2022 NRL Round 19 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs. Penrith Panthers @ BlueBet Stadium, Penrith, Saturday 23rd July 5:30pm

[Proud Shark]

New week new thread.

This will be our first real "where are we at" game since we played Melbourne in round 6.

Only major change we are likely to see is who takes that right wing spot. Considering they will be coming up against Taylan May, I'm not sure which way it will go. If To'o was still on the left I'd be going for Ikuvalu, and I probably would still do that anyway, but I'm still confident Tracey can do a job against May if picked.

If we come out with the intensity we showed in both Melbourne games we can make a game of this. If we start giving away **** errors and penalties like we have in almost every other game, we will be in for a long evening.

 

[Thresher]

Got a feeling that the Panthers will be in a mood too

 

[Deleted member 3365]

Cleary and Luai are going to be on a mission after SOO.

 

[MrDravid]

I hope they disrespect us and give a few more players the week off.

 

[bort]

Got a feeling that the Panthers will be in a mood too

Hopefully Cleary has foot and mouth and can't play, or at least Bali belly.

While it is a big test for us, it is a big test for them too. Full strength facing a (near) full strength contender.
We've just toughed out wins over other (admittedly weakened) top contenders while they've cruised through a nobody without half their team playing. They'll be freshened up a little but won't be bringing much momentum. Bye, Tigers, us - it will be 22 days since their last proper NRL game together.

If we come to play we have a team that can match with them and make a real contest out of it

 

[Paul C]

Hopefully Cleary has foot and mouth and can't play, or at least Bali belly.

While it is a big test for us, it is a big test for them too. Full strength facing a (near) full strength contender.
We've just toughed out wins over other (admittedly weakened) top contenders while they've cruised through a nobody without half their team playing. They'll be freshened up a little but won't be bringing much momentum. Bye, Tigers, us - it will be 22 days since their last proper NRL game together.

If we come to play we have a team that can match with them and make a real contest out of it

Yep.

We need to adopt the Queensland aggression from Origin 3. They did not like that. Bash them as hard as we can and then bash them again.

 

[Bundy Shark]

New week new thread.

This will be our first real "where are we at" game since we played Melbourne in round 6.

Only major change we are likely to see is who takes that right wing spot. Considering they will be coming up against Taylan May, I'm not sure which way it will go. If To'o was still on the left I'd be going for Ikuvalu, and I probably would still do that anyway, but I'm still confident Tracey can do a job against May if picked.

If we come out with the intensity we showed in both Melbourne games we can make a game of this. If we start giving away **** errors and penalties like we have in almost every other game, we will be in for a long evening.

I’m not sure we find out, Fitz & players when interviewed or in the after games pressers keep using the line
‘We’re just trying to figure what sort of team we are at the moment’

Collectively, I’ve heard this line more than a handful of times now, what are we, about to play round 19, plus the preseason & we are still trying to figure this out?

 

[BurgoShark]

I’m not sure we find out, Fitz & players when interviewed or in the after games pressers keep using the line
‘We’re just trying to figure what sort of team we are at the moment’

Collectively, I’ve heard this line more than a handful of times now, what are we, about to play round 19, plus the preseason & we are still trying to figure this out?

I think it’s fair to still be figuring out where the team is at going in to round 19. The season so far has been 6 weeks of easing in Hynes, Moylan, Graham and McInnes, followed by 6 weeks of playing mostly without Finucane and BHU, followed by 6 weeks playing against origin depleted teams (plus a bye).

Run from here on in tells us whether they are for real. Everyone else is fielding their strongest team, and the Sharks are mostly healthy. First time all year the team has been in that situation.

 

[stormshark]

If Gal was still playing he would take the head off the Snake, being Fisher Harris/Yeo. One of our boys need to stop him/them in their tracks. Alah what Prior did to Bromich in the GF.

 

[Bundy Shark]

I think it’s fair to still be figuring out where the team is at going in to round 19. The season so far has been 6 weeks of easing in Hynes, Moylan, Graham and McInnes, followed by 6 weeks of playing mostly without Finucane and BHU, followed by 6 weeks playing against origin depleted teams (plus a bye).

Run from here on in tells us whether they are for real. Origin and byes are done, Sharks are mostly healthy, and everyone should be plying their proper role instead of being eased in.

I love your patience Burg but geez, some teams over the past few seasons have had a lot more turnover of new players, players leaving & injuries etc but don’t trot out that line, maybe it’s a bad phrase?

I get we are season one into Fitz’s tenure so I need to look at the big picture but c’mon, to me, that’s a line that sound like a cop out & leaving a out for the players to just cruise.

 

[BurgoShark]

I love your patience Burg but geez, some teams over the past few seasons have had a lot more turnover of new players, players leaving & injuries etc but don’t trot out that line, maybe it’s a bad phrase?

I get we are season one into Fitz’s tenure so I need to look at the big picture but c’mon, to me, that’s a line that sound like a cop out & leaving a out for the players to just cruise.

I guess a better way to say it might be for Fitz to say that getting the 2 points week to week is encouraging, but they are “building nicely for the back end of the season”. It means the same thing, but maybe a little more positive sounding.

 

[Bundy Shark]

I guess a better way to say it might be for Fitz to say that they are “building nicely for the back end of the season”. It means the same thing, but maybe a little more positive sounding.

100%

 

[bort]

I love your patience Burg but geez, some teams over the past few seasons have had a lot more turnover of new players, players leaving & injuries etc but don’t trot out that line, maybe it’s a bad phrase?

I get we are season one into Fitz’s tenure so I need to look at the big picture but c’mon, to me, that’s a line that sound like a cop out & leaving a out for the players to just cruise.

Can you show me a team with a rookie halfback and rookie coach that comes from outside finals to finish the season top 4?
No really, I'm not having a go, I'd be interested to see that, I can't think of one.

Maybe it's a good thing not a cop out that Fitz and crew still think we have other levels to go to and we aren't just some new coach new halfback oh well they did well to come 10th story.

 

[HaroldBishop]

New week new thread.

This will be our first real "where are we at" game since we played Melbourne in round 6.

Only major change we are likely to see is who takes that right wing spot. Considering they will be coming up against Taylan May, I'm not sure which way it will go. If To'o was still on the left I'd be going for Ikuvalu, and I probably would still do that anyway, but I'm still confident Tracey can do a job against May if picked.

If we come out with the intensity we showed in both Melbourne games we can make a game of this. If we start giving away **** errors and penalties like we have in almost every other game, we will be in for a long evening.

Yep penalties and errors need to stop.

Kicking game on the last needs vast improvement as well.

Get these things wrong again and we'll get lapped.

 

[Bundy Shark]

Can you show me a team with a rookie halfback and rookie coach that comes from outside finals to finish the season top 4?
No really, I'm not having a go, I'd be interested to see that, I can't think of one.

Maybe it's a good thing not a cop out that Fitz and crew still think we have other levels to go to and we aren't just some new coach new halfback oh well they did well to come 10th story.

Yeh I get what you are saying, @ the start of the season when we were playing or showing good signs Fitz did publicly temper the excitement & did say they’ll be lows to follow in the season.

The thing is, Fitz might be a rookie coach but he came here on a reported decent size contract, as far as a squad goes, he had as much of a blank canvas since Flano leaving, in terms of saying who he wanted to keep on the books, players to move on & bring in his style of players.
Fitz wasn’t forced to sign a rookie 7 in Nicho (who has been mostly bloody hood) but he was afforded a few luxuries than Morris wasn’t, I think it’s fair to expect a little more expectation than what we’ve had since Flano left.

 

[Sparkles]

Yep penalties and errors need to stop.

Kicking game on the last needs vast improvement as well.

Get these things wrong again and we'll get lapped.

We've got the blueprint (or the maroon-print if you like) for beating Penrith now, I've heard. Kick early in the tackle count and keep turning them around to nullify their back 5. Nicho's got the boot to put that plan into action so we should be sweet.

 

[Wiz]

Hopefully Cleary has foot and mouth and can't play, or at least Bali belly.

While it is a big test for us, it is a big test for them too. Full strength facing a (near) full strength contender.
We've just toughed out wins over other (admittedly weakened) top contenders while they've cruised through a nobody without half their team playing. They'll be freshened up a little but won't be bringing much momentum. Bye, Tigers, us - it will be 22 days since their last proper NRL game together.

If we come to play we have a team that can match with them and make a real contest out of it

That’s very hopeful ..

I feel like we’re nowhere near their level - hope I’m wrong

 

[bort]

Yep penalties and errors need to stop.

Kicking game on the last needs vast improvement as well.

Get these things wrong again and we'll get lapped.

One thing I will say in our favour is that offloads can be a killer for us and Penrith aren't a massive offloading team.
They don't give up many offloads either though so we need to choose our moments and not force them and turn the ball over
But they do complete well so if we don't match them their they will choke us out of field position.

Yeh I get what you are saying, @ the start of the season when we were playing or showing good signs Fitz did publicly temper the excitement & did say they’ll be lows to follow in the season.

The thing is, Fitz might be a rookie coach but he came here on a reported decent size contract, as far as a squad goes, he had as much of a blank canvas since Flano leaving, in terms of saying who he wanted to keep on the books, players to move on & bring in his style of players.
Fitz wasn’t forced to sign a rookie 7 in Nicho (who has been mostly bloody hood) but he was afforded a few luxuries than Morris wasn’t, I think it’s fair to expect a little more expectation than what we’ve had since Flano left.

A good sign though he thinks we are far from a finished product. He definitely has pressure and expectation on him I agree with that.
I don't think the pressure and expectation means he can't keep trying to tweak things for the better while we are going well.

 

[Wiz]

I’m not sure we find out, Fitz & players when interviewed or in the after games pressers keep using the line
‘We’re just trying to figure what sort of team we are at the moment’

Collectively, I’ve heard this line more than a handful of times now, what are we, about to play round 19, plus the preseason & we are still trying to figure this out?

It’s a line he stole from Robinson that Robinson loves to use.

In a way I get it in another way I don’t.. it can be used as a cop out but I guarantee you he will be also using this same line next year

 

[vicsharkfan]

May he should stare down the camera and look lost like Madge and barett…

Whilst I’d love a win even being in there holding our own will do the team a world of good, and drive them harder come finals time.
But jeez panthers look a sure thing to win the lot at present