Round 1 2015: Cronulla Sharks v Canberra Raiders Sunday 8 March 6:30pm @ Remondis Stadium

[Paul C]

Well done on the Mrs conversion mate but I think it is our dear old coach Flanagan that needs to step up, not just our players

We do have massive potential, but Flanno is not that man to extract it

Dead right. He couldn't coach a choko vine over a dunny. Half of the players cannot pass effectively to the right. Simple stuff! No idea what a set move is! No plan and certainly no consequences. No wonder why players want to play for flanno. They can expect to play till a ripe old age and not have to worry about young stars bumping them out. God help us while Flanno is in charge.

 

[19ninety9]

Calmed down.

I can handle a loss, (obviously, I'm a Sharks fan) but I can't handle a loss like that, any kind of cohesion and we would of destroyed Canberra with ease.

I can handle a loss when the team plays well and where outdone by a quality opposition.

Canberra game was not that case, we handed them the game, they had no chance otherwise.

Not angry just dissapointed. Bring on round 2, they'll wanna fix it or Brisbane will make a laughing stock of us.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Just got back from the game, here are my thoughts.
I haven't read through the previous 20 pages, so apologies if I'm already repeating other's observations.

From the very outset we were extremely poor tonight. It seems we have many problems to iron out. We lacked cohesion, we lacked enthusiasm and we lacked any sort of game plan at all.

True to say Ben Barba was terrible tonight. Failed to find touch, put that meaningless bomb up for Wighton to catch and run 80 metres from the tap and really didn't threaten at all. True he was playing behind a beaten pack but he just couldn't get going.

I've always been a fan of Flash but he was also poor tonight. But Flanno just won't drop him I'm sure. The communication between him and Brown was comical. Mitch was Mitch throughout the game but if Val Holmes is on that right wing, he easily scores in the corner in that late movement where eventually Flash put his foot on the sideline at dummy half. Ridiculous mistake.

Which brings me to Flanno. Mr Safety First. His game plan, if he had one, was to grind away. We were all incensed at the exclusion of Val and Bird. They HAVE to be in the 17 next week. But I know they won't be. I'd have Val for Brown or even Flash and Bird in for Arona.

I can't really write any more. I'm too depressed.

On a happier note, it was nice to finally meet HB at half time.

Yes nice to meet both you and Ev. Unfortunately the rest of the night was **** house.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Can anyone explain to me why Val was named on an extended bench and then omitted to play in the 20s? Why wouldn't we play him against men in the reggies? Wouldn't that be better for his development?

 

[slide rule]

Dead right. He couldn't coach a choko vine over a dunny.

:lmao

 

[slide rule]

Can anyone explain to me why Val was named on an extended bench and then omitted to play in the 20s? Why wouldn't we play him against men in the reggies? Wouldn't that be better for his development?

I'm just guessing but I think it was probably because NSW Cup played the day before. I think they probably wanted to keep him available for as long as possible in case something happened to another player. Then they probably chucked him into the 20s because a game there is better than no game at all.

I actually didn't realise he had another year left in the 20s.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I'm just guessing but I think it was probably because NSW Cup played the day before. I think they probably wanted to keep him available for as long as possible in case something happened to another player. Then they probably chucked him into the 20s because a game there is better than no game at all.

I actually didn't realise he had another year left in the 20s.

Pretty poor logic if that's what happened. Don't know why we needed two players on standby?

 

[Dazman]

I didn't think Barba was horrible last night. Yes his first two kicks were shockers. His passing game was solid. He didn't miss a tackle, so it appears that he won't be the defensive liability that Carney was. His running game was nowhere to be seen, but it will come. He was sniffing around Gallen and Fifita a lot. I don't know why there is so much hate for Gordon. I thought he was one of our best. I liked seeing him lay on a cut out pass from chiming in a fullback. He has been working on his attack, which you need to have as a modern day fullback. Too me, the game seemed more about poor coaching than poor play. Clearly having Mitch Brown instead of Holmes is a mistake and the first step toward driving one of our best young talents out of the club. Jack Bird needs to be in centres. I think probably for Luetele (he didn't play bad, but I just don't think he is first grade material. You can't hold onto beating SBW for the rest of your career). I thought Matt Prior was solid with limited game time (He didn't drop the ball.Yay!). Tupou and H were solid off the bench. Rotation was poor. Again coach. It seemed like there was confusion about the game plan. After half time, the hard straight running was very effective. A. Fafita needs to move back to the bench until he tightens up his discipline. Gallen to front row with Prior, two Fifita's as prop rotations to provide huge impact against tiring defence. It seems like Flannagan is spoilt for backrowers. Graham or Lewis are our best nr 13s. Gallen has never been a lock. It baffles me why he even wears nr 13. He plays like a prop, he looks like a prop. When he tries to be a play maker, it looks ugly and usually the play breaks down. Again this is the coach. Tell him he is a prop. He is to run hard and look for an offload. Simple job. Every team knows that Gallen is probably going to take two hit ups in a set. That needs to stop. It is too predictable and defences can line up on him. Anyway, we will see what next week brings.

 

[samshark]

The more things change the more things stay the same.
What a dogs breakfast that was last night. Terrible, predictable, seen it all before. What the hell did they do all off season?
The crazy thing is that in spite of that, if that moron of a coach plays Holmes instead of Brown I reckon he scores that try and we maybe win.

Someone wake me in 3 years when that goose is gone. In the mean time I am not wasting money on memberships and games whilst he is coach.

 

[slide rule]

Pretty poor logic if that's what happened. Don't know why we needed two players on standby?

I don't know, maybe there were two players (or more) with slight injury concerns.

I don't think it's the worst thing ever. I'd probably rather have him ready to go for first grade than not. First grade should always be the priority. He still got game time anyway, even if it was at a lower standard. It's not like one game in NSW Cup instead of 20s is going to make a massive difference to his development anyways.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I didn't think Barba was horrible last night. Yes his first two kicks were shockers. His passing game was solid. He didn't miss a tackle, so it appears that he won't be the defensive liability that Carney was. His running game was nowhere to be seen, but it will come. He was sniffing around Gallen and Fifita a lot. I don't know why there is so much hate for Gordon. I thought he was one of our best. I liked seeing him lay on a cut out pass from chiming in a fullback. He has been working on his attack, which you need to have as a modern day fullback. Too me, the game seemed more about poor coaching than poor play. Clearly having Mitch Brown instead of Holmes is a mistake and the first step toward driving one of our best young talents out of the club. Jack Bird needs to be in centres. I think probably for Luetele (he didn't play bad, but I just don't think he is first grade material. You can't hold onto beating SBW for the rest of your career). I thought Matt Prior was solid with limited game time (He didn't drop the ball.Yay!). Tupou and H were solid off the bench. Rotation was poor. Again coach. It seemed like there was confusion about the game plan. After half time, the hard straight running was very effective. A. Fifita needs to move back to the bench until he tightens up his discipline. Gallen to front row with Prior, two Fifita's as prop rotations to provide huge impact against tiring defence. It seems like Flannagan is spoilt for backrowers. Graham or Lewis are our best nr 13s. Gallen has never been a lock. It baffles me why he even wears nr 13. He plays like a prop, he looks like a prop. When he tries to be a play maker, it looks ugly and usually the play breaks down. Again this is the coach. Tell him he is a prop. He is to run hard and look for an offload. Simple job. Every team knows that Gallen is probably going to take two hit ups in a set. That needs to stop. It is too predictable and defences can line up on him. Anyway, we will see what next week brings.

Daz, that may be a good post but I'll never know, way too hard to read without paragraphs.

 

[sharkyboy]

I've read nothing from the precious pages, just woke up with a mighty hangover, all I can say is Barba sucks cock and after all of us saying mitch brown would never win us a game but wouldn't cost us one, well guess what he may have cost us a win with that bull**** he tossed up at the end.

**** Gallen for still choosing to go for the 2 points every chance he gets and **** Flanagan because he's Flanagan.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I've read nothing from the precious pages, just woke up with a mighty hangover, all I can say is Barba sucks cock and after all of us saying mitch brown would never win us a game but wouldn't cost us one, well guess what he may have cost us a win with that bull**** he tossed up at the end.

**** Gallen for still choosing to go for the 2 points every chance he gets and **** Flanagan because he's Flanagan.

Harsh on Barba, give him time.

Agree on Gallen though, has to be the most negative captain around. We were om a roll and took the friggin' two points, twice!!

 

[sharkyboy]

I know! Fair enough one I'll give him that. But twice!? It's just so ****ing anti-climatic and we were on a roll and it potentially lost us the game.

**** gallen and Flanagan.

Yeah you're probably right on barba, showed slight glimpses but also cost us with two **** plays.

 

[Western Sharkie]

I don't know, maybe there were two players (or more) with slight injury concerns.

I don't think it's the worst thing ever. I'd probably rather have him ready to go for first grade than not. First grade should always be the priority. He still got game time anyway, even if it was at a lower standard. It's not like one game in NSW Cup instead of 20s is going to make a massive difference to his development anyways.

Yes, agree abt Homles, but Bird didn't play at all and he is also still eligible for 20's for memory.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I know! Fair enough one I'll give him that. But twice!? It's just so ****ing anti-climatic and we were on a roll and it potentially lost us the game.

**** gallen and Flanagan.

Yeah you're probably right on barba, showed slight glimpses but also cost us with two **** plays.

If one of the two plays your referring two is Wighton's second try, that's not his fault. Sure, the kick was crap but even the best put in **** kicks every once in a while. Let's not forget this was round 1...how can a team not show the urgency to get back and defend a 20m restart in that instance? It was just a joke.

 

[creg]

Ahh what a ****ty ****ing game.

Even worse as I've recently started dating a Raiders supporter, and I watched the game at the Raiders club in Canberra. Hands down Raiders fans are the biggest ****ing sooks going around.

 

[Dazman]

Daz, that may be a good post but I'll never know, way too hard to read without paragraphs.

I don't like gaps. Particularly ones from 20m taps.

 

[sharks2010]

If one of the two plays your referring two is Wighton's second try, that's not his fault. Sure, the kick was crap but even the best put in **** kicks every once in a while. Let's not forget this was round 1...how can a team not show the urgency to get back and defend a 20m restart in that instance? It was just a joke.

that was filth, the worse thing is that our defenders didn't have far to go to get back to the 30 considering the lack of quality of the kick

 

[HaroldBishop]

that was filth, the worse thing is that our defenders didn't have far to go to get back to the 30 considering the lack of quality of the kick

As bad as it gets imo. Not one of them even thought about making the tackle offside and giving away the penalty either. Terrible.