The Cowboys

[Big Pete]

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They have the game's best playmaker, two of it's best props and a number of very handy co-stars yet for whatever reason, the Cowboys have gotten off to a very listless start.

What's the go? Is it a culture problem? Personnel? What is preventing them from reaching the expectations that has been placed on them since 2005?

Can they turn it around this season?

 

[Big Pete]

Without really putting their game under the microscope, it just seems like their biggest problem is their attention to detail. In Rugby League, it's crucial that you get through your sets of six and don't turn the ball over cheaply, yet the Cowboys are usually pretty good for those lapses of concentration. I'm unsure how you coach that out of a team, especially when it's the likes of Tate or Scott coming up with those sorts of errors - you expect better from them but maybe you've got to get them in the mind-set of playing Bennett ball, keeping it simple and providing JT & Lui the platform to work off of.

One area that definitely needs attention is their #9. It's been an area that's hurt them since the retirement of Payne & Segs and hasn't really been a strength of theirs since around 2009 or so. I like Thompson as a player, no nonsense sort of player but I don't see any positives in his game.

In fairness to Kostjasyn, I've seen some improvement and his running game from dummy half can be threatening but he's a stop gap option at most. I don't know what Green can do about it given Mitchell appears to be out of favour and King is still finding his feet after a few disasterous seasons, but it maybe a case of picking up the phone and trying to bring a Granville up north with the promise of a first grade spot.

Next week they play the Titans who are also struggling big time for form. It's going to be an important game for both clubs and if the Cows go down, surely Green will make some big calls.

 

[Alec]

The injury to Coote really hurt them. Morgan just isn't the same.

 

[Cult]

Tamou is not even close to being the best prop. He takes three long steps forward then gets tackled and hits the ground fast. The Cowboys are one good fullback and replacing Tamou with maybe Grant, Shillington or Lillyman away from winning a premiership. Maybe Slater will want to finish his career in NQ (HAHA) or they'll make a play for Hoffman.

 

[Big Pete]

I can see the criticisms against Tamou but he's still a very dangerous player and can be very difficult to handle, ask Parker if he thinks Tamou is an easy target, don't think he'd agree.

 

[Nashy]

He's one of the most overrated players in the game. It is mind boggling how people go on about him.

 

[Cult]

I can see the criticisms against Tamou but he's still a very dangerous player and can be very difficult to handle, ask Parker if he thinks Tamou is an easy target, don't think he'd agree.

Tackle him around the legs and he falls faster than anybody in the NRL. It's ridiculous. Leave him standing and he can offload, take his legs and he's done.

 

[Big Pete]

...that's usually how tackles work.

 

[Alec]

Tamou in form is definitely one of the best front rowers in the world.

 

[Harry Sack]

I personally just want to know why Morgan is @ FB? Hasn't he been used as a half and hooker by them over the past few seasons? Surely there's a more natural FB in their squad somewhere....

 

[Big Pete]

Even last year where he played with a crook back, I'd say he was easily better than Shillo.

Each to their own.

Never the less, I don't think he was their problem last night. Watching some of the replays, geez, the Cowboys goal line defence was shocking.

If you guys get the chance, check out the Lousi try and watch how the players drop off the Mateo tackle and proceed to line up on the wrong side of the field. It leaves a massive hole on the right and Lousi is easily able to barge his way over right underneath the posts. Absolutely soft from the Cows.

 

[Cult]

Tamou in form is definitely one of the best front rowers in the world.

When is he in form though? Hasn't been in years.

...that's usually how tackles work.

You're right, but he's not hard to tackle then. Everyone is supposed to wrap up the ball these days but you don't need to when he runs. He walks forward with three long strides and falls fast. That doesn't make for a good prop at all.

 

[Ari Gold]

Morgan is an awful fullback. He does the occasional good thing in attack as an added playmaker but he doesn't possess the level of threat that a top quality NRL fullback should.

Robert Lui is inconsistent and is a magnifying player. By that I mean that when they play well, he magnifies their performance by also playing very well, but when they are going shit he often epitomises every about their shitness. His performance echoes that of his team but frankly I don't think he ever does anything to really impact the game when it is in the balance. He was so selfish last night, continually throwing dummies and going himself.

They also lack vision. The scrum last night at the end was a great example. Nobody was in front of Kyle Feldt. All you had to do was pass it to him and he scores, but instead they go left where the Warriors have an extra defender.

Also, they just use the wrong players at times. In the first half last night Tariq Sims played down the left side where Taumalolo has been so promising in the first two rounds. In the first half, Tariq had 11 runs, brother Ashton had 8 and Taumalolo had only 3. Granted Ashton is a prop but the Sims brothers simply took too many runs that should have been taken by more damaging runners.

Frankly I think people over rate the Cowboys. They have the best playmaker but a shit spine. And are Scott and Tamou really any better than Fifita and Gallen? Sharks have Fifita, Gallen and Carney, which isn't that dissimilar to Thurston, Tamou and Scott. Nobody questions why the Sharks are shit and whilst the Cowboys have a better all round squad they are light years away from Manly, Roosters of Rabbitohs.

 

[Rally Towel]

Their problem is obviously Ashton Sims...

 

[Broncoman]

Besides from JT, Matt Scott, James Tamou, Brent Tate, Tariq Sims and Jason Taumalolo most of the team isn't that crash hot and without JT they struggle to construct their backline. The spine apart from JT is ordinary and needs a lot of work.

Spine;

Fullback - Losing Lachlan Coote long term has hurt them. He is a specialist fullback while Morgan isn't and has been developed as a half. Morgan's air swing on that grubber that lead to Fisiiahi try was poor

Five-eighth - JT is one of the best in the business and he isn't the problem. He carries the team most of the time.

Halfback - Robert Lui can play on his day but is terribly inconsistent and usually makes a few bad mistakes in every game. Threw 2 forward passes and just was poor overall last night

Hooker - Letting Segeyaro go was a big mistake, they would be winning a lot more if he was there. This spot has been a problem for them for the last couple of years and rotating non-stop isn't going to help. Kostjasyn didn't go to bad last night and he could hold it down.

The centres aren't much of a major problem but I find Tate to be more suited to the wing and Linnett is just a first grader and nothing more. The wingers aren't bad. Despite his stuff up Winterstein is a good winger and worth keeping but if Uligia wasn't suspended he would have the spot over Feldt.

The forward pack is very strong. Any team compromising of a pack with Tamou, Scott, Taumololo and T-Sims is to be taken seriously so they don't need to change it that much.

On a positive Cowboys note Tariq Sims was outstanding and by far their best last night. If he keeps fit and continues his good form he should be picked for NSW this year. T-Sims will play Origin it's just a matter of when.

 

[Je$ter]

They should never have let Segeyaro go. That's the problem imo.

 

[Bucking Beads]

They should never have let Segeyaro go. That's the problem imo.

Bloody oath

 

[broncos4life]

And it made zero sense that they let him go. At the time that he left Payne had already announced his retirement IIRC and they had no other options for hooker. They HAD to hold on to him, but didn't. I can only assume they thought they had a good replacement in the u20s?

Very odd move by them