Carrigan's effort last night was all class. Where he found the reserves of energy to be so dynamic for 80 minutes is a mystery, but man he was head and shoulders above the other 33 guys out there.
Boyd's effort on Ravalava although unsuccessful was still gutsy and confused me as sometimes he seems to not want to be there and then other times he really puts in. We need to remind ourselves that this team was missing Haas, Glenn, TPJ, Flegler, Lodge and Turpin in the forwards. That's a fair drain on our playing stocks. Nevertheless, the boys who filled in did have a fair dinkum crack.
Some of the forwards left were running from deep onto the ball which was very noticeable. Te'o, Hoppa and Kennedy all made easy metres when they managed to steam onto the ball. Riki also looks a very handy player and I'd be letting him have more of a run with Staggs and Tommy at the expense of Fifita. Offa (being a senior player) still has not reached the level he was playing at before he re-signed , but there was even some discernible improvement in his efforts last night.
Milf looked to have stepped up his running game in the first half and actually was combining well with Tommy. Pity he succumbed to the hammy that was obviously not properly healed. If he can build on that intent when fully fit he'd be a welcome sight. But I got the sense that the whole team wanted to be out there last night and the common theme was trying to win one for Payne Haas as witnessed by the black armbands that they all wore. They may not have got big Haas a win but i think their efforts would have given him a modicum of solace in what must be a very sad time in his life.
I hope Webcke comes out in public and gives Carrigan the wrap he deserves for last night. He never led the team to victory, but he certainly dragged them singlehandedly out of that dark pit of despair they've been floundering in for the past few months. Lexy should also tell him he's earned the right to keep the 'C' by his name too. It will be a huge ask for him to repeat that effort in a weeks time, but that's what we need from everyone in every game if want to see results go our way.
EFFORT - it was there last night in spades.
