NRL Round 24 2016 - Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs @ ANZ Stadium - Monday August 22 7:00pm

[Capital_Shark]

I got worried in Flanno's pre-game interview with Andy Raymond. Raymond asked something like "whats been more disappointing the last few weeks the performance or the results?" and Flanno said the performances were good and we just needed a win.

I'm ok with losing if we play well and put in, but that just hasn't been the case. I hope its just ****talk for the cameras that they've been ok with the performances otherwise its head in the sand stuff and we're ****ed.

 

[Proud Shark]

Seemed like last night we were really trying to force the second phase play across the park too. I don't really like that as the main objective as I think it takes a bit away from our hit ups. Forwards should be looking to bust the line and offload if its on, rather than hit/spin/position themselves to get it away as this usually results in getting put on your back and a slow play the ball.

 

[Sharkyle]

I think we were expecting dry weather football but were a bit thrown by the wet weather. If it was dry last night I think we win by 13+
They started that first half all cautious and that second half is how I think they wanted to play all game

 

[CHOGM]

For those who are getting the razor blades out ... a late season slump doesn't mean that the sky is falling. There is long and also recent history of good teams having a late season slump and coming good.
2015 - Brisbane lost 4 of their last 6 games, slipped from 1st to 2nd, and advanced to the GF
2015 - North Queensland lost 3 of their last 5 games, slipped from 2nd to 3rd, and won the premiership
2014 - Bulldogs lost 5 of their last 7 to slip to 7th, and advanced to the GF
2012 - Melbourne won 1 game between rounds 13 and 21, then recovered to finish the season with 7 straight wins and a premiership
2010 - After going 13-3 to start the season, the Dragons limp home 5-4 in their last 9, including losing 3 from 4 at one point, and recover to win the comp
2010 - Roosters lose 3 of their last 5 to slip from 3rd to 6th. Recover to make the GF
2006 - Brisbane lose 4 in a row from round 20-23. Win their last 2 games and the premiership.
2005 - The Tigers lost their last two games, including a round 26 loss to 10th placed Penrith. Went undefeated in the finals and won the comp.

I'm sure you can trot out just as many teams who slumped late and went out the back door. All this means is that form in rounds 20-26 is not an indicator of semi-final success either way. The Sharks might come good and they might not. All a slump does is frustrate us fans.

Great post, cheers mate. Funnily I was just thinking about these sort of slumps historically and then this post appears. I'm sure sports psychologists would have a lot to say about the differing mindsets of teams nearing the end of season. Souths were playing their own kind of finals last night, desperate to go out winners in the last few rounds and restore some pride, knowing they have only a couple of weeks to go. Conversely the Sharks know the hardest part doesn't even begin for a couple of weeks.

 

[Sharkyle]

Great post, cheers mate. Funnily I was just thinking about these sort of slumps historically and then this post appears. I'm sure sports psychologists would have a lot to say about the differing mindsets of teams nearing the end of season. Souths were playing their own kind of finals last night, desperate to go out winners in the last few rounds and restore some pride, knowing they have only a couple of weeks to go. Conversely the Sharks know the hardest part doesn't even begin for a couple of weeks.

Problem is we are playing for a "home" semi, surely that means something?

 

[HaroldBishop]

there's always an excuse mate. Always

by no means am I packing it in for the year because I honestly believe it will only take one good 80 minute performance to turn things around. The problem is we are in a pretty deep hole and we need to dig ourselves out. Whether the playing group and coaching staff can do that is another question.

Yeah I agree. Hopefully we fire up against the Chooks this week. I actually liked seeing Bird getting cranky after Maloney butchered the drop out at the end.

 

[Sharkyle]

Yeah I agree. Hopefully we fire up against the Chooks this week. I actually liked seeing Bird getting cranky after Maloney butchered the drop out at the end.

If we win this week everyone will be saying the sharks are back lol.... I am depressed as hell about the last month but all will be forgotten with a win or 2.

 

[Gards]

For those who are getting the razor blades out ... a late season slump doesn't mean that the sky is falling. There is long and also recent history of good teams having a late season slump and coming good.
2015 - Brisbane lost 4 of their last 6 games, slipped from 1st to 2nd, and advanced to the GF
2015 - North Queensland lost 3 of their last 5 games, slipped from 2nd to 3rd, and won the premiership
2014 - Bulldogs lost 5 of their last 7 to slip to 7th, and advanced to the GF
2012 - Melbourne won 1 game between rounds 13 and 21, then recovered to finish the season with 7 straight wins and a premiership
2010 - After going 13-3 to start the season, the Dragons limp home 5-4 in their last 9, including losing 3 from 4 at one point, and recover to win the comp
2010 - Roosters lose 3 of their last 5 to slip from 3rd to 6th. Recover to make the GF
2006 - Brisbane lose 4 in a row from round 20-23. Win their last 2 games and the premiership.
2005 - The Tigers lost their last two games, including a round 26 loss to 10th placed Penrith. Went undefeated in the finals and won the comp.

I'm sure you can trot out just as many teams who slumped late and went out the back door. All this means is that form in rounds 20-26 is not an indicator of semi-final success either way. The Sharks might come good and they might not. All a slump does is frustrate us fans.

While I am not one of the wrist slitters and believe we are still in this comp with a chance of turning this around there is an overwhelming trend with that list of teams - for the most part they had gun coaches who have found ways to win when it matters

Flanno has his strengths and weaknesses as a coach but I don't feel the current situation plays to his strengths compared to the likes of a Belamy, Hasler, Bennet. We need direction, guidance and change right now but can Flanno deliver it when it matters most?

 

[CHOGM]

Problem is we are playing for a "home" semi, surely that means something?

True, but it's only "home" in terms of Homebush, and at the end of the day it may not be enough to overcome a team desperate to make a point. Unfortunately we play the bunnies and chooks back to back, and they're two teams that are very strong on paper but have had bad seasons. They were always going to bounce back, especially towards the end of the season when they have nothing to lose.

I'm not making excuses, but I reckon the fact that a lot of teams have slumped and then done well in finals is not surprising.

 

[Sharkyle]

While I am not one of the wrist slitters and believe we are still in this comp with a chance of turning this around there is an overwhelming trend with that list of teams - for the most part they had gun coaches who have found ways to win when it matters

Flanno has his strengths and weaknesses as a coach but I don't feel the current situation plays to his strengths compared to the likes of a Belamy, Hasler, Bennet. We need direction, guidance and change right now but can Flanno deliver it when it matters most?

What would you change?

 

[Sharkyle]

True, but it's only "home" in terms of Homebush, and at the end of the day it may not be enough to overcome a team desperate to make a point. Unfortunately we play the bunnies and chooks back to back, and they're two teams that are very strong on paper but have had bad seasons. They were always going to bounce back, especially towards the end of the season when they have nothing to lose.

I'm not making excuses, but I reckon the fact that a lot of teams have slumped and then done well in finals is not surprising.

But homebush will draw a crowd probably around 30k - 25k of that sharks supporters as apposed to GIO stadium which will draw about 24k and 20k of that raiders fans.

Big difference imo

 

[HaroldBishop]

It would be Allianz, not Homebush.

 

[Gards]

What would you change?

Gameplan (or at least formulating one suitable to the opposition week to week)

I would also be working hard through things with Chad, Jimmy & Ennis

Discipline (still dumb penalties)

I would be developing and practicing new attacking plays and reminding the guys to still play whats in front of them

I would be abandoning the run at the markers malarkey from our forwards

I would keep running defensive drills but after studying other teams through video sessions

There's really quite alot that could be done but it comes down to how effective the coaches are at executing their ideas and the players being receptive to it or buying in

 

[Sharkyle]

It would be Allianz, not Homebush.

Yeah that one

 

[CHOGM]

Yeah I agree. Hopefully we fire up against the Chooks this week. I actually liked seeing Bird getting cranky after Maloney butchered the drop out at the end.

Yeah that was awesome! Shows the fight is there. Regarding Bird, everytime a man rushes up and shuts Chad down one on one, and its happened countless times in the last month, I've wondered why they don't run the the same play sometimes but swap Chad for Bird. 9 times out of ten Bird would beat the man.

 

[Sharkyle]

Gameplan (or at least formulating one suitable to the opposition week to week)

I would also be working hard through things with Chad, Jimmy & Ennis

Discipline (still dumb penalties)

I would be developing and practicing new attacking plays and reminding the guys to still play whats in front of them

I would be abandoning the run at the markers malarkey from our forwards

Can't disagree with that, Discipline has killed us the last 4 games, dumb ****ing penalities or stupid passes that dont need to be thrown...

 

[CHOGM]

It would be Allianz, not Homebush.

Really? I thought all Sydney "home" finals go to Homebush.

 

[Gards]

Can't disagree with that, Discipline has killed us the last 4 games, dumb ****ing penalities or stupid passes that dont need to be thrown...

All year mate has killed us - Lewis, Jimmy, Boogs, Bird

 

[HaroldBishop]

Can't disagree with that, Discipline has killed us the last 4 games, dumb ****ing penalities or stupid passes that dont need to be thrown...

Yeah it's been happening for far too long. We're the second most penalised team in the comp and I bet we're the worst for giving teams a leg up out of their half. It drives me bloody insane, why hasn't the coach addressed this????

 

[HaroldBishop]

Really? I thought all Sydney "home" finals go to Homebush.

No.