Post Match NRL 2018 - Round 8 - Storm vs Warriors Post Match Discussion

[mrblonde]

Well, the good news is that putting on a half of footy as bad as the first half last night evidently embarrassed them enough to turn it around in the second alf.

50-10 with halves of 38-0 and 12-10 is better marginally then with halves of 24-0 and 26-0. The words of a man seeking a sliver of something to warm his bonfire of Warriors confidence amid the Storm....

Kind of funny hearing commentators trying to straddle the "that was really embarrassing" line as well as the "this is still our best start ever to an NRL season, 6-2" line.

 

[Sebastian]

That Dragons game was brutal. 38% possession. And a continuous attack on our line. We should not have won that game. Then a 5 day turn around and a 9.00 pm kick off was too much. The question how soon can we bounce back. Fresh troops would help.

 

[Coops]

Just got home from the game and here is something i never thought i would say. Someone asked to be updated on how the crowd atmosphere at the game was. Well it was "SYMPATHETIC"

Seriously people were looking at me like, oh you poor soul. Are you ok. I even had one guy ask me if i really wanted to go back in at half time and watch the rest (and he was only half joking).

Ive been to losing games before, but at least there was something to get angry at, the first half was so flat and thank god they finally turned up in the second half, but ho fuck what was that first half.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck kills a certain try right at the start and a highly probable before half time. Mannering is standing there like a deer in headlights. Seriously who forgot to give them their weekly dose of harden the fuck up and try to tackle someone.

Lastly i feel for anyone who traveled to the game from anywhere, at least im a local.

Frank White so sorry i was late getting to the game, and unable to catch up before kick off (got there right on the last post) i owe you a beer mate.

I paid for myself and 4 mates to go at $70 a head promising a new version of the team (they gave up long ago). After the first half they were asking where this amazing new team was...

 

[Danpatmac]

It's ok you can take it back now.

why?

they are getting blown out in game 6

 

[Inruin]

why?

they are getting blown out in game 6

of the finals? Oh how I wish we could make it to those mythical games this season

 

[dean]

I decided to visit friends and go to the game. We had quite a lot of support but were out thought and out played everywhere. If Isaac Luke is out we need a specialist hooker. Our attack was confused.

 

[Swanley]

I'm not too bothered about this, short turnaround, travel, previous game against the league leaders, some key injuries.

I'd be expecting us to bounce back against the tigers.

 

[Donal]

First of all lets stop this short turn around cop out bullshit. Storm played same night last week after our game against the Dragons.

The simple truth is Bellamy came prepared with a game plan that completely negated our middle defences line speed and exposed our outside edges poor defence. By playing such a direct attacking line it reduced the time our sliding defence had to cover the one on one tackles out wide. Add to that the fact that our centres have always been guilty of planting way too early and its no surprises that we were caught well short. The 60 odd missed tackles last week we only got away with because the Dragons played very lateral and allowed our sliding defence to cover. Even when the ball reached their wingers we were able to get 2-3 players on him.

Basically Bellamy has given the whole NRL blueprint on how to beat us. Stretch the defence by going coast to coast. Passing or kicking out wide than back in behind the ruck. All these things remove the ability of the sliding defence to get cover any shortfalls.

And shortfalls there were a plenty. Our edge needed to be a lot more direct in defence but instead got found out backpedaling. Makes stepping them and in and aways so much easier. That being said it was a very poor night at the office for our flanks. Way too much class from the Storm but also below average defence from the Warriors.

Better fix it fast...

Well said. Bellamy had figured a plan and it worked - with the bounce of the ball maybe a bit better than it deserved but still a good, winning plan.

And I agree about short turnarounds - these are pro athletes, and in our case fitter than they've ever been, so I don't think it was the big factor.

Plus as everyone has said, the injuries. In particular we missed Issac's direction and option taking. And while I thought we'd got enough strength in depth in the forwards, after some really good recruitments and lettings-go, I think we've found out that we're still just a tad light with Harris, Pulu and Gavet out (personally I think Gavet adds a lot to our oomph up front). Bunty is high energy, and Papali'i is good, but we need a bit more than Vete or Lisone.

And like most of us I'm still optimistic despite the result. We happened to hit the Storm on one of their best days; we're still 6 -2; we know this year's team is way better than the past few years. We'll come good.

I hope Kearney runs with the idea of Lino as hooker: despite last night Lino has been a revelation this season and deserves to be in the run-on team somewhere, and he's got great acceleration for Luke-style darts out of dummy half.

One last thing: I wonder if the whole Anzac thing, darkened stadiums, all the rest of it, played with our guys' heads? Shouldn't, but a lot of times teams (not just us, and not just league either) let the atmosphere of Anzac, someone's 200th game, some other milestone, get in the way of playing the game in front of you...

 

[kurgal]

Well, the good news is that putting on a half of footy as bad as the first half last night evidently embarrassed them enough to turn it around in the second alf.
.

well that's true....the first half was "deer in the headlights" as opposed to the Broncos game, which was just "flat"... two different ways to lose, one more dramatic than the other I guess...

 

[Off The Bench]

I think the injuries took its toll .
I also think our forwards will struggle a bit
Apart from Mannering Blair an Harris
The rest of the boys are relatively new to
FG season .How to stay on the field an fit
I seriously hope SK puts them on a rotation
An rest .Try an get the spark back

 

[Run_it_str8]

I think the injuries took its toll .
I also think our forwards will struggle a bit
Apart from Mannering Blair an Harris
The rest of the boys are relatively new to
FG season .How to stay on the field an fit
I seriously hope SK puts them on a rotation
An rest .Try an get the spark back

A fair bit of new ground for our younger players to explore and master;

1. How to get to the top of the table. (complete)
2. How to stay there (loading.....)
3. Handling great expectations (error. Please contact our helpdesk)
4. Being at your best - week in week out (work in progress)
5. Handling the big occasions (Anzac day vs Melbourne in Melbourne got to us. Good to get a biggish dance under our belts so we can learn how to better handle it if we play finals this year.)

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Given the very dark place that we came from which was the carnage of last season games like this will occur from time to time. The good news that these will not be the weekly occurrence which had been the norm up until the start of this season and will become less frequent as we improve. Our cause wasn’t helped by an experience imbalance with the loss of some key players and the execution of the Storm. It is not in the psyche of Melbourne to button off so I am assuming we improved significantly in the second half. Unfortunately there are some ingrained habits which will be ironed out in time. As a life long supporter I would prefer to see us improve over time to not be just relevant this season but every season year on year. The only way that can happen is if we maintain our course and resolve. The boom and bust mentality needs to end. There are no quick fixes. So hang in. It’s going to be a hell of a ride.

 

[Tragic]

ah well, at least we aren't the OKC Thunder

Yeah, must suck for their fans having a team in the finals every year, extra stress of watching more games, having to pay to go to more games

 

[Gizzyfan]

Predictable. Alot of travel a lot of injury disruption before and during game. Short turn around with travel.

In losses you look for character. That 2nd half showed it. The Storm played well they thought about this game. For the Warriors effort was there execution lacking.

10 days to next game. Guys should be rested and recharged for the Tigers. No lack of motivation to play Warriors Old Boys. Plus a few injured guys back.

After a bad game good teams want to put the record straight. I reckon SKs issue will be to keep the team relaxed to preserve energy. From this far out I am confident they will trim the Tigs.

 

[Tragic]

Lots of excuses but end of the day while our mental toughness has improved it isnt up to the week in week out toughness of the NRL, that will take time especially for our young uns. I expect us to come back nek week and smash the Tigers but the grind is only going to get harder as the season progresses, getting his team up each week will be SK's biggest challenge.

 

[the borg]

Good reallity check. Agree with Welly, Bellyache and even Bennett a couple of weeks ago.. have done SK a favour by showing up some pretty bad weakness'..

I remember Corvo saying late last year it would take 2 - 3 seasons to bring them up to full NRL fitness and mental toughness. Cam Smith post match, commented on us not being able to cope as a targeted team yet..

Having said all this, I dont believe SK has all the cattle he wants yet.. be interesting to see what recruitments are made end of this year. I reckon about 2- 3 in key positions should do it..

They've exceeded my expectations so far this year and as long as they improve for the rest of this season.. a premiership may not be to far away...

 

[jonno]

Off all the hoodoos we've broken this season, still the after bed time hoodoo remains...

We won in Perth, first game of the season, first five games for first time ever, beat St George, won without Shaun Johnson and Mannering, etc etc....

But yet we still can't win after bed time.

 

[WellingtonOrca]

Off all the hoodoos we've broken this season, still the after bed time hoodoo remains...

We won in Perth, first game of the season, first five games for first time ever, beat At George, won without Shaun Johnson and Mannering, etc etc....

But yet we still can't win after bed time.

I tried to look for the last time the Warriors won a game that started at 9pm or later, but gave up because the season summaries I could find didn't retain the kick-off time. Certainly wasn't last year though since they only won one away game all season and it was in the afternoon.

 

[Jaka]

Luke out for 6 weeks FUCK

I havent heard that?

 

[jonno]

I tried to look for the last time the Warriors won a game that started at 9pm or later, but gave up because the season summaries I could find didn't retain the kick-off time. Certainly wasn't last year though since they only won one away game all season and it was in the afternoon.

It was 2015, R2 vs the Raiders when we won our last late away game.

We're on an 11 game losing streak for away games starting at 8pm NZT or later.

Technically our win against the bunnies in Perth was after 9pm, but the team had been in Perth for over a week, giving them ample time to adjust to the time zone.