2022 NRL Round 15 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs. Gold Coast Titans @ C.ex Coffs International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Saturday 18th June 3:00pm

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We have shown the massive potential in this team from those opening rounds - we didn't show that level of potential in previous seasons, not for a sustained period of weeks and not to the same extent. The fact we won those opening games is why we are 4th and not battling for 8th spot. We hadn't look that good in 5 years.

We are a more balanced team and have good performers across the park. In previous seasons alot hinged on SJ and if he would turn up a mong or a decent player that game. We have better depth too.

Beating up on pleb teams and putting on 40-0 scorelines is not a given unless perhaps you are the Panthers.

If anything the last month or so has shown that the teams in the bottom 8 sometimes turn up and put on a good performance (Dragons, Dogs, Tigers ect.)

Not saying Titans were good (they weren't) but end of the day we got the job done with a win, it doesn't mean improvement is no longer coming or that we are happy with that performance.

Fitz seems stubborn but most coaches are, you can't throw away a whole off season of planning and structures on a whim. He is backing it to come good again and sticking by his team selections - if it doesn't work out by the time September comes around then he will need to cop some criticism for that.

He will take alot out of season 2022 regardless of where we end up and with those learning's hopefully brings us back even stronger in 2023 and with a better understanding of where he needs to make changes (and when) and when to stick to his guns and when he needs to ask for help!

It's not beyond the realms of possibility we get back to playing some really good footy with and without the ball - just gotta ride the wave in the meantime
Good summation Gards. But I honestly believe we lost the go forward big time with the injuries to BHU and Finucane. BHU especially was killing it and with Dale doing his bit, our backs had more space and looked really good. Dale is now back so our stocks are rising but in my opinion no one has even come close to filling BHU’s shoes.

Until he returns, we’ll still be that bit short of the top teams.
 
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Good summation Gards. But I honestly believe we lost the go forward big time with the injuries to BHU and Finucane. BHU especially was killing it and with Dale doing his bit, our backs had more space and looked really good. Dale is now back so our stocks are rising but in my opinion no one has even come close to filling BHU’s shoes.

Until he returns, we’ll still be that bit short of the top teams.
Most teams would lose their “go forward” if they lost arguably their 2 best forwards.
 
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You all know Dale, whilst a terrific player is not noted for his go forward or metre eating, it’s great his back but I don’t see our go forward being all that different till BHU comes back.
We need to bring in people (new recruits) who can bend the line & better still, have some intimidation.
 

apezza

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You all know Dale, whilst a terrific player is not noted for his go forward or metre eating, it’s great his back but I don’t see our go forward being all that different till BHU comes back.
We need to bring in people (new recruits) who can bend the line & better still, have some intimidation.
Kinda agree. I think Dale will bring the best out of some players off the field (and therefore make them a better player) and also lift some intensity with our defence.
 
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Looking back on this game, I cannot believe how incredibly slow we were in our attacking play. Nicho looked like he was only going at half pace and everything seemed to be way off. So many other teams do things much faster, even the Bulldogs (albeit against the Tigers) moved the ball quickly and easily won the ruck.

I have gone from thinking we'll get two points comfortably against the Dogs next to thinking we are going to absolutely get smacked by them.
 

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Looking back on this game, I cannot believe how incredibly slow we were in our attacking play. Nicho looked like he was only going at half pace and everything seemed to be way off. So many other teams do things much faster, even the Bulldogs (albeit against the Tigers) moved the ball quickly and easily won the ruck.

I have gone from thinking we'll get two points comfortably against the Dogs next to thinking we are going to absolutely get smacked by them.
Agree mate. Nicho, Will and a few others look really fatigued.

I wonder if they are carrying injuries or whether they are getting flogged at training.

Go back and watch the first few rounds- everything looked 20% quicker in the halves and backs.
 
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Looking back on this game, I cannot believe how incredibly slow we were in our attacking play. Nicho looked like he was only going at half pace and everything seemed to be way off. So many other teams do things much faster, even the Bulldogs (albeit against the Tigers) moved the ball quickly and easily won the ruck.

I have gone from thinking we'll get two points comfortably against the Dogs next to thinking we are going to absolutely get smacked by them.
I think you've given yourself the reason here. We haven't been easily winning the ruck since those early rounds, which gives the opposition more time to get in our face and stifle our attack.
 
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Looking back on this game, I cannot believe how incredibly slow we were in our attacking play. Nicho looked like he was only going at half pace and everything seemed to be way off. So many other teams do things much faster, even the Bulldogs (albeit against the Tigers) moved the ball quickly and easily won the ruck.

I have gone from thinking we'll get two points comfortably against the Dogs next to thinking we are going to absolutely get smacked by them.
I have a mate who has a mate in the bulldogs set up, they are confident of rolling us, his exact words, they think they’ll eat us alive in the forwards & down the middle.

God knows how they come to that conclusion 😂
 
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I have a mate who has a mate in the bulldogs set up, they are confident of rolling us, his exact words, they think they’ll eat us alive in the forwards & down the middle.

God knows how they come to that conclusion 😂
Probably because they just did exactly that to Parra a fortnight ago. They are playing confident fast footy.

Shame dogs are only paying $3 at the moment, I have a feeling they will get us in this one if we don't take a massive step up.
 
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Probably because they just did exactly that to Parra a fortnight ago. They are playing confident fast footy.

Shame dogs are only paying $3 at the moment, I have a feeling they will get us in this one if we don't take a massive step up.
Yeh I know mate, I was being sarcastic, it’s not rocket science for them to take us on there, it does pee me off knowing other teams think we are weak.
Really hoping we have some fire in the belly for this game & the remaining season.
 
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Yeh I know mate, I was being sarcastic, it’s not rocket science for them to take us on there, it does pee me off knowing other teams think we are weak.
Really hoping we have some fire in the belly for this game & the remaining season.
My bad. Yeah it's frustrating. They have been doing it without Thompson too. No doubt he will be back to face us. We could really do with a BHU return hey.
 

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My bad. Yeah it's frustrating. They have been doing it without Thompson too. No doubt he will be back to face us. We could really do with a BHU return hey.
Been like 9 weeks so hopefully just a few more. Round 18 vs Cowboys or Round 19 vs Panthers maybe.
He isn't likely to be an instant saviour either. Will need to find some form, hopefully won't take too long as I'd assume he is back doing fitness by now. Probably best to keep starting Hunt and use BHU off the bench for first few weeks.

Jack Williams currently tipped for a round 17 return but I feel like he just joins the Tolman, Fifita fight for a jersey at this stage.

Our pack without BHU is good enough to match it with most teams still. Need to clean up some errors and especially the offsides when we have them pinned
 

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In relation to BHU - I thought the originally said around round 21?
 

bort

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In relation to BHU - I thought the originally said around round 21?
Sharks called it '3-4 months'
Fox said aiming for a return late July
Quite possible somewhere has said round 21 - start of August so not too far beyond Fox's statement.
Sharks predictions would put him in an approx range of Round 17 to 20.

So I guess my takeaway from that is if recovery goes well he'll be back July some time, if not then maybe early August.
 

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You all know Dale, whilst a terrific player is not noted for his go forward or metre eating, it’s great his back but I don’t see our go forward being all that different till BHU comes back.
We need to bring in people (new recruits) who can bend the line & better still, have some intimidation.
Dale is much better at starting those tip on plays than any other forward. That creates space for the other middles.
 

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Dale is much better at starting those tip on plays than any other forward. That creates space for the other middles.
Yep the extra PCM and quicker PTBs Dale earns largely come from the bloke he passed to, not himself.
 

BurgoShark

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Yep the extra PCM and quicker PTBs Dale earns largely come from the bloke he passed to, not himself.
Actually, they do.

When you are a threat to pass, you are a more dangerous runner because you get tackled by less people.

(A healthy) Dale being a passing threat pumps up his stats and the other forwards stats.
 

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Need a PTB Assist stat

Then burgess can go to work
Already exists, just not publicly.

Teams keep stats on which hookers and halves creates the most 1-on-1’s, and the subsequent quick ptb. You could call that a “quick ptb assist” if you wanted to.

For ptbs, teams would also have access to stats for which players most often get to their fronts versus getting turtled, and which players most often stand in tackles don’t get put down. As a fan though, you don’t need to see the stats to know who are the best on your team for this. It’s the guys who take a tackle 4 hit up prior to a clearing kick, or the run prior to a shift. Jack Williams is the best Shark. Hunt is getting good at this too.
 
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