2023 Draw & Results

It’s been a pretty roller coaster season. From 1st, to outside the top 8, to 5th, and then to the second week of the finals.

They came out strong and defence seemed really good for the first 20 or so minutes until the first try and then it looked like the team was on the back foot for the rest of the game.

Not surprised the first error came from Vailiea. I will admit he did have a couple good tackles from the wing in their own 20. But he just doesn’t seem like a player to it’s much game IQ? For instance the sharks kicked it to him, and instead of catching it he bats it towards his own goal line… like what? Also the catch he took when he jumped from the field of play into our goal line and passes to McIntyre, I think was a high risk play for no gain.

Drinkwater was like Drinkwater Classic (and not Classic in a good way) with a couple plays.

Bit of a brain fart moment from cotter to give the penalty try away, but I think that really is off the back of some sloppy defence. I think it was McLean who had missed a tackle and had a chance to shut down the play in front of him if he hustled, but instead he was jogging back to the goal line.

Overall I think it was a team that both tried too hard and not hard enough in the same game. A few line breaks made by Robson and Clifford that ended in a forced pass that was either knocked on or intercepted by a sharks player. On the flip side I think their kick chase was weak. Especially when they were down by 8, I would have expected a kick deep and rushing defence to try keep the sharks deep in their half… but the kick chase was just a dawdle… they were just going through the motions.

If we just defended slightly better in the first half we would have won, that's hard to swallow. Imagine experiencing that loss and then remembering that Holmes and Feldt are leaving next year and Drinkwater and Nanai are signed until 2029 or some shit and now Clifford is our main halfback. That's enough to keep even the bravest up at night. I don't care if Penrith win a 4-peat I hope the Sharks lose 100-0, and fuck Trindall and Mulitalo in particular.

Ridiculous dude, fucking ridiculous

Also I'm gonna say it, Townsend would have done better in that game than Clifford, you know it's true

Edit: also why are we incapable of preventing offloads, if they don't offload I'm pretty sure we win easy

Seeya ne

Might be a sign that I hate my job, but I can’t wait till kick-off.

Hope the boys can win this tonight!!!

Going off form this season JAC is a step down from feldty. But with our legendary winger leaving and foxx being in this situation. Would you consider Foxx on a minimum money deal for the cowboys? Or is Derby the man we can look to for the future?

Anyone know what the code will be for the afternoon ticket sales tomorrow?

I know it is finals time and all. But I can't help but think of our backline next year for the US I image.

1. Drinkwater
2. Derby/...
3. Purdue/vailea
4. Laybutt/vailea
5. Taulagi
6. Dearden
7. Clifford/Duffy

I can't really think of any other formation, maybe chester aswell amongst that, but who is going to take feldt spot (valemi) and I like Derby better or do we have someone I don't know?

Feldt is in the top ranked wingers in the game and has proved this year he has more legs in him. He will be a massive loss, who replaces him?

Val should have been resigned on elite centre money (600-700k) plus 200k for goal kicking. No one can argue his boot has probably secured us 3-4 wins this season. $200k for 3-4 wins a season (plus some tries and tries conceded) is a no brainer.

Purdue, Duffy, Chester will no doubt add to the team going forward but the gap left by feldt and val I fear will lead to a poor 2025 season.

I also think we should have resigned Granville for 2025 but thats just my personal bias as he is an absolute club legend.

Long held suspicion but tonight clearly confirmed.

I was at the game and the constant slowing of the ruck by the knights was obvious all night.

Came home after and rewatching the game cows clearing the ruck consistently 1-3 seconds, knights 2-4 seconds. Crowd was calling it at the game but Smith allowed them laying in the ruck and slowing down our play of the ball all night. I was more critical of our boys during the game but watching with this ruck mismanagement I am more confident that with a different ref our roll on through the middle would have been far more effective (similar to the dogs game last week).

Crazy game. Fair to say we got a bit lucky but man they gave us a scare, but I think in the end the Knights just couldn't quite go with Ponga.

I think the Forwards were the standouts here. McLean and Taumalolo layed a good platform early and I think McIntyre was solid too in everything he was asked to do and Finefeuiaki had by far the most impact he's had for us yet. And Cotter just goes to another level, it's generally incredible.

The backs were a bit more questionable, although Holmes was pretty good for the most part. Showed his experience and ran some strong runs. Feldt was obviously Solid as he always is. Taulagi Solid too. Robson had a shocking 60 minutes and Dearden wasn't great either but tbf they stepped up in the last 10 or so minutes. and I've still never been sold on Clifford and he was pretty Mediocre creating wise and threw a few passes to no one in the second half but I'll give it to him that he played within himself and was solid defensively.

But Drinkwater was far from Finals Fullback standard IMO and Nanai was complete shit. I've been saying he's done Jackshit for ages now. Luki also could have been better defensively and fuck how shit was Vailea. I was quite happy with him for most of the games he's played but I think he really showed his true colours at not being able to play when the stakes have been raised. He was so bad he was nearly a liability.

Definitely LOTS of issues still but I still get the feeling that this is a healthy football club who don't know to give up, so that's where the confidence still is. Bring on next week.

In 4 games

No LB or TB, Runs 50 metres a game, 5+ missed tackles a game....

This game already given away a penalty and dropped an easy attacking ball, 20 meters so far?? 4 missed tackles.

Worst of all we'll replaces Luki on the bench for finefeuiaki

We're all still stuck in 2022

https://youtu.be/mYBrj4LgYvM?si=pjvJKpMh9g36lFgV

Heading to the game tomorrow and staying on the strand with the kids. Best way to get to the game and back? Should I drive, walk or bus.

Any travel advice appreciated. Not from this areas.

Hey fellas, heading up to Townsville this weekend from Sydney with the Mrs and my old man to fulfil a dream of ours to watch the boys play at home. I cannot begin to explain how much this means to me and my old man.

Just want to know some must-see places I should see on our short trip there? We’re landing at the airport Saturday morning and can’t check in to our accomodation till after 2pm. We’ll be travelling light so just wanna spend the day exploring the city. We leave Sunday morning so ideally we’ll wanna eat at a waterfront cafe, maybe visit the stadium so we can see it during the day, surely down a couple 🍻 at the mad cow ? Any suggestions help. See you legends up there 🤠🤠 🏆🏆