2026 WT Rnd 3 V Souths

That was a disappointing result but my one word is Gray. We couldn't stop him in the first 15 mins and we couldn't get past him in the last 15 mins. 

Looks like some costly injuries too. It was a mistake riddled game but we did keep playing to the end. Big shout out to Royce Hunt. He was huge in his first spell and I thought he might get the winning try for us at the end.

Struggling for one word on that game.

Word - start.

Conceding 12 points in the first 10 minutes ended up hurting us like it has so many times in the past. 

One word - chances. We didn’t take enough of ours and Souths took all they got.

One word - Attack… we lacked the killer punch today. 

You can’t have a 7 that just wants to run .. AD is not a 7 full stop you get no offence when the 7 doesn’t give the ball , there was enough ball in good position to win 2 games . Looks like this change will be made next week anyway. The first game of the season that should have been a win , the game should have been won well before Laui went off .

@mike Get a 7 and tell Bula to run straight when in a  back line movement .

@tgrzmn The difference between Gray and Bula is Gray runs straight and has strength and leg drive in tackles.. Bula just submitts when tackled .I find it difficult to believe the club are paying that huge amount for him TBH!

One word - wasted

The team wasted a great chance to put two wins in the board. They had enough ball to win that game twice over.

The forwards laid a strong platform. But just like the last three seasons, with lots of ball in good positions, the team was ineffective in attack. 

Luai was well held. Doueihi seemed run focussed. Both put in a number of poor short kicks.

The inexperienced centre and wing combinations also hurt, with Makasini and Laulili poorly positioned in defending the first two Souths tries.

Souths also capitalised on a lack of good kick coverage in the second half. Skelton had an ordinary game and Bula was his usual indifferent self, putting in some lazy efforts in cover.  

Ho hum, I guess when your coaching input is no different you shouldn’t expect the attacking output to be any different. 

bereft in attack

Turuva is not an nrl centre

Skelton is not an nrl winger 

AD had a poor game

luai flits around 

next week hopefully 

7. Madden

6. Latu Fainu or Andrews 

@plundermonkey Disappointed that Marshal did not bring in an assistant specifically for the offence … unfortunately what we seen tonight is the sum game of an off season of what the coaching team sees as offensive structures and this is not good enough to make the 8 IMO .

Attack in the red zone was a huge issue in that game. So many sets on the Souths line but no structure or result. Seeing some different options and combinations in the 6 and 7 over the next few weeks may be an advantage before AD and Luai return. 

Apparently Luai gone four weeks. Doueihi only hamstring tightness.

@joel There goes the finals !