NRL Round 25, 2011: Cronulla Sutherland Sharks v Cowboys, 7:30pm Sat 27 Aug @ Dairy Farmers Stadium

[andrew's_sharks]

Despite the loss was an entertaining game. Mills, AK, Graham and the Chad all must be part of the team next year. We also need to be able to have IKE and Gards in

 

[fitz]

I thought the Sharks were right in the contest and for much of the game the better side.

Some encouraging things in the game but Cows at home was always going to be a tough ask and I think the men out there showed a lot of ticker and a return to a bit of pride in the jersey.

Very costly game for the Cows in terms of injuries. I hate seeing players leaving the field like that - particularly at this time of the year.

Anyway, disappointing result but not the end of the world so don't let it ruin your Sunday.

Get out and enjoy it.

 

[ABshark]

There were some positives from this game and it is good that you point them out.

Unfortunately that is 7 losses in a row and we have shown a complete inability to close out a game when we were easily the better side. The past 2 weeks really sum up our season for mine.

Playing with heart and commitment, out enthusing the opposition and creating plenty of chances. Poor errors at crucial times coupled with a lack of match awareness from key players. Finding a way to an herioc loss..... again.

On the ABC audio the coach was asked why we have fallen so far from being contenders for the finals 7 weeks ago. The answer was inexperienced halves. This is no doubt part of the problem but the bigger issue for mine is how mentally fragile we are. One bad loss against st george and we completely drop our bundle.

If we can find the mental toughness to go with the improved skill level then we might make some progress next season.

Execution and consistency- which both come through concentration and experience- should be the what the coaching staff hammer in to the boys all off season. You have to compete for 80 minutes, you have to do the little things right, and you have to do it every week. Don't worry about the scoreboard, don't even look at it, just execute your plays, defend well and hold on to the ball. Otherwise you might as well not bother.

Rick Stone said something along the lines of "I'm looking for a 2% improvement in all areas" in the lead up to this season and I laughed at the bloke. Well, he showed me up... Newcastle haven't improved much, but they've improved just enough to be in the 8 despite having long term injuries to their key players, releasing their 5/8th and one of their star forwards and having to go through all the contract turmoil Bennett's arrival has created.

I'm optimistic because as you say, the skill level has improved. At least now we're finally starting to look like we've got enough raw talent to eventually get us to the big show. I had doubts in '08 but they just kept turning up and belting and wrestling their way to wins, thanks to the way the game was being refereed. But now with Gardner, Graham, Kelly, Fifita, Townsend and Peachey coming through, we've got the ballplayers who can genuinely lay on points.

We're on a 5-6 six year pathway that started in '09 when Wright, Mannah, Stapleton and Ferguson debuted and we signed Kelly and Gardner. We've just gotta hang in there and look for improvement as they mature.

 

[josh11223344]

I thought we played great and am not upset with the result one bit. How good was our attack? I have changed my mind on ike, he has to be on the wing next year I just love that speed and finishing ability.

Having AK there makes a massive difference. We attacked wide and gave toops good early ball one on one with their outside men. That is the difference between having AK and Graham at 5/8 AK doesn't clog up the backline.

 

[sharks.com.au RSS]

Execution and costly errors let us down says Flanagan

Execution and costly errors let us down says Flanagan
Matt Trodden
28/08/2011 12:34:05 PM

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan was happy with the effort in the Sharks loss to the Cowboys, but believes his side were their own worst enemies with poor execution and costly errors.

The Sharks led the Cowboys 14-6 at half time, before being chased down the late stages of the game to be defeated 28-20 in Townsville.

Flanagan, who was also disappointed with some refereeing calls, couldn’t fault his players on effort, but said they were let down by little mistakes.

“I thought the effort from out group was pretty good,” Flanagan said.

“I was happy with the effort.

“Execution and a few little costly errors there cost us, and then I thought we didn’t get the rub of the green with the penalty count and some decisions there.”

The Sharks dominated the Cowboys for long periods in the game, but in the end couldn’t put North Queensland away and were punished for their errors.

“I thought we did have their measure,” he said.

“Once again some refereeing decisions put us into situation where we were defending our try-line, and we defended quite well.

“They are a hard team to defend against and I thought we did quite well, but in the end those decisions caught up with us.”

The loss was the Sharks’ seventh in a row, but Flanagan believes it is though no fault of his players, or their lack of efforts.

“It’s (the season) not ending the way I wanted it, it’s not panning out the way I wanted it,” he said.

“Four or five weeks ago we were in contention for the semi finals, and now (we’re) on the back of a couple of losses, well more than a couple.

“I can’t take away from the effort the players are putting in; they’re turning up for me.

“They could put the cue in the rack but they’re not. As I said I thought we put ourselves in the game to win, and a couple of crucial decisions went against us, either lack of a decision.”

Source: http://sharks.com.au/?s=article-display&id=42664

 

[snowman]

we played great and lost?
i dont think so, our goal line defense has let us down big time

 

[sharks.com.au RSS]

Gallen disappointed despite best efforts

Sharks captain Paul Gallen was disappointed with the loss to the Cowboys, particularly after the Sharks put in so much effort.

More...

 

[josh11223344]

Maybe i'm just blind because we actually showed something in attack cause we never see us actually look dangerous. I don't care about defense at this stage. I want to see us play some footy and score tries.

I did think our defense was alot better last night than it usually is anyway. We actually showed desperation. The one thing we really miss about sticky is his defensive coaching. We were always solidish in defense even when we were losing in 2009-10. Now we are one of the worst in the comp.

 

[snowman]

You dont care about defense?
****ing hell, you dont care that a rookie prop out muscled 3 guys to score under the post
Or our soft goaline defense... All that doesnt matter because we looked ok in attack

Thats retarded

 

[squiddy]

I thought it was a lot better performance last night Kelly , Mills (slow ???) , Ike , Hotdog all went well .

Snowmans right that try by the cows under the sticks was woeful

Penalty against Smith was woeful - how does he pull out of that ?

Another try straight after dobes dropped it ,thank **** he was hooked immediately

Should never have replaced Aiton near the end

But anyway a lot better and Flanno should be rapped we won at the 70 mins mark again .

Big night next Saturday - players reunion and Gals 200th - gotta feeling we may cause a massive upset

 

[dier]

Big night next Saturday - players reunion and Gals 200th - gotta feeling we may cause a massive upset

Dude, we are playing the Tigers. We will get beat by 50.

 

[Weaponhead]

Cordoba has made crucial errors in recent games. We should have better prop depth next year

 

[sharkyboy]

Didnt u say that about the cowboys as well?

 

[dier]

Didnt u say that about the cowboys as well?

If you are referring to me. I don't think so. It is no secret we get an annual raping by the Tigers. We have beat them like once in 9 years or something.

 

[Born&bred]

The difference this round is that there will be the biggest Gronk convention ever staged happening.

Whether that makes a difference...

 

[teflon77]

Seriously, this bloke is delusional. Can someone get him back on his meds?

 

[A.Snowden]

Seriously, this bloke is delusional. Can someone get him back on his meds?

You weren't happy with the effort from the players Tef? I think it is the best we have played in quite some time, we did let ourselves down with errors and silly mistakes and we defended well, apart from a couple of soft tries under the posts. Flanno was pretty spot on with his comments i believe

You weren't happy with the effort from the players Tef? I think it is the best we have played in quite some time, we did let ourselves down with errors and silly mistakes and we defended well, apart from a couple of soft tries under the posts. Flanno was pretty spot on with his comments i believe

Matt Trodden
28/08/2011 12:34:05 PM
Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan was happy with the effort in the Sharks loss to the Cowboys, but believes his side were their own worst enemies with poor execution and costly errors.

The Sharks led the Cowboys 14-6 at half time, before being chased down the late stages of the game to be defeated 28-20 in Townsville.

Flanagan, who was also disappointed with some refereeing calls, couldn’t fault his players on effort, but said they were let down by little mistakes.

“I thought the effort from out group was pretty good,” Flanagan said.

“I was happy with the effort.

“Execution and a few little costly errors there cost us, and then I thought we didn’t get the rub of the green with the penalty count and some decisions there.”

The Sharks dominated the Cowboys for long periods in the game, but in the end couldn’t put North Queensland away and were punished for their errors.

“I thought we did have their measure,” he said.

“Once again some refereeing decisions put us into situation where we were defending our try-line, and we defended quite well.

“They are a hard team to defend against and I thought we did quite well, but in the end those decisions caught up with us.”

The loss was the Sharks’ seventh in a row, but Flanagan believes it is though no fault of his players, or their lack of efforts.

“It’s (the season) not ending the way I wanted it, it’s not panning out the way I wanted it,” he said.

“Four or five weeks ago we were in contention for the semi finals, and now (we’re) on the back of a couple of losses, well more than a couple.

“I can’t take away from the effort the players are putting in; they’re turning up for me.

“They could put the cue in the rack but they’re not. As I said I thought we put ourselves in the game to win, and a couple of crucial decisions went against us, either lack of a decision.”

 

[dier]

The difference this round is that there will be the biggest Gronk convention ever staged happening.

Whether that makes a difference...

Do you remember what the score was against Brisbane?

I was going to say do you remember the game, but I don't think anyone can really remember the game.

 

[A.Snowden]

Do you remember what the score was against Brisbane?

I was going to say do you remember the game, but I don't think anyone can really remember the game.

I think we scored 16 points, they may have scored 38 or something, who knows

 

[teflon77]

You weren't happy with the effort from the players Tef? I think it is the best we have played in quite some time, we did let ourselves down with errors and silly mistakes and we defended well, apart from a couple of soft tries under the posts. Flanno was pretty spot on with his comments i believe

Nah, the effort was there and to be honest we were the better team on the night, mainly because the Cowboys just didn't turn up in the first half. It just annoys me that every week the same old lines getting trotted out. Either Flano or Gal blaming the refs for something.

And the last part about the players turning up for him? Please. If they were turning up for him we would be in the bottom of the 8 now not 7 from 23 and about to make a red hot go at our record losing streak.