Google News
Newsbot
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2005
- Messages
- 79,665
- Reaction score
- 34
Noddy leads Sharks to upset over Panthers
That's not to say Kimmorley's leadership is no longer valued, but, after steering Cronulla to a win that gives them a four-way share of the competition lead ...
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4577432a10713.html
Noddy leads Sharks to upset over Panthers
By BRAD WALTER
09 June 2008
With Brett Kimmorley off to the Bulldogs next season, it could be assumed Ricky Stuart decided some time ago that he doesn't need him to lead the Sharks around any more.
After yesterday's 22-24 defeat of Penrith, the former Test halfback revealed he had come to the same conclusion.
That's not to say Kimmorley's leadership is no longer valued, but, after steering Cronulla to a win that gives them a four-way share of the competition lead, he explained the secret behind his recent good form was a decision to focus on his own game.
With NSW Origin stars Greg Bird and Paul Gallen starring this season along with scrumbase partner Brett Seymour, Kimmorley said he did not feel the responsibility to direct every play and was free to run the ball more often.
He did just that yesterday in a continuation of the impressive attacking style the Sharks displayed in the second half of last weekend's win over the Titans.
"I think I've gone from a real heavy dominator of how we play to actually getting in the game and playing a bit more myself," said Kimmorley, who has been released from the final year of his Sharks contract and will play out his career at the Bulldogs. "I don't feel like I'm guiding the side around any more, I'm actually playing footy.
"I think the emergence of those other guys around me actually allows me to think, 'Well, if I run it, someone else will do whatever has to happen next.' It's an enjoyable style and it gives me a chance to play.
"My main goal is just to kick really good, play for field position and just keep us nice and controlled. We did that today - we were patient and played with good structure - and then you just hope the guys can execute off the back off that, and we did. We came up with some really good tries."
The other main beneficiary of the Sharks' new-found confidence in attack was winger Luke Covell, who finished with a hat-trick of tries - although arguably his most crucial play yesterday was the selfless decision to hand the goalkicking duties to Seymour after scoring his final try in the 66th minute.
Having landed just one goal from five previous kicks, Covell asked Seymour to take the conversion attempt from the sideline, and the former Brisbane halfback added the two points that proved vital for the visitors after the Panthers ran in two late tries before almost snatching victory with a desperate final play of the game.
"I've still got confidence in myself, but it was probably the right decision that had to be made at the time," said Covell, who had kicked 280 goals for Cronulla and Wests Tigers before this season but has only managed 29 in 11 matches so far this term. "It was a decision I made, it wasn't a decision by anyone else. It just wasn't happening for me, and 'Buster' practises whenever I'm practising. He kicks pretty good so I had all the faith in him. Good on him, he got the two-point buffer we needed in the end."
Despite the closeness of the scoreline, even Penrith coach Matthew Elliott conceded the Sharks deserved their victory after piling on four first-half tries in a 24-minute period to take an 18-6 lead to the break.
Playing opposite boom Panthers rookie Jarrod Sammut, Covell had a significant height advantage but Penrith's left-side defence was also found wanting during a frustrating first half for the home side in which lock Nathan Smith had a controversial try denied by video referee Steve Clark after pushing Kimmorley in the race for a ball in the Cronulla in-goal.
Sammut was also the victim of a high shot for which Cronulla prop Kade Snowden was later put on report, but referee Jared Maxell decided to play advantage rather than given Penrith a penalty.
After a decision against the Sharks at the end of the set of tackles, Kimmorley suggested to the whistleblower that it was "only because you missed the one up the other end".
Smith put Sammut over in the 56th minute to edge the Panthers to within striking range, but the Sharks were always confident they would hang on.
"To see our football work so well in the second half last week and to see it maybe just finally come together in the first half today was good for our confidence," Kimmorley said.
"Hopefully, there will be another slight improvement next week because we're playing some good footy."
That's not to say Kimmorley's leadership is no longer valued, but, after steering Cronulla to a win that gives them a four-way share of the competition lead ...
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4577432a10713.html
Noddy leads Sharks to upset over Panthers
By BRAD WALTER
09 June 2008
With Brett Kimmorley off to the Bulldogs next season, it could be assumed Ricky Stuart decided some time ago that he doesn't need him to lead the Sharks around any more.
After yesterday's 22-24 defeat of Penrith, the former Test halfback revealed he had come to the same conclusion.
That's not to say Kimmorley's leadership is no longer valued, but, after steering Cronulla to a win that gives them a four-way share of the competition lead, he explained the secret behind his recent good form was a decision to focus on his own game.
With NSW Origin stars Greg Bird and Paul Gallen starring this season along with scrumbase partner Brett Seymour, Kimmorley said he did not feel the responsibility to direct every play and was free to run the ball more often.
He did just that yesterday in a continuation of the impressive attacking style the Sharks displayed in the second half of last weekend's win over the Titans.
"I think I've gone from a real heavy dominator of how we play to actually getting in the game and playing a bit more myself," said Kimmorley, who has been released from the final year of his Sharks contract and will play out his career at the Bulldogs. "I don't feel like I'm guiding the side around any more, I'm actually playing footy.
"I think the emergence of those other guys around me actually allows me to think, 'Well, if I run it, someone else will do whatever has to happen next.' It's an enjoyable style and it gives me a chance to play.
"My main goal is just to kick really good, play for field position and just keep us nice and controlled. We did that today - we were patient and played with good structure - and then you just hope the guys can execute off the back off that, and we did. We came up with some really good tries."
The other main beneficiary of the Sharks' new-found confidence in attack was winger Luke Covell, who finished with a hat-trick of tries - although arguably his most crucial play yesterday was the selfless decision to hand the goalkicking duties to Seymour after scoring his final try in the 66th minute.
Having landed just one goal from five previous kicks, Covell asked Seymour to take the conversion attempt from the sideline, and the former Brisbane halfback added the two points that proved vital for the visitors after the Panthers ran in two late tries before almost snatching victory with a desperate final play of the game.
"I've still got confidence in myself, but it was probably the right decision that had to be made at the time," said Covell, who had kicked 280 goals for Cronulla and Wests Tigers before this season but has only managed 29 in 11 matches so far this term. "It was a decision I made, it wasn't a decision by anyone else. It just wasn't happening for me, and 'Buster' practises whenever I'm practising. He kicks pretty good so I had all the faith in him. Good on him, he got the two-point buffer we needed in the end."
Despite the closeness of the scoreline, even Penrith coach Matthew Elliott conceded the Sharks deserved their victory after piling on four first-half tries in a 24-minute period to take an 18-6 lead to the break.
Playing opposite boom Panthers rookie Jarrod Sammut, Covell had a significant height advantage but Penrith's left-side defence was also found wanting during a frustrating first half for the home side in which lock Nathan Smith had a controversial try denied by video referee Steve Clark after pushing Kimmorley in the race for a ball in the Cronulla in-goal.
Sammut was also the victim of a high shot for which Cronulla prop Kade Snowden was later put on report, but referee Jared Maxell decided to play advantage rather than given Penrith a penalty.
After a decision against the Sharks at the end of the set of tackles, Kimmorley suggested to the whistleblower that it was "only because you missed the one up the other end".
Smith put Sammut over in the 56th minute to edge the Panthers to within striking range, but the Sharks were always confident they would hang on.
"To see our football work so well in the second half last week and to see it maybe just finally come together in the first half today was good for our confidence," Kimmorley said.
"Hopefully, there will be another slight improvement next week because we're playing some good footy."
Last edited by a moderator:
