Player Pita Godinet

[Spence]

I'd give him the second backrowers bench spot, whoever that may be that week. Bring him on at lock, with orders to roam around the middle of the park - exactly how Barba was used in his formative years in the NRL. It'd make no difference defensively if he was defending at hooker with Luck/Taylor at lock or lock with Friend at hooker.

 

[ToiletDuck]

It could be worth a try.

Though I believe our problems lie in our structure - both in attack and defense. We simply have none. The defensive positional play is terrible, and some of the actual attempted tackles are laughable. There is a whole heap of jersey grabbing and upper body shots going on, and nowhere near enough stuff down low. Michael Luck must vomit every time he watches us.

Similarly in attack, noone is running forward. The ball goes across field until Simon, or Feleti decide to take the line on. Mateo is suffering from trying to do too much, though I believe that to be a symptom of the lack of options coming from anywhere else.

 

[Spence]

Definitely too much lateral movement without committing defenders. Runners need to actually engage the opposition before passing. I don't understand how a nub like me can see something that professional sportsmen can't. I won't comment on the defence side of it, as I know nothing about how defensive structures work. I was actually somewhat impressed with our attack in their 20. Obviously wasn't good, but I could see what they were trying to do and it gives me a glimmer of hope for the future, albeit perhaps being the misguided and clutching-at-straws type of hope.

 

[Lego_Man]

Mateo is suffering from trying to do too much, though I believe that to be a symptom of the lack of options coming from anywhere else.

Yeah, that's a carbon copy of what was happening before Ivan's reconstruction of the team.

I dont mind though, because at least he IS trying. When the rest of the team gets their shit together, he will shine.

Or should i say "if" ?

 

[Spence]

You can say when.

 

[Chilean Sea Ba$$]

You can say when.

GOOD TO SEE YOUVE STILL GOT DA FAITH BRO

 

[ToiletDuck]

GOOD TO SEE YOUVE STILL GOT DA FAITH BRO

Is that account still discouraged?

 

[Lego_Man]

Nah - i just wanted to test the "Warn" Function...

 

[Spence]

Can we remove the ellipses at the end of the warning message? It makes it seem kinda kinky.

 

[Lego_Man]

Can we remove the ellipses at the end of the warning message? It makes it seem kinda kinky.

It's customisable on every warning. That's just what i flopped out off the cuff.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

I like

 

[PolarBob]

I second the like. Read it out to my wife. If it counts, she thirded it. Also gave a thumbs up to 'kindly submit to our rule or fuck off'.

 

[Lego_Man]

I second the like. Read it out to my wife. If it counts, she thirded it. Also gave a thumbs up to 'kindly submit to our rule or fuck off'.

I changed the latter so as not to scare off impressionable young minds...

 

[ToiletDuck]

I changed the latter so as not to scare off impressionable young minds...

He's already seen it...

 

[fanrrior]

I changed the latter so as not to scare off impressionable young minds...

Too late, I saw it. You've just damaged my young, fragile little mind.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

Surprisingly, I don’t actually think we’re that far off. Its a confidence thing with them, one result and we are back in business.

Ropati HAS to go, Benry is probably the lesser of two evils at the moment. Once Hurrell can get match fit, Id obviously like to see a centre pairing of him and Inu.

As an aside the juniors centre Sio Siua Taukeiaho is going to be something special. As good as Hurrell is, Taukeiaho is the complete player. Big, fast, agile, good handling and can kick goals. Wouldnt be surprised to see him featuring in our pre season next year especially if we let Ropati and/or inu go.

Forwards wise Packer and Taai have to go. Louisi has completely outplayed them, and showed glimpses last week of his offloading game. Lillyminge can come in, and Steve Rapira would add some strength to the D and an ability to hit holes.

Friend has been a disappointment for me, he’s not bringing that passing game with him that he had at the Titans. I seriously think we could benefit from 10 minutes at the end of both halves of Godinet. His D might be fragile but he can run rings around tiring forwards.

In a couple of weeks once Luck and Lillymon are back Id play:

1.Locke
2.Topou
3.Inu
4.Hurrell
5.Vatuvai
6.Maloney
7.Johnson
8.Matulino
9.Friend
10. Sam Rapira
11.Mannering
12.Taylor
13.Luck

14.Godinet
15.Steve Rapira/Louisi
16.Lillyminge
17.Mateo

 

[Fazz]

1.Locke
2.Topou
3.Inu
4.Hurrell
5.Vatuvai
6.Maloney
7.Johnson
8.Matulino
9.Friend
10. Sam Rapira
11.Mannering
12.Taylor
13.Luck

14.Godinet
15.Steve Rapira/Louisi
16.Lillyminge
17.Mateo

Really good team. On paper anyway. A coach with half a brain would take them to the finals easily.

 

[MarkW]

I miss Hohaia. There, I said it!

 

[2Big2Strong]

Thoughts re Friend?

I like him, I think he offers great distribution out of dummy half but.. I think we're lacking a bit of speed/playmaking ability with him there. I saw an interview with Cam Smith earlier this year and they asked him why the Storm struggle against the Warriors. He said it all came down to our ruck speed. Said we were the quickest team around the ruck in the comp and 'they just roll through you'. This was pre-Friend and I attribute Hohaia and Heremaia to supplying that roll on through the ruck. Their distribution wasn't as crisp as Friends but if there were a couple of tired defenders or lazy markers, they had the ability to exploit them. Friend does try, but lacks the speed/strength/size to be of any real threat.

I'd like to see a Mara or Godinet on the bench to add some punch through the ruck. Momentum is everything in today's game and I feel this is our best option at keeping that momentum in our control when the opposition teams start to tire. Just my thoughts.




(Admin: Edited opening words by LM to clarify subject line)

 

[ToiletDuck]

Well I think it's probably a combination of what you've said above and the fact that our forwards haven't started this year the way they ended last. By the end of last year we had all 4 props in great form, it really didn't matter who started and who came off the bench. They got better as the season went on and then destroyed the Storm up the middle in the prelim. Obviously not helped by injuries to Rapira and Lillyman. Though I wouldn't mind seeing Godinet at some stage off the bench. At the rate we're going, hardly going to make things worse.