If I'm wrong on both counts please be gentle
- That was quick, apparently it's confirmed ACL by Tigerlily 😭😭😭😭😭😭
I heard on a NRL broadcast somewhere that if a player suffers an ACL injury, it's not unusual for that player to be able to walk unassisted after a short time, albeit that the injury is serious. So, I'm not sure AD walking off is necessarily a sign that it's not ACL and end of season.Confirmed Adam’s done his ACL on the same knee
Oh wow that is terrible news. I was hopeful it wasnt ACL because he walked off. Poor bloke.
@mike well spotted mike. I'm hoping the tigers medical staff are wrong. This is tragic news for us.
@campo He played KOE standard. Dropped the high ball and was caught out at the ruck etc. I dont rate him as an NRL player. He plays above his weight but he just doesn't cut it. I don't know what is. Is it coaching?
Look at Charlie. He and DL are identical in physique but Charlie having played a little more first grade at the Panthers seems to have the NRL look where DL doesn't.
I like DL, and I hope he proves me wrong. We need someone.
Just got home from the game......
Obviously our problem is the halves. In that first half we are completely rudderless in attack inside the 20m and no one with the skills or balls to grubber in the ingoal. Two plays summed it for me. In the first half, on the last Doueihi floats a slow pass out to the winger with no extra man and he gets belted and wrapped up, then early in the second half, on the last Brooks passes it to Papali'i to kick on the last. I know its not a massive insight, but Brooks confidence is completely gone. Doueihi has the confidence but not the ability. Doueihi made a few very good runs, that are valuable but zero playmaking ability and passes so slowly. Doueihi is the eternal riddle wrapped in puzzle wrapped in an enigma. Probably needs to be picked, but where? Doueihi's kicks on the last in the second half were much better. AD didnt have a bad game, a long way from some worse games he has had this year, but his passing game is terrible. Absolutely terrible for AD to suffer that injury.
Also terribly frustrating that we kept going to our right side in attack in the first half when in their 20. Didnt try our left side once from memory.
Im going to say something controversial here, but in the second half, when we clawed things back a bit, I think Brooks got a bit of his confidence back and that is the first time this year Ive seen him running a little straighter and fast and passing outside their centre. He actually looked dangerous and a good combination with AJ & Junior. He even had the confidence to put that beautiful grubber across field for a force drop out. That penalty goal would also have given him confidence. I know it has been a constant cop out for Brooks about his confidence, but at the game, to me it really looked like something clicked for him in that second half.
at the game, we had Parra on the ropes in that second half and should have beaten them. That Staines dropped drop out killed us. We should have won, but stupid errors killed us, again.
Tupou was fantastic, Staines solid other than that drop. Entire pack was strong. Naden was good, Kepaoa good.
Good summary, I’ll add my take aways from the game. In the first half we again lacked intensity and a desire to compete on each play. We don’t support the ball carrier and no bodies in motion to create doubt for the defence. In defence we allow the opposition easy metres, Parra just marched up the field easily and we can’t defend grubber kicks In the second half we were getting better thanks to Eels mistakes and our intensity lifted. Both Brooks and Doueihi looked like they were getting some confidence back but even though we had the Eels under pressure we couldn’t finish.
we are getting closer to a win, just need to back ourselves and get back that desire to win
Mate that's because adrenaline and endorphins are working over time and swelling pressing on nerves haven't kicked in. Usually straight away you go into shock and the acknowledgement of the severity can be delayed as it happened to me....I limped off then when I got to the trainer's car I couldn't walk and was
😭😭😭
7 mths later...
@crowsnest I agree DL has not gone to the next level. Now Sheens didn’t flat out say DL was back but just mentioned him out of the blue, I think he will be picked but…where?
Campo, successful clubs play the best players available in their preferred playing positions. Which means Smith could be a dark horse or am I missing something?I think he will be picked but…where?
DL has has played ⅝ in pathways so a good coach and Benji may work some magic with him.
I was looking at Smith today in KOE because Sheens nabbed him for this very occasion imo, but he was ordinary today.
With AD and Naden out I think Noffa will come back (unless still injured 🤔) onto the wing and To'a centre.
I'm thinking Triston Reilly might also get a start too in the centres with kepaoa which would be a bigger centre pairing and put To'a on wing.
I said earlier today that we need to extend Junior Topou before the Roosters or Storm grab him.
Tupou is the best back we have had at this club in a very very long time . He could be anything . That game was borderline Taniela the tank stuff .
AJ is a weapon as well .
One thing that I noticed is that both those guys have come on leaps and bounds in their ball skills/ quick passing skills .
Id also be looking at moving Ice to the right side and Blore on the left next to Brooks . To try and solidify that defensively , as well as I’ve just isn’t hitting holes on the left like he was last year .
Forget about my last statement, as I've been corrected, he won't be available till round 11. Doh!Which means Smith could be a dark horse
So I'm taking AD's place 👍
Tupou is the best back we have had at this club in a very very long time . He could be anything . That game was borderline Taniela the tank stuff .
AJ is a weapon as well .
One thing that I noticed is that both those guys have come on leaps and bounds in their ball skills/ quick passing skills .Id also be looking at moving Ice to the right side and Blore on the left next to Brooks . To try and solidify that defensively , as well as I’ve just isn’t hitting holes on the left like he was last year .
Ice has been swapping sides pretty regularly...annoys me
