First Qualifying Final, 2012 NRL: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Canberra Raiders @ Canberra Stadium, Sunday 9th September @ 4:00pm

Yesterday was obviously very disappointing. The highs and lows of the game got to me and silly errors were there. After me and my friends thought Robson had scored I was over the moon but for it only to be disallowed was shattering. I'm suprised the forward pass went our way for Stapelton's try. The fact that Ferguson got two tries on us to well and truly kill the game off added so much insult to injury. It looked like going pear shaped once Carney got his injury, my heart sank for him when I saw that. I don't think the scoreline was a true reflection of the game but Canberra played well and held the momentum when they got it.

We can take a heaps of positives out from this season. I was thinking this morning how at the start of the year everyone was rating the Tigers and Knights, both of them didn't make the 8. Look at teams like the Eels, Dragons and Panthers. All of them underperformed. I think the Raiders and us at the start of the year would of been favourites for the spoon, so credit to both sides for making the 8.

I know most of what I posted has already been said but I felt I needed to get it out of my system.

Not going to read 43 pages so here is my bit.

Baffled why Flanagan would drop Ross and move Gordon to fullback at the expense of Wright. Gordon had two absolutely comical errors in the first half which completely screwed the team over. They were just schoolboy, rookie errors and I dont think Wright makes those errors yesterday. Completion rate yesterday was pathetic and the forward pass for Stapleton's try flattered us. Flanagan 'rolled the dice'? In reality he ****ed up. Every single game this season, correct me if I am wrong, he takes De Gois off after 30 minutes and puts Morris on. Don't matter if we are 20 points up or down. ****ing stupid if you ask me. I doubt Flanagan is a top rate coach that can win us a comp.

On the positive side this season, we made the finals and had some great wins along the way. We got the development approved and we recruited fantastically well. Lewis, Gordon and Wright will make our backline so much better next season and our forward line hopefully remains intact with players like Bukuya, Tupou, Fifita and Graham fighting for spots.

Bring on 2013.

egg said:

Thanks 6gill and IronShark couldn't agree more. I think we ALL know the worse culprits,,,anyhow, how about ALL we all start with a cleanslate and ENDEAVOUR to lift our game and this site leading into 2013..

Click to expand...

SF said:

2013 slogan there?

Click to expand...

i drank some beers called Endeavour during the game and it did **** all for our luck.

sharkboy1995 said:

Gallen has done a great job with captincy this season, the only way I see him loosing it is if Jeremy Smith and Gallen become Co-Captains, I know its dissapointing dropping out of the finals, but we have exceeded acceptations of many this season and we have proven ourselves to be a future powerhouse of this competition, and I truly believe we are on the verge of bigger and better things, and it looks like it may be sooner rather than later, and I honestly believe Gallen can and wants badly to get us there. Unlucky today, but bring on 2013! Stay positive!

Click to expand...

100% with you.
I have been reading this thread and find it a bit disturbing. How fickle some people are. At the beginning of the year, a top 4-8 performance predicted and most would have been happy if not elated by that. THEY PREDICTED US BOTTOM 8 OR WOODEN SPOON.
I am proud of our performance this year. Flanno has produced more passion from our team than has been seen for 10 years plus. He was hurting so bad last Sunday I really felt for him. We peaked too early and just couldn't carry that forward.
Yes you have the right to vent but get things into perspective. We were on the verge of extinction, battling to pay the wages and gave it a good go. We have a great future ahead now and I will love em and support em with the same passion as I have for the last 40 years.

Rant over!

We also have a right to point out the players that shouldn't have been picked in our opinion.

That's the problem around here at the moment - point out the obvious & we're supposedly negative?

Does it matter that some of us are frustrated by a woeful performance like what we just dished up?

If I picked the team last weekend we kill it.

double said:

100% with you.
I have been reading this thread and find it a bit disturbing. How fickle some people are. At the beginning of the year, a top 4-8 performance predicted and most would have been happy if not elated by that. THEY PREDICTED US BOTTOM 8 OR WOODEN SPOON.
I am proud of our performance this year. Flanno has produced more passion from our team than has been seen for 10 years plus. He was hurting so bad last Sunday I really felt for him. We peaked too early and just couldn't carry that forward.
Yes you have the right to vent but get things into perspective. We were on the verge of extinction, battling to pay the wages and gave it a good go. We have a great future ahead now and I will love em and support em with the same passion as I have for the last 40 years.

Rant over!

Click to expand...

don't worry guys 'we gave it a good go'.

It was a tight contest between stapoo & isuck for the best the raiders could hope for.

I think stapoo nailed the award by attempting to tackle the kicker about 3 metres off centre field, when he was the winger on the side of the field they kicked to.

That's not a rookie mistake, that's not a BiPolar mistake - that is a "never to play first grade again" mistake.

I'm a bit more kind for isuck - joking - he was awesomely bad, but stapoo pipped him at the post.

slide rule said:

I think the problem for Gal is that he's been carrying an injury since Origin. I don't think it's over-work, it's the fact that he got injurred.

If he's fit next year he should be able to do it, just like every other origin player. Melbourne players don't seem to have a problem with it.

Click to expand...

He's getting older it won't get any easier for him to backup and/or avoid injury. His body will only tolerate punishment for so long.

in:extremis said:

Not going to read 43 pages so here is my bit.

Baffled why Flanagan would drop Ross and move Gordon to fullback at the expense of Wright. Gordon had two absolutely comical errors in the first half which completely screwed the team over. They were just schoolboy, rookie errors and I dont think Wright makes those errors yesterday. Completion rate yesterday was pathetic and the forward pass for Stapleton's try flattered us. Flanagan 'rolled the dice'? In reality he ****ed up. Every single game this season, correct me if I am wrong, he takes De Gois off after 30 minutes and puts Morris on. Don't matter if we are 20 points up or down. ****ing stupid if you ask me. I doubt Flanagan is a top rate coach that can win us a comp.

On the positive side this season, we made the finals and had some great wins along the way. We got the development approved and we recruited fantastically well. Lewis, Gordon and Wright will make our backline so much better next season and our forward line hopefully remains intact with players like Bukuya, Tupou, Fifita and Graham fighting for spots.

Bring on 2013.

Click to expand...

Lately I have agreed with taking Degois off cause Morris has been better than him. I was relieved when Morris came on yesterday and he almost got a try for Fafita close to the line with the pet play. Degois dropped a catch-able pass from Toops and threw a forward pass. Not really a memorable year for him, hope he does better in 2013 and prob not a bad thing Morris is sticking around.

double said:

100% with you.
I have been reading this thread and find it a bit disturbing. How fickle some people are. At the beginning of the year, a top 4-8 performance predicted and most would have been happy if not elated by that. THEY PREDICTED US BOTTOM 8 OR WOODEN SPOON.
I am proud of our performance this year. Flanno has produced more passion from our team than has been seen for 10 years plus. He was hurting so bad last Sunday I really felt for him. We peaked too early and just couldn't carry that forward.
Yes you have the right to vent but get things into perspective. We were on the verge of extinction, battling to pay the wages and gave it a good go. We have a great future ahead now and I will love em and support em with the same passion as I have for the last 40 years.

Rant over!

Click to expand...

Does it matter what we were predicted to do? What are our own expectations, the club, the players, the coach, the fans? Half way through the season a few points from the No.1 spot are we thinking "lets just scrape into the finals, that will be ok cause we weren't expected to get this far" Of course not, we were in a strong position and blew it. Yes the future is bright but you know what the present (this season) was pretty bright as well until the team had a meltdown. Flanno has done a great job with this team, that can't be taken away from him but he had every right to finish the season/finals better than we did. We were never going to win the GF with our back 3 but progressing further than first week of finals would have done a world of good for the club/players confidence and moral leading into 2013 and consolidated our early season good form.

Opportunity lost is the story of the Sharks. We can't keep looking ahead forever. Over the next few years we will have more money, better roster a more experienced coach. There will be no more excuses left why we haven't won anything in half a century.

If you can not bitch moan and whine about the sharks here ,where does one suggest one doth go to unleash their emotion about their footy team. I don't agree with the racism and the prolific gay orientated slurs that attack other posters or the players ,though I have found many a musings from the spleen venting that goes on here ,it's a talk fest for sharks fanatics to glorify our wins and commiserate our losses with people that are as passionate as ourselves about the mighty sharks ,,and to those people that reply that some people are not real fans .we are on a forum site that's called sharks forever. It's safe to say we are all fans just with different opinions ,,and does anyone think a eights comp with ten minutes quarters would work in summer with double headers ,a bit like the 20 20 cricket ,,up the sharks

Mr Ryan said:

I can agree with the bagging of Ike and Stapo. I think these 2, along with Hotdog, have had their chances and shouldn't be seen in first grade again. Unless in an injury crisis.

But I think grouping Matty Wright in with those guys is a bit harsh.

He has improved out of site this season, and you gotta remember he's been playing out of position.

I'd give him a crack in the centres next year. Theres no reason why can't improve even more.

Click to expand...

I'm liking your idea.

Why did did hotdog played? He would of rocked! I was pissed when Robson try was disallowed. WTF!! Refs were ****. Stapo, dude Defence mate.

That is my rant.

Now guys it's only 130 odd days to the new season, bring on 2013. We have to take the good with the bad. Learn from our mistakes and don't do them again. Sharks for 2013.

sharks69 said:

If you can not bitch moan and whine about the sharks here ,where does one suggest one doth go to unleash their emotion about their footy team. I don't agree with the racism and the prolific gay orientated slurs that attack other posters or the players ,though I have found many a musings from the spleen venting that goes on here ,it's a talk fest for sharks fanatics to glorify our wins and commiserate our losses with people that are as passionate as ourselves about the mighty sharks ,,and to those people that reply that some people are not real fans .we are on a forum site that's called sharks forever. It's safe to say we are all fans just with different opinions ,,and does anyone think a eights comp with ten minutes quarters would work in summer with double headers ,a bit like the 20 20 cricket ,,up the sharks

Click to expand...

Only if it's filled with NSW cup players or something. The off season is short enough for the players and even with more money I think they and the clubs would want to give their bodies somewhat of a rest.

Interesting idea but I think it would struggle up against Cricket ect for viewing after a long winter of footy. Even the fans need a break

Mark^Bastard said:

I think the dribble problem here is a bit of a harsh issue.

I think the problem is more that the really good posters aren't posting any more, or the people genuinely putting effort in have learned that it's just not worth it.

Is the answer to stop the dribble? I'm not so sure because it would probably mean there's nothing here at all and the place dies.

The best way to stop this crap is to lead by example and contribute quality yourself and hopefully others will follow and the balance will be restored.

Then again I know what it's like to put genuine effort in and feel like it was a waste of time later on, it does make you question whether to bother in the future.

Click to expand...

I hear that that last paragraph. I'm pretty new here and don't know anyone personally, but I've been a sharks fan my whole 40 odd years so I understand the suffering of never having 'won one'! Too often in this forum people focus on who we should have in the team and make attacks on current players. I just reckon it's more interesting reading to focus on how the team we do have might play better, through positional changes and structure etc.. Critique the team you have, don't bitch about the team you don't.
Anyway for a new dude I hope I haven't contributed to the negativity too much.
Bring on 2013! Long live the sharkies!

Who would get our player of the year and rookie of the year for 2012?

Player of the year would be Jez and Rookie (even though he played a couple of matches last year) Ricky Leutele I thought really stepped up in Poms and Bests absence

Jez gets my best player. ,and if he is a rookie Bakuya as he started the season on fire ,though does anyone know what happened to frizzle

Hi All

Just wanted to say thanks for adding to the atmosphere on Suanday, it was a great advert for Sunday Arvo footy and was immensely enjoyed.

With Luke Lewis and Michael Gordon on board next year, I think you guys are top 4 morals.

Best of luck in 2013, and dont hate on the Raiders too much.

All the best

KW

(KW) said:

Hi All

Just wanted to say thanks for adding to the atmosphere on Suanday, it was a great advert for Sunday Arvo footy and was immensely enjoyed.

With Luke Lewis and Michael Gordon on board next year, I think you guys are top 4 morals.

Best of luck in 2013, and dont hate on the Raiders too much.

All the best

KW

Click to expand...

Cheers mate. Good luck throughout the finals you're going to need it sadly.

Catch ya next year.