Full credit to the Roosters but I felt the whole game was lost in the tackle. Roosters were getting 3 men in and dominating and we were tackling with 2 and couldn’t control the tempo. One of the coaches mentioned this after the game that with the speed of the game we are trying to commit less players but we might need to reconsider it.
Simple as that.
Roosters were faster, fitter and had the play the ball speed. This resulted in 6 again calls. 10 vs 2. It’s illogical that the team with the faster play of the balls gets all the 6 again calls... itwas 1800 run meters vs 1400. Game set match. They just rolled through us, which created opportunities. We were backpedaling and couldn’t get any line speed. Rinse and repeat all game.
Our only chance by committing less was to be dominant in tackles. Hit them hard. We were going backwards to much, fatiguing and stretched and they were just to fast. We couldn’t do it.
Addin Fonua-Blake going out was a huge blow.
I think a brutal month of footy is taking its toll after a few hard, close games, with the errors creeping in and injuries. Also worried that
Katoa is basically ineffective being lighter.
Their edges carved ours apart off the back of our defensive line speed disappearing. Disappointing considering the Morris brothers are paid less than our centres 🙄.
Back to the drawing board. Roosters are a better team. Fitter players, that have played in the same system for years and it showed. Our team is building but needs consistency over years to build the partnerships that the Roosters have where it all becomes so natural. Most of our team have little time by comparison playing together and it shows.
Looking forward to Manly and hopefully getting a bit of confidence against one of the out of form teams. We are a mid table team. Roosters are top 5. Manly are bottom 5.