Just listened to the press conference. Was very happy to hear Api speak and say that the morale in the team was OK and in particular that they "can do the hard stuff, just need to do the pretty stuff" which is exactly how I see it.
Agree with this. We are decent between the 20s, but just look terrified when trying to actually put on a play or finish a set down the other end.
Perfect example was the first set after the AJ try. Must have been a 65m+ set, but then absolutely ruined by a Brooks kick that was about 10m too long. Gave the Storm a 7 tackle set, and they scored on the end of it after we competed poorly from a kick.
Not only did we relinquish our own momentum, we actively handed it over to the Storm.
As has been the case every week this season, we're our own worst enemy.
My first post on this forum was a war and peace effort dissecting the Storm game...I hit the wrong button and wiped it all... I saved you all from enduring more pain 🤣
Welcome aboard Crowsnest
Don't worry, we are all here to share in the pain together.
Love to hear your views
Top 8 2023
@frullens are you self-appointed "Forum's (happy to correct it for you) Health and Wellbeing Manager" or were you selected on some sort of merit?
Just listened to the press conference. Was very happy to hear Api speak and say that the morale in the team was OK and in particular that they "can do the hard stuff, just need to do the pretty stuff" which is exactly how I see it.
To be honest, we have been wanting this team to step up to be a competitive finals team. Its weird to say but I think we are almost there. We have massively improved everything, all the hard stuff, metres gained, defence etc except finishing by our halves. To explain what I mean, think about this thought experiment. What happens if you drop N Cleary in last years team, then this years team? IMO Last years team comes 9-12th. This years team comes 4-8th. Dare I say it, Moses would get this team in the 8.
I agree here. The halves and fullback were a concern over the off season. I never thought an Brooks/Doueihi combo would work but I didn’t think it would be as bad as it was. I believed that Brooks would improve with a new pack getting him on the front foot however he has somehow gone backwards. We were so short in the halves that we desperately signed Wakeham at the 11th hour because there was no one else around. Barring a miracle signing I can’t see any answer coming. The choices within the club are very very limited.
I doubt many expected Wakeham to do any better than what he did. His first run with Api & Brooks and obviously will improve with a few more runs. But he’s not going to change our fortunes just by improving and playing a little better. There’s more that needs to be done to this squad, the team, than just an improving Brandon Wakeham.@tiger5150 poor game indeed however I don't want to see will Smith or AD in the halves either. Wakeham was also pretty poor too
2023 we are kind of buggered
We have issues in a few areas, we lack real strike, X factor. If on the open market none of our backline would command more than $500,000 and they’d be fortunate to get that. Almost every other club, with perhaps the exception of the Warriors have 1,2 or even 3 guys with real strike quality or X factor. We also lack an explosive middle, that guy who can bend the line and get quick play the balls. Stef is still not at his best and Klemmer is a little slow but toils well. Our halves and fullback have massive question marks in them.
@frullens are you self-appointed "Forum's (happy to correct it for you) Health and Wellbeing Manager" or were you selected on some sort of merit?
Self appointed.
At WT you don't get jobs on merit😉
It was just a light hearted way to remind myself to keep a supportive environment here when things get tough.
This club plays a huge part in all of our lives and when we are going bag like we are now, it can have real affects on our wellbeing.
It's important we can support each other and provide a safe space here, while also being able to get things off our chest and provide constructive criticism.
How are you going?
Top 8 2023
It looks like Shawn Blore will need time to improve which is understandable given the last 2 years with injury. I’m pretty sure he’ll get there but needs time, maybe plenty of minutes in State Cup will help.
I thought Wakeham provided better shapes in attack, but individually he’s not much of a threat. Also didn’t offer much with end of set plays, which none of the spine did or has this season, a real concern - I don’t remember us earning a single restart this year.
Api and the Pigs are marching us downfield, but once in the red zone we’re meekly turning possession over, not building any pressure. The attacking philosophy (channeling 2005), structures and style might be too elaborate, expansive, and complex for this side, resulting in errors - it looks clunky and confused. Who knows what goes on between the coaches and players but to me it looks overly ambitious too soon, and therefor the attacking system has overloaded to the point where it’s barely functional. Sheens is still talking about the attack clicking into gear??? At the moment I’m seeing that classic situation of players overly focused on setting-up for the next play, rather than reacting to the situation around them and being in the moment.
I thought the team played a little more conservatively this week, but it’s going to take a while yet for this side to discover its own DNA. Halves and fullback is the biggest problem at the moment, there’s a lot to sort out there.
A lot has been posted already regarding Brooksy, and I agree with it all, but just wanted to add there’s little doubt he’s playing without confidence. He’s trying hard but it’s unfortunately just not there. It’s a frustrating and sad situation for him, the club and supporters. To me it’s like the end of a relationship and you realise it’s not going to work no matter how hard you try and it’s just best to move on and begin the next part of your life.
A lot has been posted already regarding Brooksy, and I agree with it all, but just wanted to add there’s little doubt he’s playing without confidence. He’s trying hard but it’s unfortunately just not there. It’s a frustrating and sad situation for him, the club and supporters. To me it’s like the end of a relationship and you realise it’s not going to work no matter how hard you try and it’s just best to move on and begin the next part of your life.
I think he is irreparably broken, it is sad to see.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
A lot has been posted already regarding Brooksy, and I agree with it all, but just wanted to add there’s little doubt he’s playing without confidence. He’s trying hard but it’s unfortunately just not there. It’s a frustrating and sad situation for him, the club and supporters. To me it’s like the end of a relationship and you realise it’s not going to work no matter how hard you try and it’s just best to move on and begin the next part of your life.
I think he is irreparably broken, it is sad to see.
I feel for Luke and genuinely hope he can move on and be successful however at this point I can’t see many NRL clubs being interested
A lot has been posted already regarding Brooksy, and I agree with it all, but just wanted to add there’s little doubt he’s playing without confidence. He’s trying hard but it’s unfortunately just not there. It’s a frustrating and sad situation for him, the club and supporters. To me it’s like the end of a relationship and you realise it’s not going to work no matter how hard you try and it’s just best to move on and begin the next part of your life.
I think he is irreparably broken, it is sad to see.
I feel for Luke and genuinely hope he can move on and be successful however at this point I can’t see many NRL clubs being interested
I do too, our club has damaged him severely. There is no ill will towards him from me, but it just isn't going to get better, it is too far gone.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
A lot has been posted already regarding Brooksy, and I agree with it all, but just wanted to add there’s little doubt he’s playing without confidence. He’s trying hard but it’s unfortunately just not there. It’s a frustrating and sad situation for him, the club and supporters. To me it’s like the end of a relationship and you realise it’s not going to work no matter how hard you try and it’s just best to move on and begin the next part of your life.
I think he is irreparably broken, it is sad to see.
I feel for Luke and genuinely hope he can move on and be successful however at this point I can’t see many NRL clubs being interested
I do too, our club has damaged him severely. There is no ill will towards him from me, but it just isn't going to get better, it is too far gone.
The club has never recovered from the Woods/Tedesco/Moses/Brooks saga (which was a mess of their own creation). And Luke has worn the fallout from that because he stuck around. He’ll look back on his career in the future and question a lot of things.
