2023 NRL Round 3 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs. Canberra Raiders @ GIO Stadium Sunday 19th March @ 6:15pm

Shortfin Mako

Shortfin Mako

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Gards said:
We need to fnen bash em all game! But I relise the realities around why this can't and won't happen



My view is that the backline player (aka Tracey) is gunna have the same problem and not gunna see any game time anyway as it appears from last weekend that Tracey may be there purely as injury cover than some sort of utlity or super sub to be injected and offer some sort of point of difference.

Now that the coach would have confidence in Trindalls ability to get it done in the halves Traceys value in the 17 drops even more. I don't think our backline or spine has any niggles or injury clouds hanging over them.

Even if he were required he is not that great (consistently) anywhere other than wing which means assuming it is not 1 of our wingers that is the actual injured one we have to shift 1 of our 2 gun specialist wingers to centre or fullback to accommodate Tracey cause I wouldn't want Connor anywhere near centres, halves or fullback again if it can be avoided.

Still workable I suppose - Ronnie can do a job at centre or fullback and Talakai could shift to the forwards if required. With the form and fitness of Nikora right now heck I would back him to provide some cover in centre

I would rather have the 4 forwards on the bench for a game where I am sure they will all see minutes and make themsleves useful as Raiders are a big team and we are getting monstered and softened up too often up the guts even if it isn't reflected in the head line stats.

Anyways coach has made the correct call for this game picking 4 forwards on the bench, I quite like it - mix of size and mobility + bit of versatility with Williams and McGinnes. I am comfortable with that decision and if an injury arises in the backline (which is hypothetical) we manage as best we can during the game with the troops we have on hand.

When Hynes is back Trindall will become the new "utility" or benchy backup (he is chunky and robust enough to help out in the middle if required by which I mean halves, hooker, lock)



kicking the play the balls won't go well for us...



yea same cause if it doesn't improve we sure as **** are gunna have to lean on that attacking prowess of ours to get the win cause Raiders will be putting some points through us if we don't aim up and come proper with the D.

I dont think its an attitude thing with the majority of players cause Fitz has em purring and primed to get wins which the boys really desire as a group and individually, the culture is good ect.

I think it's mainly a structural and communication thing that hopefully they worked on this week at training and have made good strides in.

We do lack some mungrel and rough nuts though which doesn't help but IIRC our defense in the first half of 2022 was looking much better before it started to swing back towards the JMO era leaky boat kinda situation so there is prob alot more to work on and improve than in a single week of training is going to accomplish.

So I still think we are gunna need at least 4 or 5 trys to get the cookies in this one as I doubt we don't concede 4 or more to the Raiders.

Raiders are funny though and a bit like us - they love mounting a comeback as much as they love giving up a good lead

Goal kicking was the difference last week for us against the Eels so if it's an end to end back and forth trading points sorta of affair again I wouldn't be surprised to see some classic Sharks moments or typical Raiders bs that ends up being the difference that sinks us.

I think the Raiders thrive in those sort of games and for whatever reason it suits them but it also kinda suits us - just need to make sure we are the ones ahead when the 80 mins comes up.

The Bromwich boys and Felise Kaufusi for the Dolphins did a good job against the Raiders on the weekend after conceding the first 2 trys in the opening half.

The conditions deteriorated in the second half with the rain and they belted them and turned them into bit of a frustrated rabble with their defense and spoiling and were then able to turn on some points when they needed them while continuing to turn the Raiders away and keep them out.

The Raiders can implode you just gotta get them to the tipping point and keep them there while sticking to your guns and systems

They are a tough team to play but not a brilliant one anymore - they really have stagnated
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And it is going to be a warm day. They do not perform well under those conditions.
 
creg

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Heading up for this one. My 2 year olds first game. His mum is Raiders so he’s torn between the two, but just loves watching footy. Taking all 4 kids along. 15 minute walk to the stadium from the tourist park. Can’t wait.
 
Western Sharkie

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creg said:
Heading up for this one. My 2 year olds first game. His mum is Raiders so he’s torn between the two, but just loves watching footy. Taking all 4 kids along. 15 minute walk to the stadium from the tourist park. Can’t wait.
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Raiders win, you lose
Sharks win, you lose (sleeping in the doghouse)

There is no win for you this match mate but enjoy anyway 👍
 
Sutty

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I can't tell the refs apart by their names any more, they all equally suck. They have sort of amalgamated into a big festering blob.

I can only tell them apart when I look at them. "Oh look, the bald ******** with the high voice is reffing". I also believe that there is only a single bunker reviewer in the whole league (he sucks the most).
 
snowman

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anyone going to this gamee? dan and i making the treck down for nsw cup at 4 before watching us flog the daylights out of these losers
 
HaroldBishop

HaroldBishop

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Sutty said:
I can't tell the refs apart by their names any more, they all equally suck. They have sort of amalgamated into a big festering blob.

I can only tell them apart when I look at them. "Oh look, the bald ******** with the high voice is reffing". I also believe that there is only a single bunker reviewer in the whole league (he sucks the most).
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Yeah I'm the same, don't know all their names anymore.

I really don't give a **** about them, way too much discussion about officials in general.
 
Gards

Gards

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MMsharks said:
we tend to let a few teams offload
needs to go
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The offloads wouldn't be as bad if we didn't have such a passive lethargic defensive line

creg said:
Heading up for this one. My 2 year olds first game. His mum is Raiders so he’s torn between the two, but just loves watching footy. Taking all 4 kids along. 15 minute walk to the stadium from the tourist park. Can’t wait.
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Well if you head home with only 3 kids we know which team he chose
 
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