Round 3, 2010: South Sydney Rabbitohs 30 - Sharks 8, at Toyota Stadium

I'd leave Stapo at fullback and bring Wright back in to the centres. Easy.

ABshark said:

Those who suggested Kelly should have got the hook- explain how this would
have helped? The game was long gone. There's nothing worse than getting hooked by the coach- while you're on the field you've still got a chance to make amends, and I thought he tried really hard in attack. He'll learn from the experience.

I thought Vave had a great debut.

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Never suggested he should have been taken off the field entirely during the game, in fact that would have been a complete waste of an interchange and thus an even bigger coaching error than naming him there in the first place. However considering Ricky had played Stapleton at number 1 the past two weeks, surely a trainer could have been sent out with instructions to arrange a reshuffle at the back after the first dropped bomb or failing that certainly after the second.

I still however stand by my comment that this kid is just not ready for the top grade yet, at least not in this current Sharks outfit. Maybe he could have adjusted better in a team which had a strong halves pairing and a sense of direction with ball in hand however with things as they are at the moment he is just another weak link in an already under performing team. The best thing for his development at the moment is to head back to the lower grades and get some form under his belt before he makes his way back into the run on squad.

I've waited till today to have my say.

Yesterday I left work early, picked my son up from school early and drove three hours to get to the game.

Crowd looked small when I arrived and saw a great comeback from the earlier game to see the Sharks win. Promising start.

Had a brief meet up with Fitz and the boys (nice to meet you, time for a beer next week) and then went to get a poncho for the lad.

Sold out.

Grabbed a spot as far out of the rain and settled in for the game.

Promising start, and I thought, like many others after the first five minutes, this might be the night. We may pile some on here.

I think I was most disappointed with the goalline defence. How often did we have three and four people there only to see the Bunnies twist with intent and purpose and we fall off. There was no mongrel. No desperation. And I don't know where it was. As if 13 losses in a row isn't enough to make you want to hang on.

What I'm most worried about is how I'm feeling. I've been a fan since birth. I will stick by them no matter what. I'll always, always be a shark.

But...

I feel bored. I feel ashamed.

I felt like going home at half time last night. Half time.

On the 3 hour drive home, I realised that I don't want to go next week.

That makes me feel terrible.

What makes me feel even worse is that if I feel like this, how do the less diehard ones feel.

We had over 10,000 there last night which was pretty good for a Monday in the rain. How many of them will turn up again next week?

The Bunnies could have put more on us last night. If Ferguson didn't defend as well as he did, they would have put another three tries on us out wide in the second half.

I don't blame Kelly. As a staunch supporter of stability in keeping the coach where he is, I'm disappointed he didn't move him out of fullback when it was obvious his confidence was shot.

The team has to lift. They have no heart. They have no desire. They have no confidence.

The supporters, particularly the ones the club are trying to reconnect with, need to take something positive from a game to show there is some future, some hope.

I can't see how they would have got that last night.

It reminded me of a quote from a supporter two years ago when we got beat by Melbourne in the finals:

We turned up Sharks, why haven't you?

No point in dropping Kelly. I think it's safe to say we aren't going to make the 8 unless something drastic happens, so why not test him out more, play him at 5/8 or even lock.

Josh said:

No point in dropping Kelly. I think it's safe to say we aren't going to make the 8 unless something drastic happens, so why not test him out more, play him at 5/8 or even lock.

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Lock???? the kid got smashed up by Sandow and weighs all of what 7 stone sopping wet. Put him in the back row and you can assure his carrer will be over before it begins due to a huge hit. Selectors need to get off this posistion merry-go round with Kelly and just put him back in lower grades until his ready. As many have said here ealrier it's clear that the kid is a natural ball player and will most likely hit his stride in the halves, now that Kelly has had a taste of what NRL footy is like and knows what it's like to get bashed around the park it's to let him back in the lower grades so he can get himself into a ball playing posistion and know what it's like to win a few again, can't be hungry to win if you forget what it feels like.

Who knows maybe we will get lucky and Barrett will either get injured or be released early and he can come back and slot into the halves then.

Josh said:

No point in dropping Kelly. I think it's safe to say we aren't going to make the 8 unless something drastic happens, so why not test him out more, play him at 5/8 or even lock.

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SHUT UP.

I CAN'T TAKE THIS CRAP ANY MORE.

LOCK? ARE YOU KIDDING MATE?

Deja Vu :dougy:

PMQ_Tony said:

Deja Vu :dougy:

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you always say that

PMQ_Tony said:

Deja Vu :dougy:

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you always say that

davetherave said:

you always say that

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Thats for the tip scoop :gal:

Kelly is barely big enough to play 5/8 ffs.

slide rule said:

I'd leave Stapo at fullback and bring Wright back in to the centres. Easy.

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You wouldn't say that about Wright if you have seen him play having played a lot in firsts last year he is playing very ordinary in the 20's Sticky gave him his taste and has said he will stay there this year

ETisGOD said:

Lock???? the kid got smashed up by Sandow and weighs all of what 7 stone sopping wet. Put him in the back row and you can assure his carrer will be over before it begins due to a huge hit. Selectors need to get off this posistion merry-go round with Kelly and just put him back in lower grades until his ready. As many have said here ealrier it's clear that the kid is a natural ball player and will most likely hit his stride in the halves, now that Kelly has had a taste of what NRL footy is like and knows what it's like to get bashed around the park it's to let him back in the lower grades so he can get himself into a ball playing posistion and know what it's like to win a few again, can't be hungry to win if you forget what it feels like.

Who knows maybe we will get lucky and Barrett will either get injured or be released early and he can come back and slot into the halves then.

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If we are going to get wins itg means Barrett will need to get more involved. Stupid to hope Barrett will go. Especially for Kelly who has been our worst for each game. To Josh: Things are bad but we are only 3 rounds in, pretty sure we are a chance at the 8!

My thoughts on the game:

I heard the score last night and actually watched the game today so I think if i had watched it last night live, id be alot more negative as I'd be furious. Because I got to see it with a clear head it was actually better than I expected to see.

We still havent played 80 mins of football yet this season, which is a big worry. The team needs changes and basically for Ricky to abuse them this week. They have no fight in them. We need a drastic turn around for the Eels.

The reason I was surprised is because there isnt as much to fix as I thought there would be as there were not too many terrible individual performances so only a couple of people to be dropped, better discipline, better attitude and we are back in. The tries came from poor attitude, penalties conceded at bad times and Albert Kelly's terrible fullback work so we can get these right for Parra, but will we?

Albert Kelly: As Laurie Daley said. We need to persist with him, but where? He has been our worst each game and he may have actually cost us this game with his work under the high ball but he did look dangerous with the ball. I dunno what to do, this is why Ricky gets paid the big bucks. Good luck.

Barrett and Tupou: Need to get more involved. Looked dangerous when firing.

Vave: Good on debut. Happy to see him stay.

Millo: Prefer to see him dropped but for who? Maybe Poms as backrower off bench and cover for injuries in backs.

Morris: As many on here predicted, nothing at halfback. I thought he could bring his form from hooker to halfback as he had played in both positions alot but I was very wrong and am happy to admit that. Need Tim Smith next week.

Flanaghan: Not good enough, so back to Morris and Aiton with Smith at half. Back to NSW Cup for you.

So I suppose I am not furious like last week but just feel deflated and think the team just isn't good enough. I also feel a bit like Sixgill with his sentiments about them not turning up. I guess I would drop Kelly, Millo and Flano but would also understand if Kelly wasnt dropped.

Wright&Fergo said:

Kelly is barely big enough to play 5/8 ffs.

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Kelly was Mortimers partner at the Eels last year and Kelly was chosen over Mortimer for NSW and Aust reps the only difference now is Kelly is playing in a team that doesn't know how to win

Go down fighting?

what drugs are they on...

Shark68 said:

Kelly was Mortimers partner at the Eels last year and Kelly was chosen over Mortimer for NSW and Aust reps the only difference now is Kelly is playing in a team that doesn't know how to win

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And playing in a different position !!!!

Wright&Fergo said:

Kelly is barely big enough to play 5/8 ffs.

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Don't agree, he's no smaller than Benji.

But I don't think he should be there now either. I reckon another week or two in first grade- either at fullback or off the bench, and then back to NYC or reggies to work on some things. That or drop him this week- but either way, make it clear that he did okay, and we're just making sure he doesn't burn out.

This line-up has win written all over it.

1. Nathan Stapleton
2. Albert Kelly
3. Dean Collis
4. Blake Ferguson
5. Luke Covell
6. Tim Smith
7. Trent Barrett ©
8. Luke Douglas
9. John Morris
10. Kade Snowden
11. Grant Millington
12. Anthony Tupou
13. Paul Gallen

14. Paul Aiton
15. Adam Cuthbertson
16. Josh Cordoba
17. Vave

ABshark said:

Don't agree, he's no smaller than Benji.

But I don't think he should be there now either. I reckon another week or two in first grade- either at fullback or off the bench, and then back to NYC or reggies to work on some things. That or drop him this week- but either way, make it clear that he did okay, and we're just making sure he doesn't burn out.

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Completely agree with everything you said. In terms of burnout that exactly what Ricky has said to him. In the post-match interview Ricky said that he had a talk with him earlier in the week and said he doesnt expect him to fulfill his potential until 2012 which reportedly relieved Kelly a bit and that he will not burn him out in first grade. I wouldnt expect to see him dropped this week which will be good for him and us and then we will see him in a few weeks.

I will say though, even with all his mistakes, he looked very dangerous with the ball. Promising for the future. Don't want to see him against the Eels though.

How you guys keep putting millington in your teams is a joke. He has been one of the worst in the last 3 weeks.

Christo said:

How you guys keep putting millington in your teams is a joke. He has been one of the worst in the last 3 weeks.

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Yeah I agree I have dropped him in mine. Problem is though, we have very little depth in our backrow with Williams out so I had to put Poms in and he is likely the most hated guy on here so its understandable people prefer Millington.