Nerve wracking game, and I hate that I had no confidence that we'd win it over the last twenty or so minutes of regulation. Just a lot of poor execution and bad fifth tackle options. Thought it was going to be the GF all over again. I'm hoping it's just early season jitters, and they get some confidence and cohesion moving forward.
Glad Roberts finally had a break out game. Love Milf. Just love him. And McGuire. I thought Maranta was great coming back from injury, and honestly I think it's going to be tough to push him back out when everyone is fit again. He's not the flashiest or most skillful player but he puts so much in.
I'm at a loss as to Bennett's strategy, to be honest. I don't understand why, if you are going to take penalties, play largely conservative football, and try and defend small leads, you sit McCullough down and play Nikorima for the last thirty-odd minutes of the game. I like Kodi and I think he offers something off the bench - but it sure as hell isn't the defense to close down a game. I think Bennett's strategy would work great if he had a game manager in the halves, and hopefully Hunt or Milford develop into that, but at the moment they're not quite there. Lockyer could close out a game like that with a deft kicking game and knowing exactly when to chance it. If you're going to play that style, I think McCullough offers far more at the back end of a game then Nikorima does. I even think he could be first choice kicker in that period - deep and towards the sidelines, not grubbers and short kicks to waiting fullbacks and winger. I'd be bringing Nikorima on ten minutes either side of the half, and it's McCullough otherwise. It's just frustrating to watch at the end when teams pull us back in.
What's the rule on Eden touching the ball while out? I thought for sure the Cows would get the ball back after that. Happy they didn't, of course...
