer enough

 

[_wwong]

I think we can blame Wayne for some of that. He was always of the belief that league is a simple game built on the back of defence and go forward, anything beyond that comes from individual brilliance ala Alf and Locky. Sadly, the game has gone past him because of the complicated game plans of the defence.

We can’t even get those simple things right. Still no defence and not much go forward. And we definitely don’t have any individual brilliance anymore.

 

[rnabokov]

I think we can blame Wayne for some of that. He was always of the belief that league is a simple game built on the back of defence and go forward, anything beyond that comes from individual brilliance ala Alf and Locky. Sadly, the game has gone past him because of the complicated game plans of the defence.

Which again for mine has made Seibold's job even harder trying to build something entirely new, virtually from scratch. Again, I am not excusing him for his shortcomings, like fixing our defence, just giving a bit of perspective.

At the same time, having Seibold use a mantra of "play what's in front of you" is really only a small part of the picture, or what is needed. We need major surgery, not bandaids

 

[rnabokov]

We can’t even get those simple things right. Still no defence and not much go forward. And we definitely don’t have any individual brilliance anymore.

Actually, I think we do: Staggs, Coates, Farnworth, Fifita for the rest of the year ☹, Dearden, Carrigan, Bird and maybe even Milford. What is needed is a proper focus on their skills within the context of developed team structures.

Imagine Staggs and Farnworth in Storm. I reckon it would really elevate their game more than it is at present, especially with Munster and Smith pulling the strings to maximise their value within the "machine" that Bellamy has produced through his great coaching..

 

[bb_gun]

Which again for mine has made Seibold's job even harder trying to build something entirely new, virtually from scratch. Again, I am not excusing him for his shortcomings, like fixing our defence, just giving a bit of perspective.

At the same time, having Seibold use a mantra of "play what's in front of you" is really only a small part of the picture, or what is needed. We need major surgery, not bandaids

We also just need to move on from Seibold now. Whether he has the skills as a coach to turn this teams form around is irrelevant. The damage he's done already to our record as a club and the image he currently has with the media is irreversible.

I wish him all the best and I hope he gets work again in some coaching capacity but in order to rebuild our image and standing as a club it's time to sever ties. It most likely won't happen until the end of the season and that is perfectly fine with me.

Now I just hope we beat the Raiders tomorrow night and our young guys can reclaim some of that winning mentality before heading into next season.

 

[rnabokov]

We also just need to move on from Seibold now. Whether he has the skills as a coach to turn this teams form around is irrelevant. The damage he's done already to our record as a club and the image he currently has with the media is irreversible.

I wish him all the best and I hope he gets work again in some coaching capacity but in order to rebuild our image and standing as a club it's time to sever ties. It most likely won't happen until the end of the season and that is perfectly fine with me.

Now I just hope we beat the Raiders tomorrow night and our young guys can reclaim some of that winning mentality before heading into next season.

I agree, and I feel a bit sorry for Seibold because he was always the wrong choice for us, and that wasn't his doing, despite his hubris, and blind optimism, in being complicit in accepting the appointment.

 

[_wwong]

Actually, I think we do: Staggs, Coates, Farnworth, Fifita for the rest of the year [emoji852], Dearden, Carrigan, Bird [emoji848] and maybe even Milford. What is needed is a proper focus on their skills within the context of developed team structures.

Imagine Staggs and Farnworth in Storm. I reckon it would really elevate their game more than it is at present, especially with Munster and Smith pulling the strings to maximise their value within the "machine" that Bellamy has produced through his great coaching..

Fifita is definitely our one sole player who can pull out some individual brilliance. Staggs I feel teams are starting to work him out as we saw him bundled into touch a few times last week. He’s still deadly close to the line though with the right shapes and ball play. Coates and farnworth are solid at best for now and haven’t really threatened teams too much but we have seen glimpses.

What I long for is the old cliche, a champion team not a team of champions.