Match review reposted thanks to Matt Loader from the Vodafone Warriors Supporters Group on Facebook...
Matt Loader
34 mins
Hey team
I went along to NSWarriors today to cheer the boys on. Not much cheering done actually, we got pumped as u would of read in an earlier post. So thought I would post a report of what I seen.
Konrad Hurrell being dumped from first grade looked pumped for a big one from the start actually all the boys did. That's one thing I noticed it seemed a whole different feel about the team (no first grade bad attitude if you know what I mean). We had the wind behind us in the first half and it was a pretty strong breeze to, carried kicks about an extra 20m and cut off 20m when kicking into it. We were down early when Mounties scored and converted within the first 10 minutes. We had a lot of defence to do in the first 20 due to a couple of errors made in our own half. We held our line good, survived a couple of repeat sets but couldn't hold out for the 4th set on the last tackle and Mounties crossed again and led 12-0. Just a fast play the ball caught our defence on the back foot and fast hands and a change of angle got us.
When we finally got down their end we put some pressure on and a great backline move with fast hands got the ball to Ken
Maumalo who carried a couple of tacklers over the line to get our first try. Great team try and Kenny did well to finish it with the covering defence sliding over. After a few set for set between the teams Mounties were on attack and Koni rushed up as usual and Mounties spread the ball (becos of Koni) they had a 3 on 2 and Stewart Mills scored in the corner. Once we got some possession we had the wind so our kicking game meant they were hitting it up form their 20 nearly every set (good tactics). On our last set before halftime Ata Hingano bombed to Willie Pearces wing and Stewart Mills caught it well and was tackled about 5 metres out and on the next play the Warriors D rushed and smashed the Raiders which resulted in a lost ball and our halfback Ray Talimalie scooped it and dived over for a great try to make it 18-10 at halftime. The boys lifted and Mounties heads dropped but then the hooter went so all that momentum was lost.
The 2nd half we didn't have to much possession and the Mounties kicking was on fire, their halfback Josh McCrone whos played heaps of first grade was just pinning us down in the corners all half building pressure and we couldn't really get out of our half and try for some repeat sets which meant we were kicking from our half into a strong breeze. In one set Koni made a great break and was tackled on tackle 4, something happened in the tackle cos he played the ball then slapped the first marker then chased and slapped the 2nd marker which resulted in everyone running in and pushing and shoving. Koni gets penalised while in possession (shakes head) so mounties kick for touch and the guy that Koni slapped takes the first hitup and Koni comes in with a flying clothesline and another all in ensues and Koni gets put on report and binned for 10. FFS. So we down to 12 and Mounties score a couple of sets later with a barge over close to the line. As I said earlier we were pinned in our half for the rest of the game. Koni comes back but that doesn't stop Mounties who crossed for another 3 tries and make it 42-10 then with 5 seconds to go the Mounties 5/8 takes a field goal to make it 43 (prick) In my day if u were up by 30 and go for a field goal its punch on at the handshakes lol.
A FEW PLAYERS TO IMPRESS
The mounties prop Mark Nicholls who we chased and made an offer to was strong. Good yards all day. Hes a big bopper in the Sam McKendry mould.
Siliva Haviili I thought had a strong game from dummy half. Best game Ive seen him play probably, He got injured late in the 2nd half and didn't come back, hope hes ok for next week.
Ken
Maumalo was good, very high work rate especially in the 2nd half. Always in there getting some hit ups.
I thought Willie Peace had a strong game our other winger. Very strong hitups, reminds me of Matt Utai.
David Bhana again was busy, tackled everything that moved, James Bell who I rate highly was quiet. One player who I thought made a good impact was the prop from the 20s Pauli Tuli, sheeesh he was good. Ran it strongly. Got smashed a couple of times but was the first to run it up on the next hitup. Has anyone seen this guy play in the 20s. No shit he looks 32 lol must be a sneaky dispensation in there haha. My best player though was our 6 Ata Hingano. Good kicking and directional play and got stuck in heaps.
A FEW THINGS I NOTICED
On defence David Bhana defends in the middle and smashes everything but when we have the ball he is on the right wing???? and play never goes his way.
After the game all the boys were in a circle arms around each other while Stacey Jones talked. Looks like they were positive as they have another life next week. When Stacey talks they listen. One thing I wanted to see was if the rotten culture of first grade filters down to the reserves and I can honestly say I saw NO SIGNS at all of that. They talk heaps, the halves talk, the fullback talks, they are all polite to the refs and touchines and I noticed during a break in play Koni went to the touchie about when he can advance after a play the ball (he got told after it touches the foot when playing the ball) so he could get his timing right. Smart.
With Konis dumb brain explosion I watched him closely in the game and I came to the thought that hes trying to hard. Just seems really frustrated, like he has so many things to prove to so many people. He didn't shirk and work he got stuck in when needed and I just think hes over doing it. I would have him starting centre over Dominique Peyroux, Solomone Allwood and even Solomone Kata any day of the week.
On the flip side I think some of the players that have played the majority of the year in reserves get annoyed with what he does and when he does it (penalised while in possession) Im not sure, they seem to want him to play for the team and not try and be a world beater. Just my opinion.
There was a triple header down at Belmore with the Warriors and Mounties kicking off at 2 followed by Manly Knights at 4 then Dogs v North Sydney at 6. A lot of first graders down their watching their reserves. The whole Raiders team was there close to the field watching Mounties. They seemed relaxed and having a joke around but Ricky Stuart was intense as lol. Edrick Lee is massively tall while Papalii is massively wide. I saw about 8 of our first graders there, they were up in the stands and the few times I looked up they were mostly on their phones ( what a surprise) Saw a half dozen Manly 1st graders come to watch, they sat front row to cheer on their boys.
On the way back to the car had to walk through Manlys warm up lol. Wolfman I think would be a good depth signing for us, he was very focus in the warm up drills while Michael Chee Kam was pissing around not giving 2 shits lol.
Anyways that was my day, a loss is always hard but I felt today we were just beaten by a better team pure and simple. So they are playing again next week so im going to head along again to cheer them on. James Bell thanked me for turning up to support (support for life bro) I got a thumbs up from
Marata Niukore and Ken
Maumalo for cheering as well.
Bring on the mutts tomorrow.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/255669574444101/
Matt knows his stuff and Im going to give him the benefit of the doubt in terms of Konrad Hurrell. Still needs to stop being a clown now...
